Minor Hiatus

Sheesh, my last post was a month ago! I must deeply apologize to readers and chastise myself. I started this blog with the goal of keeping up with this every week. True April has been... one crazy month, but that is no excuse. Later this week posting will resume! More cows! BEEF, IT'S WHATS FOR BLOGGING!! ... don't ask

Cow of the Week: March 22nd

... I gotta say it!

THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!!

Heh heh... ok, so this week's cow is a tribute to an old show I enjoy called Thunderbirds. It is the creation of Gerry Anderson, made in England in the mid 1960's about a retired astronaut who uses his fortune to create an advanced rescue fleet of "Thunderbird" aircraft/spacecraft. He has five sons who use their Thunderbirds to rescue people from certain death all around the globe. It was made with a type of puppeteering dubbed "supermarionation", but what's amazing about this show is that even though it's almost 50 years old, it is still very good! All of the sets are incredibly well made and the story is intriguing. Often I find myself watching an episode of Thunderbirds over modern day cartoons. The normal Tracy family portraits are just shoulder and head, but I wanted to show a bit more, so Amarath's portrait is unique... it's also unique because she's female. The entire Tracy family was male! Well... except for Grandma, but she didn't participate in International Rescue. It's high time for a Tracy sister!

Cows in Animation: Cow

I must confess, Cow and Chicken scared me as a little kid. I look back on the animation style and laugh now, you see so many other styles (like Spongebob)that go into gritty animated detail. If there is a wart, you are going to get the close up with puss, lint, and dirt stuck to the wobbling blob of flesh. It's hilarious to me now, but as a kid, Cow's udders kinda freaked me out. That, and the odd body contortions he and Chicken would go through. Nevertheless, he is still a great animated cow, and now that I'm older, he is a very odd cow that I love!

Cows in Commercialism: The Laughing Cow

Well, this week's cow is not as outgoing as our previous bovines. The Laughing Cow serves as the company mascot, but the company definitely makes its presence known behind the cow. Still, It's the company's decision to follow their trendy bovine or simply string their cow along after them. Regardless, Laughing Cow is adorable and have you had Laughing Cow brie?! I'm laughing too! Yum!

Cow of the Week: March 15th

Hoo boy, I'm running a bit behind here! Its been a madhouse at work, my manager had a breakdown and just left town, driving back to Wisconsin one night! Didn't even tell anyone! So now I'm having to work crazy amounts of hours to help fill in for him until corporate can send us a new GM. If you ever quit a job, make sure you at least give your two weeks! But anyways, without further ado, Cow of the Week for March 15th! I should be getting to sleep too, cheers everyone!

Cows in Animation: Ferdinand

Today's animated bovine is Ferdinand the bull! He is the star of one of Disney's animated shorts, based on a book by Munro Leaf. Ferdinand is a bull was picked to fight a matador in Spain but was more concerned about the matador's flowers than his fight. He is a perfect example that we cannot judge based on size and might, or even stereotypes. Ferdinand is the most peaceful of all of his bull brothers, he wants nothing to do with the fights his brothers obsess over. You can put the fighter in the ring, but you can't make him fight.

Cow of the Week: March 8th

Ok, here it goes... CotW number 1! This is the cartoon design of Amarath I've been working on. I want to eventually do a 2D animation of her at her job at Albert Bros. Bagels; for now, however, she is FREE!! Free and rockin' it out! Shake that tail, cow!

Cows in Commercialism: The Skinny Cow

Today's enterprising cow is another female! This gorgeous bovine uses her slim, trim looks to sell my favorite kind of ice cream sandwich... as well as many other creamy delights (the sandwiches are the best though!) 'Skinny' poses for all the packaging, of course, but you can also catch her on the Skinny Cow website. There, she answers frequently asked questions as well as posts her calendar for her fans. She is also a breast cancer awareness advocate who makes stops along the US to walk and rally others to support the cause. This is one fashionably updated saleswoman! So next time you see Skinny staring at you with those long eyelashes... try those sandwiches. I guarantee you that skinny bovine doesn't eat ice cream, but damn, all the fat cows love ‘em.

Cows in Animation: Not a Cow!

Alright, so things didn't quite go as I wanted, I wanted this to be a weekly thing. I shouldn't have started this right before I moved. But it will get going, I will finally be settled in and things will slow back to normalcy. Unfortunately, I've had a disaster strike earlier today; my snake, Kiba, was dying. He might still be... I'm not sure. When I took him in at 5, he was limp and hardly breathing. He had lost 700g since his last vet visit a mere two months before. Dr. Funk gave him some fluids and some meds to try and help him, but he's still struggling. He can move his head again, but his lower half is still dead weight. I'm hoping against all odds that he pulls through. So tonight, the animation spotlight will not be on a cow. Instead, we will do one of my favorite animated snakes; Sir Hiss, from Disney's Robin Hood.



Sir Hiss was always one of my favorites because even though he was one of the "bad" guys, he always seemed loveable, and you knew that part of him didn't want to be there, didn't want to be serving the awful prince John. He was very much the fool character, the big loser, but you loved him for it. Even at the very end, clothed in jailor stripes and working a quarry, Sir Hiss could still find reason to chuckle (at John's expense!) Sir Hiss was clever as well, my favorite scene will always bee the one where he blows up a balloon while it is on his head and uses his tail to propel himself around. Cartoon physics, but still hilariously brilliant! Hats off to you, my underappreciated Sir Hiss, you do not fall into the stereotype that all snakes are created evil and you endear yourself to us! If you read this, please hope with me for Kiba, hope that he makes it through this.

Cows in Commercialism: Roxie

Today I'm going to start this blog off with one of my favorite cows - Roxie of Arizona's Shamrock Farms dairy products! Roxie not only poses for all of Shamrock's labels, but she also sends out Shamrock's newsletter, The Roxie Report. She can be seen on any Shamrock truck and does a marvelous job of advertising over the internet through Shamrock's website. Through all of this, Roxie remains trendy, sporty, and a true blue hard working American cow. Way to go Roxie!