Letter to Joe Kubert

    A few months ago, after far too long of a delay, I called up Joe Kubert to thank him for all I learned when I went to his school (from 1983-85). We had a nice chat, but I didn't want to take up his whole day recounting my life story. So I told him I'd follow up with the details, and here is the letter I sent him:

    Hi Joe -- as a follow-up to our phone conversation from a while back, I want to share with you how much my education at the Joe Kubert School has meant to my life and career.

    I attended the Joe Kubert School from 1983 to 1985. I got an amazing foundation of all the most important drawing and storytelling skills during those years. Up until I went to your school, my artwork had developed in fits and starts…but once I came under the full-time guidance of all the experienced teachers I learned more than I ever thought possible.
    The old Kubert School circa 1984
    In your Narrative Art class, I learned about telling a story visually. One of the core ideas that has never left me is that the  reader is always right. If they get confused it's my fault. The artist has to make the storytelling clear and compelling.

    I learned solid basic drawing techniques from Jose Delbo -- his class taught me how to draw the real basics that are often skipped by young artists. I learned figure drawing, perspective, how to use pens and brushes, lettering, coloring and painting. I have used all those skills throughout my career; not only in animation storyboards (for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros and Disney), but as a comic book artist/writer/inker/letterer and full-color cover artist for Nickelodeon Magazine.
    Most important was that you taught me about the realities of working for publication and on deadline. You stressed over and over that an assignment is useless if it's not done on time. The professional world is all about production and deadlines, and if you can't hack that, you're dead. Thank you for putting so much emphasis on the importance of good professional work habits

    Best of all, I have been teaching others, continuing the lessons and traditions that I learned from you and your crew of seasoned professional teachers. In my role as Storyboard Supervisor and Director at Disney TV Animation, I help teach other artists the solid basics of visual storytelling. I wrote and illustrated a book called, "Cartooning: Character Design" for Walter Foster Books, and I am currently teaching an online class in storyboarding.

    By the way, I'll never forget that our first assignment in your class was drawing a comic book story with no words, and only with silhouettes. That assignment broke my brain open to the challenges and opportunities that can be achieved by telling a story with drawings. In my online class, I just taught a lesson on posing, acting and the importance of silhouettes!

    Basically -- everything I know about drawing and storytelling had its foundation at the Joe Kubert School. I am eternally grateful that you started this wonderful school, and that you have been so generous with your knowledge.

    Gratefully,
    Sherm Cohen

    Source URL: https://aminefairy.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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Letter to Joe Kubert

    A few months ago, after far too long of a delay, I called up Joe Kubert to thank him for all I learned when I went to his school (from 1983-85). We had a nice chat, but I didn't want to take up his whole day recounting my life story. So I told him I'd follow up with the details, and here is the letter I sent him:

    Hi Joe -- as a follow-up to our phone conversation from a while back, I want to share with you how much my education at the Joe Kubert School has meant to my life and career.

    I attended the Joe Kubert School from 1983 to 1985. I got an amazing foundation of all the most important drawing and storytelling skills during those years. Up until I went to your school, my artwork had developed in fits and starts…but once I came under the full-time guidance of all the experienced teachers I learned more than I ever thought possible.
    The old Kubert School circa 1984
    In your Narrative Art class, I learned about telling a story visually. One of the core ideas that has never left me is that the  reader is always right. If they get confused it's my fault. The artist has to make the storytelling clear and compelling.

    I learned solid basic drawing techniques from Jose Delbo -- his class taught me how to draw the real basics that are often skipped by young artists. I learned figure drawing, perspective, how to use pens and brushes, lettering, coloring and painting. I have used all those skills throughout my career; not only in animation storyboards (for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros and Disney), but as a comic book artist/writer/inker/letterer and full-color cover artist for Nickelodeon Magazine.
    Most important was that you taught me about the realities of working for publication and on deadline. You stressed over and over that an assignment is useless if it's not done on time. The professional world is all about production and deadlines, and if you can't hack that, you're dead. Thank you for putting so much emphasis on the importance of good professional work habits

    Best of all, I have been teaching others, continuing the lessons and traditions that I learned from you and your crew of seasoned professional teachers. In my role as Storyboard Supervisor and Director at Disney TV Animation, I help teach other artists the solid basics of visual storytelling. I wrote and illustrated a book called, "Cartooning: Character Design" for Walter Foster Books, and I am currently teaching an online class in storyboarding.

