DETOUR PILOTS LAUNCHED

CHECK IT OUT!

MR.BANKS

The Insatiable Mr.Banks from Loogaroo on Vimeo.

HOPPER!

HOPPER DEMO from Loogaroo on Vimeo.

SEASONS!

SEASONS from Loogaroo on Vimeo.

R.I.P. FATKAT 1999 - 2009

Well folks, that was fun.

Roughly 10 years ago a few of us Helix Animation in Halifax (Not to be confused with Richard's Company in Sydney) left the studio to form Fatkat Animation Studios, at the time we were producing flash animated training films for a client in San Diego.

In 2002 Fatkat was taken over and redubbed Trainingscape Studios Canada by our client. Then about a year later it folded leaving us in the crapper and due 2 weeks back pay. Most of that great team went to other studios in Halifax or spread out farther west. The CEO was never heard from again and we never did get our cashola. Oh well, we moved on.

In 2003 a few of us ex Training-Apes decided to raise Fatkat out of the ashes and focus on TV. We got our start with a nice reference from Ian Gallant, who referred Fatkat to a PEI producer by the name of Campbell Webster. He had a contract that saw us launch Fatkat in NB and produce the first animated series in the province for CBC. I'm thankful that I was able to repay Ian for that reference with a spot on the Happy Tree Friends series years later. So thank you again Ian and thank you Campbell for getting us started again.

Alot of stuff has happened in the 10 years that the Fatkat brand has been kicking around, though mostly all in the last half. We've produced simply a ton of commercials and interactive spots. We've cranked out series such as Skunk Fu!, Chaotic, SuperNormal and of course the straw that broke the camel's back "Three Delivery".

Don't get me wrong, all were good productions, but Three Delivery was the monster, some called it a studio killer (you were right Rick!), I just giggled it off, but I knew they were right. It'd be a miracle if we came out of that one alive. Though it certainly beat the hell out of us all, we made it though. With all 26 episodes delivered to YTV and the other broadcasters just last week. I thank the entire TD crew for that, you did what many could not, you survived the most demanding and torturous production I have ever seen and did it with a smile, albeit a few teeth are missing from your smile; my heart goes out and my hat comes off to you. I'm very proud of the work Fatkat produced and Three Delivery is an awesome show because of it.

Extra big thank yoos to Robbie Anderson & Tavis Silbernagel for making it shine and staying committed through all of it. A massive thank you to Stephen Ashe and Carol MacKinley to cleaning it all up in finance, insuring that everyone was paid in full. It was no small task and you did it all with grace and humility. I thank you.

My first round of thanks go out to senior team, Patrick Proulx, Neven Nesic, Gwen Mitchell, Mel Albert, Andrew Embury, Rob Anderson Jr., Steve Valdez, Andrew Coyle, Jon Roth, Sean Rule, Jon Lambe, Mike Concannon, Neil Davies, Heather MacDonald,Daniel Theriault, Doug Little, Andrew Blodgett, Sean McGraw, Gordie McBride, Jose Osorio, Salma Hussain, Geremy Walker and Dallas Daigle.

Thank yoos to everyone else and forgive me if I've forgotten anyone: Geri Donahue, Kate Turcotte, Paula Barry, Geremy Walker, Casey Gallant, Cliff Walker, Ryan Keizer, Nic and Tim, Dave and Cindy, Erin and Gracie, Val Cormier, Keith Dury, Oliver Costes, Sandy Miller, Darren, Casey Johnson, Jessica, Erika, Jmac, Rory, Chris Mudd, Mr. Jarvis, the one and only Leon Arispunandar, Rob Llyod, Jeremy Donovan, Kurt Peckham, Rick, the laughter of Lauren Grieman (keep smiling hun), Ryan Cole, Dave McCullough, Paul Dupuis, Devin Taylor, Alberto and Erika overseas, Mark Cappello and the great team at invisible, Randy St.Ana, Mike Fiander and all the freelancers across Canada, much thanks and respect for your hard work offsite. Big thanks to the Space Knights crew and the previously unmentioned Matt Taylor for his work on both shows. To Dave "the popcorn machine stinks" Michaud, to Matt Stroud for stickin to Eddie, Daisy, Diego and all the friggin dogs in the joint.

