History Blog / JohnKStuff

* ArchetypalCharacter: He [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/07/disney-characters-bland-lead-up-for.html discourages]] using characters whose personality is entirely defined by their archetype, in favor of caricaturing real life people, who tend to have more shaded motives or odd quirks in their personalities. He does acknowledge some well defined characters can fit in a ganeral archetype, but still have unique personalities in spite of that.

* ArchetypicalCharacter: He [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/07/disney-characters-bland-lead-up-for.html discourages]] using characters whose personality is entirely defined by their archetype, in favor of caricaturing real life people, who tend to have more shaded motives or odd quirks in their personalities. He does acknowledge some well defined characters can fit in a ganeral archetype, but still have unique personalities in spite of that.

* MickeyMousing: [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2009/05/timing-story-to-melody.html One post]] discusses how vintage cartoon directors structured their animation around music, sometimes in a straightforward way before the music was even composed (but planned to a tempo), planned directly around a specific piece of music, and sometimes in a more creative, intuitive way. He points out how cartoons like BobClampett play out more like visual music than a straight narrative.

* MickeyMousing: [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2009/05/timing-story-to-melody.html One post]] discusses how vintage cartoon directors structured their animation around music, sometimes in a straightforward way before the music was even composed (but planned to a tempo), planned directly around a specific of music, and sometimes in a more creative, intuitive way. He points out how cartoons like BobClampett play out more like visual music than a straight narrative.

* MickeyMousing: [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2009/05/timing-story-to-melody.html One post]] discusses how vintage cartoon directors structured their animation around music, sometimes in a straightforward way before the music was even composed (but planned to a tempo), and sometimes in a more creative, intuitive way. He points out how cartoons like BobClampett play out more like visual music than a straight narrative.

* DeconstructiveParody: Discussed in his post about [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/04/funny-pathos-vs-cheap-trick-pathos.html Fake Pathos]], and how he made Son of Stimpy as a satire of shallow sad moments in movies and animated films, using every emotional tripwire in the book to make the audience cry over the most ridiculous plot element (namely Stimpy ''not being able to fart again'').

* ExcusePlot: A [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/03/writing-for-cartoons-1.html point brought up in his posts]] about writing for cartoons is that many cartoons very rarely have anything resembling a real story, and that most of the entertainment value comes from the emotional sensations and other ingredients of visual filmmaking. He also stresses that story is just one of the many creative ingredients that can be used to make a good cartoon, and that it isnt particularly necessary. He also says that a straightforward premise that can be described on one or two pages is more convienient for an animator, using such an approach for episodes like [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/05/writing-for-cartoons-stimpys-invention.html "Stimpy's Invention"]] and [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2006/12/yogi-bear-pie-pirates-1958-frank.html "A Yard Too Far".]]

''John K. Stuff'' is a blog run by (as the title says) animator Creator/JohnKricfalusi in which he gives info on animation, expression, character design, and many other animation subjects. It's home to John K’s opinions regarding animation, including his belief that good drawings are the back-bone of a cartoon's success (rather than it being the story, which is the common contemporary belief).

* ExcusePlot: A [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/03/writing-for-cartoons-1.html point brought up in his posts]] is that many cartoons very rarely have anything resembling a real story, and that most of the entertainment value comes from the emotional sensations and other ingredients of visual filmmaking. He also stresses that story is just one of the many creative ingredients that can be used to make a good cartoon, and that it isnt particularly necessary. He also says that a straightforward premise that can be described on one or two pages is more convienient for an animator, using such an approach for episodes like "Stimpy's Invention" and [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2006/12/yogi-bear-pie-pirates-1958-frank.html "A Yard Too Far".]]

* ExcusePlot: A [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/03/writing-for-cartoons-1.html point brought up in his posts]] is that many cartoons very rarely have anything resembling a real story, and that most of the entertainment value comes from the emotional sensations and other ingredients of visual filmmaking. He also stresses that story is just one of the many creative ingredients that can be used to make a good cartoon, and that it isnt particularly necessary. He also says that a straightforward premise that can be described on one or two pages is more convienient for an animator.

* ExcusePlot: A [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/03/writing-for-cartoons-1.html point brought up in his posts]] is that many cartoons very rarely have anything resembling a real story, and that most of the entertainment value comes from the emotional sensations and other ingredients of visual filmmaking. He also stresses that story is a small part of the many creative ingredients that can be used to make a good cartoon, and that it isnt particularly necessary.

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* DisneySchoolOfActingAndMime: Discussed and discouraged in several posts as formulaic and insincere acting. He does point out that it is impossible for animation to reach the same subtle acting as live action, but that real life acting should be caricatured to make its point instead of using stages mime like acting.

