Day #365 - the End

I've been thinking about what to draw for this day for quite a long time.

All along I've been thinking that I'd just draw "the End" like it is at the end of old movies.

or "FIN" like the end of foreign films.

then I thought I'd add some curtains to it.

Then I thought about doing the end of Looney Tunes with the "that's all folks" quote.

I dunno, it just didn't seem right?

All year I've either done portraits or cartoon characters from my childhood, I've never liked the run of the mill cartoons, i.e. I only ever liked Yosemite Sam and the little bird that went along to the sounds of "der der der da da da da" with it's little hop jump and the young African hunter stalking it. Instead I like cartoons like Milton the Monster, Fearless Fly, Flukey Luke, Batfink, Sherman Peabody. I've been a student of the history of animation for most of my adult life but I don't like Disney, instead I love the Fleischer Brothers, so much so that I got a tattoo of one of their characters on my shoulder (yes Dad, I have a tattoo), I love la linea, it's simplicity is its genius. I remember waking up and watching the Thunderbirds with my brother in the early hours of every Saturday. In the 80s I started watching G-Force (Battle of the Planets), this was my introduction into Japanese animation, I was in love immediately, In my late teens I was introduced to Manga, Akira is still one of my all time favourite movies. In my mid twenties I forced my girlfriend to go and watch Toy Story, my jaw was on the ground the entire time. Everything that Hayao Miyazaki makes is absolutely amazing, from the Castle of Cagliostro (which is rated as having the best car chase ever in a movie) to Totoro to Kiki's Delivery Service to Laputa to Nausicaa to Princess Mononoke to Porco Rosso to Spirited Away to Howl's Moving Castle to Ponyo - he is second to NONE!

So, I decided to end it with a little flying squirrel whom would have a stupid pal and annoying voice and two of the most memorable villians in cartoon history.

I can't believe that I actually completed this little project, all along I thought I was going to falter and this last month I have been completely absent of ideas, you probably don't realise that most nights I sit here staring at a blank piece of paper at about 10pm thinking I'd better think up something soon. Thankfully, early on Lester gave me a great idea if I got stuck and Wiki-ing the date led to a lot of pictures.

I want to thank everybody that gave me feedback, your comments really provided me with the inspiration to keep going on and on.

I thank anyone that gave me ideas of what to draw, I don't think you realise how much you helped me.

I thank my beautiful kids for giving me so many ideas and for letting me watch you pick up your pencils in response, I love you both so much!

My secret watcher (Dad) whom would check my blog on a daily basis but only towards the end did he let me know.

To Jhoven, for providing me with the idea and the ongoing encouragement all the way through.

And finally to Vic, whom put up with me sitting in the corner of the room ignoring her for a year whilst I doodled away. Thanks honey!

I'm really looking forward to not drawing tomorrow :)