My latest creation, the African Queen Jungle Cruise Inspired Boat!

The African Queen is finally alive after spending a few months developing it. Well actually, It was originally planned as a whole Jungle Cruise scene with the boat in the river. After spending a few weeks playing with different designs, it dawned on me that the real jewel of that ride isn’t any of the scenes you experience but actually the ride vehicle itself. This propelled me to pause the scene design and put my focus on the boat itself.

Every time I visit Disneyland, I always stop into the shops to check out if there’s any new “high end” merchandise for that attraction and I’m always left disappointed. I think they should have nice collectibles of every attraction vehicle.

These are the machines that float us into lands of excitement and wonder kind of like the scene in Willy Wonka where they go on the boat ride or the Wonka mobile. If the journey is the destination, then these attraction vehicles are the transformative and memorable catalysts that keep propelling us forward. Every time we take ride into these attractions, we go with those close to us such as friends, lovers, and family. We’re all experiencing the same thing in a small enclosed vessel. Even with strangers, it’s fun and memorable.

So this is why I developed the African Queen, simply because I wanted one and now you can have one as well.

Now onto the next project!

-Jacob

Visit the Haunted Mansion…in miniature

This is the Disneyland Haunted Mansion inspired product that I developed this past November. It originally started as a large format multilayered framed piece a few years back and was a hit at the various conventions I took it to but as crowds would pass through the booth, most expressed how much they loved the framed piece but was out of their price range. Each Haunted Mansion had over 100 small intricately cut parts and even had a wireless LED system. These factors made it very costly and took a lot of time to build and thus out of the affordable range. 

Fast forward to this past November, I reworked all of the art and scaled it down to about 1/6 the size of the original and designed it in a way that it still retained its 3D art style. I also added guests and brought in the horseless carriage; both supporting elements to the experience as you enter the queue. After several prototypes, I was also able to simplify the art to roughly 12 layers versus 100+. After implementing these changes, I was able to deliver a product that is affordable and still made without consuming so much time. I eventually debuted the product at DesignerCon this year at the Anaheim Convention Center. I was so hyped to be able to sell these across the street from Disneyland! I might not be able to go into the park and visit the Haunted Mansion as often as I’d like but for now, I now have a miniature one on my desk and so can you!

Buy one today at vinylsmack.com

Each MULTIPLANES measure roughly 5″ x 7″ x 2.75″ and is packed with super intricate laser cut graphics. I love the immersive nature of this art form that I’m pursuing. It truly is the next best thing to actually being there in person. One day I imagine that I’ll get these outsourced but for the time being, I design, produce and assemble all of these by hand; even down to the hand painted rails. Happy Haunts are now available!

Haunted Mansion Now Available

This is the Disneyland Haunted Mansion inspired product that I developed this past November. It’s now available over at VINYLSMACK.com Each MULTIPLANES measure roughly 5” x 7” x 2.75” and is packed with super intricate laser cut graphics. I love the immersive nature of this art form that I’m pursuing. It truly is the next best thing to actually being there in person. One day I imagine that I’ll get these outsourced but for the time being, I design, produce and assemble all of these by hand; even down to the hand painted rails. Happy Haunts are now available!

Available at: vinylsmack.com

MULTIPLANES have taken flight

 

It’s been a long minute since I last posted here. Let me bring you up to speed…

For the last couple of years, I’ve been developing a new product line called MULTIPLANES that I sell through VINYLSMACK; my side excursion. Originally most product I sold through VINYLSMACK were vinyl decals. I eventually started moving to paper made die-cut products like the set of Back to The Future Deloreans (pictured left). After exploring the possibility of mixing different materials on one product, I reached back to an old product idea I had created about 10 years ago that featured multilayer art that was spread across multiple frames just like they did with the early animation with the Multiplane cameras. My early attempts failed because I was using clear transparency sheets to layer the art. After a few layers, the art would get murky/cloudy and wasn’t clean so I eventually ditched the idea.

