Art Side of Life

Recently I was interviewed for the program Art Side of Life. In the interview I talk about some of my influences... as well as the ups and downs of my career thus far.

Tobar an Cheoil

Late last year I was asked to direct an Irish language music video for a series called Tobar an Cheoil. 

Above: A few promotional stills from the video.

The song I selected is called Cuirfimid Deaindí  a children's tune beautifully sung by Bernie Pháid from her album Síol. 

Traditionally babies would be bounced on a parent's knee to this song. On the highest notes of the song... the babies would be bounced to an almost atmospheric level. I wrote and designed a story inspired by the most famous baby knee bouncer in the history of Ireland.  

At the moment I'm not allowed to say or show too much about this project yet... but will slowly release more behind the scenes material after it airs in Ireland this autumn.   Slàn

Eddie Of The Realms Eternal

Earlier this year I was hired as a creative director at Cartoon Saloon in Ireland. Most of the summer was spent helping develop several original TV series pitches... as well as a pilot for Amazon Prime... "Eddie Of The Realms Eternal." Here are a few short clips from the pilot.



Because we were a bit short handed at the studio I ended up art directing the pilot as well... with the help of some very talented young artists... and under the guidance of hot young director Paul Morris. If you are in the U.S. check out the entire pilot HERE.

Above: A few color keys and development sketches

My main job on Eddie as creative director/ art director was helping develop the look and guide the artists... which was quite an amazing crew! A mix of French, Irish, American, Thai and Polish artists!

 And yes... if you are wondering... the director LOVES purple! 

Castle Sketches

Most of this year has been spent helping develop different animated projects for The Cartoon Saloon in Ireland.  

Above: A few early quick development sketches for a project that look nothing at all like the final version. But you have to start somewhere!

All images © 2015 Cartoon Saloon

Escape of the Gingerbreadman!!! goes live!!!

After a great festival run Ginger is at last running on the net...



'Escape of the Gingerbread Man!!!' is a 12 minute short about a young storyteller who challenges the old master in a pub on the west coast of Ireland.

To see some of the pre-production artwork and tests for the film visit HERE.

This film was inspired in part by my experiences living and working in Ireland. The story is also inspired by legendary Irish storyteller Eddie Lenihan.

Jon Kenny stars as: the storyteller, Paul, and as "the monsters of Kerry"
Nora Twomey stars as Ms. Fox
Michael McGrath stars as The Gingerbread Man
Michael Polvani stars as Tommy

"Rattle The Boards" from Waterford, Ireland, arranged and performed the songs.
Mathias Winum provided the film score.

Produced at "The Monk Studios" Thailand by
Juck Somsaman and Nitipat Somsaman

co-produced by Tod Polson for NobleTales

co-produced by the "Animation Workshop" Denmark by
Tim Leborgne, Morten Thorning, and Michelle Nardone.

Directed, written, and designed by Tod Polson

This film was a labor of love, and I want to sincerely thank everyone who helped in putting it together.

All content © 2011 Tod Polson

Monk Reel

"The Monk"- studio has edited together a few of the projects I've been more recently involved with. It is titled as a "Director's Reel"... when in fact, it is more of my "Directors / Designers" reel.

Here is a brief credit list

The Pumpkin Of Nyefar

Mark Oftedal as co-director.

Maurice Noble as co-writer.

June Foray on voices.

Produced at Wang Film in Taiwan, and Thailand.

El Tigre

Created by Jorge Guttierez, and Sandra Equihua for Nickelodeon

Directed by Dave Thomas

Art Directed by Roman Laney

The Secret Of Kells

Directed by Tomm Moore, co-directed by Nora Twomey

Art Directed by Ross Stewart

Produced at The Cartoon Saloon, by Paul Young

Lava Boy (trailer)

co-directed by Veerapatra Jinanavin

Produced by The Monk Studios

Howl

Directed by Rob Epstein, and Jeffrey Friedman

animation directed by John Hays

Production design by Eric Drooker

Produced by Werk, werk, Works and Telling Pictures

Escape of the Gingerbread Man

Produced by Juck Somsaman and Nitipat Somsaman, at The Monk Studios

Co-produced by the Animation Workshop, Denmark

Co-produced by the West Danish Film Fund

Voices on this clip by Jon Kenny

Nominations!!

