Vans + YGG Commercials Behind the Scenes! (Foofa)

While we were busy making commercials to promote the Yo Gabba Gabba + Vans shoe collection, the folks at Vans were taking the time to document it happening. Foofa meets pro BMXers Alistair Whitton and Coco Zurita. Featuring "Send Me an Angel" by Real Life
http://www.offthewall.tv

And here's the finished Foofa Commercial

"Adventure Episode" Design Concepts Part 1

The Adventure Episode; One of my favorites!
Christian's brilliant script called for Muno to discover an underground passage leading to an ancient Mesoamerican-esque temple where he discovers a golden statue resembling an ear of corn. This is no doubt paying homage to our favorite adventure movies of the 80's.

Brandon Minton sent over this early computer sketch to show where we needed to start. We had to build a miniature model as well as a full scale set for the top of the temple.


I started clicking my mouse too and brought to the table the concept below. I heard that DEVO's energy-dome hats were actually inspired by Mayan temples, so I thought it would be fun with art-imitating-life imitating art again and tried a DEVO inspired temple shape.
It didn't really work and we went back to the traditional block shape.




Then I put down the mouse down and picked up the colored pencils. More sloppy = more fun!
The colors here were important to me. I didn't want warm rock colors. I wanted something cool & stony but still Yo Gabba bright. I went for blues, greens and purples; a meager nod to Eyvind Earle's genius castle interiors from one of my favorite movies, Sleeping Beauty.

I felt that bright green moss everywhere would really make the the background pop in certain areas.
I'm often throwing in concept ideas that just don't work budget or script-wise but are fun. Why not have a puppet snake in the background? Oh..yeah, that's why.
Also notice the popcorn motif on the altar. It's a tiny reveal to the forthcoming popcorn payoff at the end of the script.
Later I thought it might be fun if the carved faces in the background were more character specific to the show, so I made them random smiling Goobles instead of generic tiki-hieroglyphs. I confess, I try to sneak Gooble in as much as possible.

The script also called for a pillar or post for Muno to lasso and climb up on, as showed here in Julia Vickerman's storyboard.

So I was asked to design a pillar. BO-RING. I figured if we were going to make our guys sculpt and paint something, it might as well be fun looking, right? I felt it was another oppurtunity to work in some more YGG characters. Naturally, I first thought of another chance to work in Gooble, but maybe too much...

... We are telling the story of an ancient ruin, not my fascination with a crying ghost, so I drew inspiration from these gargoyles representing the great Quetzelcoatl, or "feathered serpent"

I thought that our own little cat-dragon Toodee would pull this look off really well, so there's your pillar design for you.

Also, I had this idea of having the top of the temple to resemble a Pizza Hut. Wouldn't you think that's funny? I guess it was just me. Bryan Anderton pointed out that with Muno being almost 7 feet tall, it would be difficult to even fit that roof into frame. You win some, you lose some.

And now, here's how it turned out! (Click to enlarge)

Hooray for corn!

Vans + YGG Commercials Behind the Scenes! (Muno)

While we were busy making commercials to promote the Yo Gabba Gabba + Vans shoe collection, the folks at Vans were taking the time to document it happening. Check it out! It's really cool.
http://www.offthewall.tv

And here's the finished MUNO Commercial



*BONUS*
I thought it might be nice to share the reference of Lance Mountain from The Bones Brigade Video Show. Most specifically at 2:52.

♬ Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye ♬

This morning, I went to The Magic Store Production office to collect the last of my belongings as we are movin' out. The Yo Gabba' snowball is still rolling bigger and bigger as our show's popularity is only increasing. However, we just can't wait any longer at the office for the powers-that-be to let us make more episodes.


Amid the boxes and trash, I find my scripts from seasons 1 & 2 and a prop I designed for the "School" episode.

This is where we used to record audio, edit video and even design merchandise-eo.

This is what our skate ramp looks like naked. Gosh, I hope we don't have to repaint the walls...

Here I found the last bottle of Obama HOPE. I think it's time to break it out, no?
Come on, season 4!

Aaron Watene (Songwriter/ Super Music Super Star) and son were doing the major hauling of our stuff out of the building as Christian Jacobs & Ron Cameron's art peek over from behind what's left of the skate ramp.

Goodbye to our magical home.
Goodbye to another great year.
Happy New Year!!

And if you know anybody that's hiring, have them give me a call, okay?

YGG! Featured on Last Call with Carson Daly

Christian Jacobs on Road Trip Nation

"You've got to put yourself in those sink or swim situations...Make things tough on yourself so that you're stronger." - Christian Jacobs

Episode 1 - Season 7 of Roadtrip Nation
Meet Team “Tabula Rasa” and follow their first attempts at cold calling, from local restaurants to the White House, hoping to speak with Michelle Obama. They meet each other and their RV for the first time in Southern California, before heading to interview Christian Jacobs, lead singer of The Aquabats, and co-creator, writer, and director of the hugely popular Yo Gabba Gabba pre-school television show.

