This is me with fellow Canadian Michel Gagne in San Diego last summer! I have to admit I hadn't heard much about the guy until the Convention. Touring the Con, whenever I mentioned my background in animation, everyone quized me about Michel Gagne: "Have you heard of him?! Have you been to his table yet?! Have you seen his demo reel?!" I immediately had to check it out! He had a small portable TV on his table which was looping an amazing short flick "Prelude to Eden". I was in awe of his craft! Yet there was something strangely familiar about his style...I had to inquire!...

Michel Gagne was the Supervisor of Effects Animation on the Warner Brothers' Feature Film IRON GIANT, a gig he scored when Brad Bird (Director of IRON GIANT) saw "Prelude to Eden" and declared, "I want this guy for this film!" And I can see why! It is a masterpiece! The whole thing was shot primarily on 1's. (For anyone who doesn't know about animation, that means there is 1 drawing per frame of film, and there are 24 frames of film per second! It is aceptable and, in fact, customary to shoot on 2's - meaning 12 drawings per second...and half the work!) Sure, shooting on 1's doubles the work load, but if executed properly, makes for eeriely smooth movement! Michel insisted on working on 1's which is something very rarely done, and reminiscent of one other animation guru I can think of, Richard Williams (Animation Supervisor of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and "Father" of The Thief and the Cobbler)!

For a guy who has had a career in Animation and Effects Animation spanning nearly 2 decades, I was impressed to find Michel so humble! His table was manned only by himself and his wife Nancy, and he was exceedingly friendly and genuine! We immediately offered him a copy of A Monk's Tale #1, and we bought a set (4 issues) of his comic ZED! (Photo Op!)

We had the pleasure of meeting up with Michel and his wife again in Seattle last month at the Emerald City Comic Con, where we were honored to present him with the 2nd installment of A Monk's Tale! Much to our surprise he remembered us! He said he enjoyed our book (and had held onto it!) and was happy that we have progressed with it! We were so very flattered!

We are looking forward to seeing him at the San Diego Comic Con again this year, and will certainly provide him with Issues #3 and #4 of A Monk's Tale, as the miniseries is planned to wrap up just in time for Con!

We are stoked to have established a report with a man of his stature, and equally as blessed to have formed a friendship with such a talented and genuine guy! Watch for his name in the credits as Special Effects Designer on a series of Star Wars: Clone Wars short clips coming soon! And please check out his website: www.gagneint.com