"Happy Leap Year!" - YouTube Flash Animation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0leDUwTD74w

This is the fun result of an animation test that I prepared for a client project using Adobe Flash Professional CS3. My initial goal was to find a visual style that had a mixture of a paper cut-out and pop-up storybook feel.

The little boy character was designed using Flash's basic drawing tools while the background style was inspired by some old NFB Canada animated shorts. The denim, stars, and paper textures were applied as bitmap fills. The shadow effect is a top secret trick ... for now! (I'm sure that other Flash animators will be able to figure it out!)

After finishing the jump sequence, I thought I'd turn it into an animated greeting celebrating February 29 ... This is my first time posting on YouTube, so I hope you enjoy it!

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope

"Eye Exam" Gag Cartoon in Reader's Digest Canada Magazine (February 2008)

The February 2008 issue of Reader's Digest Canada Magazine is now available at bookstores and newsstands.

This month, one of my gag cartoons is published in the As Kids See It department on Page 145 ... It's not every day that one can say they're in a magazine with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie!

My gag cartoon is entitled "Eye Exam" and is dedicated to anyone who ever had to wear glasses as a kid. Me, I had four eyes by Grade 4 ... Go figure! Still, considering the immense popularity of spectacled heroes like Harry Potter, Clark Kent, and Peter Parker (a.k.a., Superman and Spider- Man) maybe glasses aren't seen as tragic as they used to be. Besides, glasses make you look smart -- even when you're not!

Here's looking at you kid ...

"Eye Exam" in Reader's Digest Canada Magazine (February 2008).

Click the above image to see the full cartoon.

Stay TOONed!

- Mike Cope