    By the way, I'll never forget that our first assignment in your class was drawing a comic book story with no words, and only with silhouettes. That assignment broke my brain open to the challenges and opportunities that can be achieved by telling a story with drawings. In my online class, I just taught a lesson on posing, acting and the importance of silhouettes!

    Basically -- everything I know about drawing and storytelling had its foundation at the Joe Kubert School. I am eternally grateful that you started this wonderful school, and that you have been so generous with your knowledge.

    Gratefully,
    Sherm Cohen

    Source URL: https://aminefairy.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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Bleach 414 (English)

Bleach 414 (English)

Thoughts on Ouran Chp 81

    First of all that was an extremely long wait!  And 52-pages was a lot of translating for me.  Fortunately, the print quality of that section of the magazine was excellent, so the pages were easy to clean.  Speaking of the quality, one thing I did notice is that a lot more care than usual was given to the drawings themselves.  There were some nice shadows:


    And some all-around fine drawing:

    It was a real treat to prepare the images for this chapter.

    Onto the story itself.  Taken on the whole, I liked it, though, I thought it was a little long.  Finally, both Haruhi and Tamaki confess to one another and as expected, in the end, Haruhi is the rational one who screws Tamaki's head on.

    I didn't like the early on thrash in which Haruhi tries to take back her confession after Tamaki goes stupid.  Before continuing on, let me say I called the cliche of Tamaki not being able to hear Haruhi initially over the jet engine noise.  I was hoping that wouldn't happen, but it did.  I was also hoping at that moment Tamaki would go stupid in a different way.
    I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I thought after the ordeal he went through with his grandmother, Tamaki would be somewhat more mature.  I guess, the baka-ness I was expecting was for the kiss followed by an out-of-the-blue marriage proposal that would have set Haruhi off about how stupid he is.  Still, the little part about Tamaki yelling out to Hikaru and Haruhi's reaction was funny.

    The kiss scene was very nice and just the kind of decisive and mature act that I wanted Tamaki to make:


    I also liked the little bit where the club members rally around Hikaru to support his loss in love.

    Onto the re-opening of the Host Club.  I wasn't really expecting this.  I would think that after settling his heart upon Haruhi, the idea of entertaining other ladies would be the last thing on Tamaki's mind.  I thought he would be instantly doting and driving Haruhi crazy trying to make up for lost time.  Not only that, though, as a girlfriend, Host Club would be a big no-no.  Seriously, Haruhi is far too saintly.  I was happy to see the twins point out this inconsistency.

    Now on to the most interesting part, at least for me...it happens to be the little part were the girls and Renge are discussing what role in Greek Mythology Haruhi is playing. In one she's Adonis and in the other she's Hyacinthus. In both cases, her loss is sorely missed by the Tamaki character and the Haruhi character dies as a result of jealousy or a dispute between between two
    Gods. In the Aphrodite and Adonis myth, to settle the dispute between Aphrodite and Persephone, Adonis spends part of the year with Aphrodite and part of the year with Persephone. In the Apollo and Hyacinthus myth, Hyacinthus is killed by a discus that Apollo throws, but is blown wayward by Zephyr (who Renge indicates is Kyouya). Hmmm...I wonder could this be some foreshadowing about Haruhi's decision to study abroad...

    And back to Baka-Tamaki trying to plan a date.  Meh...the magic bit fell flat on me.  Thank goodness we can count on Haruhi to reign in the baka-ness.  I particularly like the last page.  I think Tamaki's expression as he teases Haruhi is priceless.


    And so now we all wait a month for the first date.  I'm fairly sure that Tamaki won't be cool, leaving Haruhi to be cool for them both.  As for Haruhi's decision about studying abroad, I don't know if her answer will be revealed next chapter.  My guess is that it will be the cliffhanger to end the chapter.  I think, though, that she will decide to study abroad based on the foreshadowing from the Greek Mythology cosplay and also because she discussed the matter with Kousaka and we know that Kousaka thought it was a golden opportunity.  However, where does this leave chapter 83? Regardless of Haruhi's decision, wrapping the story up just after the first date seems a little rushed.  I really do hope there is a follow on or spin-off series that follows at least Haruhi, Tamaki, and Kyouya into adulthood.  There's a lot of their story left unfinished.  Of course after Kyouya and Tamaki graduate, it can't be called "Ouran High School Host Club" anymore, so...sigh...I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this one.Source URL: https://aminefairy.blogspot.com/2010/07/
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