Animan--"Animan's Hercules".
Q--Oh boy! When will it be done?
A--Not for a long while yet.
Q--But I want to see it NOW! What's causing the delay?
A--Health issues. Influenza flattened me all through December. And now, I have been scheduled for surgery on January 29. You see, there's a rather large tumour inside my colon and I have to have the operation as soon as possible. The doctor said it was probably the result of too much stress---I think he's right.
A--Well, I won't be working on it while I'm in the hospital of course, but before and after that, when I'm home I will.
Q--Can we see some pictures from the video now?
A--Sure.This is Hercules.
A--They haven't been animated yet. These are scenes #72 and #73, in still drawings. I have the whole video planned out like this. The drawing is pretty bad! All I have to do is go in and redraw and animate them, scene by scene.
Q--How many scenes are there all together?
A--There are exactly 150. Most of the men will be big and musclebound; there will be some wrestling scenes and lots and lots of naughty Animan cartoon scenes.
Q--I'm looking forward to it.
Holy Smokes, Animan! I had no idea! Just take care of yourself, we (your adoring public) will be alright for a few weeks while you re-cooperate. The anticipation will make your next production all the better. The sketches look marvelous so far. Did you ever watch "The Mighty Hercules" by Trans-Lux studios? Herc was foxy!
ReplyDeleteHi Toycoon! Thank you for being supportive.
DeleteYes! I know that program, "The Mighty Hercules". I loved the design they had for Herk, but the animation was definitely low-tech. And Newton the centaur repeated everything he said, which drove me up the wall! But I have the DVD anyway!
I'm very sorry to hear of your health concern. My best wishes for a speedy recovery!
ReplyDeleteThe new project looks wonderful. :D Hercules is one of my favorite subjects to write stories and create art about. Your Herc is looking great already.
Thanks for the support, Lucky Stallion!
DeleteEverybody loves Hercules--he's big and strong, and he's a nice guy. In the world of Greek myths, he's one of the brightest sparkling stars--I hope to portray him that way.
I hope your adoring fans will send you lots of healing through the ether Animan, stay positive and you should sail through the operation and recovery. I've missed your blog updates and figured you must be hard at work, never thinking you'd be ill, as we all consider ourselves invincible at times.
ReplyDeleteI'll be thinking of you, and will send healing whenever I can.
Love always, David.
Thank you David. I appreciate your kind, healing thoughts, and I do feel the powerful effect they have. They do make me feel better.
DeleteI'm sure that as you say, I'll sail through the operation and recovery.
Once again, thank you for your very moving message.
Love to you,
Animan
Hi Animan.
ReplyDeleteI've come across your blog just a few months ago, but I quickly became a fan of it and of your job. I often come back to read your newest post and I often enjoy your comments and classy humor. Obviously, I also enjoy your pictures and have to confess that I gladly buy them, as the rest of us always anticipatong the next one.
So it was with great surprise that I read these news, and I have to say that I also wish that you will get well really soon and go back to what you enjoy and share with the rest of your fans. Lots of good vibes and wishes of quick recovery, wrapped up in a virtual hug!
Your truly Spanish fan,
Rol.
Hi, Rol,
DeleteOne of the greatest joys for me as Animan is that I have so many friends all over the world, and all of them are very supportive in many ways. When I started to learn animation, I dreamed (as we all do,) of being known all over the world, and loved by so many; but I never imagined that it would ever happen in the spectacular way that it has!
Thanks for the good vibes--they feel great! And I'm sending a big virtual hug right back at you, Mi Amigo!
Animan
1/23/25 5:00p Animan
ReplyDeleteTake care of yourself that is the priority.
That is absolutely right Corriea, and I thank you for reminding me!
DeleteI hope your operation goes well. I also stress myself out far too much and it gives me all kind of problems. I really wish I knew effective methods for getting those levels down.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jubell.
