GOW2 and After

Okay, This is the second time I'm writing this entry.  The first one seemed to only post up a title!  Trying to lure my memory of this post out from the fuzzy RAM in my head...not getting much.  Let's see...the last time I talked about my projects was the very first post on God of War.  So, I guess this'll be a little bit of an up date on my work life.

After God of War 1, I had been at Sony for almost four years, and it seemed like a good time to do something else.  However, I decided to take on another role for one more installment as "Visual Development Director".  It was enticing, since Cory Barlog was going to direct the sequel, and I already had a great experience with him when he was animating.  He seemed like a great fit for that role---seemed like another round of God of War could be a refreshing experience.  Plus, besides Scott Seeto and Cecil Kim, who were key concept artists on God of War 1, I would get to form the rest of the concept team, adding on Andy Park, Dwayne Turner, Ryan Meinerding, and Erik Sanjuan (whom I got to borrow from the modeling team during our busiest phase).  The team had lots of talent, but most importantly, were great to work with, and they were also patient with me as their art director.   It was a group that you looked forward to working with on a Monday morning.

I learned a lot taking on this role.  It was my first time art directing the look of a game, and Cory's first time directing the game, so there were definitely growing pains.  I think one of the most challenging parts was managing a team of friends, trying to see how much to direct, versus how much to trust their own experience, and all the while trying to shield them from as much politics as possible.  The other end was the politics of being on the managing staff.  I worked very closely with Cory, trying to understand his creative process as much as possible.  It was an adventure adjusting to Cory and trying to get the rest of the concept art team to adjust with me...of course, Cory had to adjust to the whole team, along with the rest of Sony and the corporate execs.  As frustrating as times were, it was a great experience to work with him---he has vision to direct and guts to deal with the dirt.   (Lol, did I get that from a fortune cookie??)

Near the end of God of War 2, it was definitely time to do something different.  I learned from a good friend Charles Lee that Imagi was making "Gatchaman".  This was a dream project for me ever since I was a little kid running in the back streets of Taiwan as G1 (the leader of the Gatchaman team), protecting our neighborhood from alien invasion.  This old 70's cartoon was called "Battle of the Planets" in the US, or G-Force.  I loved it... I got to help envision  Gatchaman for our times.  I joined Imagi for about a year and a half---worked on some "look of picture" images, but mostly spent time designing the characters.  The original vision for the film was fun and a bit edgy---appealed to me.  The project's been through lots of changes, rewrites (like any film), ended up with a different director recently.  The vision's changed since I first joined, and seems to be going towards a younger Power Rangers audience---I wanted to see a Gatchaman that I would love to see, and didn't want to see it go this direction, so I departed from Imagi and took an Art Directing/Character Designing gig on Thundercats.

Thundercat's is another old cartoon that's making it's way to film...hoooooooo!  hehe---sorry, couldn't help myself.  The show also made an impression on me as a kid, maybe not quite the way Gatchaman did, but none the less, it took a good chunk of my after school hours.  Currently, this is keeping me busy, along with some other projects on the side, which I can't mention yet.  I still owe Gnomon some DVD's for their collection, so that's another project that's on my current to-do list.  All this to say that I've been slacking on my blogging.  Sorry guys, gotta keep the work going...

Comments

[Sebastian Lonegro]

That was amazing men, congratulations for your art.Have a lot of talent.
Love all GOW stuff.
Keep with the good work.

Regards
Sage

[David Santos]

Ciao Charlie, come và? Spero tutto bene per te. Buon lavoro. Un abbraccio e un buon fine settimana.

[Cwen]

thanks for the comments, guys.

Monty-- sorry, but that image is bogus--- no connection with the film or game. He actually isn't designed yet;]

[Monty]

Hi charlie, a news story circulating around the net is showing off a possible model of Panthro (I Think), is it for real?

http://www.latinoreview.com/news/thunder-thunder-thunder-4637

[JessieG]

Is Imagi canning Gatchaman? I hope not! some strange rumors goin' around...Can you tell a bit about where it's going? Also, when is Thundercats scheduled to come out?

[Rodney Fuentebella]

Woah! That's a cool crazy life man, envious! Hope all goes well with whatever lies ahead...Thundercats...ho! take care bro!

[David NYC]

When does Imagi release Gatchaman? Some time next year or by the end of this year? I hope they stick with the plan. It's too big of a legend not to be revamped. Thanks for the information and you're one talented man! Please post your Gatchaman work when they become public!

[Jason St Louis]

Sorry my mistake, kinda misread things there and got my info wrong. Its not Kevin Monroe meant to say you Charlie!

But my opinions on your doing T-Cats still stands, wishing you all the best. Ya know, there's a thread on imdb.com where i've tried to get folks to talk about a spruced up T-Cats series/movie, hope if you ever pass by there you'll browse those pages and get a jist of what a more grander scale Thundercats fans think should happen today! I.E. Enhance what worked and ditch what didn't.