 

Fast forward to 2016, I brought the idea back to life after I invested in a laser cutting machine. After the first proof of concept (shown above) and several prototypes, I was able to bring my original vision to life by creating three dimensional scenes out of paper, wood, acrylic, and full color printed elements (shown below).

I also created a system where multiple frames quickly get inserted into a slotted base which makes setting up the product easy. It also let’s the user take part in “building” the product. Part of the fun is seeing a three dimensional scene come to life.

Series1. For the first release of the product, I wanted to have 5 products to choose from that were all related in some way. I ended up choosing the Paranormal/Cryptozoology genre for Series 1. I love the genre and tales that come from them. I often listen to podcasts like Mysteryous Universe, Expanded Perspectives, and The Gralien Report which not only feature these type of stories but present them in an engaging way.  I love the creepy tales about the Men in Black, Yeti, and Kraken so I started off with those. I also brought in my brother to work on the UFO scene called “TAKEN.” I also created a fictional character called the Oddity which features a “freak show” type of character that sits in a traveling carriage that gets hauled by a flying bird. For that one, I just let my imagination run wild.

 

The goal for every MULTIPLANE early in the development and going forward is for there to be this feeling like your looking into a scene that is unfolding. I wanted them to feel very alive and packed with motion, emotion, drama, intensity, and life. Every MULTIPLANE also has a central character or object that pulls viewer in visually. You really have to see one of them in person to appreciate the depth and level of detail that each one has. I also designed them to be perfect for keeping on your desk or a shelf so they don’t take up too much space.

MULTIPLANES Series 1, World of Mystery,” has been out for over a year now and I’m now starting to design a 2nd series that explores the lofty heights that transportation reached before the modern era. From electric trains that sprawled early Los Angeles, to taking command of the skies, Series 2 showcases mankind’s vision for the future of transportation.

You can buy one today at: vinylsmack.com

Rod Serling Illustrations as Die Cut Stickers

[Starting today until March 13th, I’ll be giving one of these away in the special edition packaging. Head over to my Instagram page for the simple contest rules: instagram.com/vinylsmacked]

 

My latest product from VINYLSMACK.com features The Twilight Zone’s Rod Serling. I got this idea a while back. Here’s some of the back story for the inspiration:

I’ve always been a fan of the Twilight Zone and would watch it all day whenever one of the marathons came on. If I remember correctly, they aired on Thanksgiving and on the fourth of July. As a younger kid, I’d watch it from a safe and curious distance. I knew that some of them were creepy so hence the need for a safe distance. As I got older though, I loved some of the weighty topics that Rod Serling would tackle on the show. Many have written on the topic of Rod Serling and how he dealt with social and philosophical issues so I won’t belabor that here. There was something about that feeling after most episodes where I felt I was taken through a nightmare and left unscathed. I learned a lesson of sort through the subject matter. And how could you not love Rod appearing on those intros and outros of the show. He was like a Willy Wonka, taking us through his factory from another dimension. I wish he could’ve done more. 156 episodes weren’t enough!

Now back to the 3 illustrations I designed. Since Rod Serling was such a prolific writer and steered his vision of what the show was, I thought it would be awesome to feature a version of Rod in every illustration; with a twist of course like every episode.

The first I developed is Rod Serling as himself. This first design came from a sketch I did a while back of Rod Serling with very large, black, zombie-like eyes. I did this because of the creep factor of the show at times. I kept it simple and added those Twilight Zone swirls from the show’s intro.

 

 

 

The next design I tackled was inspired by one of my personal favorites, “Time Enough at Last” which starred Burgess Meredith. For this, there’s a few things going on. First, I wanted it to look like Rod but also like “Henry Bemis,” the episode’s main character. Early on I decided that the characters should have Rod’s facial characteristics and have other external elements that make up the actor he’s “portraying. For the Bemis illustration, he’s all Bemis but still Rod under the glasses, crazy hair, and mustache. I also implemented his love of books into his suit, an element most fans would get!

