6) Grimm & Weird…

A number of years ago I worked as art director/storyboard supervisor for the now defunct Hearst Animation. At first I was rather excited to be there, hoping to have the opportunity to work on projects starring the stable of characters from Hearst owned King Features. I dreamed of working on Popeye or Krazy Kat or any number of my favorite comic strip characters. I soon realized however that I was a place holder, a body to fill the position while they slowly shut down the unit. Hearst was unwilling to fund their own projects, but sought co-production deals where they would have great editorial control with little financial obligation. My dead-end task was storyboard supervising on two dismal series, Quasimodo and a god-awful interpretation of Flash Gordon. Both were international co-productions that were rife with problems. The storyboards from the production partners overseas were terrible.

During this time, there were a few feeble attempts to develop new properties, but I think they failed because of Hearst’s lack of financial commitment. Brothers Grimm & Sisters Weird, based on the book by Vivian Vande Velde, was one such effort. The purposely crude and almost UPA feel to the characters seems almost contemporary when compared to what’s streaming and on television today.

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