MR.TV PODCAST

Stickin’ Around’s stick figure aesthetic was, “An illusion in simplicity,” says Robin Steele, co-creator of Stickin’ Around.

In fact, the show, which aired from 1996 to 1998, was on the forefront of digital animation production, but the origins of the aesthetic goes back to his work on Stick Figure Theatre on MTV's Liquid Television.

Robin joins us this episode to talk about how he joined the showed, the complexity of a stick-figure aesthetic, how the themes of the show developed during production, and what it takes for a show to come back for a reboot.

Did you know Nanalan is a real place? In fact, "Nana Land" is what Jamie Shannon called his grandmother's backyard when he was a kid and his time spent there as a kid directly inspired the creation of his puppet show that played on YTV, Nickelodeon, and CBC.

Jamie joins us this episode to talk about inspiring wonder in kids, what happens when you switch broadcasters, and how this show helped launch a number of successful shows like Mr. Meaty and Big and Small.

Steve Schnier remembers dancing down the hallways at his day job when his producer John Delmage called him to say Freaky Stories had found its financing.

Starring Larry de bug and Maurice the Maggot, Freaky presented four cartoons per episodes to kids around the world with writing inspired by tales of Schnier's family.

In our interview, we get into the creation of the show, why puppetry really "sucks", and why the show ended after three seasons.

Mr. Bumpy’s design sprang forth from Ken Pontac’s mind like Athena from Zeus. Pontac says his big features and even bigger personality were designed to make him an exciting character to animate.

We talk about friendship and its role in a production, dealing with writing constraints, and the legacy of the show.

A transcript of this episode is on its way!

David Ichioka remembers the feeling of infinite possibility while looking out onto the soundstage that would become the set for Bump in the Night. It's a memory that has few equals although meeting him wife on set, he says, eclipses it.

For a transcript of this episode, please click here: Transcript