Threads under the title of; "Amping up the series in the new version of Thundercats!"

Jason.

P.S. Any chance fans will get to see Lynxana from the classic Marvel Comic story be adapted into a new incarnation of Thundercats, or would Warners have to purchase the Marvel-Star comics story and pay or buy for that particular character's usage in any film adaptations etc.

I'm now going to view your beatuiful art on here, which is quite extrordinary Charlie!

Laters

[Artfreak]

You rock, man! Can't wait to see your take on T-cat! hooooo!

[cwen]

hi Monty,
I wish I could show you, but I can't really show any stuff online at the moment while the studio hasn't released the images yet.

[cwen]

hi Jason,
Thanks for your comments. just wondering where you heard that Kevin Monroe was on Tcats. Actually, the director for Tcats is Jerry O'Flaherty.

Kevin is working on "Dead of Night"---about the adventures of Dylan Dog, some kind og supernatural private eye.

[Monty]

Is it possible to see any of your old designs for Gatchaman?

And how close does Thundercats follow the original cartoon, I remember WB wanted to turn them into a rock band.

And also, did you do any work for TMNT, how was that movie changed from the original script?

[Jason St Louis]

Moving on to Thundercats sounds sweet indeed. Like what everyone else on here has already commented on, i wouldn't go for a watered down Gatchaman by the sounds of it neither. And making it akin to the Power Rangers sounds way off.

I'm sad to hear Mr Monroe's off of Gatchaman ,but pleased thats he's on Thundercats. Just like many fans, i've imagined what kind of updates the T-Cats series would have, but with he news of a new CGI movie based on Thundercats by Warners Brothers and Kevin Monroe jumping on that instead after Gatchaman didn't pan out, i certainly look forward to seeing what'll be produced in the months to come from this recent bit of blockbuster news.

I've gotta ask though, would Gatchaman and Thundercats have graphically looked anything like the 'Final Fantasy' and 'Appelseed' animated movies or been more in the vein of CG movies like 'Dragon Blade' (2005)?

Anyways love whats on here, the comments by posters the love and general feeling for these new CGI flicks. i'm going to put this place on my favorites folder and check back every now and then.

Wishing you all the best, *thumbs up*.

Jason.

[cwen]

hi Ann,
Thanks. I had a great time on Gatchaman. Just to clarify, they weren't trying to make Gatchaman look like Power Rangers-----they wanted to go for a younger Power Rangers audience, which I wasn't as crazy about.

[Randy Bantog]

The new stuff you're working on sounds really exciting. I'm also a big Thundercats fan and can't wait to see how the movie turns out.

[Monty]

Hi Charlie is there any info you can share about Gatchaman,
such as why Kevin Monroe left, and if they are still using your designs for the movie.

Also what animation studio is producing the Thundercats movie, and how does the budget compare to other CGI movies?

[Ann]

Apologies, I let my temper get away. I should also say I appreciate the work you were doing with the Gatchaman movie and I'm sorry to see you've left it. Hope Thundercats goes well for you. Thanks for keeping us in the loop on things.

[Ann]

I'm horrified that they're going with a Power Rangers look-alike for Gatchaman. Gatchaman is NOT Power Rangers. It's one thing to redo the classics, but to redo a classic and then add elements of another show just to get an audience shows what a sorry state the movie industry is in. - to the movie execs - don't try to copycat and follow the money, make a good movie and the money will follow. sheesh.

[Cwen]

hi Mark,
Yes, I did get your email--- it's great to see your site dedicated to Thundercats. We're definitely trying to capture the flavor of the show, but updated for the contemporary audience. Thanks so much for offering up reference material. Not sure if we'll need more at this point, but if we do, I'll contact you.

[cwen]

hi Wendy, Hope you're not too aprehensive about the outcome of Gatchaman. Most of the projects I know of or have been on go through some pretty rough obstacles before making their way to distribution. I think, and hope, with the talent they have there (and for the sake of all us fans) that the film will come out as a success.

[Wendy]

Thanks for the update on the Gatchaman movie. Seems there has been little to no information about it for a while, and the change in staff is concerning. I have to say your news leaves me apprehensive about the way the movie will eventually turn out.

[lorraine]

Love reading your posts. You have an awsome imagination! Good luck with everything!

[akiraghost]

heard that you might be working on AKIRA --- man, IS THAT TRUE?

[2pack88]

hey, I saw your pics & about the Thundercat gig on Ain't it Cool News -- guess they don't know your blog here yet, huh? Cool that we get the scoop here first!

[Daniel Andrews]

Right on man! Thunder Cats, that awesome. Hopefully you can post something in the near future to give us a taste of how it may look.
Great to learn a little more about you.
Take Care and Best of luck friend.
Your work is Gold man.