Shannon Muir’s Take on the Animation World

After spending a month so far at my new job, I have become more convinced than ever that animation as we’ve traditionally known it (movies and TV) and animation on the web (MMOG gaming, user generated content based) are merging together at a faster and faster rate.  As a result this blog may begin talking a lot more about what have previously been seen as two different worlds as I walk the line between them every day.

 I am so happy to be where i am right now.  It’s all the energy and action of an animated series, with art and similar elements to be handled, but unlike a show with a set end date the project continues to grow and evolve and the adventures continue.  The environment feels like being in an animation studio, with people bringing their favorite toys and games and animation/art reference books to work.  Though there’s also the programmers who have their scripting language reference books instead, but otherwise it’s exactly like any artist’s desk. 

 It’s home.

Going home from work Friday from the office, I was passing through the heart of Hollywood. You know, where all the stars are? (Definitely on the ground, in person, well that’s more questionable.) Anyway, there’s a grandmother and what I’m guessing is her son leading a little boy of maybe three or four down the street. And the little boy is looking at all the stars. He tells the man (Dad?) something I can’t hear.

Dad’s response: “And if we look long enough, maybe we can see Shrek!”

So I wondered, was this just simply capturing a child’s imagination because he saw Shrek as a “star” or because the Shrek universe is a Hollywood/LA parody?