Tonymation

Home Office Make-Over

2012-01-21T21:50:00.000-08:00

The new year brought with it some big changes for the Tonymation family. I left my studio job and decided to venture out with AnimSchool full-time. It was a much needed change for me and my animation sanity. I enjoy spending my days in my home office. However, that wasn't always the case.

There was a time in my not so distant past that my office was the messiest and most unorganized room in our house. And let me tell you, with 3 youngsters running amuck all day, that's quite a tall statement. With the magic of Photoshop, I will give you a glimpse into the mess that was once my office...

(This is a panorama stitched together from 13 photos)

I have to admit that a small amount of the mess was attributed to my prepping for the office overhaul, but I assure you that most of it was what I saw every day I mustered up the courage to venture into that part of our home. Another thing I should mention... the clean floor you see there, used to be littered with toys that my two girls graciously placed there for future engagements. I gathered them up and cleared room to build my...

SUPER AWESOME TONYMATION RENOVATION OFFICE OF THE YEAR!

"SATROOTY" for short. Which is also how my youngest says Saturday, by the way. A little Tonymation trivia for you. If I'm handing out trivia I guess I should be more accurate. She hasn't said Saturday to my knowledge, but that's how I imagine she will say it for the first time.

So I sought out the replacement office furniture, and after selecting the best that money has to offer... that is, the best that my wife allowed me to buy, I made my purchase and sat in my office chair for 5 days anxiously waiting for the delivery. My family begged me to come out of my office but their pleas fell on deaf ears... mainly because I was asleep.

Finally the boxes arrived. I figured I'd have a new office in a matter of hours. What I didn't realize is that those hours would add up to span over two days. I assembled the seven pieces with the precision and efficiency of a Winnebago. Eventually I threw away the extra parts and overlooked the wobbly pieces and claimed victory over the instruction booklets I refused to look at. To make a statement I urinated on them and tried to light them on fire ceremoniously. Unfortunately urine is not flammable, so I just threw them into my neighbor's backyard.

Be prepared to be amazed! The exclusive unveiling of the SATROOTY is about to happen before your very eyes!

(SATROOTY demanded 25 images for you to fully appreciate all of its glory)

Even though I deserve all of the credit for this amazing transformation, I'm obligated to mention that my father-in-law replaced my old lame ceiling fan with this fan that matches my sweet cherry finish theme. My ten percent discount would have been revoked had I left that out.

So there you have it. SATROOTY has truly lived up to the expectations of the entire Tonymation family. Yes it is true that I am the only one allowed in or near SATROOTY, but I know that everyone else is satisfied with simply living vicariously through me.

SATROOTY requested that I inform her fans that more posters will adorn her walls soon.

Juice Fast Over!

2012-01-13T13:14:00.000-08:00

Wow... I got so wrapped up in life that I forgot to finish my juice fast journal.

Basically I ended my juice fast a day early. I went a couple more days that I did not record here. Basically I ran a couple miles and had very similar juices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

In all I lost just over 9 pounds.

I decided to end my fast slightly sooner because I could sense my body craving food again. This is something I expected when I started, but eventually I broke through that wall. Then when I started craving food again, I took that as a sign that my body might begin to cannibalize itself. I love to eat meat, and the only meat available to my body was my own muscles.

Now I know what you're thinking... how much muscle mass can a scrawny animator have to offer? Well that's exactly why I scrambled to protect the little I have! I need enough strength to type and move a mouse, and if that goes away, I can't earn a paycheck!

You really have to ease into eating food again, so I started out eating some fruit, crackers, wheat chips, and other snack type foods. Eventually I got back to my normal eating routine in about 3 days.

I feel great and think the juice fast got me some nutrients I was lacking in my diet. I bought a super expensive juicer for my wife and I, so we plan to continue to juice as a supplement.

I am a healthy person, so I didn't expect to lose tons of weight, or to purge lots of junk out of my system. But I do believe I got a good toxin flush during the fast.

Long live real food!

10 Day Juice Fast - Day 7

2011-09-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.

Breakfast

Fruit Drink - Grapefruit, Orange, Pineapple, Strawberries, Nectarine, Red Apple

Leslie made pancakes and eggs for the kids. It was difficult to throw away the leftover pancake even with my new favorite fruit juice sitting in my tummy.

Lunch

Veggie Drink - Kale, Cilantro, Parsley, Red Cabbage, Cucumber, Beets, Tomato, Carrots, Mint, Lemon, Green Apple

The beets turned this juice to blood red. My son walked in and asked with a disgusted face, "What are you guys drinking?" I told him blood and he freaked out. He warned me that only vampires drink blood and asked me if I wanted to become a vampire. I agreed my plan was ill advised and revealed the true nature of the red juice.

Dinner

Veggie Drink - Kale, Cilantro, Parsley, Spinach, Celery, Broccoli, Asparagus, Green Bell Pepper, Brussell Sprouts, Cucumber, Lemon, Green Apple

Tonight was the easiest nights of the fast. We took the kids to Whataburger for dinner and let them eat in the van while Leslie and I chatted. I had no desire to eat the kids' food.

Weight: 172.8 pounds

weight lost = 0.6 pound

10 Day Juice Fast - Day 6

2011-09-05T12:56:00.000-07:00

Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.

Breakfast

Fruit Drink - Grapefruit, Orange, Pineapple, Strawberries, Nectarine, Red Apple

This is my new favorite fruit juice. This is a recipe I put together, and I will stick with it the rest of the fast. It tastes exactly like the Ruby Red Grapefruit juice you can buy in the store, but it's all natural. Since I am not working today I didn't save a snack for later. I just drank the whole thing for breakfast.

Lunch

Veggie Drink - Kale, Red Cabbage, Cucumber, Carrots, Celery, Asparagus, Ginger, Mint, Lemon, Green Apple

This was my first full day at home during the juice fast and by far the most difficult. I was extremely hungry the entire day, and the hunger pangs would just get worse when the kids ate.

Just before dinner we went to the store to stock up on more produce, and on the way home we got the kids a pizza. My wife and I agreed it was the most beautiful cheese pizza we had ever seen. It smelled amazing and it was picture perfect. I have to admit, I almost caved and ate a slice.

Dinner

Veggie Drink - Kale, Parsley, Cilantro, Cucumber, Broccoli, Asparagus, Celery, Ginger, Mint, Lemon, Green Apple

This dinner was even more disappointing since I watched the kids eat down the amazing pizza we got them. If I was going to quit, this would have been the day. It was the roughest, but I made it through.

Weight: 173.4 pounds

weight lost = 1.2 pounds

10 Day Juice Fast - Day 5

2011-09-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.

Breakfast

Fruit Drink - Strawberries, Pear, Orange, Pineapple, Cantalope, Watermelon

I'm not a big fan of the melons in my morning fruit drink. I'll probably change it up tomorrow. I saved half of my breakfast for a late afternoon snack again.

Lunch

Veggie Drink - Kale, Tomato, Celery, Carrots, Spinach, Cucumber, Ginger, Mint, Green Apple

Closing out the work week, but I don't feel much different when it comes to how hungry I feel. I did 2.25 miles on the treadmill and burned off 230 calories.

Snack

I didn't get hungry at the same time today as the rest of the week. It didn't really hit me until almost 5pm.

Dinner

Veggie Drink - Kale, Spinach, Carrots, Cucumber, Egg Plant, Ginger, Mint, Lemon, Green Apple

Friday usually entails me picking up food or ordering a pizza for the family. Tonight I came home to a veggie juice. It's amazing how little you know your own habits until you try to break them.

Weight: 174.6 pounds

weight lost = 0.8 pound

10 Day Juice Fast - Day 4

2011-09-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.

Breakfast

Fruit Drink - Nectarine, Red Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Watermelon, Cantalope

I saved half of my breakfast for a late afternoon snack.

Lunch

Veggie Drink - Carrots, Red Bell Pepper, Mint, Cucumber, Collard Greens, Spinach, Celery, Green Apple

My stomach still thinks a meal is coming at lunch and complains when it doesn't. I feel hungry most of the day, but I have plenty of energy. Did a mile on the treadmill and burned about 100 calories today.

Snack

I finished up my fruit juice saved over from breakfast. I am surprised that I still stay as hungry as I do throughout the afternoon.

Dinner

Veggie Drink - Kale, Celery, Cucumber, Calabasas Squash, Asparagus, Parsley, Mint, Green Apple, Lime

We are pretty well stocked up with veggies for a few days, so I got to go straight home and have my dinner. Walking into the house and smelling the food my wife has made for the kids makes my stomach go crazy.

Weight: 175.4 pounds

weight lost = 1.4 pounds

10 Day Juice Fast - Day 3

2011-08-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.

Breakfast

Fruit Drink - Strawberries, Grapefruit, Red Apples, Peach, Pineapple

Fresh juice in the morning is the best part of this juice fast. I saved half of my breakfast for a late afternoon snack again.

Lunch

Veggie Drink - Kale, Celery, Cucumber, Brocoli, Tomato, Carrots, Ginger, Green Apple, Lemon

Today was similar to yesterday. My stomach griped around the same time, and I drank my afternoon fruit juice snack. I didn't exercise today since I was pretty darn sore from yesterday. I'll get back on the treadmill tomorrow.

Snack

I finished up my fruit juice saved over from breakfast. I actually got hungrier in the late afternoon. The day felt so much longer today.

Dinner

Veggie Drink - Kale, Celery, Cucumber, Calabasas Squash, Asparagus, Parsley, Mint, Green Apple, Lime

I stopped at the store on the way home and picked up some some more veggies and some mint. The mint made the drink refreshing, and it didn't taste as bad as the previous veggie drinks.

I still felt hungry after having my dinner juice. Every time I walk near the kitchen my brain says, "hey let's get some chips." It's not that I want to eat food, but since I am hungry it's a habit to think about grabbing a snack.

While cutting watermelon for the kids I instinctively grabbed a piece and started to put it in my mouth. Fortunately Leslie caught me and yelled as if I was about to swallow a flaming sword. Fortunately the watermelon only hit my lips and did not reach my mouth. Juice fast saved at the last second!

Weight: 176.8 pounds

weight lost = 0.6 pound

10 Day Juice Fast - Day 2

2011-08-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.

Breakfast

Fruit Drink - Strawberries, Grapefruit, Red Apples, Peach, Pineapple

Fresh juice in the morning is the best part of this juice fast. I actually decided to only drink half of the juice in the morning. I diluted it a bit with water to make the serving a tad larger. I saved the other half for a snack after lunch to help pull me through the day.