Watch the whole episode and these exclusive online clips:
http://roadtripnation.com/ChristianJacobs

More TCA Awards Pics surface!

Hey folks! Between our collective cameras and the various interwebs, we've gathered a few more pics from Saturday's TCA awards for your enjoyment!


Christian and Scott accepted the award and got the crowd to say the magic words, "Yo Gabba Gabba!"


The whole gang came out to help accept the award. And look! Someone took a video!

 


Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and his wife took a moment to grab a pic with Toodee and our director/editor, Jason Develliers! They were super nice!


Dean Norris (Breaking Bad) and his wife Robin got in with the whole gang! They're huge fans and so are their kids! Awesome!


Our exec. producer, Jon Berrett got a shot with the kids from Modern Family!


Meanwhile, I was viciously attacked by Manny from Modern Family! It was his 12th birthday and Tom Hanks got everyone to sing to him!


The highlight of the evening was getting some pics with the legendary Tom Hanks!!



The whole gang! Plex, Brobee, Foofa, Toodee, Muno, Scott, Christian, Mr. Hanks, and a guy from TV Guide!! (photo by thomas lewis)

Another TCA Award!!!!

Yo Gabba Gabba once again won over the Television Critics Association last night by taking home the "Outstanding Achievement In Youth Programming" Award! What a true honor just to be nominated, but to have won twice now! This time around Muno, Brobee, Foofa, Toodee and Plex all made a surprise appearance to accept the award.
Tom Hanks also won a TCA Award for The Pacific and here he is hanging out with the gang at the event!

Christian looks pretty happy.

Other links: IMDB TV Headline: TCA Awards: Where Yo Gabba Gabba! Meets Tom Hanks

Gabbafriends: Petition for a Yo Gabba Gabba Season Four

Yo Gabba Gabba "Origins" Tuesday May 11 Cinefamily (LA)

Hello Friends!

Yo Gabba Gabba animation producer and theremin demonstrator Kevin Sukho Lee here. Just wanted to mention a few things about about our upcoming Tuesday May 11 Yo Gabba Gabba "Origins" program at Cinefamily. We're super excited about it because it's a chance for us (who make the show) to celebrate Yo Gabba Gabba! with you guys (our loyal fans) and let you peek behind the curtain and hear about how it all started and how this crazy kids show went from being just an idea to a real TV show seen around the world (and at the White House).

Lance Robertson (who plays DJ Lance Rock) will be there, as well as show creators Scott Schultz and Christian Jacobs to talk and to answer questions.

As a special treat, we will be including never-before-seen footage. Such as the original demo made in 2005 - this is even before the pilot. Not many have seen this and survived to tell the tale. This is your chance! We'll also be showing peeks into season 3 that no one has seen yet! No where else will you get a chance to see this.

And if that wasn't enough, we'll be giving away free prizes! Who says we don't love you guys!?

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some folks are asking if it's going to be kid-friendly and the short answer is: YES! The longer answer is that we are showing lots of awesome Gabba footage and some old kids show clips, but we will also have time for Lance, Scott, and Christian to talk about the show. It's actually kind of like this blog you're reading right now! So bring the kids but just know that there won't be any dancing or singing in person (just on the screen). This isn't a "kids' show" in that way. But it is still 100% safe and maybe even enlightening for kids to hear about how an idea you start with your friends can become a TV show that is seen around the world! We'll have a Q&A so think of some good questions!

Hope to see you there. Be sure to buy tickets in advance if you know you want to go. It could sell out!

PHOTO OF THE DAY!

PHOTO OF THE DAY!

PHOTO OF THE DAY!

O.C. dads strike gold with 'Yo Gabba Gabba'

Quick! Read this write up in the O.C. Register!! It's AAAAAWWWEEESOOOOMMMEE!!!!
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/says-219242-gabba-live.html?pic=1
Check out the photo section too!!!

USA Today!!

Read The article here

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2009-11-13-ygglive13_st_N.htm

Watch the video Here!

YGG on Good Day LA

WE DID IT! Yo Gabba Gabba at the TCAs!

Ok! This past weekend Yo Gabba Gabba was honored with a TELEVISION CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARD for BEST CHILDREN'S SHOW!

It is super crazy, but yes, hundreds of legitimate television critics from across the nation honored us with this amazing award. it was such an honor to be recognized along side so many other incredible ground breaking shows.

Check here for links to the articles on the awards and the ceremony:
Click here for the article on tvcritics.org
Click here for the article on hollywoodreporter.com

We took some fun photos and were so honored to accept such an honor, on behalf of all of the great friends we work together with on the show. Now, if the emmys would catch a hint! HA!