DeleteStress happens when we ask the impossible of our bodies. I have to commute long distances by train, then walk 15 minutes to my destination. Going there is fine, I take my time and it's good exercise. But! When work is over, I have to catch a train to the next job, and I often find myself running back to the station so I'll make the train in time. I push, push, push myself, and it feels stressful as I'm doing it, so I should have seen this coming. I've made up my mind--I won't run back to the station. I'll take the later train. If I skip lunch, I'll make that next appointment. I can always eat a banana or a snack on the train platform to tide me over. I'll have to treat my body with love, and quit demanding the impossible from it. That should help a great deal.
Oh, Animan!
ReplyDeletePlease, by any and all means take care of yourself first. I would never add to your stress by pressuring you on the next cartoon, no matter how excited it gets me! I'm immensely sorry that this happened to you, Animan. When you mentioned how stress was a factor, I couldn't help but wonder just how much the past few months might have affected you. I just figured you were busy with this along with the various rigors of life itself, but I wish you the absolute best of luck next week. Take all the time you need to recover Animan, for I would never imagine adding to your pressure with a lack of patience.
This might sound silly, but I find that your work is like a pot roasted brisket. It can never be rushed, only made over a long period of time; but when it is, the end result is always so hot and juicy! And Hercules here looks so delicious!
Best wishes in recovery, Hercules, and life itself, Animan.
XOXO
Sam H
DeleteIt's great to hear from you, and I truly appreciate every word and kind emotion you've sent me.
Perhaps it was good that this happened--as sort of a wake-up call, you know? I wasn't aware that my body was responding this way until now.
Commuting to and from my outside job is very stressful, and the work itself is not always a picnic. I get frustrated when it gobbles up all my time and energy, leaving me ill-equipped for the labour-intensive job known as cartoon-making. I feel like Cinderella (in the 1950 Disney film), who is so busy preparing her stepsisters for the ball, that her own dress languishes in incompletion.
The movie-making is what helps to relieve the stress, because I have streamlined the process down into a manageable flow. I can produce something of substantial size all on my own and that's very empowering. There's no way that it could be harmful to me.
When I was a kid, I always looked forward to the release of new and wonderful movies. That anticipation was delicious!
I always think how nice it would be if there could be something like that for us gay men, that we could look forward to, something that was ours alone....
Although at the moment, it's a bit painful to sit drawing at my computer for long stretches, once I've recovered from surgery, I'll be back in the old ball game again. I can't wait to watch the Hercules tale take shape.
Thanks for the wonderful e-mail!
XOXO
Oh Animan I thought you were on a long holiday or busy working on your next project, I'm sorry to hear about your health. I wish all goes well with your surgery and a swift recovery. I have all of your videos and seen your earlier works and I'm a huge fan.
ReplyDeleteHowever, your health is extremely important and please take care of yourself and take all the time you need.
Sending you positive thoughts and thanks for the update, looking forward to your next installment, Hercules!
From your #1 Fan from Southern California.
Hi Allnighter17,
DeleteFirst of all, let me thank you for being such a staunch fan of Animan!
I promise to have a successful surgery, a swift recovery, and a return to Animan Studio work.
And thank you for the positive thoughts. I feel them, and they're going to go a long way in helping me make a comeback.
From that other Southern Californian,
Animan
Oh I'm really sorry to hear such news..Please do take care of yourself my friend and get well soon..keep us updated about how u r cuz,we will be worried :'(
ReplyDeleteThat's very kind of you to write a comment to me. I'll be sure to be back soon with lots of news.
DeleteThank you, Dear Friend. :)
I also received this e-mail:
ReplyDeleteHi Animan,
Sorry not to have been in communication, but this year has continued like last......the race with time.
Hit your blog and just want to let you know I'll be thinking of you with your up coming surgery.
I know you'll be in good hands with Dr. Lex Stern on the team. He'll go in and use your tools to remove the unwanted element from your internal picture!
I know communication will be limited, just rest, follow Dr's orders, and be sure to flirt with any cute and hunky nurse/intern/guy that collects money for the TV....... LOL.
Big hugs and fast forward to a speedy recovery.
P.S. Hercules.......WOOF!
