Every month I take an hour to pry into the lives of other flash authors. I then spit out our back and forth here on newgrounds and on my site! This month we meet
LazyMuffin
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Luis says:
Greetings, it's a new month, which can only mean that errr it's a new month! ... and that i have another interview to release, today we are joined by Yotam Perel, otherwise known as LazyMuffin to us weblings. So without further ado, lets kick things off with a brief bio...
This is pretty much the only part people will read so try to be exciting to get to know!! What got you started in the flash scene? When did you start and have you made anything we might have heard about???
LazyMuffin says:
I started messing around with flash when my brother downloaded it in 2001 or so (I was 10). He showed me some animations on Newgrounds and I found it fascinating, especially Xiao Xiao who I still go back to for nostalgia. Even before I knew of flash I made little flip-book animations for fun.
Luis says:
Ah cool so its more or less in your blood to do this stuff. So I've interviewed artists from all over the globe, but I think you're the first one to come from Isreal. What is the flash scene like over there? Have you seen it change / evolve as time goes on or are you still more or less an oddity? I've always been fascinated how an artists environment might influence his/her work, do you feel your location or even your upbringing has affected your work in anyway? If so, how? Sorry thats at least 5 questions bundled into one, but Im paid on a commission basis!(JK)
LazyMuffin says:
After he showed me the program I made him teach me the basics and since then I've been playing with it. Once I got more familiar with Flash and got out of the stick figures stage, I got into animated music videos due to Tim Frommeyers great animations. As for my animations, you may have heard of my Nameless series. At lease I hope you did.
Did you? ):
IF NOT, HERE'S IT'S PAGE ON NEWGROUNDS!
The flash scene in Israel... to be completely honest, I have no idea. I haven't really gotten into the scene around here, if there even is one. I sometimes see commercials that are made with flash, but that's about it. Hopefully one day once I finish all of my social obligations I'll be able to get more into that.
I don't think that my environment influenced my work... I don't make any political satire or anything involving Israel really. It may surprise some people, but I live a very normal life in Israel, It's not constant bombing and fear as some may think. I go to school, watch movies and ride camels like each and every one of you!
Luis says:
So as you've previously mentioned, your claim to fame has been the Nameless series, in an attempt to dive into a slew of questions related to that, lets start from the beginning. How did that series come about? Are the characters loosely based on real life people and if so who?
LazyMuffin says:
The beginning of the Nameless series make me laugh since it was something so unintentional and retarded that people liked. It started when I was bored one day at the soft age of 13, so I decided to record myself. I ended up recording a stupid "sketch", the punchline was that Crippleboy was crippled and had a voice of a baby (Go here). I submitted it and it got (somehow) to the front page of Deviantart, so I just made more.
The characters aren't really based on anyone I know (I don't know any cripples or people made out of chocolate), I just try to make them outlandish and fun.
Luis says:
Why 'Nameless' anyway, do you have some sort of strategic masterplan for naming it 'Nameless', or was it just something that you decided on a whim? I THINK I already know the answer but indulge me....
LazyMuffin says:
The only reason I chose the name 'Nameless' is that I'm horrible at naming stuff; thus Crippleboy (A boy who is crippled), Chocolateman (A man, made out of chocolate), Chocolatelady (A lady, made out of chocolate) and Chocolateman'smom (I just never bothered to name her).
For a while I was considering changing the name of the series to "Sweet and Crippled", but it just wouldn't be the same.
Luis says:
Yeah it wouldnt be the same. Maybe it woulda been better. ZING. Ok so now that you're 6 volumes deep into the series and you've naturally improved over the years, both in your delivery and execution, how far do you see yourself going with the series. Do you see yourself introducing new characters / phasing out others / or maybe neither? How do you feel the series has changed as you've developed it over the years, do you think its stayed faithful to your original vision of it or on the otherhand are you more pleased by how it has strayed and gone beyond what you originally envisioned?
LazyMuffin says:
I'll go with the series as long as I feel it hasn't worn itself out. Once I really struggle writing and feel really unmotivated working with the same characters I'll probably end it. I don't see that happening soon though, I already have two more volumes planned for episode six, and from there I'd like to make shorter episodes in order to pump em out faster. I love playing with characters, so I can see myself adding characters, but Crippleboy and Chocolateman will always be the protagonists of the series.
I feel the series developed very well for something that started out as a joke. There was nothing to stay faithful to though, it started as just fun, and it still is. Only now It's fun that comes with a plot and not-only-random jokes.
Luis says:
Yeah, personally I think your series is finally beginning to pick up real steam now. It was like a pedal boat when you started it and now i see it more like a steamboat. Oh, here's a philosophical question which you are welcome to apply to the Nameless series if you wish... Pretend you had a time machine and you were able to take your skills today and go back in time and redo one of your pieces. Which one would you want a second crack at and why, or perhaps you wouldnt want to touch any of them in which case id ask why not?
LazyMuffin says:
I don't know if I would like to change anything. As much as I might not like some of the beginning episodes of Nameless, I like to keep em the way they are just because I love seeing how the jokes, the graphics and the voices change. ACTUALLY, I have a funny story regarding voice change: I started recording Crippleboy when I was about 13 and my voice hasn't changed yet, and once my voice changed I felt it's a whole new character, so I killed him off. That's why one of the episodes just start with Crippleboy being hung in his room.
