One of Many Cool Things at Comic Con 2007

As I told everyone back on May 17th, on this blog, Comic Con International is just around the corner. There are so many things to see, participate in, listen to, buy, get for free and just have a really great time experiencing – one has to ask…why would you miss going to Comic Con?

This is a photo of a Mini Weta Raygun you can buy for just $30 this year at Comic Con. It’s called a “ManMelter” – YIKES!!!

Read more…here.

Pac-Man Skull Found??!

OK – so you think PAC-MAN was only a simple little bouncing digital head who gobbled you up, if you weren’t fast enough – well, you were wrong…apparently! Take a look at this link and read more

There are even MORE cartoon skeletons out there and I would bet there is a strong collectible toy idea blossoming here too. Think of the possibilities!

NMC 2007 Summer Conference

From June 6th to the 9th, I had the privilege of attending the New Media Consortium or NMC 2007 Summer Conference in Indianapolis. I was one, of a group of 14 from Otis, of faculty and staff members. Sue Maberry, Otis Library Director and “Guru of New Media” at Otis was our fearless leader for the week. If not for Sue’s constant effort and hard work, from herself and her staff, Otis would certainly not have such a strong foothold in new media.

John Gordon, Provost of Otis College, attended the conference with us. John wrote to the Otis Community today about an award that Otis was honored with at the conference:

“Sue Maberry accepted the NMC’s Center of Excellence Award for Otis’ ground-breaking work in the area of instructional technology. The NMC award to Otis reads: “Recognized for their creative, technical and artistic support of the campus community.” Otis was one of only 3 institutions so honored. The other Center of Excellence Award recipients were: University of British Columbia and University of Wisconsin, Madison.”

Sue Maberry and Alan Levine(aka “CDB Barley” in Second Life)after Sue receives the Award For Excellence. 

Please take a look at NMC’s link for great photos, comments and all the events that took place during the conference. Another great site to check out and book mark is Alan Levine’s cogdogblog.com

Each day was filled with great sessions with topics that focused on innovation, creativity and new emerging technologies. Otis College of Art and Design has truly embraced everything that is New Media, with an excitement to learn more and share with everyone home at the Otis campus in Los Angeles, CA.

The final day and session of the conference, ended with Apple’s Don Henderson showing a student video named An Empty Cubicle. The video was done by students from The Art Institute of Seattle and was a winner at the Insomnia Film Festival.

Start Designing Your Roswell Alien Toy NOW!

In case you haven’t heard the news yet – Roswell, NM city officials are talking seriously about designing and building a theme park in Roswell. Obviously the “theme” is all about the infamous UFO crash site that took place in 1947. So all you UFO fans, space alien toy collectors and conspiracy theorists get in line – the theme park is planned for a 2010 opening.

Remember all theme parks NEED lots of toys…just look at Disneyland!

Tim Biskup – Paintings to Toys

I recommend you visit artist Tim Biskup’s new gallery exhibition at the Billy Shire Fine Arts Gallery, 5790 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232. The exhibit runs from May 26, 2007 to July 7, 2007. Tim’s art can be seen on Gama-Go clothng , limited edition posters and in a new book Limited Edition: Art & Design of Gama-Go (release date June 16, 2007).

Now here’s where it gets even more interesting…Tim has also designed a toy line based on his art. I find each of these toy figures to be as intriguing as his paintings are. Take a look at the toys on timbiskup.com and visit Billy Shire Fine Art’s Gallery to see more of Tim Biskup’s art.

About This Toy Design Blog and Its URL

Currently there are 2 ways you can find this Otis Toy Design blog.

The first way is by using the url address, that most of you are familiar with – www.otistoydesign.wordpress.com

This address above can be used by anyone who is fascinated in the world of toys! There will be regular updates to the blog on items of interest and events as related to toys and Otis Toy Designers. If you want to let us know about an exciting toy event, please post a comment on the blog.

Within the Toy Design blog there is also a link, under the Links tab above, for Otis College of Art and Design. Here you can find more detailed information about Otis. That link is Otis.edu

The second way to reach the blog, that many of you may not be aware of, is through MyO. This is the Otis College of Art and Design “intranet”. To reach the Toy Design blog using this route, you must be an Otis student, faculty or staff member, with a valid x number and password. You go to the students or faculty tab, once in MyO, and select “wikis and blogs” from the drop-down menu. Once on that page, select blogs and under “Department Blogs” choose Toy Design Blog.

Otis is in the process of updating MyO and eventually there will be one easy-to- remember url address for the Toy Design Blog. Don’t despair! When that change takes place, we will make sure you are still able to find this blog!

Comic Book Artists Contest

Below is an email John Gordon, Provost of Otis College of Art and Design forwarded to Otis faculty, in hopes of getting information out to Otis students and alumni, about a comic book publisher who is sponsoring a comic book artist competition.

I also would recommend, if you are interested the contest and in comics, you might take a look at the publisher’s own web site – Platinum Studios. Here’s the email:

“My name is Randy Greenberg and I’m the head of marketing for Platinum Studios, a comic book-based entertainment company based in Los Angeles. We are conducting a contest to find the next great comic book creator. This contest is open to anyone over the age of 18 in the United States. Entries are being accepted through May 31, 2007 at www.comicbookchallenge.com and we would like to be able to post this information somewhere on the Otis Campus or website for all Otis students to see.
Otis has some of the best and brightest artists/creators in America today and we want them to know that we are looking for them. We want to turn their dream of creating a comic book and getting it published and distributed around the world.
Please let me know if this possible to accomplish with Otis.

With many thanks and best regards,
Randy Greenberg”

About Blogging…and ambient intimacy

This is an interesting viewpoint on social networking and the minute by minute evolving landscape of blogs, instant messages and web 2.0.

Read on.

Comic-Con International, July 2007

 

For all of you fans of comic books, there is an amazing convention that takes place in San Diego, California every July.

Here the comic novice, the fan and the collector alike can buy toys, sample new role play games, first person and real time strategy games, meet stars of new films and television shows and of course…buy every type of comic imaginable.

If you’re serious about attending don’t wait till the last minute or you will wait for hours just to get inside the door! I strongly recommend registering as soon as you can to avoid the long wait!

Check out Comic-Con International 2007 here

Toy Design 2007 Senior Show

Son Nguyen, Class of 2007 Senior Show 

The 2007 Senior Class from Otis Toy Design Department, are breathing a little easier today. The Senior Show is over and was a success! The best news, especially for each senior, is that they have graduated and officially received their B.F.A. degrees.

Thank you to everyone (faculty and students) who so graciously volunteered and helped the Seniors get things set up on Thursday, May 11, the first night of the show.

Please take a look at additional photos, under “flickr photos”, of just a few of the Toy Design seniors and faculty, from Thursday evening.