Animan get better and please take a holiday! No stress is best!
DeleteThanks for the support, Anonymous! I feel better already.
DeleteHey animan! Dam i hope u get well soon :-(
ReplyDeleteherc looks great! Will he be a bit more brawny in the final movie? Cus its obviously in the early stages. Dayum i cannot wait to see this one! Muscled greek men wrestling and fighting and..whoops his cock slipped into his butt! ;-)
Thanks for the get-well message!:)
DeleteThe color picture above of Herc walking is actually from the final film. Don't forget, he's tall as well as musclebound. The grey sketches below are just a rough guide--don't worry--I'll make the big guy as brawny as possible without turning him into the Pillsbury Dough Boy!
Aww, I'm sorry to hear about your ordeal. Hopefully you will have
ReplyDeleteminimal invasive surgery for your procedure. I'm guessing you
must've been having tummy aches? Sometimes, no, but, it all
varies from person to person. At least, it was caught so it can
be removed and you can go on to the healing process. Just
know you have friends like me who care about you and will
always have you in mind for a speedy recovery.
On a lighter note, your latest productions looks Very Well;
I'm sure it'll turn out as another masterpiece like previous
works. You already know I can't wait, Animan. . . ;-)
Thank very much for your healing message. It means a lot. :)
DeleteDear Animan! I'm so upset about your health information. Please take care of yourself and recover faster. This is very important.
ReplyDeleteI hope these inspiring news and work associated with Hercules will help you recover faster. As for your Hercules - he really muscular god in your future movie. Now I can not sleep I'm so excited dreaming about his big ass)
Hi Sergey,
DeleteI appreciate your kind message. I promise to recover and deliver Hercules to all his waiting friends!
Hope the surgery goes well without any complications. I had a tumor removal last year as well, but it was external so it took quite fast to heal (1-2 months). Internal tumor usually takes more time to heal, so make sure you rest well and eat healthy and nutritious food while you're healing. Also don't let stress take away your joy, in the end it's how we see things whether in a positive/negative way that matters.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, happy to hear that the next project will be about greek myth. A minor suggestion though. We are much accustomed to get mixed up with Greek and Roman myth by accident, especially in names, when that's supposed to be avoided. They are different civilizations that didn't actually bode well with one another after all. Hercules is a Roman name (his Greek version is Herakles), so if you are thinking about using that name, then perhaps you can avoid Greek names for other characters and use their Roman counterpart (e.g. Zeus is Jupiter, Ares is Mars, etc). I know it will sound weird, but it's actually the correct way. Not saying that you must do this, but personally I think this kind of consistency would be very much appreciated! Unless you are making your own Animan Myth of course, in which you can name your characters as you please (e.g. Herqules, Zeuz, and so on) :D.
With that said, I do think health comes first, so please focus on that. I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that your good health is far more important than anything else, including your amazing videos. Your fans will wait patiently for your new work, so no need to rush, just get better and back in great shape! Wishing the best for your well-being!
Cheers! :)
Thank you for your information about the surgery, healing, nutrition, etc. I shall keep them all in mind.
DeleteYou're right--we tend to take the Greek and Roman versions of Greek mythology names and mix them together. I think it lacks integrity.
Cheers to you! :)
Hi Animan!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear of the health problems you are facing! I am definitely sending thoughts and intentions of healing, wellness and recovery! You give so much joy (and pleasure!) to others. I hope that during this time you will make yourself a priority! Even if that means not working on your hot animation for a while.
Please keep your head up and filled with positive thoughts, this will help the healing process! I know it must be scary, but I have faith in you!!
Even though we've never met, please accept this HUG!!!
Sincerely,
Ronnie
P.S. Your Hercules is HOTTER than any Hercules I have ever seen. Woo-Hoo! ;)
I'll remember your great advice, Ronnie. A positive outlook definitely promotes healing!
DeleteAnd, I'll do everything I can to make my version of Hercules as hot as I can! ;)
Get well! I hope for a speedy recovery! Much love to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kevin T! Much love to you, too!
Delete