We Want Media

For those of you who don't recognize the name, John Krisfaluci (or John K., as he is generally credited) was the wiley cartoonist behind the hit Nicktoon series Ren & Stimpy. The show made its debut in August of 1991 and was an instant success, completely revolutionizing the way animation was made for television. It's also a personal favorite of mine; though I was only six years old, I still remember waking up extra early that August morning and laughing myself silly at it's trademark crude, surreal humor.

Since then, John K. has become an idol to me. Unfortunately, he was fired after Ren & Stimpy's second season, sparking some major controversy and ultimately leading to the show's decline. Krisflaluci followed the series with a handful of shorts, commercials, music videos and pilots, but nothing has matched Ren & Stimpy's breakout success. For a short time, it seemed as though John K. had disappeared.

What a surprise, then, to find that he has created his very own blog, John K.'s All About Stuff. The blog is a great resource for anyone who is interested in animation or the cartoon business. John posts in depth about the animation process, his theories on quality entertainment, his experience as an animator, and academic historical readings. He also gives readers an inside scoop on what he is working on, which is especially cool for fans.

But the best part about John K.'s blog is that he actually teaches you how to animate! John has uploaded an online version of the Preston Blair Animation Workbook (one of, if not the seminal text on the subject), coupled with ongoing lessons that can help anyone learn how to make cartoons. Essentially, you're getting for free what you would normally have to pay thousands of dollars for at college. I think it's great and really inventive to see someone like John K. pass along his experience to help future generations of artists.

The blog just recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, so check it out. It's one of my favorite reads.