Lunch

Veggie Drink - Celery, Cucumber, Tomato, Spinach, Carrots, Collard Greens, Ginger, Green Apple, Lemon

Once again my stomach was complaining pretty good around lunch time. I drank my lunch and decided to get some exercise. I jumped on the treadmill in the building gym. I jogged/walked 2 miles and according to the machine burned off over 200 calories.

After the run I felt pretty darn good. I didn't feel hungry until 3pm which was an hour later than the day before.My stomach actually didn't give me as much of a fuss as Monday. One thing that helped was the snack I brought along for the day.

Snack

I finished up my fruit juice saved over from breakfast. It was a good strategy. I was able to focus on work much easier.

Dinner

Veggie Drink - Kale, Celery, Cucumber, Calabasas Squash, Broccoli, Tomato, Spinach, Carrots, Collard Greens, Ginger, Green Apple, Lemon

I stopped at the store and picked up some more greens, so we added them to the mix. It wasn't a pleasant dinner, but I handled it. Once again I got hungry pretty early, so I went to bed around 10pm.

Weight: 177.4 pounds

weight lost = 2.0 pounds

10 Day Juice Fast - Day 1

2011-08-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.

Breakfast

Fruit Drink - Strawberries, Grapefruit, Red Apples

I don't usually eat breakfast, so the freshly juiced fruit drink, lovingly prepared for me by my wonderful wife, was a welcome break from the norm.

I walked out of the house thinking the juicing thing was gonna be a nice change of pace.

Lunch

Veggie Drink - Celery, Tomato, Spinach, Carrots, Ginger, Red Apples

I was super hungry when lunch rolled around. So I pulled my veggie drink out of the office fridge and slammed down what I can safely say was the second worst drink I've ever had. The worst was a concoction my wife got that was designed to help the body fight the flu.

Around 2pm my stomach began growling again, and I was feeling the hunger pangs. I drank plenty of water to help me through the torture, but it wasn't easy getting through the rest of the work day.

Dinner

Veggie Drink - Celery, Tomato, Spinach, Carrots, Cucumber, Collard Greens, Green Apples, Lemon

I was really craving food by dinner time. My stomach hadn't stopped begging for a good burger since lunch time. I felt fine, but my stomach was in utter disagreement with the rest of my body. Knowing I wouldn't be eating dinner, but drinking it rather, wasn't much of a consolation driving home.

After dinner I played with the kids and headed to bed early. I am a late night person, but I wanted to get to sleep as fast as possible so I didn't have to deal with my griping stomach. It was a tough first day.

Weight: 179.4 pounds

Missing Family Attractions - Magic Kingdom

2011-08-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

So I left some really good, and also some really popular "family friendly" attractions off of my Top Ten list in my last post. I wanted to do a breakdown as to why certain attractions were omitted. Keep in mind I really enjoy most, if not all, of these attractions, but I am offering critique from the perspective of a parent of 3 little ones. With that in mind I have to consider comfort and convenience with every hour we spend in the parks. So, by alphabetical order I'll address that here.

If you feel the need to see the ages of our children for reference, scan down to the bottom of the post.

MAGIC KINGDOM

Astro Orbiter
The line for this attraction is usually longer than I'm willing to wait, and the ride is too short. If you have any kids that are afraid of heights it may be a little too stressful for them. This ride has a pretty amazing view, unfortunately that view is constantly changing, which is why I'd rather ride the TTA.

Country Bear Jamboree
This is definitely a fan favorite, but I can only bear (pun intended) this show once every few years. The length of the show puts strains on the attention span of my little girls, and the giant bears aren't all that inviting to our 2 year-old.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant
The line is too long, the ride is too short, and there's very little shade to shelter the kiddos from the scorching Florida sun. I am looking forward to the new iteration of this attraction coming with the Fantasyland update.

The Enchanted Tiki Room
At the time of this writing the "Under New Management" is being removed and the attraction is being restored to its former glory. I personally enjoy both shows, but the original holds more sentimental value for me, being a fan of Walt Disney the man. With that said, there isn't any real reason why this can't be on my Top Ten Family attractions other than I ran out of room.

The Hall of Presidents
I love my country as much as the next person, but I just can't get behind anything political in DisneyWorld. I have experienced this attraction once in my many visits to the park, and have no desire to revisit it again.

The Haunted Mansion
I really don't think an explanation is necessary but, just to be safe... This ride is just too intense and scary for children. My 9 year-old son still avoids riding this attraction.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The line for this attraction is not usually as bad as Dumbo or Astro Orbiter, but the ride is just as short, and again there isn't much shade to be found in the queue.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
This is a fun attraction and even though I am sad to see Mr Toad be replaced, this attraction is better suited for children. However, the line is usually quite long, and I can't justify using a Fastpass on a Fantasyland ride other than Peter Pan's Flight.

Mickey's Philharmagic
This is a fun show, and I enjoy waiting in the fully air-conditioned queue. The big drawback for me is the fact that it's a 3D show and I have two little girls that refuse to wear the ridiculous 3D glasses, so the experience for them is a blurry movie. Anthony and Kyra both hold their ears while watching, which prompts me to hold Kaylie's ears for her since she is too young to do so. Not the most exciting experience for the whole family.

Peter Pan's Flight
This is the only Fantasyland attraction I will get a Fastpass for, but only if there are still some available by the time we make our way to Fantasyland. I won't wait over 25 minutes in a line, so if the Fastpasses are all gone, then we don't ride this attraction. Therefore we rarely ride Peter Pan's Flight.

Pirates of the Caribbean
I don't really consider this a family attraction based on the simple scare factor involved. However, we do take the kids with us. With my 3 kids, there seems to be a range from about 2 to 4 years-old, where the children are spooked by the combination of the dark, immersive environment and creepy music. We only have one in that range right now and she buries her head in daddy's chest most of the ride.

Snow White's Scary Adventure
This Fantasyland attraction is pretty intense for the little ones. The dark environment and the cackling, crazy-eyed witch combine for an all too real and frightening experience for my kids. We all rode it on our last visit to the Magic Kingdom just because we know it's on its way out of the park. Now, many years from now when this ride is but a distant memory, my kids can boast they have ridden it.

That about wraps up the Magic Kingdom. Next post will include Epcot attractions that didn't make the list.

Tonymation Family Age Reference:
Anthony: 9 years-old
Kyra: 2 years-old
Kaylie: 1 year-old

Top Ten Family Attractions of Walt Disney World

2011-06-22T15:04:00.000-07:00

So I have listed my favorite and least favorite attractions at Walt Disney World. Now I point out what I think are the best attractions for families.

In this list, I am considering several factors:
- Height Requirements
- Ride Intensity or Scare Factor
- Wait Time vs Ride Time
- Comfort of Queue
- Appeal
- Tonymation Family Opinion

Tonymation's Top Ten Family Attractions of Walt Disney World

10. Mad Tea Party - Magic Kingdom
The entire area around tis attraction is shaded due to well-grown trees, and the attraction itself is covered, unlike the Disneyland counterpart. This is one of those classic attractions that is easy to get on rather quickly. It's also a plus that we can usually get some really cute pics of the kiddos on this ride.

9. It's A Small World - Magic Kingdom
This relaxing boat ride around the world will undoubtedly etch into your memory just how small the world is after all. The lines to this attraction are rarely long, and the ride is smooth and comfortable.

7. The Seas with Nemo and Friends - Epcot
This attraction has a really cool queue. Overall it is a really well done dark ride. Being a 3D animator I appreciate the animation they employ to enhance the experience on this attraction.

6. Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress - Magic Kingdom
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the air conditioning in this lazy attraction. This one holds a special place with me because it seemed to embody the idea of Disney World on my first trip. Plus, I was able to escape the summer heat for such a long time and actually re-energize myself. I can't count how many naps that catchy tune has lulled me into.

5. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - Magic Kingdom
This is pretty much a walk on attraction at any given time of the year. I love how relaxing it is, and the view of the park. It's a good place to recharge your batteries and cuddle the little ones.

4. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin - Magic Kingdom
This is a fun ride that is interactive, in that you get to shoot stuff. Any ride I get to shoot stuff is alright in my book. The Disneyland counterpart, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, is a far better attraction, because the guns are not mounted to the car, and you don't have to spin the car to face targets. Also there is an audio-animatronic Zurg that is sadly missing from the DisneyWorld version.

3 Jungle Cruise - Magic Kingdom
From the fake hippos to the corny jokes, this ride is good family fun. Where esle can you take a boat through the jungle and see a teenager weild a gun without being completely terrified.

2. Spaceship Earth - Epcot
The one attraction that still reminds me of the Epcot of old, is Spaceship Earth. Even after the update, this ride still pushes my nostalgia button. It was a trip to Walt Disney World that inspired me to actually pursue my dream of being an animator, and every time I ride Spaceship Earth I get a little hint of inspiration to form a brighter future for the Tonymation family. Go Epcot!

1 Monster's Inc Laugh Floor - Magic Kingdom
This is an interactive show located in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kindgom. It never fails to entertain the Tonymation family, and for that I applaud the only Disney attraction to have a touch of Tonymation magic.

Please be aware that this is not a complete list of all the attractions that are family friendly. I actually plan to address why certain family friendly attractions did not make my list on my next post.

Ten Best Attractions of DisneyWorld 2011

2011-06-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

As promised here is the updated list for my top ten favorite attractions at Walt Disney World.

I figured if I were to rip ten attractions apart, I better praise ten attractions... after all, Walt Disney World is my favorite vacation destination!

I found it stragely more difficult to come up with the Ten Best list than the Ten Worst list. Not that there aren't enough good rides, it's just hard to rank them. But here I go anyway.