A big congratulations to Tomm, Paul, Nora, Stewie, Adrien and the gang at Cartoon Saloon for their Oscar, and Annie nominations!!! We all knew "The Secret of Kells" was a special film... and it's so nice that others have found out about it. It was nice to be involved... God speed to you all.

The official site is here.

The Secret of Kells - Disney Trailer from Cartoon Saloon on Vimeo.

Song Of The Sea

-My pal Tomm Moore, and his crew at the The Cartoon Saloon are putting together a piece of animated poetry, a feature film project called "Song Of The Sea". Above is the teaser for Cartoon Movie.

















-Tomm asked me to do some inspirational sketches for the trailer exploring light and color, based on his storyboards. I sometimes take a "Shotgun" approach to color when I first get involved with a project, trying out a lot of different things until I get a sense of what the director is looking for. Even though I had worked with both Tomm and "Songs" art director, Adrien Merigeau on "The Secret Of Kells", both wanted to explore a different look for "Song". I have always been fascinated with "Lumage," a technique that involves animating cut-out plastic pieces on a light table... giving a backlit feeling to the images. Even though I was sketching digitally... I thought the feeling of "Lumage" would be appropriate to the "magical" quality of the story.














-Tomm and his crew are still developing the story and look of "Song of the Sea". To read the latest on the project please visit:

"The Blog of the Sea".

The Secret Of Kells

Above: The trailer for the "The Secret Of Kells"... The film was directed by my pal Tomm Moore, co-directed by Nora Twomey, Produced by Paul Young, Art Directed by Ross Stewart, with additional design excitement by Adrien Merigeau.























-Above: A few of my development sketches for Brendan

My main job on "Brendan" was helping set the color... and to a lesser extent help out with development. Originally I was slated to be head of backgrounds... unfortunately there was a scheduling conflict... so my stay in Kilkenny was shorter than expected. But I was able to get through the rough color script, and Tomm and I were able to get in a few good work outs.

I have to say the Brendan team was different than any other I have worked with... they were all "artists" who happened to be doing animation. For example, Producer Paul Young was heavily involved in theater, and writing a comic strip. Art director Ross Stewart could as easily be off painting canvases... or playing music ... as designing film.

Click here to visit: Ross Stewart's Site!

So the approach to making Brendan was totally different than I was used to... the art team wasn't referencing Disney, or UPA, they were just splashing color... blowing paint around... creating textures... looking at ancient illuminated manuscripts... just trying to create something new that fit the story. It was totally refreshing... and in my short time in Ireland... I learned a lot! I couldn't really rely on shortcuts... I actually had to draw! And I have to admit... I was more than a bit rusty. But the approach to the art was simply a reflection of Tomm, and the crew making the film... honest, real, and direct.



Above: More development sketches. I tried to keep "color themes" to the various sequences of the film. For example... the vikings represented death and destruction. So I thought it would be good to use more "primitive color"... the kind of colors a caveman might use... for those sequences.





















Above: A section of the color script for "Brendan and the Secret Of Kells". All the sketches here are based on the storyboard, painted after talking to Tomm, and Ross about the mood and feel of each sequence. The color script is a rough guide for the crew... a sort of "map" for the background artists... fx artists... compositors, and so on. These sketches were completed very early in the process... and you can see how they were used by watching the trailer. It is interesting to me to see what changed, and what stayed the same in the final film cut.

I feel very fortunate to have been a small part of "The Secret Of Kells" ... a very special film, made by some special people... who I am lucky enough to call friends. -tod

The Blog Of Kells! The Cartoon Saloon!