I was just looking at World of Warcraft merchandise, and it dawned on me....there's NO gnome action figures to be found!!

What is this strange phenomenon?  I play a level 70 soon to be 80 gnomish warlock.  I want an action figure to represent that guy.  And when I look at the toy sites, all they have are dark elves and orcs and stuff.  

What's wrong with gnomes?  Are they not "dark" enough?  Do you underestimate our power because we're short?  

This all reminds me of how Walmart refused to carry Katara action figures for the Avatar toy line.

Why are toymakers afraid of girls?  And gnomes?

In honor of the Clone Wars finally premiering on Cartoon Network, I'm putting up this original Plo Koon on Ebay:

[link]

I need some ideas for a Halloween costume...

If you are any of the following:

1) A Star Wars fan
2) An aspiring animator
3) A latino/hispanic/spanish speaking Star Wars fan who's also an aspiring animator

..then check out this video with an inside look of what it's like to work in the business:

[link]

I'm not in it..but I was there that day! I swear!

ALSO:

Avatar Season three box set is coming out this tuesday, September 16th.  I can't wait!

In the meantime, what are your picks for who should play the characters in the live action movie?

I'm throwing my official vote in for Dante Basco as Zuko.  Yes, he's a little older than the series' Zuko was supposed to be.  But he looks young.  He can move (ie, firebend).  And he already sounds the part.

You can't deny destiny

[link]

In about a month's time, there will be a new Star Wars adventure every week on Cartoon Network.  Pretty cool stuff.

Today's Giancarlo/Clone Wars sketch card special, Chancelor Palpatine:

[link]

Let's just say I was almost in the process of maybe finally getting an xbox 360.  What are the best games out right now?  Anyone?

[link]

Wow.  I'm on E-bay!  

So check this out.  I did some Topps sketch cards for the upcoming "Star Wars:  The Clone Wars" feature.  I did 66 total (get it?  Order 66) and already one of them is on E-bay.

Now's a chance for you to own a Giancarlo Volpe original!

I don't stand to make any money from this, by the way, so it's not a TRUE shameless promotion.  I just wanted to extend the offer to anyone interested.

Comic Con was a blast, as usual.  The Avatar panel was SICK-DICULOUS.  I was so happy to see Mike and Bryan and Joaquim get the applause they deserve.  

It was also good to see all the fans again, especially the cosplayers.  M. Knight might as well use you guys to cast the movie.

The exciting but somewhat bitter sweet month of July has finally arrived.  After all the years of build up, the final episodes of Avatar are going to air on Nick starting July 14th - July 19th!

For news on the finale air dates and comic con panels, I always check www.avatarspirit.net  You should too.

Something silly but Avatar-related to note:

I'm a huge Dungeons and Dragons fan.  I know this can cause ridicule in some circles, but I don't care.  It's a fun game that encourages creative story telling.  

The game has undergone several new editions since it came out 34 years ago.  The latest version, Dungeons and Dragons 4.0 was released last month.  One constant of D&D is that it always comes with three rules books: The Player's Handbook, The Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual.

I was reading the Dungeons Master's guide and guess what I found on page 133:

"Perhaps you have an idea for a campaign with a strong elemental theme, ultimately pitting the characters against one or more primordials.... you can also borrow heavily from other sources.  The Avatar:  The Last Airbender animated television show is full of wonderful imagery and ideas to suit an elemental plot line."

Who knew that all those years reading those rulebooks as a source of creative inspiration, that I'd somehow be attached to a tv show that in turn would inspire said rulebooks.

The nerd cycle is now complete.

Is there a free program I can get that will take a DVD and turn it into quicktimes or avi.'s?   And if not, is there a cheap one that will?

Easy to use is always a bonus.

I wish I could tell you some secret about Avatar season three, but I got nothing.  So instead, I leave you with this.

Sometimes, when I'm eating a salad, I act like I love the broccoli but I really don't.  It's so nasty unless it's sauteed in garlic first.