Tonymation's Top Ten Best Attractions of Walt Disney World

10.2 Monster's Inc Laugh Floor - Magic Kingdom
As you can see I am cheating. I couldn't bear to bump Jungle Cruise or Laugh Floor off of the list, so they get to share #10. This is definitely a controversial pick. However, I worked on this attraction, so I bribed myself to put it on the list. This is an interactive show located in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kindgom. It never fails to entertain the Tonymation family, and for that I applaud the only Disney attraction to have a touch of Tonymation magic.
Dropped down 1 spot from #9

10.1. Jungle Cruise - Magic Kingdom
From the fake hippos to the corny jokes, this ride is good family fun. Where esle can you take a boat through the jungle and see a teenager weild a gun without being completely terrified.
Remained #10 kinda

9. Spaceship Earth - Epcot
The one attraction that still reminds me of the Epcot of old is Spaceship Earth. Even after the update, this ride still pushes my nostalgia button. It was a trip to Walt Disney World that inspired me to actually pursue my dream of being an animator, and every time I ride Spaceship Earth I get a little hint of inspiration to form a brighter future for the Tonymation family. Go Epcot!
New to the list

8. Expedition Everest - Animal Kingdom
This coaster seems to be the only reason I go to the Animal Kingdom. As far as coasters go, this is a short but fun ride. The fact that the ride is such a quick trip is what pushes it so low on the list. Other than the length, the coaster is a smooth and thrilling adventure. The theming is top notch from start to finish.
Dropped down 1 spot from #7

7. Haunted Mansion - Magic Kingdom
Here is a classic that lands on my top ten list for showmanship alone. I am not a big fan of all things scary, but Disney did this ride with class and style. The Disneyland counterpart is far more entertaining, but I prefer the Mansion design at DisneyWorld. It's obvious that this attraction is an Imagineer favorite, because it seems to have new updates every time I visit the park.
Dropped down 1 spot from #6

6. Rock 'n' Rollercoaster - Hollywood Studios
This coaster stars Aerosmith, a familiar band that I grew up with. I'm not a big fan of timestamping a Disney attraction with something like a popular band that will be outgrown and need replacing. But, I still think this coaster is the most exciting in any disney park I have visited. The magnetic propulsion is crazy cool, combine that with gravity defying corkscrews, and loops, and you have a great Disney coaster. I think more impressive surroundings during the ride would help this be a stronger coaster, however.
Dropped down 4 spots from #2

5. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - Magic Kingdom
This coaster beats out the shiny new Expedition Everest for its ability to deliver an experience worth waiting in line for. The ride lasts long enough to satisfy, and the complete immersion in the theming is undeniably top notch. It is obvious why this classic coaster still deserves praise.
Remained #5

4. Splash Mountain - Magic Kingdom
This is one of the few rides that is superior to its Disneyland counterpart. I thoroughly enjoy this ride, even though I detest getting wet on attractions. I always enjoy the amount of detail that was put into this attraction. From beginning to end you are immersed in the theme. Way to go Disney!
Remained #4

3. Pirates of the Caribbean - Magic Kingdom
Here is yet another attraction that is so much more fun at Disneyland. The ride makes more sense and had much more money put into it upon its most recent update, over at Disneyland. However, the queue at DisneyWorld is so freaking great. If they could take the DisneyWorld queue and the Disneyland ride and marry them somewhere... why that would be enough to bump this ride up to number 2 on my list.
Remained #3

2. Star Tours - Hollywood Studios
This attraction has always been a staple ride for the Tonymation family, but never would I have anticipated it breaking into the Tonymation Top Ten. Not only did it make the list, but debuts at number two! What an amazing ride this has become. I've been telling my wife that they should have multiple destinations for Star Tours since the first time I rode it back in 1998. Now all I have to do is sit back and wait for my Imagineering check to show up in the mail.
New to the list

And my number one attraction of DisneyWorld is...

1. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Hollywood Studios
This attraction has it all... immersive theming, interesting story, amazing attention to detail, multi-directioinal dark ride, and thrilling drop sequences. The imagineers must have been drinking genuis juice the day they created this ride. My hats off to you gentlemen!

Next round of Genius Juice is on me!
Remained #1

If you haven't already, be sure to check out my updated Ten Worst Attractions list.

Also, check back later to see a brand new list: Tonymation's Top Ten Attractions for Families..

Ten Worst Attractions of DisneyWorld 2011

2011-06-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

The Tonymation family just returned from another grand Walt Disney World vacation. Mickey was happy to see the family had once again grown since last we visited him. I was joined by my wife, son, two beautiful daughters, and we brought my youngest sister along as a graduation gift.

I posted my top ten favorite and least favorite attractions in the parks about 4 years ago. I thought it would be cool to revisit the lists and update them.

I reference my old list from 2007, and track where the attractions used to be in comparison to the new list.

Be aware that this is just my humble opinion and I'm sure will not line up with the opinions of every WDW fan.

Tonymation's Top Ten Worst Attractions of Walt Disney World

10. American Idol Experience - Hollywood Studios
I have to be honest. I have never experienced this attraction. But, that being said, I have no desire to EVER visit this attraction. This says volumes about the attraction as an idea. It was opened after the show it is based on, had peaked in popularity, and it will only become more dated and irrelevant each year that passes.
New to the list

9. Voyage of the Little Mermaid - Hollywood Studios
I love this film, and I used to love this attraction back in the day when it was what the imagineers intended it to be. Now, it has been shortened down to fit more showtimes per day. An entire song was removed, and the entertaining spotlight on Sebastian featuring a puppet of his likeness, has been reduced to a mere cameo. In fact, the show is just a hodge podge of cameos of the characters in the film. Half of the attraction is footage from the actual film. It's a shame.
Moved down 4 spots from #5

8. Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour - Hollywood Studios
This attraction has been gutted thanks to the Lights Motors Action Extreme Stunt Show. It has been reduced to the pre-show, and ride through an alley they call a "boneyard", their props and wardrobe building, and the catastrophe canyon. For those that rode it in its original state, it is a sad skeleton of what it once was.
Remained at #8

7. Stitch's Great Escape - Magic Kingdom
What used to be a pretty intense attraction called Alien Encounter, is now the tame and eventless attraction starring Stitch. I wasn't a big fan of the original attraction, but at least it was entertaining. I could recreate this attraction at home by merely turning the lights off, blowing on your face, and spritzing you with a water bottle. I love Stitch, so let's give him a more worthy attraction please!
Moved down 3 spots from #4

6. Ellen's Energy Adventure - Epcot
If the goal of an attraction is to be long and boring, this one has hit the mark. Hey everyone, come in, sit on the floor and watch Ellen dream about being a stupid contestant on Jeopardy. Bill Nye the Science Guy shows up, and after you ride the endless and tiresome attraction filled with propaganda, she's a genius. The end.
Remained at #6

5. Dinoland in Animal Kingdom - Animal Kingdom
Yes, this entire section of Animal Kingdom makes my list of worst attractions. You have an entire section of this not so interesting park devoted to a carnival theme. Who was in on this meeting?!!! The poster child attraction, Primeval Whirl, is a jerky ride that, by centrifugal force, slides you back and forth into your neighbor so you can get up close and personal with perfect strangers in the hot sticky Florida sun.... yay.
Moved up 2 spots from #7

4. Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian - Hollywood Studios
Disney, let's face it. You let Harry Potter slip through your fingers, and missed out on Lord of the Rings. This was a knee-jerk reaction to capture the fantasy audience that appeared to be spending money on any and all fantasy IPs. Well here's the deal... you managed to make one of my favorite book series look lame on the big screen by skimping on the costume design, and changing characters that were already well written. Then, you blame it on the Narnia IP and let it go to FOX. Let's all just forget the whole thing ever happened, and close this attraction.
Moved down 1 spot from #3

3. O' Canada - Epcot
This is one of those 360 degree "circle vision" movies, and it was recently revamped to be hip and edgy. The older film had no celebrities in it, and made Canada look like a nice retirement home for the elderly. Now they spiced it up by adding Martin Short as host, and some new clips of extreme sports, to make it look like a dream vacation for a teenager. My main problem with it is that you have to stand up through the entire show. When I go into an attraction, I like to enjoy air conditioning and take a load off of my feet. The imagineer that thought it would be a great idea to cram a bunch of sweaty, smelly, hot, exhausted people into a standing room only theater to watch a film about a country, must have been either insane, or just loves to torture tourists.
Moved up 7 spots from #10

2. Journey Into Imagination with Figment - Epcot
Let's be honest here... this ride is supposed to be about imagination. Tap into that brain of yours and create, people. This is the inspiration for the attraction. Yet, we see bland walls that are supposedly an imagination lab for the first half of the ride. The premise gives this ride the potential to be one of the coolest attractions at DisneyWorld. Unfortunately, it is one of the dullest. The imagineers that created this ride should be ashamed of themselves. Where is the creativitiy! This attraction makes it so high on the list because of what it COULD be.
Moved down 1 spot from #1

And my number one worst attraction of Walt DisneyWorld is...

1. Sounds Dangerous - Hollywood Studios
I'm honestly surprised that this attraction still exists.
Summary: you listen to a not so interesting story unfold in a pitch black room. Did I mention it stars a comedian that has no acting ability? Seems like somebody at Disney thought it would be a good idea to create a comfortable place for teenagers to make-out.
Moved up 8 spots from #9

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for my top ten best attractions list coming soon.

A Brief Conversation With Anthony Pt. 1

2009-03-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

Anthony: "Momma, what's the difference between a mountain and a hill?"

Lesliemation: "A mountain is taller."

pause...

Anthony: "...so when I am taller than daddy, I will be a mountain of a man and he will be a hill of a man."

the end...

Anthony: "Why do I have to go to the store with you?"

Tonymation: "Because you're too little to stay at home alone, and that's the bottom line."

pause...

Anthony: "What's the top line?"

the end...

Oscar Predictions by Tonymation

2009-02-21T17:32:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the first annual Tonymation Oscar prediction.

1. 24 jokes, read from the teleprompter, will fall flat.

2. Jack Nicholson will notice he's on camera and pretend he's enjoying himself... twice.

3. Joan Rivers will find 8 expensive gowns, that cost more than my PT Cruiser, and make fun of them, while wearing a smile that's 95% pure plastic.

4. There will be 2 tantalizingly inappropriate dresses scantily strewn around a sexy star walking down the red carpet.

5. There will be 1 inappropriate dress scantily strewn around a not so sexy star.

6. Heath Ledger and/or his tragic death will be mentioned 34 times.

7. Eight Oscar winners will be cut off with the standard, "you're not important enough to use this much time" music.

8. More people will be worried whether Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt will run into each other than there are starving children in Africa.

9. There will be 4 Oscar winner no-shows, and I will accept the award on their behalf.

10. Eighteen pharmaceutical ads will air, all of which will site at least a dozen side-effects, which may include: blood clots, loss of hearing, headaches, blurred vision, erections that last over four hours, sudden implosion of the pancreas, and death.