Big inspirational thanks go out to Mick Harrison, whom is quite possibly the world's finest cartoonist. Atomic hugs to Tony Grillo at Flinch for his years of partnership. Big laughs go out to Buddy Bolton and his weinerdogs. Super high fives to the good folks at Razor Creative, Mike Valiquette, Aaron Simpson, Nancy Mathis and my friends at the WMI, our partners at Just for laughs, Teletoon, YTV, SRC, BBC, Canal+ and Nickelodeon. Of course our amazing friends at Dacapo, Olaf, Clint and Nolan (see you in a few weeks!). Thank you to Jeff at the City for being there, Brian at Enterprize for all the great advice, Claude at ACOA, Rick at the BDC, Nan and Ross at RBC, RDC, Greg at CBDC, RCMP, CMYK and Claude at BNB for supporting us like you have. I thank you all so much for your experiences and friendships.

To the hundreds of other great artists, people, partners and clients that have made Fatkat a great company over the years and put up with all the bullshit when we were growing like mad; thanks for still making it fun with cool projects, a heartfelt thanks.

As for the future, I have gathered a few close friends from Fatkat and will be starting a new studio here on the Miramichi. It will be called "Loogaroo" . We'll be reflecting on all we did right, but also all that we lost sight of or totally messed up on. Then retooling our new shop and providing the same great service that we did for so long with Fatkat but with some mighty big changes and improvements.

We'll be looking to put the finest ex-Fatkat artists to work as quickly as possible. I urge you all to reach out early and often to keep top of mind. Thank you for staying in the area and for your loyalty to me and Miramichi. We're by no means done yet, as a matter of fact, we're just getting started!

I'm off to spend some much needed time with my family, again thank you for 10 glorious years with Fatkat. I look forward to many more as Loogaroo.

It's been a slice.

Gene

gfowler@loogaroo.com

LEO & THE PISA-GANG | DEMO

Leo and The Pisa-gang | Demo from Fatkat on Vimeo.

Fresh out of the Fatkat hopper. Leo and the Pisa-gang, going into production here at Fatkat in 2009.

Gene

CBDC COMMERCIAL

Some of you may have been seeing this recently. It's a good shoot except for the psycho smile I give half way through. PSYCHO!!!

Great shot of Beans as a submarine radar operator though, and I love Tavis' floppy finger pointing!

good stuff!

FATKAT KIDS CHRISTMAS PARTY

Just this past Saturday we had our annual Kids Christmas party at Fatkat. A big thanks to all those whom organized it all. Extra thanks to Jessica's husband 'Dre for getting all stinky in the suit for the kids as well.

I hope everyone had a good time, I know Gavin sure did. I wish I could have made it and took more pictures. If anyone has more pictures please send them to me!

Thanks all!

Happy Christmas!

gene.

THREE DELIVERY MUSIC VIDEO

Music by Ten Minute Turns, Animation by Fatkat and Animation Collective.

Delicious!

HALLOWEEN WITH THE KREW

Some craziness found on Oso's facebook page. Looks like I missed a hell of a party last night!!

Jeremy's had this costume for almost 10 years now. It's still awesome.

And of course bringing in cash!

Louis St.Pierre took a trip up from Moncton to hang out.

Geri and Kate have never looked so good. Kate as Gord, that's a killer.

Mr.Coyle as his fav.
Daniel was obviously too tired to finish his lunch so Oso jumped in and had a bite.

Lauren dumped the chicken outfit and went for Calypso in a sports jacket.

I think this is Rob Anderson Junior under the scarecrow mask.

