Post by /\/\att on May 21, 2009 14:24:05 GMT -5
GBCollector.com has just posted our exclusive interview with Mr. Keith Baxter, the main character designer on Slimer! And the Real Ghostbusters.
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GBCollector: You worked on character design for Slimer! and the REAL Ghostbusters. Which characters can you recall that you designed?
Keith Baxter: All of the main characters. Some of them were inspired by Everett Peck designs.
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GBCollector: Where did the inspiration come for the re-designing of these characters in the more vintage 'Tex Avery' type of format?
Keith Baxter: I seem to remember I showed my portfolio to Art Vitello, the show runner on Slimer. He saw I gravitated to old classic WB and MGM style of drawing, and it was what he wanted for the show. Also one of the story artists, Pat Ventura always pushed his boards in a Tex Avery style. I think that influenced what I drew as well.
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GBCollector: I've always wondered, did the Slimer! show have a writing/art bible attached to it?
Keith Baxter: I can't remember. Sorry.
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GBCollector: How did the gig of designing with the Great American Film Company, the production company that made the Slimer! cartoons?
Keith Baxter: Actually Great American Animation Co. only did animation. I did design work for DIC. But one day Art Vitello was looking at my roughs and said, "You look like you could animate. Wanna give it a shot?" He called up Great American and told them to give me some footage to animate. Chuck Harvey, an ex- Disney animator was also doing boards on Slimer. He was very generous with his knowledge of animation and we would work until midnight at DIC doing animation. Thanks to Chuck and Art, I got paid to learn to animate.
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GBCollector: What was it like working with the Great American Film Company back in those days?
Keith Baxter: Hard work, but worth it!
***********************************
Discuss any questions or comments you have here!
***********************************
GBCollector: You worked on character design for Slimer! and the REAL Ghostbusters. Which characters can you recall that you designed?
Keith Baxter: All of the main characters. Some of them were inspired by Everett Peck designs.
-----------------------------------------------------------
GBCollector: Where did the inspiration come for the re-designing of these characters in the more vintage 'Tex Avery' type of format?
Keith Baxter: I seem to remember I showed my portfolio to Art Vitello, the show runner on Slimer. He saw I gravitated to old classic WB and MGM style of drawing, and it was what he wanted for the show. Also one of the story artists, Pat Ventura always pushed his boards in a Tex Avery style. I think that influenced what I drew as well.
-----------------------------------------------------------
GBCollector: I've always wondered, did the Slimer! show have a writing/art bible attached to it?
Keith Baxter: I can't remember. Sorry.
-----------------------------------------------------------
GBCollector: How did the gig of designing with the Great American Film Company, the production company that made the Slimer! cartoons?
Keith Baxter: Actually Great American Animation Co. only did animation. I did design work for DIC. But one day Art Vitello was looking at my roughs and said, "You look like you could animate. Wanna give it a shot?" He called up Great American and told them to give me some footage to animate. Chuck Harvey, an ex- Disney animator was also doing boards on Slimer. He was very generous with his knowledge of animation and we would work until midnight at DIC doing animation. Thanks to Chuck and Art, I got paid to learn to animate.
-----------------------------------------------------------
GBCollector: What was it like working with the Great American Film Company back in those days?
Keith Baxter: Hard work, but worth it!
***********************************
Discuss any questions or comments you have here!