11. One Oscar winner will thank Barak Obama in their accpetance speech.

12. Somebody will faint when an Oscar winner mentions Barak Obama's name.

13. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will be flubbed 3 times.

14. Hugh Jackman will appear on stage as Wolverine.

15. Wolverine will appear on stage as Hugh Jackman.

16. "I'm just happy to be nominated" will be said in some form 13 times.

17. Freida Pinto's ex-husband will crash 8 after parties, in a mad rage, searching for Dev Patel.

18. Jennifer Anniston will pay the wait staff $1 million to spit in Angelina Jolie's drink.

19. Kung Fu Panda will win the award for Best Animated Feature Film.

20. Wall-E will kidnap Po and stuff him in his trash compactor, causing the Kung Fu Panda sequal rewrite to include an explanation for the disappearance of the main character.

21. And my last prediction: I will not be watching the Academy Awards show.

See you next year!

Blue Sky, Robot Chicken, and Heroes...

2008-12-04T10:21:00.000-08:00

Seth Green and Matt Senreich, the creators of Robot Chicken, visited Blue Sky not too long ago. It was a treat to hear their story and how they achieved every guys dream of getting paid to play with action figures. They brought along with them the soon to air, second Robot Chicken-Star Wars episode. They must have read my mind, because there are more crazy good Boba Fett sequences.

After their presentation they toured the studio for a bit. Unfortunately, I was unable to snag a pic with them. I was really bummed about it, but they did walk right by me, and I was like, "Hey there's Seth and Matt! You guys make me laugh... a lot! Can we be friends?" That was all in my head, but had I said it out loud I bet they both would have been like, "Heck yes man! That's really why we came to Blue Sky anyway!" Yea... I felt a connection with them in that brief 2 seconds when they passed by.

Not a week goes by when I see Seth and Breckin Meyer (Actor, and writer for Robot Chicken) on one of my favorite television shows, Heroes. Seth and Breckin were working in a comic book shop. I know this all can't be some simple coincidence. I think Seth is sending me some kind of coded message...

Stay tuned... I'll post an update when my decoder ring arrives in the mail and I figure out what Seth is trying to say to me.

The Great Brian Henson Caper

2008-11-12T20:53:00.000-08:00

Brian Henson, son of Jim Henson, and Co-CEO of the Jim Henson Company paid a visit to Blue Sky today. Brian gave a presentation on the history of the company as well as the Jim Henson style of puppeteering.

Brian showed up in disguise (image above) which confused me at first. Eventually, when he felt it was safe to do so, he removed his disguise. Immediately after the presentation, Pete Paquette (an animator at Blue Sky) pulled an imaginary finger gun on him. The crowd thought Pete was trying to mug the unsuspecting Brian, but after Pete was maulled, and cuffed by the muppet police, he explained he was merely trying to shoot the guy behind Brian, who was obviously planning to choke him with an extension chord. Pete's sharp eyes and quick thinking almost saved Brian from a most unfavorable situation. Unfortunately, Pete couldn't finish his heroics, being at the bottom of a five foot pile of muppets.

Not all was lost... I acrobatically and gracefully disarmed the would be villain. Afterwards, I was awarded the muppet medal of honor. Of course Brian was very pleased with me, and offered to give me a job as his personal body guard. I, being recently unemployed by my very own muppet creation, jumped at the opportunity. Unfortunately, somebody from Blue Sky's HR department realized I no longer worked there, and had me whisked off the premises before I could accept Brian's generous offer.

Muppet WhatNot Workshop Adventure

2008-11-12T19:31:00.000-08:00

This past Monday I took a trip into the Big Apple to pay a visit to the brand new Muppet WhatNot Workshop inside the amazing FAO Schwartz toy store. It was my first trip into the city, so I felt it necessary to go with friends, and to pack a nerf gun for protection. You can't be too safe... you just never know when a desperate toy, at the end of his pull string, may try something.

The journey to the store was long and treacherous, but finally we arrived at our destination without any casualties. I took the design I created on the website (image above) and jumped into translating it onto the Muppet order form. The mad muppet scientist collected the appropriate body parts to assemble my creation. As you can see below, the scientist had his hands full with several other whatnots to be. I slipped him a 10,000 monopoly dollar bill, and he impaled the poor muppets ahead of mine and got busy with the Tonymation Muppet Creation.

It didn't take long before my very own Muppet WhatNot was ready to go home with me. I had to brief him on the exit stragety, and, since I was fresh out of nerf guns, he grabbed a black stick and promptly jammed it into his wrist. Immediately I knew two things... my new muppet friend was not only tough, but also completely insane. Both are good assets when in New York City.

We made it to the train, and were soon on our way back to White Plains. My young and naive friends celebrated, but as you can see in my expression below, I knew we weren't in the clear yet.

Eventually we did make it back home safely. I thought it would be a good idea to bring my new friend to work and show him what I do for a living. Big mistake...

I underestimated his ambitious nature. By the end of the day, he took my job.

Ken Duncan Comes to Blue Sky

2008-10-26T19:55:00.000-07:00

Ken Duncan visited the studio this past Friday and shared some of his animation expertise with the staff. He covered the fundamentals of great animation, some of his work, and his workflow in CG.

Ken spending time with some lingering animators after his talk.

Ken was cool enough to have dinner with several animators afterwards.

I am a huge fan of Disney animation from the 90's. It was a real treat to be able to hear stories from one of the talented artists that brought some of my favorite characters to life. I was geeking out most of the night. You can see what Ken has been up to lately by going to the Duncan Studio website. He also has a three part podcast at the Animation Podcast here.

Thanks for an sharing with us Ken!

Kyra Joins the Family

2008-09-10T09:54:00.000-07:00

Our baby girl was due on Friday, September 5th, and almost on cue my wife went into labor that morning. The day passed with mostly slow and uneventful labor. At the end of the night the real labor kicked in, and finally, early Saturday morning, Kyra was born. She missed her due date by less than half an hour.

We had princess Kyra at home. It was our first home birth, since her big brother was born in a hospital. Having her at home was a great experience. We were definitely more comfortable, and you can't ask for a more convenient location.

We found that her chord was wrapped around her neck as she came out, which is what probably delayed the labor. Regardless of that complication, she maintained a strong heartbeat throughout the labor and delivery, and was ready for a meal immediately. Our experienced midwives handled the situation very well, and made sure that Kyra was comfortable and free from any danger the entire way through.

Welcome to the family Kyra!

Kyra Lyn Bonilla
Born: Saturday, September 6th at 12:25am
8 lbs 3 oz
20.5 inches long

Blue Skies Ahead

2008-09-02T17:19:00.000-07:00

Today I accepted an contract animation position over at Blue Sky Studios. I will be working on their up coming film, Ice Age 3. This is a very exciting change for the Tonymation family. In fact, princess Tonymation has yet to be born, but she is kicking with anticipation. When asked what she thought about the opportunity for her dad to work on such a fun project she said, "thump, thump... hiccup." That says it all.

Princess Tonymation will be born any day now, I will finish up my work for Reel FX on the Madagascar 2 promos, and then pack up and head North.

Life is fast and furious for the Tonymation family, but we're enjoying the ride.

It's Been Reel

2008-07-23T22:17:00.000-07:00

So I just finished doing some work over at the ever growing Reel FX Creative Studios. I was able to be part of two projects during the last few months. I was brought on to help kick out the promo spots for Kung Fu Panda, and I ended up also joining the fight on Open Season 2, as well as the Kung Fu Panda short that will be on the DVD. I had a great time working with their extremely talented team, as well as flexing my tiny animation muscle, which sorely needed a workout.

Hopefully the studio will get in their next big project soon, so I can join the ranks once again.

A Tribute To Ollie Johnston (1912-2008)

2008-04-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

I grew up enjoying Disney animated films. They captured a magical world and created a new art form. As I grew older, the Disney films kept me young. It was the magic that the animation team at Disney created, that inspired me to become an animator myself.

Today we lost a legend that pioneered the frontiers of animation along side eight other artists that Walt referred to as his "nine old men". These men as a team created beautiful films that I still enjoy today with my family.

Ollie as an individual created a legacy at the Disney company by not only bringing loveable characters to life on the big screen for all of us to enjoy, but by sharing his passion and knowledge of animation with the next generation of animators. He passed the torch in order to keep the flame of animation brightly burning.

Ollie worked on many films we all know, and I thought it would be appropriate to mention them here in order to get an idea of how much he contributed to the industry.

(1937) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
(1940) Pinocchio
(1940) Fantasia
(1942) Bambi
(1945) The Three Caballeros
(1946) Make Mine Music
(1946) Song of the South
(1948) Melody Time
(1949) Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
(1950) Cinderella
(1951) Alice in Wonderland
(1953) Peter Pan
(1955) Lady and the Tramp
(1959) Sleeping Beauty
(1961) 101 Dalmations
(1963) Sword in the Stone
(1964) Mary Poppins
(1967) The Jungle Book
(1970) The Aristocats
(1973) Robin Hood
(1977) The Many Adventures of Winne the Pooh
(1981) The Fox and the Hound

Ollie also worked on over a dozen short films, several television shows, he co-authored five books, and contributed to five others. His accomplishments are far too numerous to list on a humbe blog.

Today we lost a legend, an icon, and a great man. He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, and always remembered and adored by his fans.

Safe journey Ollie.

Moving Right Along Pt 2

2008-03-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

It was a fun year in Austin. I started with Midway last March and in April I will be moving back up to Dallas to join some old friends at Reel FX Studios. Leaving Midway and Austin will not be easy. I will miss the people at the studio, and the house we have been renting. I will also miss being able to avoid highway driving on my daily commute. However, it appears a new chapter is waiting to be written in the Tonymation family.

Mrs Tonymation is preggers right now, and we will be seeking out a new midwife in Dallas and saying goodbye to our current midwife. We are both sad about this, but life comes at you fast, and we are experienced adventurers ready to plunge ahead.

This move is a bitter sweet one.

We will be moving closer to family, which, in our case, is a good thing. But we will be leaving some good friends behind.

We will be closer to Mama's Pizza, which I am especially excited about, but we'll be leaving Double Dave's Pizza.

We will be leaving our comfy 4 bedroom rented-house, but we'll be searching the market to buy a new home.

We will be leaving a steady and stable job along with the benefits, that most find comforting , for a short contract job that will be full of adventure.

