Leaving a Light to Shine

Dear Reader,

I'm off enjoying a little spring break with the Aliens and the Trouble and Strife, but while I'm gone here's a little light left on for you :) It's inspiring what some people can do!


Hope you have a Easter and that the Easter bunny leaves some chocolate!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Mini-Stunt Squirrels Support Equality

Dear Reader,

On this landmark day, the mini-stunt squirrels wanted to share their support for equality!

May everybody find love someday :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Squirrely Safety First

Dear Reader,

Before any stunt is filmed it is important for those performing the heroics to inspect the venue. And so it was, that over the weekend, our mini-stunt squirrels cast their professional eyes over the rapids they will soon be riding!


Stay tuned for the big day of tarp surfing :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Robin's Aquarium

Dear Reader,

To coincide with yesterday's post in which Alien One demonstrated how to make coral for her aquarium, I wanted to share an image of Robin's aquarium (one of the ones we took last week).

And for those of you anxious about how to put one of these together for yourself, stay tuned, the time is very near for everyone to be able to partake in their own Squirrel King-style pipe-cleaner aquarium kit!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Alien One Makes an Instructional Video

Dear Reader,

The other day, Alien One got inspired to make her own coral to add to the seaweed of her pipe cleaner fish tank. Inspiring work that she happily shared with me:


I've actually been thinking more about coral myself lately with a view to surrounding a treasure chest in episodes yet to be made. More on that soon.

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Bodies as Animals

Dear Reader,

As many of you are aware, a while back we shot the insert of fish nibbling on the Catburglar's feet during his fish pedicure by painting fish on people's faces, doubling their mouths as the fish's.

Now, I've come across a whole new dimension to that idea in the form of Gesine Marwedel's work (for instance the flamingo here), and that of Craig Tracy (the tiger - look carefully, and then check the small image below).



Suddenly I'm now inspired to go a whole lot further in The Squirrel King!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Squirrel King Logo

Dear Reader,

It’s funny how often in life we are asked to encapsulate one form in another; describe a novel in a sentence, a movie with an image, a world with a logo!

The challenge of distilling the bright and exuberantly multifarious nature of The Squirrel King into a couple of black and white lines seemed at the outset insurmountable. … And yet, like so many things in life, the process proved once again that by taking one step after another enough times, you invariably arrive in a pretty awesome place!

Hope you love our logo as much as we do :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Negative Capability

Are you familiar with the term Negative Capability?  I know, sounds negative, doesn't it?  But it's not. Here's how Keats defined it:

when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason...with a great poet the sense of Beauty overcomes every other consideration, or rather obliterates all consideration.

We've been thinking a lot about Negative Capability over here at The Squirrel King, usually emphasizing it's exhortation to find beauty in the mysterious, and I wanted to remind you of some of the beautifully mysterious images we've shared over the years:

Shi Ne Nielson on the catwalk. 

Rufus frames up for the great wagon train scene.

Panorama of Robin, Vlad, Mango Princess and director.

Pom Pom Orange Popsicles

Dear Reader,

Alien One lives in a world where pom pom toothpick orange popsicles are a natural event. Perhaps it's just that I've been thinking a lot about the world of our dreams lately, but her wonderful creations feel very much that to me, dreamy!

And now I'm curious, what sort of wonders exist in the world of your dreams?

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Water Water Everywhere!

Dear Reader,

You've seen many whimsical versions of water in The Squirrel King, but one of my favorites has always been the painted paper that was used in the stop motion we shot, one of whose frames is the background image of this blog.


The thing is, for the tarp surfing shoot we're going to need a lot more water!

So, the Aliens and I enlisted the assistance of some great friends helpers. A lot of fun was had by all, and a lot of water was painted - along with some legs :)



Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Shadow Hands

Dear Reader,

It's an age-old technique, but somehow we've overlooked it so far in the making of The Squirrel King. This wonderful clip has inspired me to think about where we can incorporate it in some additional story we are currently contemplating!


So wonderfully creative and inspirational!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Bill Watterson

Dear Reader,

For those of you who can't wait to see Bill Watterson, The Squirrel King's very own Paul - Justus' climbing companion - in a slightly different role ... the opportunity is nearing, especially if you are into gaming! Bill is the star of the upcoming Lost Planet 3 video game.

Check out the contrast between our Paul and Lost Planet's lead; Bill is a multi-talented genius!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

PS. Can you pick which of these images is Bill as Paul?

Inspired by a Chickpea

Dear Reader,

A big tenet behind The Squirrel King is that mixing different media can be inspiring. And though we're yet to delve into animation, we have already seen some of the beautiful simplicity it can offer in the earlier post of a cartoon threatened by fire.

In any event who would have believe a chickpea could be so inspiring too! Congratulations Sadi Tekin for opening our eyes!

Check out more images here.

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

PS. Sadi also has a cool mouse-less website.

One Step Closer to a Burst Dam

Dear Reader,

Plans have been a long time in the making for our Squirrel King version of tarp surfing, but yesterday we took a significant step closer when we picked up a few tarps!

Look at the joy this shoot is going to bring, from "ready set" above, to "go" on the right! I can already tell it's going to be gold :)

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Spring is in the Air

Dear Reader,

As the days gradually get a little longer and the weather warms, it brings cheer to my heart to see the first signs of spring; hummingbirds in our sweet-scented jasmine.

Hope you too are feeling connected to nature around us.

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Chief Kits Development Officer

Dear Reader,

As long-time followers of the blog will well know, Alien One has been an integral part of The Squirrel King, both in her name role as Alien One and as an inspiration behind much of the aesthetic.

Of particular note this last week were pipe-cleaner wands, cork and pom-pom coral and a mini-Easter bunny. With her inspired constructions she may now have to add chief kits development officer to her list of titles.

How gorgeous it is to watch a fertile imagination!!

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims

Keith King

Dear Reader,

One of the principal tenets of The Squirrel King is that beauty is whimsical and can be found everywhere. Simply opening your mind to this thought, you will be constantly amazed by what you find around you.

Last night, I was at a showing of photography from a wonderful and talented old friend. In a series titled My Front Yard, you will be amazed by the beauty Keith King can find literally outside his front door.

Chin chin
Ruthless Whims