One of my goals by the end of 2010 was to establish my own website, so I'm promoting it here:

www.giancarlovolpe.com

This is just kind of professional thing-  more like my official online resume and business card.  But I thought you guys might appreciate checking it out.

By the way, I've got some Avatar animatic clips I'd like to upload to Youtube.  Some fans have had the luxury of viewing some of these at various comic con panels - we'd add bonus scenes, lines of dialogue, and sometime lay in famous movie soundtracks (Like Sergio Leone or John Williams scores) for fun.  Hopefully I can start posting those when I get some down time.  

Happy new year everyone.

I hope everyone is enjoying the holidays.

I recently found this pic of Aang I drew for an Avatar fan at NY comic con.  Glad to see people are still excited about the show long after it's run  

[link]

Okay, so rumor has it this is a line test from the upcoming Avatar spin off, "Legend of Korra":  Looks pretty authentic to me!  Watch it now before Nickelodeon gets wind and takes it down!

[link]

**Update:  It looks like it's already gone, although the same video has popped up on Youtube.  Here's one of many uploads:

[link]

Yeah!  Since I'm not involved this time around, I get to geek out with the rest of the fans.


While you're at it, why don't you take the time to sign this petition by the Track Team to get an Avatar: The Last Airbender soundtrack officially released?  I did it, so should you!

[link]

I want to listen to my Avatar soundtrack while I work on Green Lantern!

Do you guys know the song "Juicy" by Biggie Smalls?  "It was all a dream, I used to read Word Up magazine.."  Somewhere in my college notebooks I rewrote the lyrics so they applied to cartoons.  It was something like "It was all a dream/ I used to read Animation magazine..".  Lol....

For the record, I went to college in New York City at the School of Visual Arts, better known as SVA.  It feels like just yesterday, taking the train to the zoo every wednesday cause admission was free for students.  I was practicing my life drawing skills, hoping that one day I might get lucky enough to work in the animation business.

Here I am, many years later, producing an animated series.  It was extra meaningful to be in New York again to reflect on how far I've come.

By the way, the Con was a blast.  I was kinda taken aback by how many people were really excited about the Green Lantern series.  We had to turn away a TON of people lined up to see the panel.  I hope the show lives up to their expectations.

It was also cool to have Avatar fans come by and say hi.  I even signed a few "Art of" books.  I'm glad to see the show is still carrying momentum after all this time.

Thanks to everyone for the support!  It really gives me the inspiration to keep creating.

So I got the full schedule for my New York trip.

Saturday, October 9 2010 - New York Comic Con - Jacob Javits Convention Center

2:30 Green Lantern: Animated Series panel in room 1A14

4:00 Autograph signing

I'm not sure where the signing will be.  My best guess is either in the same room as the panel, or at some sort of DC/ WB booth.

Stop by and say hello if you can!

-Giancarlo

The cat is offically out of the bag...  I am producing the new CG Cartoon Network/DC/Warner Bros show, "GREEN LANTERN : THE ANIMATED SERIES" with the legendary Bruce Timm and Jim Krieg!

Read about it here:

[link]

If you're going to New York Comic Con, stop by the panel and check it out!

[link]


Check out my first animated film ever - done at Jim Coffin's experimental animation course in Seattle, Washington. I saw this movie through from start to finish, shot it on an old school oxberry animation camera, and hand painted every cel.

Note that I was in high school at the time, when I spelled my name the American way

This brings to mind the words of the great prophet Notorious B.I.G. : "I'm just, tryin to stay above water y'know. Just stay busy, stay workin'. Puff told me like, the key to this joint - the key to staying, on top of things is treat everything like it's your first project, knahmsayin? Like it's your first day like back when you was an intern. Like, that's how you try to treat things like, just stay hungry." Ah, such immortal wisdom.

It's official - I'm going to New York Comic Con!

I'm announcing the (supposed, but not really) top-secret project I'm working on, although I don't know yet what time and place the panel is taking place.  I'll be sure to tell the exact info when I get the details.

I've never been to the NY con, so I'm looking forward to seeing how same-but-different the whole thing is.