Here is a photo of 'almost' all of us in attendance at the show. (left to right) Director Scott Schultz, his lovely wife Ruth, (in back) Associate Producer Nate Rogers, Nick Jr. Executive Jason Caparaz, Executive Producer John Berrett, DJ lance Rock, Director Christian Jacobs, Animation Art Director Parker Jacobs and Executive Producer Mike Polis



Not only were we invited to the ceremony, we got our own table... with our name on it! Scott can't hardly believe it!



Here is Dj Lance Rock and TCA winner Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, Malcom in the Middle) Mr. Cranston's acceptance speech had DJ Lance and C. Jacobs in stitches, especially when he suggested host Chelsea Handler got her jokes out of the trash can! HA! He was super cool!



Here is Ruth Schultz and Kristin Berrett looking lovely.



Executive Producer Jon Berrett and Kristin holding the award. Jon was the first guy to take a chance on Yo Gabba Gabba Magic Store and well... thanks Jon! We did it!

Yo Gabba Gabba! In the Media Down Unda

Here's some clips featuring Yo Gabba Gabba (LIVE) on the popular Australia TV program, "9AM With David & Kim"

First off, Ann Marie Biggar talks cool tricks with Foofa Brobee & the kids in Melbourne...Did she just say, "Bigger than the Wiggles?!?!"

9AM With David & Kim - Yo Gabba Gabba Cool Tricks Auditions



Next, Ann Marie Biggar covers the world premier of Yo Gabba Gabba On Stage Live! Interviews Christian Jacobs & Dj Lance himself!

9AM With David & Kim - Yo Gabba Gabba On stage LIVE Premiere

Gooble's Origin

As promised, the following is a little background behind Gooble, the ghostlike mysterious Yo Gabba Gabba character.

Artistically, Gooble's origin began with a song off of the Aquabats 1999 "Vs. The Floating Eye of Death" album called, "Monster's Wedding" The song itself is a ghost story; not unlike Tim Burton's 2005 film, The Corpse Bride. In the song, there is a foreboding ghost's voice saying, "you must go". That ghost's name was Obakemon (which translates to "ghost-man" in Japanese).

I did the graphic design for the "Floating Eye of Death" album and I knew that Obakemon would be a real fun character to illustrate for the inside lyric booklet. Of course, he is what he is in the song, a ghost man. I designed him to emulate the style of my brother Christian's signature red cyclopses that he used to doodle all over the place--which eventually became Muno (but that's another story). In promotion of the album, Obakemon later found himself on Aquabats t-shirts, stickers and jackets. They were mostly glow-in-the dark, cuz you know, he's a ghost!

I really dug Obakemon's sad clown look of misery with his candy red lips. I don't know why, but for some reason it visually appealed to me. When I was working at Paul Frank Industries, I had an Obakemon messenger bag custom made for me that I carried around for years and years.

So then, I believe in 2004, Christian & Scott invited me (with a few others) to the first working Yo Gabba Gabba concept meeting. It was then that they pitched the idea of developing a TV project other than The Aquabat Super Show. This was going to be a character based kids show but pulling from what we had already built in the Aquabats universe. I thought it was a great idea to put some of these characters to better use. Muno, Brobee and Gooble are all characters that have Aquabat roots.

We changed Obakemon's name to Gooble because we liked how it sounded. Besides, Obakemon? American kids don't like them Japanese names fer stuff! They like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Pokemon and Apple pie stuff like that!

My job as graphic dude was to help flesh out the early concepts for a pitch. This was Gooble #1:



OK so several years later, we end up making the show. We settle on the 5 main characters, because we just didn't have it in the first season budget to make more! Gooble did survive in a couple of scripts as a minor role, but now he had to be animated. This made me sad because I thought he would look really cool as a live action character.

But then my favorite mistake happened. In the process of making one of the Muno costumes, there was an error, and Muno just didn't turn out right. We spent big dollars on this Muno we simply couldn't use. So, I made this proposal: we take the bad Muno costume, scrape off the bumps and remake it in a Gooble fashion.


...And it worked!


Here, in the episode aptly entitled, "Love", Gooble joins the rest of the cast in a touching rendition of, "Be Nice To Everyone". I personally think this is one of the weirdest moments of Yo Gabba Gabba...and I LOVE it!

OC Weekly Article, Audio Slideshow and more!

Hey folks, looks like the awesome OC Weekly cover story is online now along with a fantastic audio slideshow of last week's The Aquabats & DJ Lance Rock show at the Glasshouse in Pomona. Also, there's been some more kind press for Yo Gabba Gabba. Ad Age and NewTeeVee both have great articles on YGG's success from both TV and online audiences.