Animation and wanderings of director / producer Tim Tyler

The Side Show Christmas is a 1 hour Flash animated Christmas Special in development with Teletoon Canada and SCN. I am producing for Cheshire Smile Animation Inc. Ideally we are looking at production this Fall / Winter with the broadcast premier in 2008.

I have been working with Chris Steininger to develop the character designs for the show. Jeff Martel created Side Show Christmas and is currently writing the 2nd Draft of the screenplay. I pitched the show to Teletoon at 2006 Banff Television Festival and have been developing the show with them since then.

These are some of the characters Chris has conceived to date. The animation design phase of developing this project has been a challenging experience because in the beginning we conceived and pitched the story to our broadcasters without any artwork. We have have had to work with the Broadcaster to develop a style for the show which fits their vision. Needless to say, these have not been our first attempts.

Well it is official. I am on may way to the 2007 Banff World Television Festival.

I was awarded a CTV Western Canada Fellowship and receive complementary admission to the festival and airfare. Thanks so much CTV!! You guys do so much more than putting d’ Idols, Dogriver and Degrassi on the National Airwaves!!

Now all I have to do now is find somewhere to stay…..

This year I am going to Banff to pitch the television projects I have been developing, The Side Show Christmas, Toby’s Time, and June Beetle, to the Canadian and International broadcasters at the festival. I am looking to develop relationships with more international broadcasters so that I can structure viable financing for these projects as they near production.

Additionally I hope to meet new people, get exposed to new ideas, and have a great time.

If you are going to Banff and would like to meet, please feel free to drop me a line.

Writing is at the heart of animation. It is the foundation that all other creative processes in the development and production of animation interact with intimately. It is the craft that can move an idea from conception to the screen.

This is a collection of good articles and resources on animation writing that I have come across.

Please feel free to add to this list.

>>>An article on the animation writing process at Pixar.

>>>An arcticle from May 07 Animation Mentor newsletter.

>>>A cool animation writing Blog. http://animationwriters.blogspot.com/

>>>Mike was part of an amazing panel discussion on writing for Squash and Stretch at the 2006 Ottawa Animation Festival. This is his book.

>>>Jeffery Scott is an emmy award winning animation writer. You can visit his website >>>>here