My grand father would roll over in his grave if he knew that on occasion, I like pineapple on my pizza.

I hate it when people drive really fast in parking lots.  I mean, there's pedestrians walking all over!  You could kill someone, murderer!

I miss the days when Avatar aired for the first time on fridays, and I could read everyone's reaction on the internet that same night.   Instead it gets aired on the Canadian channel and then sloppily leaked on Youtube.   

For some reason, my Volkwagen Jetta smells like crayons.  Always.

So July 14th is the date.  That means we have three more months to learn firebending before we take on the Firelord.  Wooh hooh!

In case you didn't get to go to New York for the Comic Con, I suggest visiting Avatarspirit.net to watch all the exclusive trailers and stuff.  

also, this thing is freakin' awesome: [link]

I'm sorry I missed the con, but seeing all the footage and hearing the great crowd response reminded me how lucky I am to be a part of the show.  Thanks again to all the fans for backing Avatar!

I'm cooking up some ideas to keep you guys satiated during the wait.

That's it.  I tried to be cordial.  I tried to be professional.  But you have pushed me to the limit.  

Nickelodeon, I got a lot of love for you and all, but what the EFF already.  Start playing some new Avatar.   Like this friday.  I WORKED on the show and I can't even remember what happens.  

If you don't , then me and the fans, we'll just have to...we'll...we'll boycott!  That's right!  We don't watch the show!  Because anything's better than sitting around twiddling our thumbs NOT watching the show already!

...wait...let me rethink that.

Update:  Hmm, looks like some people are taking my boycotting joke a little seriously.  That aside, it's probably good you all have a place to vent your frustration.  Honestly, there's probably a more constructive way to handle all this, like write letters or something.  I dunno.

Check out this cool fan made trailer for season three!  April is here!!!

[link]

love,
Giancarlo

With the arrival of season three, it is no longer necessary to count the weeks or months till the next Avatar episode.  BUT, since we now know that there will be a new eppy every friday, we can still count down the days and hours...

Some one help me out with this (because I am too busy *cough cough lazy* to do the math myself) - at what point in the week is precisely HALF WAY between new episodes?  I'm guessing somewhere around midnight monday night or so? We should figure out exactly when this is, and then ordain that said moment as sacred.  

**UPDATE**:  Okay, so it seem like most people are saying around 8:30 am tuesday morning.  Which means as of this journal entry, we're already past the half way point!

So the next question is, what will YOU do 8:30 am every tuesday?

Happy fourth of July.  Since we are celebrating our freedom, I want to ask this question:

How do YOU define "drawing free hand"?

I'm always perplexed by the way people, especially non-artists, look at my work and ask me "did you draw this free hand?"  Cause I'm never really sure what they mean by it.  You mean, as opposed to slave hand?  High-priced-hand?  

I used to think drawing "free hand" meant, "not tracing."  But if that is the case, isn't it kind of a stupid question?  

Me: "Look at this picture of the Sandbenders I designed!"
Some person:  "Wow, is that free-hand?"
Me:  "Actually, I traced it off a pre-existing picture of a Sandbender, which means I didn't really design it.  Oh well, you caught me!"

The other theory is that drawing free hand means "not looking at something (to copy from)". This is always a questionable measure of artistic prowess to me, though.  Because part of what makes you learn and grow as an artist is observing real life.  Like doing life drawing, or drawing from a photo of something, or even checking out another artist's work to get technique ideas.  

I can draw Katara "without looking at a picture of her" but sometimes when I want to do a really nice one I'll look at the design sheet (what animators use to draw cartoon characters consistently) just to make sure I get it right.  Is that then, "NOT drawing free hand?"

I've found in my 30 some years that the polite response to "Did you draw this free hand?" is probably smiling and saying "Yes".   But I can't help but rank that question up with my other favorite question-

"So...you're a director....does that mean you like, draw?"

sigh...



By the way, please sign this petition [link] to get female Avatar action figures made.  I support it 100%.