All in all it will be a swift and polar change for us. We feel the change will be a good one.

Animation Test - Truth

2007-12-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

I have had nothing to do at work before the holidays... so I decided to start a new personal animation test. Take a gander and feel free to comment.

Link

Back In The Soccer Saddle

2007-11-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

I have played soccer since I was 5 years old. All the way through high school, and with mens leagues during and after college. However, it has been several years since I have played with a team.

Recently, I decided that soccer needed to be a part of my life again. I not only crave the competition, but I am also miserably out of shape. Some will point to my laziness, but I find it makes me feel better to blame my animation desk job. I convinced my wife that soccer would be a fun way to stay healthy. Mrs Tonymation tried warn me about my increasing age and injuries, but I quickly dismissed her with logical arguements such as, "Who cares!".

Enter Sunday, November 4th. I played in a real game for the first time in years. I was nervous about my phsysical status, but confident in my ability to play. I started the game on the bench and relieved a player in about the 10th minute of the game. All was going well... that is until the hole of death claimed my foot. I kicked the ball clear of danger back near our goal and planted my foot to track upfield. Only, my foot didn't plant. It was sucked into the ankle killing vortex of hell. A hole, just large enough to swallow half of my foot, twisted it so that my ankle now served as the base of my leg. Let me just tell you that the ankle is not designed for the role of the foot. Immediately my ankle protested, and my leg sympathized with it. One joint by one, they all revolted and sent me plummeting to the ground in pain.

I got up and limped off of the field a broken man. In the past ankle injuries lasted, at most, a day. I stretched and massaged my ankle on the sideline, and eventually entered the game again. For those of you who don't know, it is scientifically proven that athletes lose all intellingence while playing a competitive sport. I played on my injured ankle thinking it would be fine in the morning... of course, I'm not 18 anymore, but who's keeping track of silly details when a game is on the line.

So I got home and took off my socks to reveal an ankle that I believe belonged on an elephant. I have never had a swollen ankle and was shocked to see a part of my body so out of sorts. With my natural oils and ice pack, I was able to shrink my poor ankle back to a less disgusting size. Now I hobble around work and home in an ankle brace.

... But I can't wait for the next game!

Dead Men Trick Or Treat Pt 3

2007-11-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

Halloween has come and gone. I posted pics of my Jack Sparrow costume, but now I thought I would post all of the peices that made it come together.

To start the costume off on the right foot, I got all of the Jack Sparrow Master Replica rings.

Here is Jack Sparrow's ring

Jack's Button Ring

Jack's Dragon Ring

and Jack's Stolen Ring

Here is a pic I took of them together.

I bought the glove, compass, and tattoo in a cheap set, but they worked out well, in my opinion. You can see I wore Jack's ring on my ring finger rather than my index. It was just too small to wear it on the correct finger.

The plastic compass looks much better when just hanging on my belt, but it was definitely priced better than the Master Replica compass at $200.

I purchased a Flintock Pistol reproduction. It isn't an official Jack Sparrow Replica, but it is a very nice gun that fits the time period. Besides, the Master Replica pistol is mounted and was out of my price range at $250. I spent about $45 for this one.

I scoured eBay for other Jack Sparrow imitation peices. That's where I found these belts.

Here you can see the gun, belts, compass and sword as a whole. I posted individual pics of the sword here.

I still await the arrival of my Jack Sparrow Baldric, also bought on eBay. It will be a nice addition for next year.

I have lots of additions I plan to purchase for next Halloween. Check back for a sneak peek at the Jack Sparrow items that will make my costume better, and my bank account smaller.

Dead Men Trick Or Treat Pt 2

2007-11-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

Not everything I ordered arrived in time to start Halloween on the right foot. I was missing my baldric sword holder, my belts, my gun, my button ring, and dragon ring. This is me pretending I'm happy being half Jack Sparrow.

At around 11:30 am, Midway (where I work) conducted their costume contest. This is when my gun, belts, and rings arrived at my door. My wife signed for them knowing I was sadly displaying my incomplete costume for the contest. Unfortunatley, my baldric has yet to arrive, which forced me to wear my belts un-Jack Sparrow-like, outside my jacket, to hold my sword. After the contest, I went home and gathered the rest of my goods.

I was very pleased with my new flintock replica gun.

I applied a fake Jack Sparrow tattoo on my arm, and branded a "P" under it, as revealed by Captain Norrington in The Curse of the Black Pearl.

My sword was a big hit at work.

I did the eyeliner myself, and the most of the facial hair is mine. I glued the braided beard section on the bottom of my chin behind my own chin hairs to have it all blend together.

What was the outcome of the costume contest you ask?

I won Best Looking Costume.

Dead Men Trick Or Treat Pt 1

2007-10-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

This Halloween I be searchin' for booty as Captain Jack Sparrow.

I bought the base of my costume at the Disney Store on a whim since it was on sale for 50% off. I also got the wig with bandana and tricorn hat there. I hadn't planned to do much more, but what is a pirate without his sword? Below are pics of the cutlass I'll be sporting on Halloween.

After getting the sword, I couldn't stop. I will post pics of each item that will join my Jack Sparrow costume as they arrive in the mail. And in the end, I'll post pics of me fully transformed into Jack Sparrow himself.

Until then, pray I don't cross yer path mate.

Animation Test - Hamish

2007-10-15T09:25:00.000-07:00

I just completed a new animation at home. On this exercise I focused on semi-stylized motion that could exist in a physical world, as opposed to a cartoony approach. I am open to comments or critiques.

Link

Best Animated Feature Of 2007

2007-10-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

The year of 2007 produced a slightly smaller animated feature vortex than the preceding year. The normal players were edging for a piece of the box office pie this year. Pixar, the reigning king of animated films, released Ratatouille. Disney gave us Meet the Robinsons. Dreamworks released Shrek the Third. Vangaurd opened Happily Never After. Warner Brothers revived the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And Sony decided to make another penguin movie called Surf's Up, and will also release Beowulf next month. Of these films, I have yet to see Meet the Robinsons, Happily Never After, and of course Beowulf. With that in mind, I still will venture out to pick the best animated film of the year.

I argue that Pixar, although edging out many a film in the box office, did not produce the best animated film this year. My pick goes to Sony's very own Surf's Up. This film is entertaining, funny, edgy, smart, relevant, and exciting. It is very obvious that the actors were recording their dialogue together. This is a huge advantage for believable interaction. It may sound strange, but this is not the norm when capturing voices for animated characters, although it very well should be.

Surf's Up also impressed me with its exceptional animation and fantastic water simulations. While watching the movie, I actually feel like I am surfing, and it makes me want to catch a real wave of my own. Surfers around globe cringe at the thought that a movie may have inspired regular joes to surf. I have been told by a surfer friend of mine that surfers have a saying, "If you surf, never quit. If you don't surf, never start." This stems from a selfish desire to have the beaches all to themselves rather than a warning of danger.

Expect surfers to flock to Sony in riot-like protest to remove this fun film from the shelves. Get your copy on DVD before they succeed!

Ten Best Attractions of DisneyWorld

2007-10-03T13:45:00.001-07:00

If you have'nt read my Ten Worst Attractions of DisneyWorld post, be sure you check it out before you leave today. I welcome any comments of criticism or agreement, as discussing Walt DisneyWorld is one of my favorite pass times.

I figured if I were to rip ten attractions apart, I better praise ten attractions... after all, DisneyWorld is my favorite vacation destination!

I found it stragely more difficult to come up with the Ten Best list than the Ten Worst list. Not that there aren't enough good rides, it's just hard to rank them. But here I go anyway.

The Ten Best Attractions of DisneyWorld

10. Jungle Cruise
From the fake hippos to the corny jokes, this ride is good family fun. Where esle can you take a boat through the jungle and see a teenager weild a gun without being completely terrified.

9. Monster's Inc Laugh Floor
Here's a contreversial pick that may get scrutinized. However it makes my top ten list, mainly because I worked on this attraction. So, I bribed myself to put it on the list. This is a new addition to Tomorrowland in the Magic Kindgom. It turned out far better than I had anticipated, and for that I applaud the only Disney attraction that Tonymation worked on.

8. Buzz Lightyear's SpaceRanger Spin
This is a fun ride that is interactive, in that you get to shoot stuff. Any ride I get to shoot stuff is alright in my book. The Disneyland counterpart, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, is a far better attraction, because the guns are not mounted to the car, and you don't have to spin the car to face targets. Also there is an audio-animatronic Zurg that is sadly missing from the DisneyWorld version.

7. Expedition Everest
This new coaster addition to the Animal Kingdom was sorely needed for this park. As far as coasters go, this is a short but fun ride. The fact that the ride is such a quick trip is what pushes it so low on the list. Other than the length, the coaster is a smooth and thrilling adventure.

6. Haunted Mansion
Here is a classic that lands on my top ten list for showmanship alone. I am not a big fan of all things scary, but Disney did this ride with class and style. Again, the Disneyland counterpart is far more entertaining, but I prefer the Mansion design at DisneyWorld. I think the Imagineers agreed with me, becuase they recently changed the attraction to have more of a resemblance to the Disneyland version.

5. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
This coaster beats out the shiny new Expedition Everest for its ability to deliver an experience worth waiting in line for. The ride lasts long enough to satisfy, and the complete immersion in the theming is undeniably top notch. It is obvious why this classic coaster still deserves praise.

4. Splash Mountain
This is one of the few rides that is superior to its Disneyland counterpart. I thoroughly enjoy this ride, even though I detest getting wet on attractions. I always enjoy the amount of detail that was put into this attraction. From beginning to end you are immersed in the theme. Way to go Disney!

3. Pirates of the Caribbean
Here is yet another attraction that is so much more fun at Disneyland. The ride makes more sense and had much more money put into it upon its most recent update, over at Disneyland. However, the queue at DisneyWorld is so freaking great. If they could take the DisneyWorld queue and the Disneyland ride and marry them somewhere... why that would be enough to bump this ride up to number 2 on my list.

2. Rock 'n' Rollercoaster
This coaster stars Aerosmith, a familiar band that I grew up with. I'm not a big fan of timestamping a Disney attraction with something like a popular band that will be outgrown and need replacing. But, I still think this coaster is the most exciting in any disney park I have visited. The magnetic propulsion is crazy cool, combine that with gravity defying corkscrews, and loops, and you have a great Disney coaster.