KC in the naze.

Nice to see Janie around!

Darren and the crew gaze on as Gord chugs a beer through his nose.

Way too serious!
Our very own living dead girl.


The Bruddas Grim!

This is absolutley the greatest face I've ever seen Tavis pull.

Thanks to Oso for the pics!

gene.

FATKAT ON AWN

A Groovy Article about this year's Fall Mipcom Market on AWN.

SPRAYCHEL ON REPUBLICRATS!

The latest in the Spraychel Campaign. Just finished last week here at Fatkat. Produced by Geremy Walker, animated almost entirely by Dave Rigley. A project brought to us by the Letter R, Generate, Story Worldwide and the number 5.

Give it love,

gene

CBDC COMMERCIAL

A few weeks ago some great video production guys were in to shoot us Fatkats in a commercial to support the CBDC. How could we say no?!

The CBDC is a great organization who did in fact help us start fatkat here in Miramichi. Great support when you need them and they act fast too. Don't hesitate to hit them up when if you're thinking of starting a business or expanding your existing one.

There's a party in my tummy, go yummy! go yummy!

Gene.

NEW WEBSITE GO!

www.fatkat.ca

With our old site way out of date, Beans cranked out this little ditty to tie us over for a bit. Wait to you see the upgrade!

Gene.

TELETOON VISITS FATKAT

Nice little article with Dom and I with the local paper.

Three Delivery Compositor Robert Lloyd and Dom shooting the wrong balls.

nice one fellers!

gene.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Back when we did Happy Tree Friends the TV Show, we tried to slip in this little guy.

fun!

gene.

THE TOWN PANTS INVASION

The weekend before just, was the Miramichi Irish Festival, where loads of insane musicians invade the area rockin out bars and pubs. However one band in particular decided to take their venture to Miramichi a bit further and invade the Fatkat Studio as well.

The Town Pants searched all through the accounting department looking for our secret fatvault, they came up empty. In spite, they rearranged all of our files for us and proceeded downstairs to enhale all the beer in our fridge.

Buggers!

Gene.

THREE DELIVERY WEBSITE UP!

SUPER 3DELIVERY WEBSITE GO!

This is the show that's been keeping us so damn busy the last year (almost).

This is a killer show for us, sure we didn't create it, but we're financing it (yup, I put my house up for it!) directing it, storyboarding it, doing all the animation, layout, design, compositing. Hell there's not much we're not doing on this show.

Big shout outs to the folks at AC, PVP and of course all the hard workin kats here at the litterbox.

Tutorials coming to be shared soon!

gene.

MICK TEECHIN YA STUFF

PT.1


PT.2

FATKAT GOES KIDDING FOR BOWLS!

uhm, yeah, whatever, Bowling for kids I mean.


For the 3rd consecutive year we went out for the brats and bowled some big numbers for Miramichi's Boy's and Girl's Club.

Me missus and the wee won ton came out as well! A family day!

Till mick stole my clone.

Lucky enough to have Tara steal him back just in time for Gavin to get up and get bowling for people his own size. He did decide to kick the ball instead of the usual way to bowl though.

Keith Fukumoto bringing the pain.

A Clean shaven Stroud graced us with his presence.

A fan favorite, Neville longbottom showed up for the cause. And I hear got kicked out cause he didn't bring his sponsor sheet.

This is what Mr. Rigglesworth thinks about that.

Gwenny suckin back some blizzard goodness, trying to cool her hot hands.

Gordie McBride got strike after strike by scaring the hell out of the pins.

Kate came out as well to smash down the whities.

Cindy-licious, shortly after this picture was taken started vomiting rainbows and unicorns!

Valarie came out and smashed them down, all for the little rug rats!

Thanks for all who came out and supported the cause. Big thanks to Keith Dury for keeping it all alive man! You're doing a great thing at the Boy's and Girl's Club!

Gene.