http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php Copyright 2009, Matthew Roby Matthew Roby en-US SPHPBLOG 0.5.1 http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081216-210652 Zombilina & Dead Ted
This ghoulsome twosome came to a grizzly death, after a faulty Wendy house toppled over and squashed them flat.
Zombilina comes across all sweet and innocent, but she has a childishly sadistic and malevolent nature. She can talk to the creepy crawlies scuttling around her hair, and she often pops her eyeball out to leave around and spy.
Dead Ted is the downtrodden, but loyal and trusty sidekick. Who usually ends up being the guinea-pig or scape goat for Zombilina's macabre antics.



Prof Crackpot



Geoff Bolt



Igor Humpadink



Larry Lagoon

]]> http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081216-210652 Matthew Roby Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:06:52 GMT http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=12&entry=entry081216-210652 http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081211-151830 Marilyn Meow
This curvacious, candy curled glamour puss, is the leading lady of Reel. Marilyn is a natural born actress both on and off screen, and her seductive and manipulative nature, ensures she always gets what she wants.
Not suprisingly, her beauty attracts many male admirers, although she often finds the besotted lovefools a trifle bore and so toys with their affections.



Milton Stilton
Milton embodies all the quintessential qualities of a distinguished English gent. He may look Suave, but he's by no means sophisticated. Milton is truly incompetant in the a leading man role, but fortunatley this doesnt affect him, as his pea sized brain is blissfully ignorant of his terrible acting skills.



Jimmy Lovepants
Not your typical cupid, Jimmy is a grumpy and bad tempered cherub, who begrudgingly performs his romantic duties, despite detesting all things lovey dovey.
He's also as blind as a bat, which usually leads to complications when targeting the right people with his love arrows!

]]> http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081211-151830 Matthew Roby Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:18:30 GMT http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=12&entry=entry081211-151830 http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081204-123823 Stanley Snagbottom
A slapstick comedian from 1930s northern England, who along with partner Coconut Joe, makes up the terribly unfunny comedy duo 'The Silly Billys'.
Due to some unknown cosmic force, The Silly Billys have been brought back into existance, having escaped from one of their old film cans. They're perfectly life like, well, apart from their black & white appearance!



Coconut Joe
The other half of 'The Silly Billys', Joe formed the comedy duo after running away from the circus.
Joe is the sophisticated straight man of the duo, who's exceptionally clever and well read. Joe likes to quote famous literature and is a master of humorous limericks. Also has a magic yo-yo to help the duo out of tricky situations.





]]> http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081204-123823 Matthew Roby Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:38:23 GMT http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=12&entry=entry081204-123823 http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081128-222611 Pablo Diablo
The definitive dumbass dare devil, Pablo is a fearless (and somewhat stupid) stunt demon.
He has a habit of appearing unexpectedly on screen, performing some crazy stunt....which more often than not goes spectacularly wrong, leaving poor Pablo worse for wear.




Holly Wholegrain (a.k.a Toaster Girl)
On first appearance, Holly appears to be a dithering, shy and meak mannered waitress. However hidden beneath her tea-cosy hat lies her secret identity. As whenever danger strikes Holly becomes Toaster Girl, ready for action with her head implanted toaster shooter and hand made costume (table cloth cape and place matt badge).
However it turns out she's more super zero than hero, as her toaster usually just jams and burns the toast!




Micky Moonshine
Arriving straight from the 1950s, Micky is another character with a split personality. In his normal state, Mick is a total geeky square. But once he combs his special moondust pomade into his hair, he's transformed into a super cool werewolf. The hip and happenin heart throb is a bit of a rebel, and never fails to make the girls swoon and gush.




Brian (Bionic) Bluebeard
Brian Bluebeard (Blue to his shipmates) is your typical cut throat and cursing pirate, but shiver me timbers, he has some unique 21st Century upgrades. Besides his traditional peg leg and hook, Blue has numerous other limb attachments, Including pogostick, rocket booster, hose pipe, flame thrower and unicycle.