And my number one attraction of DisneyWorld is...

1. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
This attraction has it all... great theming, attention to detail, fantastic story, relaxing dark ride, and thrilling drop sequences. The imagineers must have been drinking genuis juice the day they created this ride. My hats off to you gentlemen! But I leave you with this question... why not buy another case of genius juice and get crackin'?!!

Thanks for reading my list. Be sure to continue down to my Ten Worst Attractions list.

Ten Worst Attractions of DisneyWorld

2007-10-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Tonymation family just returned from a long vacation. We spent 11 days at our favorite theme park, Walt DisneyWolrd.

I had an interesting conversation with a friend who works at the parks regarding his list of the ten worst attractions there. So, I thought it would be fun to do a ten worst list myself. So here goes...

Top Ten Worst Attractions of DisneyWorld

10. O' Canada
This is one of those 360 degree "circle vision" movies, and it was recently revamped to be hip and edgy. The older film had no celebrities in it, and made Canada look like a nice retirement home for the elderly. Now they spiced it up by adding Martin Short as host, and some new clips of extreme sports, to make it look like a dream vacation for a teenager. My main problem with it is that you have to stand up through the entire show. When I go into an attraction, I like to enjoy air conditioning and take a load off of my feet. The imagineer that thought it would be a great idea to cram a bunch of sweaty, smelly, hot, exhausted people into a standing room only theater to watch a film about a country, must have been either insane, or just loves to torture tourists.

9. Sounds Dangerous
Summary: you listen to a not so interesting story unfold in a pitch black room. Any questions?

8. Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour
This attraction has been gutted thanks to the Lights Motors Action Extreme Stunt Show. It has been reduced to the pre-show, and ride through an alley they call a "boneyard", their props and wardrobe building, and the catastrophe canyon. For those that rode it in its original state, it is a sad skeleton of what it once was.

7. Dinoland in Animal Kingdom
Yes, this entire section of Animal Kingdom makes my list of worst attractions. You have an entire section of this not so interesting park devoted to a carnival theme. Who was in on this meeting?!!! The poster child attraction, Primeval Whirl, is a jerky ride that, by centrifugal force, slides you back and forth into your neighbor so you can get up close and personal with perfect strangers in the hot sticky Florida sun.... yay.

6. Ellen's Energy Adventure
If the goal of an attraction is to be long and boring, this one has hit the mark. Hey everyone, come in, sit on the floor and watch Ellen dream about being a stupid contestant on Jeopardy. Bill Nye the Science Guy shows up, and after you ride the endless and tiresome attraction filled with propaganda, she's a genius. The end.

5. Voyage of the Little Mermaid
I love this film, and I used to love this attraction back in the day when it was what it was intended to be. Now, it has been shortened down to fit more showtimes per day. An entire song was removed, and the entertaining spotlight on Sebastian featuring a puppet of his likeness, has been reduced to a mere cameo. In fact, the show is just a hodge podge of cameos of the characters in the film. Half of the attraction is footage from the actual film. It's a shame.

4. Stitch's Great Escape
What used to be a pretty intense attraction called Alien Encounter, is now the tame and eventless attraction starring Stitch. I wasn't a big fan of the original attraction, but at least it was entertaining. I could recreate this attraction at home by merely turning the lights off, blowing on your face, and spritzing you with a water bottle.

3. Journey Into Narnia
Didn't this movie come out 2 years ago? Why are they showing us the movie trailer and calling it an attraction?

2. Pooh's Playful Spot
I have a great idea. Let's close a really cool attraction, and replace it with a playground that has virtually nothing to do in it. This is what had to be the pitch for this pathetic attraction. This area used to be the home of the beloved Submarine ride. Now it has been reduced to a character meet and greet spot for Pooh characters. I can't believe they even list it as an attraction. It falls in the category of wasted space.

And my number one worst attraction of Walt DisneyWorld is...

1. Journey Into Imagination with Figment
Let's be honest here... this ride is supposed to be about imagination. Tap into that brain of yours and create people. This is the inspiration for the attraction. Yet, we see bland walls that are supposedly an imagination lab for the first half of the ride. The premise gives this ride the potential to be one of the coolest attractions at DisneyWorld. Unfortunately, it is one of the dullest. The imagineers that created this ride should be ashamed of themselves. Where is the creativitiy!

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for my top ten best attractions list coming soon.

Back From Disney

2007-10-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

I completed my work on Blacksite in September and was given a generous 10 days of comp time to reward me for all of the overtime I worked. I had already scheduled my Disney vacation at the end of September, so I t0ok my comp time and vacation back to back. I ended up being away from work for a month!

It was nice to be able to spend so much time with the Tonymation family. But the most exciting part was our return to DisneyWorld. Our last trip was in 2005, and we were excited to see Mickey again.

But alas, the trip did have to come to an end, and I am now back at work again. I am sure Mickey misses the Tonymation family as much as we miss him.

Stay tuned for my top ten attractions list as well as my worst ten attractions at DisneyWorld.

First Day Of School

2007-08-31T08:18:00.000-07:00

This week marked the end of summer for most American children, as the first day of school rudely crashed upon them. Little Tonymation, being 5 years old, would have embarked on his first experience of the public school system... if we had not decided to homeschool him.

We are blessed to have Mrs. Tonymation at home raising our fine young boy, and also teaching him. This year in a public school he would have had these amazing things to look forward to:

1. Learning the alphabet

2. Learning to color

3. Learning how to walk in a line

4. Learning to not talk

5. Learning social interaction

Many people we encounter can't imagine why we, as parents, would decide to deprive our precious little boy from such enriching activities. The answer is quite simple for us, but complicated to explain to others.

First of all, we have been homeschooling our little one for over a year now. He has already mastered the following before stepping one foot into a public school.

1. Knows his alphabet

2. Reads over 100 words

3. Can count beyond 1000

4. Can add, subtract, and multiply numbers up to 12

5. Can color with crayons, color pencils, and markers

6. Can write sevral letters

7. Has an astounding vocabulary

8. Can walk straight, sideways, and backwards

9. Has a well defined set of morals

10. Interacts well with other children, as well as adults

11. Can beat both Lego Star Wars I and Lego Star Wars II

We spent most of his life trying to teach him to speak, so we decided it was best to let him use the skill. So, as you can see, he has no need for kindergarten at this time. If next year he isn't up to speed on what first graders are to learn, then we might actually consider sending him to a school. Until then, I will leave you with a nice article.

Dry Run at School

Cap'n Crunch

2007-07-31T11:35:00.000-07:00

At the end of every production comes crunch time. It seems I have been moving from crunch to crunch since I landed my first animation gig. First it was animation boot camp on Jimmy Neutron. Then I moved on to help finish the film, The Ant Bully. After that I headed West to work on a cool theme park attraction for DisneyWorld. Now I find myself in Austin fighting to finish Area 51-Blacksite to get it to eager gamers by September. Sprinkle in there some freelance gigs for Reel FX and my church, and you a recipe for The Shining. Well... except for the isolated haunted hotel... and I'm not a writer... and I'm not really going insane... and I don't have access to a hatchet... and my son isn't weird... and my wife is way prettier... and we're not in the an arctic tundra... but everything else is spot on for sure.

So what does one do to stay sane while working 12 hour days, six days a week, you might ask? The answer, my friend, is theme parks. In California we had Disneyland. Now, we have Sea World less than 2 hours away. And in between we have 11 day vacations to the mother of all theme parks, DisneyWorld.

Yes... all work and no play makes Tonymation a dull animator. But with theme parks, I can snuggle up with my inner child and forget that the real world exists. It's a pretty healthy relationship... I give the theme parks cash, and they give me the juice that will nourish me until the next visit.

God Bless Walt Disney and his genius invention the theme park. And God Bless America!

Blacksite News

2007-06-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

Things are moving along pretty well on Area 51-Blacksite. We are in our final stretch before the game ships. That being the case, Midway is trying to get awareness for the game to peak. They did a press tour in the US and in the UK. The game was received very well at every venue.

I personally worked on a helicopter railshooter section that seems to be getting the most positive reviews of what has been seen so far. The entire railshooter is fun, but I specifically worked on the last part of it where you meet up with the boss creature. The animation was split among 4 animators. I animated a section and directed the rest. It took a great many talented artists to make this railshooter as cool as it is, and I am glad I played a small part.

Here are some of the comments we received and the link to the respective article.

“The octopus-like creature was a sight to behold and ranks as one of the most impressive moments I've seen in video games to date.”

http://www.pro-g.co.uk/ps3/blacksite_area_51/preview-487.html?commentpage=1

”This scene is easily the coolest that we saw today, capped off by the creature's death. As it breaths its last breath, or whatever it does to survive, it slowly slinks off one side of the bridge as it grabs a hold of the road. As it eventually falls, it rips the bridge apart and carries tons of concrete down with it. It's one of the coolest deaths we've seen in a long time.”

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/795/795818p1.html

Area 51-Blacksite Demo on Xbox Live

2007-05-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

This past Friday the Xbox Live demo was released for Area 51-Blacksite. This is the game I am currently working on at Midway studios. The game seems to be really shaping up at this point. I am excited to finish it up and ship the final product.

As you can see in the image to the left, taken from IGN.com, Blacksite is rated the 2nd most popular Xbox game for the weekend. That is very encouraging to all of us here at the studio. It is good to see your hard work being received well.

I remember a project I worked on not too long ago.. ahem Ant Bully ahem... that was not marketed well, and had a less than stellar box office performance. Some of my own family still ask me, "What was the name of that ant movie you worked on.? When is it going to be in the theater?"

Anyhow... if you have a Xbox live subscription, mosey over to the demo section and download the teaser for a short but sweet intro to the game. Enjoy!

Monster's Inc - Laugh Floor Comedy Club

2007-04-30T20:16:00.000-07:00

So, this is the cool attraction I worked on back when I was in California. It's The Laugh Floor Comedy Club, starring Mike Wazowski and company. Mike is always coming up with the next big idea at Monster's Inc, and this is no exception. He figures it makes more sense to harvest laughter from crowds rather than get it from one person at a time. I think he's on to something. You can find out how his concept tests in the Magic Kingdom at Disney World, while Roz grades the results.

I was able to work closely with Mike along with some of his close friends that perform as comedians, who will attempt to tickle your funny bone. If you happen to pay them a visit, tell them Tonymation sent ya!