* DisneySchoolOfActingAndMime: Discussed and discouraged in several posts as formulaic and insincere acting. He does point out that is is impossible for animation to reach the same subtle acting as live action, but that real life acting should be caricatured to make its point instead of using stages mime like acting.
* LazyArtist: Strongly discouraged as he teaches poor artistry is a serious handicap to not only being a functional artist, but using animation to its full creative potential, and he has numerous posts dedicated to sharing foundation skills of drawing.

JohnKStuff is a blog run by (as the title says) animator JohnKrisfaluci in which he gives info on animation, expression, character design, and many other animation subjects. It's home to John K’s opinions regarding animation, including his belief that good drawings are the back-bone of a cartoon's success (rather than it being the story, which is the common contemporary belief).

* TheTwelvePrinciplesOfAnimation: Several posts address them in detail, and he believes the first five (Solid Drawing, Appeal, Exaggeration, Staging and Timing) are all the basic needs for a cartoon, with the rest being accessory principles. He uses Roger Ramjet as an example of using those five principles alone and still being skilled and fun.

* QuantityVsQuality: Discussed in [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/09/by-what-criteria-do-we-judge-quality.html "By What Criteria Do We Judge Quality"]], specifically referring to heavily detailed, super high budgeted aesthetics of features like {{Shrek}}, giving the analogy that a layman audience member or critic would believe excessive quantity of details gives the impression of a better product, as opposed to a more economical approach to animation. In contrast, John's own criteria is that a film should rely on pure skill and entertainment, regardless of budget. In a humorous analogy, he [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/05/soupy-sales-pookie-sings-id-like-to.html contrasted]] the multi million cgi Shrek to the approach of an ultra low budget vintage show (namely, a SoupySales skit) which relied on pure talent and skill alone.

* ThatMakesMeFeelAngry: Likewise, having characters merely describe their feelings is a big no no. Of course, a rule can be broken with care, such as when Ren says "I'm so angry..." In Sven Hoek, when he's clearly going through a lot more complex emotions than mere anger.

* QuantityVsQuality: Discussed in [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/09/by-what-criteria-do-we-judge-quality.html "By What Criteria Do We Judge Quality"]], specifically referring to heavily detailed, super high budgeted aesthetics of features like {{Shrek}}, giving the analogy that a layman audience member or critic would believe excessive quantity of details gives the impression of a better product, as opposed to a more economical approach to animation. In contrast, John's own criteria is that a film should rely on pure skill and entertainment, regardless of budget.

* QuantityVsQuality: Discussed in [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/09/by-what-criteria-do-we-judge-quality.html "By What Criteria Do We Judge Quality"]], specifically referring to heavily detailed, super high budgeted aesthetics of features like {{Shrek}}, giving the analogy that a layman audience member or critic would believe excessive quantity of details gives the impression of a better product, as opposed to a more economical approach to animation.

* DeconstructiveParody: Discussed in his post about Fake Pathos, and how he made Son of Stimpy as a satire of shallow sad moments in movies and animated films, using every emotional tripwire in the book to make the audience cry over the most ridiculous plot element (namely Stimpy ''not being able to fart again'').

JohnKStuff is a blog run by (as the title says) animator JohnKrisfaluci in which he gives info on animation, expression, character design, and many other animation subjects. It's home to John K’s notoriously controversial opinions regarding animation, including his belief that good drawings are the back-bone of a cartoon's success (rather than it being the story, which is the common contemporary belief). He is very opinionated, and some rants may be a little overwhelming.

* ThatMakesMeFeelAngry: Likewise, having characters merely describe their feelings is a big no no. Of course, a rule can be broken with care, such as when Ren says "I'm so angry..." In Sven Hoek, when he's clearly going through a lot more complex emotions than mere anger.

* ShowDontTell: John [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/04/writing-8-dialogue.html adamantly stresses this]], even if a cartoon is dialogue heavy, and that writing should not be the main storytelling tool in animation. He also claims that blatant exposition, meta humor that serves solely as a writer mouthpiece, and cliche dialogue are anti-character and actually undermine the humor.

* ShowDontTell: John [[http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2007/04/writing-8-dialogue.html adamantly stresses this]], even if a cartoon is dialogue heavy. He also claims that blatant exposition, meta humor that serves solely as a writer mouthpiece, and cliche dialogue are anti-character and actually undermine the humor.

!!Tropes about his blog include:

JohnkStuff is a blog run by (as the title says) animator JohnKrisfaluci in which he gives info on animation, expression, character design, and many other animation subjects. It's home to John K’s notoriously controversial opinions regarding animation, including his belief that good drawings are the back-bone of a cartoon's success (rather than it being the story, which is the common contemporary belief). He is very opinionated, and some rants may be a little overwhelming.