QUOTED BY THE CHIEF HAPPINESS OFFICER

Read the article on extreme recruiting!

Super rad.

gene.

PUN OF THE WEEK - BY NEVEN NESIC

Starring our very own Nikki Hilton. Once you get to know her, you'll know why.

Nice one Nevey,

gene

FATKATS OF THE ROUNDTABLE

So a few months ago you might have remembered that Fatkat was awared the Fastest Growing Company in Atlantic Canada award. We grew something like 977% in 2 years. It's actually even more now but don't ask me to do the math.

So a part of being the fastest growing company in Atlantic Canada we were invited to open up our minds and discuss the problems of expanding so quickly. A nice event was put up at Crystal Palace in Moncton on Thursday and we were invited to yap our faces off in some round table discussions. So who better to help then some of the people who actually are responsible for all of our success!

Senior Animator, Neven Nesic came fully prepared.

Followed by yours truly.

Tea Time with Tara Fowler!
And Crumpets with Senior Animator, Gwen Mitchell.

And of course the Illustrious Senior Producer, Big Show.

So we got down to business with our assigned tables.

We talked all about Diversity in the workplace, how to attract new hires, how to deal with culture shock, sales & marketing etc. I have lots of oppinions about all this, however this is not the time to talk about them. But soon!

I do reccomend one thing though and it's something I reccomended to everyone at this event.

READ THIS BOOK!

I stumbled upon it a few weeks ago and I was so happy, for one it gave me more ideas to make fatkat an even better place to work and also how to deal even more with people and what questions to ask them. I was so excited when reading it that at one point I stopped, ran downstairs and bought 4 more copies for my senior managers.

Read it, it's fantastic, it'll revolutionize your business.

Much love,

gene

PUN OF THE WEEK - BY NEVEN NESIC

BACK FROM VACATION!

Sorry for the lack of updates folks. I've taken only my second vacation in the last 8 years! This one was very special for me for a couple of reasons.

1. It marked the first time I've gone more then 24hours without checking my email.
I actually went 6 days! Those who know me well, know that I'm a total control freak... ... well I used to be. You don't really need to be a control freak when you have great people around you that share your vision and have all the skills to boot! My producers kept all the productions together baby. Big props to Geremy, Daniel, Big Show and Dougie Little!

2. I got to spend alot of time with my wife and my parents!
This something that may seem "of normal" day to day activity for some of you. For me it's not something that happens very often. My parents travel alot and when they are actually here in Miramichi I'm usually too busy to spend time with them. Tara my wife, works with me so I get to see her everyday, but it's usually under the fast pace of the studio environment.

These past 5 days were quality hours spent with all of them. I wouldn't trade them for the world.

Which leads me to think, I wonder how many folks out there in the animation industry are neglecting their duties to their loved ones? Think of it, when was the last time you called your parents or went out to dinner with non-work related friends or even took your spouse for a walk or coffee?

Sometimes we need to remember that while this job in the industry is important to fill our creative wants and needs to not forget the people that help support us while we do this for ourselves. How about paying them back with some of the same exclusive focus and attention that goes into all those designs, storyboards or scenes we're animating?

You can do it too, don't worry about work, that will always be there, we can't always say that about our loved ones.

So don't wait.

Gene.

HILARIOUS NEW TRANSFORMERS

Something funny at Somethingawful.com

THE 40 SHOW | SHOW THE LOVE

These 40's were painted by the impressive Gene Blakefield.

This is a little something Mega is doing up out in Vancouver. Mike worked at Fatkat last year and is a top notch dude with some top notch skillz. Ask him about the time he set a "little Ceasar's" on fire.

CHECK OUT THE 40SHOW BLOG HERE!

Show him the love and support his new art show. Dan Helle, Justin Coffee, Justin Lee and I are all contributing from Fatkat.

Good stuff, let's rock it.

Gene

PUN OF THE WEEK - BY NEVEN NESIC

Yup, you're going to get one of these a week. Crazy Neven we all love him and his drawings!

gene.

FROM THE STUDIO TO US EXECUTIVES!

When I think of executives, I think of slick suited, Porsche driving hipsters that run businesses betweens rounds of golf and trips to Europe. Men and women that few employees ever see let alone get a chance to meet or have a conversation with.

When I dreamt of having my own studio, I always hoped that the executives at Fatkat would never be those people and from what I know, we're not like that. But it's always nice to have someone else tell you you're not. Especially when it comes from 80 of your co-workers!

A couple of weeks ago (sorry for the post delay) there was a great surprise waiting for Nikki, Andrew and I at lunch! Tara dragged each of the executives downstairs to the pub (yes we have pub at the studio) - for each of us she came up with some sort of reason which had us concerned enough to go down stairs.

Waiting for us was the entire crew! The whole pub was dressed up with streamers and everyone was there and laughing and going on! It was fantastic, brought a tear to my eye. I really did start sniffling like an 8 year old. I'm sucha wanker.

The crew gave us trophies! It was awesome! - Andrew recieved the "Gassiest Boss in the Galaxy" - Nikki recieved the "Kraziest Boss in the Galaxy" and I recieved "Best Boss in the Galaxy" (don't worry it won't go to my head!) So honoured we are though!

Everyone had come together to thank us for all of our hard work, but it's you guys we should be thanking, it was so wonderful, I actually got teary eyed a bit!

I love you guys, thank you so much.

Gene.

PS: Thanks to my wife because I know how hard it was to keep this secret! You're good woman!

THE FATKAT ALLIANCE GROWS STRONGER!

These are the delicious folks at World Leaders Entertainment - a very strong part of the Fatkat Alliance! We're currently working on 52 x 11 episode top secret animation production called "SuperNormal" with these folks with many more projects to come! (I've said too much!)

Don't they look fantastic? Hell, don't they look Fat-tastic?! Yes, indeed.

They also smell amazing,

Gene.

PS: Anyone for Hockey?

VOTE FOR CLOE!

Help us get "My Adventures with Cloe" off the ground folks. Now that we have just for laughs on board as an official distributor we must get our numbers up!

Watch the pilot here!

Login at justforlaughs.ca - become a member!

Take action and vote hard! (and often!)

Show her the love, it's the least you can do after what she's shown you!

yum,

gene

Gesture Drawing for Animation by Walt Stanchfield

I came across this in my twilight surfings. I've seen Walt's notes around before, mostly here at Animation Meat but not in one nice compilation such as the one Leo Brodie has provided.

To take it a step further, I've made them all available for download with one simple click, all you have to do is save the PDF after you click here.

I can't wait to dig into this, hope you have fun reading and applying!

Lovies,

Gene

PS: Send your thanks to Leo Brodie here: leo (at) puchandbrodie.com

BIG HUG COMES TO TOWN

Whenever the boys from Big Hug Productions come to town we try to get together and do some abnormally silly stuff. This week we hope to go winter paintball'n. But first, let's take them out with Big Show and Mr.Dunn to a Miramichi Phantoms hockey game shall we?

Well that's the view of the game we had, exciting n'est pas? - We lost 9-8! Who loses with a score like that in hockey? Looks like we do I guess. (You'd think that I was in net!)

Budwardo Bolton chowing down on some Canadian Poutine.

Oh, how he loves the Poutine.

Keith was fighting walter for his can of pepsi. Walter tried hard but succumbed to Keith's tenaciousness.

Did Keith use this can of pepsi for good? Did he quench his poutine thirst?..

No, he poured it down some girl's back instead.

Those Big Hug guys are a hoot.

More pictures coming this week!

gene