]]> http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081128-222611 Matthew Roby Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:26:11 GMT http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=11&entry=entry081128-222611 http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081120-162424 Clint Cactus
Clint (A.k.a. The Cactus Kid) is a real prickly character from the wild west.
A bit of a loner with a grumpy personality. Rumour has it he was once a real cowboy, but after disrespecting a powerfull Indian Shamen, he was transformed into a cactus by dark magic. .





Mary Contrary
Mary is a real drama princess, hailing from the 19thC Victorian upper-classes. She's prone to wild mood swings, and can switch personalities at the drop of a frilly hanky. Has a wide selection of theatrical masks to match her every mood.
Also has a habit of swooning and dramaticly fainting over the slightest thing.



The many mood masks of Mary



Pierre Petit
The diminutive detective, small in size, big on spotting clues.
Whenever there's a mystery or crime to be solved the gallic inspector is soon on the scene. Keeps all manner of detective equipment under his hat, and his huge hooter can always sniff out a clue.
A proud and boastfull man, who is prone to tantrums if things don't go his way. Sneezes a lot too.

]]> http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081120-162424 Matthew Roby Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:24:24 GMT http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=11&entry=entry081120-162424 http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081113-220927 Reel's latest arrival, has undoubted star potential, and could one day be one of the greatest. However, right now the new kid on the block is just a bit lost and confused, but which direction to go?




Various rough Andy designs

]]> http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081113-220927 Matthew Roby Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:09:27 GMT http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=11&entry=entry081113-220927 http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081107-125709 The Director
A complete tyrant, who rules by fear over all things on Reel. The Director, together with his henchmen and CCTV, runs a strict regime, ensuring no individual breaks their typecast and tries to be different.








Enrique Understudy
The Director's second in command, whose job is to perform most of the Director's underhand plans. However, Enrique (who also has a freakish fashion fetish) is a scheming, two faced, snake in the grass. Who continually plans to overthrow the Director and take control of Reel.




Early Enrique character designs, showing his warpish wardrobe of outfits.




Timmy Tonsil
Like all snide and sniveling cowards, Enrique has his bodyguard, Timmy Tonsil, to hide behind. Timmy is by no means bad guy, but has been hoodwinked into serving Enrique. Ideally, he'd much rather be lounging around in his comfy slippers, scoffing jam and crumpets!

(Early Enrique/Timmy design)




The Critics
A small army of clockwork creeps, created by The Director to help keep order on Reel. The critics also have the ability to drain any actors confidence or self belief with their harsh comments and written words.




]]> http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081107-125709 Matthew Roby Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:57:09 GMT http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=11&entry=entry081107-125709 http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081102-220814 Somewhere out in the deepest depths of space, there exists a Silver Screen solar system, home to the film planets, Movie Star and Reel.

Despite both sharing a movie theme, the two planets are like chalk and cheese. Movie Star is a lean mean movie making machine, constantly churning out top notch films; everything made there is perfect and everyone living there is perfect.

However any actors who don't scrub up to Movie Star's high standards, are sent packing to Reel. On Reel the comedians aren’t funny; the horror characters are friendly and sensitive; the romance characters are dark and hatefull etc.
Upon first look, Reel seems a place full of losers and weirdoes. However, these characters are simply individuals, they're different and think for themselves. In every sense these characters are real!

]]> http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081102-220814 Matthew Roby Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:08:14 GMT http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=11&entry=entry081102-220814 http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081026-175841 Back in the Autumn of 07, myself and a band of like minded individuals, who shared the love of all things dark, strange and humorous, got together to plan their own mirthful macabre masterpiece.

And so the film production group, Pickled Circus, was born, and after many false starts, our first animation, Reel, finally got going this summer.

What follows, in this blog, is the work in progress of REEL ....


]]> http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/index.php?entry=entry081026-175841 Matthew Roby Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:58:41 GMT http://www.matthewroby.co.uk/blog/comments.php?y=08&m=10&entry=entry081026-175841