Moving Right Along

2007-03-19T01:07:00.000-07:00

Kermit and Fozzie sang about it in The Muppet Movie, and Tonymation is living it. It's been quite some time since I paid a visit to my lonely blog. There is a reason... because nobody reads it. Actually, it's because I have been busy doing freelance work for Reel FX, Janimation, and getting a full time job with Midway Studios back in Austin, Texas. That's right, I am traversing the same roads that brought me to L.A. to get back to Texas. This time a little further south than our once home in Big D.

Mrs Tonymation and I were initially going to buy a house, but found that property taxes in the Austin area border on extortion, so we decided to rent. After searching the high and low, at apartments, we did a search for rental houses. They were a tricky bunch to track down. I think they are a bit on the shy side, and like to fly under the radar... kind of like how you wouldn't admit you were a freshman in high school. But, eventually we were able to find a great 4 Bedroom home. So, that means all of you are welcome to come visit any time you like.

Disclaimer: Visits are limited to weekdays between Saturday and Sunday. All travel dates must be approved by the Pope, Jesus, and Elvis, and must have proper signatures from Walt Disney on the required WD-40 form. Standard fees apply. Side Effects may include: loss of wallet, nausea, gas siphoning, sudden urges to scream, missing organs, and loss of memory.

We are still waiting on our stuff from California to arrive. Until it does, our furniture consists of a love seat, and a couple of air mattresses. There's nothing like camping in your home. Soon our precious valueables will arrive in thousands of unrecognizable pieces. Ah… moving is so grand.

Until next time...

Spiders On Drugs

2007-01-04T14:57:00.000-08:00

When seeing what drugs do to a simple organism such as a spider, it is easy to see why they are so destructive in our society.

Football Fever

2006-12-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

No, I am not the one with the fever... it's the NFL that's ailing. Everywhere you look in the National Football League, you are met with sickening mediocrity. Not even my beloved Cowboys are exempt from the virus that has infected the league. After winning a huge victory over the seemingly invinceable Colts, the Cowboys have been humiliated not once, but twice, by the Saints, and the Eagles. And now, in retrospect, the win over the then 9-0 Colts is not so impressive, since Payton's team has lost 4 of their last 6 games.

Take a look around the league, and there are only 6 teams that have double digits in the win column, and all of them have clinched their division with plenty of breathing room. When you look at these teams, you can easily point out several teams that have gotten such a record by merely avoiding losses, rather than actually winning games.

In the NFC you have Chigago, for instance, with a record of 13-2. When you consider that only 2 teams they have beaten have a winning record, then you start to realize that they aren't as great as their record may reflect. When you look at the Saints, who have a record of 10-5, you see their most recent loss to a weak 5-10 Redskins team, and couple that with the fact that only 2 of their wins come off of teams with winning records. Seattle is at the top of the NFC West, with a poultry record of 8-7, and trying to end their 3 game losing streak this Sunday. When you consider they have only beaten one team with a winning record you start to see the reality of their situation. And last on the list, merely because they just dethroned the Cowboys from the NFC East, is the Philadelphia Eagles. Left for dead after the injury to McNabb, they are considered to be the red hot team in the NFC, trying to extend their 4 game winning streak this week, and coming off of a stomping win over Dallas. But, put them under the microscope and you find that they have only won 2 games against teams with a winning record, and dang if they both weren't against my Cowboys.

Let's examine what the press has called the stronger of the two conferences, the AFC. In the AFC East you have the Patriots at 11-4, who have only beaten 2 teams with a winning record. In the North conference, you have Baltimore who are coming off of a 3 game winning streak and a record of 12-3. They have only proven to be better than winning teams 4 times this season. Indianapolis looks good on paper when you consider they have beaten 7 teams with winning records, to contribute to their 11-4 record. But they were 9-0 at one point and have fallen 4 times in their last 6 games, with pitiful showings from their defense. The only team that has played solid and consistent football in the AFC has been the 13-2 San Diego Chargers, who are on a 9 game winning streak, with 6 of their wins coming against teams with a winning record.

All in all we are seeing the level of play around the league reach a level that should be embarassing to the players on the field. If I were to choose a Superbowl combination out of this bunch I would be stumped in the NFC, and only mildly confident about an AFC champ. But here it goes:

Tony's week 16 Superbowl picks:

San Diego Chargers vs New Orleans Saints

The Very First Noel on DVD

2006-12-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

I forgot to mention this here... That little Christmas special I worked on is out on DVD now. Grab a copy of your own at this website:

The Very First Noel

It is a nicely stylized and well animated story of the birth of Christ through the eyes of the 3 wise men, narrated by Andy Griffith. This is destined to be a classic in my opinion. The writing is superb and the music is outstanding. I enjoyed working on the project immensely, and now have my copy on DVD. I feel it's a must have for any Christian home.

Ant Bully Out On DVD

2006-11-30T16:15:00.000-08:00

The Ant Bully was released this week on DVD. Most of you may not know this, because of the brilliant marketing of the distributor, Warner Brothers. In fact, I went to buy it at Walmart yesterday and they said they did not receive any. What the cricket is wrong with Warner Bros!? After the dismal attempt to market the film upon theater release, I thought they would at least try to capitalize on the enormous DVD returns, especially during the holiday season. Alas, my rational thinking was far off that of the genuises wearing suits at WB. Another unfortunate decision was the goofy, I'm too happy to be alive, pose on Lucas, that is plastered on the DVD. If you happen to be part of the vast majority of the country who had no idea that a movie named The Ant Bully was ever made, check it out. It has some great animation and is visually stunning. The story is simple and enough of an adventure to entertain the kiddos through several viewings. So if nothing esle you have a 2 hour babysitter on your hands. I made it onto the behind the scenes section called, "It Takes a Colony", a few times. You can see me with my puppet with the rest of the animation crew. In the meantime, I'll look forward to the next feature I work on.

Cowboys Corral Colts

2006-11-21T13:02:00.000-08:00

How 'bout them Cowboys!

Yea, I know they didn't win the Superbowl, or even a playoff game this past Sunday, but they brought down the only undefeated team left in the league. This was one of the few games I was able to watch from start to finish, being in California, and boy am I glad I saw it. The first quarter was the most exciting scoreless fifteen minutes of football I have ever seen. The entire half only saw 7 points from a Colt's touchdown. The score did not reflect the crazy events that happened on the field. There were 5 turnovers before the game reached halftime, and 2 missed fieldgoals for the Cowboys. Peyton Manning and his Colts were stymied by the Cowboys' defense, who kept Dallas in the game in more ways than one.

The Colts began a drive at the start of the second half, when Roy Williams intercepted a pass and ran it back for a touchdown to tie the game at 7. The Colts were able to punch it into the endzone in the third quarter, and that was the last they would see their score change. Dallas controlled the game the second half, gaining momentum after the Williams interception. Barber ran in a TD late in the third quarter, and again in the fourth, making the score 21-14, Dallas favor.

Manning drove the Colts to the red zone again late in the fourth quarter but was unable to convert on 4th down and 2, giving the ball to Dallas with under 3 minutes left. A critical third down conversion kept the drive alive enabling Romo to kneel the remainder of the game away.

I tell you, my blood pressure was off the charts while watching this game. I can't count the number of outbursts from my wife and I as we watched it unfold. To add to the amazing win, every team in the NFC East lost this week. The Cowboys and the Giants are now tied for first in the division. The two will meet in Dallas, early December, and the stage is set for another thriller.

P.S. Tony Romo Rocks!

That's My King

2006-11-21T12:18:00.000-08:00

If you fancy filling your time with a quick and powerful Christian message, check this one out.

Mulitiplicity - Starring Tonymation

2006-11-17T13:05:00.000-08:00

Ever see the movie, Mulitplicity? The story is about a guy played by Michael Keaton, who's job has taken over his life, leaving little to no family time. He's approached by a scientist that has made it his secret hobby to clone people. Keaton goes for the idea and, BAM, there are two of him to get his work done in half the time. Things get a little crazier and eventually there are a total of 3 clones. Of course he keeps all of his shenanigans from his wife, which is a recipe for trouble. He soon realizes that he doesn't need more clones, but a more balanced life. It was a cute film that I enjoyed, but that's not why I bring it up. I have become that guy. No, I haven't cloned myself... yet.

Deadlines are always the enemy of the animator. One never truly feels like a shot has gotten all the finesse it deserves, but the producers push you along with crazy deadlines, and the directors final the shot, taking it away from you forever, as you reach out your hands desperately grasping for it. Yes this is exactly how it is. Inevitably the project ship date arrives and all work must be complete. The final months of a project usually call for "crunch time". This means, the unrealistic deadlines you had before will be a distant memory as you now have less time to complete more work. Usually one of two things will be sacrificed by the animator, time or quality. The directors aren't about to allow the quality to be sacrificed, but are more than willing to suck more of your time into the vat of animation production land. I am currently in crunch time at my job which makes it difficult to have quality family time.

However, working twelve hours, six days a week is not exciting enough for me. No sir. I like it extreme baby. So what I do is take on a large scale freelance job for my former church to keep things interesting. This way I can spend twenty hours a day sitting on my butt in front of a computer. That's living boy, I tell ya!

Here's my daily schedule:

Wake up around 9am
Arrive at work around 10am
Leave work around 9pm
Get home around 9:30pm
Work on freelance job until around 5am
Sleep for 4 hours
Get up and do it again

I live for Sundays. I actually get to sleep in. (getting a full 8 hours of sleep is like sleeping in for me)

Why do I do this you might ask... well if my brain was functioning at normal levels right now I might have a good answer for you. This business is a crazy one, and I have to take work when it arrives in order to buffer for the lean months of no work. Unfortunately, work comes in waves and leaves just as quickly as the tide. I'm riding this wave in zombie mode. I am grateful for the work, but look forward to finding the balance that will signal the credits for my movie.

Mater And The Ghostlight

2006-11-09T12:02:00.000-08:00

Here's another cool Pixar short.

Boogie Board Boy

2006-11-06T16:51:00.000-08:00

So I've been on the west coast for several months now, and I work with a guy that is addicted to surfing. I figured since I have an addictive personality, and foam at the mouth when I can't take a ski trip during the winter, that I would be a prime candidate for extreme water sports. I definitely want to tackle surfing, but I decided to break myself into the arena by trying boogie boarding first.

I started by getting the tools of the trade; wetsuit, boogie board, and fins. One thing I have learned is, if you look like you know what you're doing, people assume you are good. So if nothing else, I could walk down the beach and look like a pro.