 

The third design is taken from “The Nick of Time.” For this, instead of having Rod illustrated as William Shatner’s character, I made him the more obvious choice, the mystic from the diner table. He has Rod’s features but shares most of the features from the show version. For the box itself, I brought in elements from his suit to wrap around the box. Instead of copying the words from the box, I thought it fitting to use a portion of Rod’s words at the closing of the show, “Counterbalance in the little town of Ridgeview, Ohio. Two people permanently enslaved by the tyranny of fear and superstitution, facing the future with a kind of helpless dread. Two others facing the future with confidence – having escaped one of the darker places of the Twilight Zone.”

 

Once I finished designing the 3 illustrations for the die-cut sticker set, I went on to develop the a special edition package that features an envelope in the shape of a TV set complete with a stand on the back. Everything I design at VINYLSMACK has some handmade elements. The set is made of die-cut card stock and a plastic window. I hope you enjoy them. They’re now available for purchase over at: vinylsmack.com

My Never Ending Story

Alas, the time has come for my next product release over at vinylsmack.com. This is my ode to The Never Ending Story. “The Auryn” is a leather textured envelope package with a separate silver and gold multilayer decal on the inside.

Fight against the sadness! No other film from my childhood impacted me more than this. It equally spurred my imagination and terrified me beyond belief. The unforeseen enemy, a disappearing world, 2 heros; both my age, and an empress so beautiful I blushed every time she appeared on the screen. And Falkor, that majestic dog of a dragon; hope delayed, arrives just in time. As the title suggests, The Never Ending Story continues to play out in my life. Be brave. Fight against the sadness.

Now available at vinylsmack.com.

    

Updates for VINYLSMACK | Much More In The Works

Last August I started up a new business venture making creative multilayered decals over at vinylsmack.com. It started with the Flux Emancipator, a decal inspired by Back to The Future’s “Flux Capacitor.” Since then I’ve got some good feedback and demand for my product. I’ve also developed many new ideas on the type of products that I will produce. Moving on from just decals, I plan on also making papercraft collectibles and other products. I also have a new focus on developing packaging that reinforces the theme of every product. I want every package to be an experience in itself. Something that just blows you away. Something that’s fun to even hold in your hand. I love this new venture because it allows me to have a creative outlet without the boundries that I have in my day-to-day design work that I do in Moving Pixel Media. Please stay tuned to exciting new stuff around the corner over at vinylsmack.com.

 Watch Screen Time Lapse and thoughts on design & video

Apple Watch Screen Time Lapse from Moving Pixel Media on Vimeo.

Every time Apple releases a new product, I’m amazed at how much better each successive video is. I think at this point all video is probably CG just like IKEA is doing. There is so much fine control over the various aesthetics and they control it well. The motion, focus, lighting and other areas are downright amazing. It really pulls you in. Pretty remarkable, considering the thing is about a square inch. I love their products but am equally inspired by the level of production they put into selling it.

Introducing “The Flux Emancipator” decal by VINYLSMACK

 

I just started up a new small business called VINYLSMACK®. My goal is to design some high end decals that have depth or complexity to them. Think multiple layers, colors, and materials. My 1st release is inspired by one of my favorite movies of all time, Back to The Future. I’m taking advantage of the glowing apple on Apple laptops. After several versions and shopping for different materials, I nailed the look and feel I was going for on the final product. It features over 5 layers, transparent film and a clear polyester window to give it a glass effect like the real box. Once I figure out how to activate the time circuits and make it transport me to another time, you’ll probably find me in the 1940’s; it’s a nice round number.

Now available at: vinylsmack.com.
Thanks for the support. Your my density!

Inspired Illustration Project #14, “The Crystal Arcade.”

This is one of my favorite facades in Disneyland. When it’s all lit up, it’s a sight to behold. One of my favorite times at the park is when we’re leaving down Main Street. It’s impossible to not duck into one of these shops.