Feel free to crash the party and ask me Avatar questions at the non-Avatar panel... ha ha, I think that'd be funny.  Maybe I'll even wear a "Putting the 'cauc' back in 'asian'" t-shirt or something.

I'm really excited to hear Nickelodeon has green lit "The Legend of Korra"!  I will always hold a special place in my heart for the Avatar universe, and I'll be excited to see what new adventures Mike and Bryan will be cooking up.  

I've been getting a lot of questions lately about my involvement on the show: but I'm sad to say it will be none.  

The truth of the matter is I currently have a job - one that I can't publicly announce just yet.  I finished on Clone Wars in March of 2010, and have been spearheading a new project which I will be sure to post on deviantart as soon as I get my company's go ahead to do so.

But have no fear, I am positive that Korra will be better than ever, with Mike and Bryan at the helm, Joaquim, Ryu, Kisu, the Track Team, and JM animation's involvement.  I can't wait to see it!

-Giancarlo

Well, the long awaited day has finally arrived.  The Last Airbender is out in theaters.  

What else can I say?  Let me know what you thought. Come,  come tell Uncle Giancarlo all your hopes and fears.  Cry on my shoulder.  Let it out.  I want to hear your rants, I want to hear your thoughts, I want to hear your praises.

Hello all!

It's been a while since I updated this thing!

This friday April 9 is the premier of my latest episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.  It's got a giant monster in it called "The Zillo Beast".  Check out the trailer here:

[link]

It's a pretty ambitious episode, and I'm really proud of how it turned out.  Let me know what you guys think!

-Giancarlo

As you can see, I have posted the lastest batch of 60 Clone Wars sketch cards I did for Topps.  Some of these things are already appearing on Ebay for exorbitant prices, but I give them to you here, for free.  

Well.  It's been a while, how are y'all?

I want to hit you guys with a whole lot of exciting news and/or drawings, but the truth is, I don't have much new to share.

Working on a 3d show that doesn't require drawing doesn't exactly help the situation.  I am in the middle of doing another 60 Clone Wars cards for Topps, so I will post those soon.

yawwwn..... maybe I should draw Aayla Secura in a Hooters shirt?

Two things:

This friday, March 20th is gonna be the season finale of Star Wars:  The Clone Wars, directed by me!  I really like this episode, I hope you do too.  Here's the preview on the official site:

[link]

Also, my Mace Windu sketch card is on Ebay!  Check it out:

[link]

Plus I hit level 80 with my warlock.  What a week.

So this friday on Cartoon Network, 9pm is the first episode I directed of Star Wars:The Clone Wars.  I did the first half of the hour special, and my friend Jesse did the second half.

[link]

Oh by the way...there might be some Jar Jar Binks in it... heh heh.  Sorry.

Incidentally, I noticed that since the big deviant art make-over some of my art (a lot of Avatar boards) has been removed. I wonder why?  That kinda urks me cause I like to keep a record of all my posts and who liked what the most, what got the most hits, etc.  Dumb technology.

This blog entry sums up my feelings exactly.  Thank you, Derek Kirk Kim for spelling out the situation so eloquently.  

[link]

In a related note, apparently they have open casting for extras.  People of all ethnicities are encouraged to apply:

[link]

Notable quote:

Deedee Rickets, the casting director for the film, said  "We want you to dress in traditional cultural ethnic attire," she said. "If you're Korean, wear a kimono. If you're from Belgium, wear lederhosen."

Umm... I thought kimonos were Japanese and lederhosen German.

SIIIGHHHH

So I stopped at the bookstore today and was flipping through the new issue of Entertainment Weekly.  There's a GREAT article on page 8 about Gossip Girl!

.."I'm dreaming of a white ______________."

In celebration of my favorite Jedi finally getting his own episode of the Clone Wars tv show, I'm selling this Kit Fisto Topps Sketch card, hand drawn by yours truly on Ebay:

[link]

Also, I wanna congratulate Mike and Bryan and Joaquim on their Annie nominations!! Woo hoo!

Clone Wars actually pulled one in for best music, I hope Kevin gets to take one home too!

Read more about it here:
[link]

Happy Holidays, please send me your Star Wars or Avatar Holiday pics.  They make me smile.

Who would win in a fight?  Naruto, or Aang?

Please vote!