Malibu beach was the spot I chose for my first boogie board experience. My surfer friend had warned me of the crowds, but I didn't have the time to drive to another beach on Saturday. The place was a surfing zoo for sure. I paddled out to the surf and waded on top of my board, constantly worrying I would get in an unruly surfer's way. I had my family with me and the last thing I wanted was to get my butt kicked in front of them.

I decided to stay out of the way for the most part, watch them scan the water for the right wave, and how they attacked the wave when it arrived. It was fun to be in the water and eventually I attacked a couple of waves. I didn't kick in very well and didn't do much riding, but it was fun all the same. We had a packed schedule, so I had to cut my boogie boarding short. I can imagine that when I have more time to spend in the surf, that I will enjoy the thrill of riding the waves even more.

It is humbling to be in an ocean. It pushes you around like a pebble, and you realize the scale, power, and immensity of the water. God has created an amazing place for us to enjoy.

Tonymation on Tony Romo

2006-10-30T17:52:00.000-08:00

I poked fun at the former starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, Drew Bledsoe, a few weeks ago in one of my posts. I have to admit that I have not been excited about our quarterback situation since Aikman hung up his helmet, and I wasn't surprised at the recent decision to hand the team over to Romo. I was concerned about this season, however, with a new, untested quarterback, behind a shaky offensive line. It reminded me of the first Troy Aikman season where the Cowboys won only one game the entire season. Yes, I wasn't too optimistic this Sunday when Dallas travelled to Carolina.

Tony Romo's first start as a quarterback in the NFL did not begin well. Dallas gave up 14 points early in the first quarter thanks to a missed fieldgoal and a Romo interception. I was watching exactly what I expected to see, and it was frustrating.

The rest of the game was a completely different story. When Romo dropped back to throw, it was money 24 out of 36 times, for 270 yards, a touchdown, and a 2 point conversion. He looked comfortable in the pocket, and when the protection broke down, he sprinted for first down yardage. This added a whole new element to the Cowboys offense.

The Cowboys defense and special teams picked up their play to keep the Panthers scoreless for three quarters while the Romo offense methodically racked up 35 points. 25 of those points came in the 4th quarter, setting a franchise record for most points scored in a single quarter.

It was a very exciting game as my wife and I became more confident in Romo with every completion he threw. We were actually enjoying the game. This is just one of many games that the Cowboys have ahead, but hopefully it is a preview of the what to expect the rest of the season.

With a name like Tony, I should have known he'd be golden!

Texas vs California - Round One

2006-10-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

I spent my entire life in Texas. I figured that this trend would come to an end when I became an animator, but was fortunate enough to land a job with DNA Productions in Irving, Texas, not far from my home. While there, I worked on Jimmy Neutron and on the feature film, The Ant Bully. Around the time the film was being completed, DNA told me it would be in my best interest to find another job, because they couldn't pay me anymore. Being the intuitive person I am, I figured they were trying to hint at something. I eventually found a job in California. So I packed up and took my family out to LA. It's no secret that LA and Dallas are different, but this country boy was shocked at how different they turned out to be. I will touch on just one aspect of California in this post.

Driving in California

California has what they call highways, but they are selling a pack of lies to the driving public here. First of all, you rarely drive over 20 MPH on these "highways" thanks to traffic, and they aren't any wider than the average main street back home. Another odd thing I noticed is that you can't drive more than a few miles without needing to change lanes since these "highways" are constantly joining and branching off. In Texas I could take one lane on the same highway clean across the state. In California, you weave an eloborate tapestry just to stay on the same highway for a few miles.

Another strange phenomenon I noticed here is the lack of on-ramps. If you were to take a road that should get you to a highway, chances are there isn't an on-ramp attached to it. I would guess that one out of every 5 cross-streets actually has access to the highway.

If you are so fortunate to have found an on-ramp, be prepared for the on-ramp traffic light. This is something I have never seen before. You actually have to stop about halfway up the ramp, and wait for the light to turn green. At this point you have half the distance to accellerate to "highway" speed. Usually this is not a problem, since the average speed of any given highway is that of a residetial road under construction. However, if you are fortunate enough to find a highway clear of traffic be prepared to dart in between cars with the pedal floored.

Motorcycles are dangerous enough, and I have seen my share of idiot motorcyclists in Texas, but I am convinced that Hollywood stuntmen all drive motorcycles and test their abilities on the roads of California. Regardless if you are on a highway at breakneck speeds, or stopped at a traffic light, motorcyclists weave in and out of traffic. This isn't so crazy except for the fact that they are usually not inside a lane, but between them on the painted stripes where cars are a few inches away from them on both sides. I have seen a motorcyclist go from being 10 cars back at a stop light to right up front by merely snaking in between the cars and waiting for the green light to allow them to punch ahead of the front line.

Another thing I never dealt with in Texas are roads that wind in and out of the mountains. I drive on one every day to work, and it is a thrill ride every time.

I've been passed on roads and the highway countless times, but I have never been passed in a parking lot until I moved here. Yes on a one-way, single-car driving lane, in a parking lot I have been dangerously passed, not once, but twice. On the second occassion the passer nearly ran over some pedestrians walking to their vehicle. The guy was driving a convertible and I seriously contemplated throwing a hard object at his head.

That brings me to parking in California. In Texas, if you say, "I went to the mall and couldn't find any parking." You mean you parked over 50 feet from the entrance. If you say that in California, you really mean there was absolutely nowhere to park. I am not exaggerating folks. I have had to circle a parking lot several times, just to find ONE parking spot.

That about does it for this round. Tune in next time for another episode of California vs Texas.

Hyperactive

2006-10-22T19:08:00.000-07:00

What people do when they have too much sugar and caffeine in their diet. Don'y let this happen to you!

Keys To The Kingdom

2006-10-18T19:32:00.000-07:00

Flippin Sweet! This ridiculously lucky family got to spend a day in the Magic Kingdom at DisneyWorld all by themselves. If you are a Disney theme park buff like me, you may not believe what you are reading. Check out the video of the family entering the park to experience one of the coolest prizes Disney is giving away during the Year of a Million Dreams celebration.

The Very First Noel

2006-10-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

I recently finished working freelance, for Reel FX, on a very cool Christmas special called The Very First Noel. It is the story of the birth of Christ through the perspective of the three wise men, narrated by Andy Griffith.
There is a possibility that it will air on television this holiday season, but it will definitely be on your local DVD shelf in time for Christmas. Make sure you check out the trailer on the website. One of my shots made its way in there. Look closely and you will see a soldier making his way up some stairs to Herod on his throne.

Dude! You're On The BLUE Team!

2006-10-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

I am a Dallas Cowboy fan. It is a blessing and a curse I was born with, being a native Dallas, Texan. I loved watching football with my dad back in the amazing Roger Staubach days, when you believed anything could happen. I went through the drought with Danny White and Gary Hogeboom. Then we rose up from the ashes like a phoenix with Troy Aikman. Six years and twelve quarterbacks later we still can't rely on our go-to guy. This past Sunday's game against Philly proved to be a rollercoaster of events from the starting gates with 3 turnovers in less than 5 minutes. Flash ahead to the end of the 4th quarter. Dallas down by seven, and with possession of the ball, are hoping to tie or win the game. Drew launches what looked to be a hail mary pass to Terry Glenn. My wife and I held our breath until the ball dropped into his hands while the defender looked like a DEA agent doing a full body search on him. The ball dropped out of his hands to our horror, but a streak of yellow in all its glory flew through the air claiming defensive pass interference for all to see. I couldn't have written a better situation for Dallas myself. I threw popcorn in the microwave to prepare for overtime. I even contemplated a 2 point conversion for the win. Then this happened!

Either Bledsoe is color blind or the guy forgot they were wearing their away jerseys. Either way the rest of my Sunday was spent yelling at a guy that makes millions of dollars to throw a ball around, and has no clue I exist.

What Is A Billion?

2006-10-03T21:28:00.000-07:00

I received this by email from a relative, and am not sure of the original source. If you know where this came from, please add a comment that gives credit where it is due.

The next time you hear a politician use the word "billion" in a casual manner, think about whether you want the politicians spending your tax money. A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.

- A billion seconds ago it was 1974.
- A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
- A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
- A billion days ago no-one walked the earth.
- A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes at the rate our government is spending it.

While the thought is still fresh in our brain, let's take a look at New Orleans. It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division. Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking Congress for $250 Billion to rebuild New Orleans. Interesting number... what does it mean?

Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans, you each get $516,528. Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans, your home gets $1,329,787. Or, if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.

Washington, D.C.. HELLO!!! Are all of your calculators broken??

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),
Liquor Tax,
Luxury Tax,
Marriage License Tax,
Medicare Tax,
Property Tax,
Real Estate Tax,
Service charge taxes,
Social Security Tax,
Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
Sales Taxes,
Recreational Vehicle Tax,
School Tax,
State Income Tax,
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax,
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax,
Telephone State and Local Tax,
Telephone Usage Charge Tax,
Utility Tax,
Vehicle License Registration Tax,
Vehicle Sales Tax,
Watercraft Registration Tax,
Well Permit Tax,
Workers Compensation Tax.

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and there was prosperity, absolutely no national debt, the largest middle class in the world and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What the heck happened?

White and Nerdy

2006-09-22T10:31:00.000-07:00

I Am white and Nerdy... well, I'm more tan and nerdy thanks to my hispanic heritage, but I sit in front of a computer all day so I am a pretty pastey tan. That being said, White and Nerdy definitely does apply. A friend of mine posted a link to this over at his blog Poser Rantings, and I thought it was such a nugget of genius that I wanted to log it here for posterity.

DISCLAIMER: I busted a gut at work in front of countless onlookers with confused looks on their faces. When people are content to write LOL, I actually do it. If you fall into this category then you may want to watch this in the privacy of your office or home, with doors closed. I take no responsibility for lost wages on account of what happens once you click the below link.

Fun Game: Count how many times you say, "That's me!" I am both proud and ashamed to say I hit 15.

You are now ready to proceed to: White and Nerdy

Blog O Mania

2006-09-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

It's all the rage to have a blog these days... and who am I to go against rage? Anyhow... I am going to blog away with updates and developments in my exciting life, fun tidbits of nonsensical stuff, and throw in a touch of opinionated banter to stir your pot. Tally Ho!