Luis says:
Hmm I never considered puberty into the equation.... damn that opens up a whole new can of pubescent worms but i wont get into that. Easy transition time! Aside from the Nameless series what else are you up to?
LazyMuffin says:
For now, Nameless is the only thing really planned. But overall, I never know. If I think of some funny sketch, I write it down and animate it. If there's a song I feel I'd like to animate, I try and do some once in a while.
Luis says:
Oh speaking of not having a plan. I've actually been asked this a couple times and dare I say I have trouble answering it so for the sake of filling in other people who will undoubtedly ask AS WELL as filling ME in on how to respond... What is the RWD? What differentiates it from the usual stream of clocks, locks, star syndicate, kitty krew, jesus crew, etc. I made that last one up btw
LazyMuffin says:
Jesus Crew might be our spinoff crew.
The RWD started when I saw Nogfish's animation 'A KITTY CREW BEATDOWN' and commented about how I don't like them since most of their stuff are effortless loops like many of the crews you have mentioned.
I decided we should open a crew that only publishes quality spam, thus differentiates us from most crews. We also made up a silly background for the group that may take part in future RWD related animations. Were villains who create quality spam, That's about it.
Luis says:
Oh, that wasnt as complicated as I thought it would be. While you are in a flashback mood heres a question for you. So Back in 2003, when you got your start, artists were pretty much doing flash purely for the love of it (aka not getting jack shit in regards to compensation)... fast-forward 5 years and now we are in an age of sponsorings and ad-served opportunities, do you have any observations as to what sort of impact you've noticed in the flash scene as a result and more importantly what sort of impact do you see it making in the longrun?
LazyMuffin says:
I don't see the sponsoring as a bad thing, I think it's a good motivator since everyone loves money. I was sponsored by Newgrounds for Nameless 6 vol 2 and I just see it as a reward for all of the time I put into it, I don't think now that I'm sponsored I'll put less effort into it. From my point of view, It's all pretty the same, except changing trends regarding whats popular. It used to be violent games, stick figures etc and now it's, of course, game parodies. I don't see it making much of an impact, the people who put a lot of effort into their animations will get sponsored and continue to do so... then again, maybe I'm just being naive.
Luis says:
VERY naive of you. Anyway enough of that shit. Lets lighten the mood a bit! Name an animation you've enjoyed this past month and what you liked about it. We spend so much time talking about the interviewee in these things that it might be refreshing to plug something else that someone might enjoy!
LazyMuffin says:
To be honest, this month there wasn't anything that I really really liked. This month had a lot of game parodies and sprites which I'm also not really into. I really enjoyed 'sherry enema: #2' due to its quick witty humor and great timing. It reminds me of the radio stations in GTA, which I find hilarious. Also, 'Dollar' made me laugh. These picks make me look like I only like social satire... oh well.
Luis says:
Yes you are QUITE the social satirist (is that a word?) but whatever I'm not judging. Youre still fairly young, but have you thought about animation in terms of a career at all? where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years when i reinterview you.
LazyMuffin says:
Animating as a career would be ideal for me. I would love to do something where I can implement my writing skills and animating skills. A series of my own would be reaching for the stars, but I would love that.
Before I start working as an animator(if possible), I feel like I should have a crappy job for a couple of month's just so I can appreciate being able to animate for a living completely.
In 10 years I'll be filthy rich and will never let you in my yacht... or internet browser.
Luis says:
Well my toilet is currently backed up you are more than welcome to start your crappy job career there if you want. It would be for your own good of course :D
Ok laaaast question, may as well end it in contraversy... you mentioned you didnt care for game parodies.. want to elaborate on them, and how you do think they fit (or shouldnt fit?) into the flash animation scene?
LazyMuffin says:
I've been thinking about that lately and I'm finding it hard to come up with a conclusion. I was always into people making animations for fun and the enjoyment of others, and the game parodies do provide entertainment to a lot of people. On the other hand, I feel like it's almost too easy. The crowd loves it so they should keep going, but I think it lowers the standers for people who put a lot of effort into their animations. People copy (admittedly) Egoraptors style, which used to be rushed and poorly animated (HE SAID THAT!) and get a shit ton of views, while someone who may put a lot of effort into his animation gets a quarter of that. But it's the demographic, and in the internet, the demographic likes video game parodies. I try not to get frustrated though, there's no point. I can't change what the people like.
Although seeing three game parodies on the front page worries me, especially where one has been there for over a month but I can't do anything about it since that's what the people like.
My plan is to get some big gaming company to make a game based on Nameless, then my animations would be a sensation.
I'm a bitter, bitter man.
THANKS FOR THE INTERVIEW, KISSES
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Past Archived Interviews:
- 06/2008 | Leafworthy
- 04/2008 | AloneIntheDark
- 03/2008 | Tom Fulp
- 02/2008 | Luis
- 01/2008 | Dr NeroCF
- 12/2007 | Buzzwerd
- 11/2007 | Rtil
- 10/2007 | AlmightyHans
- 09/2007 | Marc M
- 08/2007 | The-Swain
- 07/2007 | TimFrommeyer
- 06/2007 | NegativeOne
- 05/2007 | SickDeathFiend
- 04/2007 | Psychogoldfish
- 03/2007 | Mindchamber
