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Post by /\/\att on Aug 4, 2005 4:15:02 GMT -5
Here you can ask questions to and just generally chat with The Batman Character designer Thomas Perkins! Exclusively on Legions of Gotham! We here on The Batman crew are always curious about your questions. Give it a shot Thomas Perkins
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Post by arkhaminmate on Aug 4, 2005 7:00:47 GMT -5
This is a great Mr. Perkins, Your designs are amazing. What were your ispirations for the designs? & what is your favorite character?
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Post by Scribbler on Aug 5, 2005 3:38:59 GMT -5
Well Arkhaminmate,
Thank you very much. I am glad you like the work.
I find that I am influenced by many different things. My love of the Batman comics, my interest in various types of comics and animation from all over the world, my fellow artists on the job... there are so many influences really.
As for favorite character, it is hard to say. of the villains I have worked on though...mayhap it is Clayface as he is so visually versatile. All that shapeshifting is fun to draw.
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Post by arkhaminmate on Aug 5, 2005 3:42:31 GMT -5
I like your style it seems to be influnced partialy by anime. keep up the good work
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Post by darkblade on Aug 5, 2005 4:51:38 GMT -5
do you have any suggestions on how to become a character designer? in other words, how would an aspiring artist reach your levels in the animation industry?
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Post by jasontodd2 on Aug 6, 2005 8:14:20 GMT -5
Hello Thomas!
How's it going? I was wondering if there are any plans to bring The Bizarro Batman into The Batman? I think it would be really cool to see, and the reason I ask is because I thought of him while watching the rerun of The Laughing Bat, because The Joker dressed as Bats reminded me of Bizarro Batman. Plus he is in the current issues of Superman/Batman right now. Any plans? What are your thoughts?
Thank You The Techno Bat
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Post by Scribbler on Aug 8, 2005 3:05:58 GMT -5
Hey darkblade,
My best recommendation is to get a well rounded art education and be versatile with your skills. The more you know about the history of art and the paractices therein, the stronger your skills will be. Learn to be flexible and creative in your work. Never just pigeonhole your self as just a "character designer."
Just as important is to not lock yourself down to just one artistic style. In animation, we are sort of like highly paid migrant workers. jobs only last so long and when they end we search high and low for new work. It is important to be able to tackle many styles so that many employers can see your merits and consider you as a viable member of their design team regardless of "Style." Education and Versatility.
I hope that helps,
Thomas
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Post by Scribbler on Aug 8, 2005 3:12:29 GMT -5
Hey Techno Bat,
Though I would really enjoy such a developement, I would tend to doubt it at this point. Should we ever become fortunate enough to introduce Superman and his Rogues Gallery into our universe, I would doubt that we would see a Bizzaro show up. Now that being said, I hope that we will one day see the addition of Big Blue into our world. One never knows...lets hope.
Thanks,
Thomas
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Post by jasontodd2 on Aug 8, 2005 17:41:46 GMT -5
Hey Techno Bat, Though I would really enjoy such a developement, I would tend to doubt it at this point. Should we ever become fortunate enough to introduce Superman and his Rogues Gallery into our universe, I would doubt that we would see a Bizzaro show up. Now that being said, I hope that we will one day see the addition of Big Blue into our world. One never knows...lets hope. Thanks, Thomas Bummer! Thank you for answering my question and thoughts though...
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Post by arkhaminmate on Aug 12, 2005 13:16:07 GMT -5
Mr. Perkins, the new designs for classic chracters you create are astonishing. Any plans for Harley Quinn, Two-Face or Ra's Al Ghul?
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Post by Scribbler on Aug 14, 2005 1:41:10 GMT -5
Hey arkhaminmate,
I will have to disapoint you by saying that we will not be seeing these folk during th run of the 3rd season. It is my hope that should we get a 4th season pickup, that at that time we may see some of them crop up. I know that there were wierd liscensing issues concerning Ra's and Scarecrow due to the Batman Begins film. I think Harvey was to happen much later in Bats career. And as to Harley, I am not certain as to the legalities concerning her and the fact that she was a creation from the BTAS universe and not a prior existing DC property that we may or may not be able to pull from. Good questions though. My hope is that the powers that be are reading the comments you folks are making, and perhaps some of the more obscure Bat villains mentioned may get new life in a possible 4th season.
Thanks,
Thomas
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Post by The Demons Head on Aug 14, 2005 2:08:05 GMT -5
I know that the FCC would never allow this character to ever appear on any sort of kid-oriented show, but, if you had the chance, how would you design somebody like Black Mask?
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Post by Scribbler on Aug 15, 2005 0:29:31 GMT -5
Hey BlackMask'sFFSofGothamCity,
I would certianly be happy to take a crack at Black Mask. In all truth, most if not all of Batmans' foes are truly gruesome homicidal folk...they are just toned down a bit for TV. Joker is a pretty horific guy if you think on it. Black Mask could be really cool to work on, there is a lot of potential to work with.
Thomas
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Post by The Demons Head on Aug 15, 2005 12:19:35 GMT -5
Would you consider your character designs to be the literal versions of the characters, or, just visual metaphors for how the character thinks and acts/would be seen from the eyes of Batman? Example: The Joker
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Post by Scribbler on Aug 16, 2005 0:44:50 GMT -5
Hey gatubela,
Tell you what. Once I score my self another full time gig, we'll see. I gotta tell you though, I'm more of a "fiendish-creature-of-the-night" kinda guy. You want the hot heroines, your talking about Matsuda and Lopez. I like the the heroines and all, but they're better at the polish on that art form than I.
Thomas
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Post by /\/\att on Aug 16, 2005 4:17:18 GMT -5
Hey gatubela, Tell you what. Once I score my self another full time gig, we'll see. I gotta tell you though, I'm more of a "fiendish-creature-of-the-night" kinda guy. You want the hot heroines, your talking about Matsuda and Lopez. I like the the heroines and all, but they're better at the polish on that art form than I. Thomas T, good luck on that in-between job hunt my man! Lets talk further about the possibility of some other character designs in the future..I have some ideas to run past ya I know we'd LOVE to see some sketches that went into the development of Dracula when that comes out...I LOVE to see that sort of thing.
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gatubela
Legions of Gotham Police Officer
Posts: 136
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Post by gatubela on Aug 16, 2005 18:15:17 GMT -5
Hey gatubela, Tell you what. Once I score my self another full time gig, we'll see. I gotta tell you though, I'm more of a "fiendish-creature-of-the-night" kinda guy. You want the hot heroines, your talking about Matsuda and Lopez. I like the the heroines and all, but they're better at the polish on that art form than I. Thomas oh! well okay then!! im not big on monsters but thats okay!! unless you mean vampyres cause im into them!! vampyres rock!! oh and thanx so much for returning my post! it makes me feel happy!
oh and im curious to see what matt has designed actually ive done some designs myself. but theyre kinda dorky!! i designed the JLA, but the only one that i like is the wonder woman, shes very original and looks pretty cool!
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Post by Scribbler on Aug 17, 2005 0:36:18 GMT -5
Hey gatubela,
I completely understand...though i'm not a horror fan personally, I do have a kanck for coming upwith the odd creatures. I dig the vampyres too. If you're into that sort o' folk lore, there was a book had to I read for my Russian History class that I took back in college: The Darkling: A Treatise on Slavic Vampirism (Paperback) by Jan L. Perkowski. You might find it interesting. It discusses a lot of info on the slavic folkloric elements that are the sources of the modern vampyre mythology.
I too am curious about Matts design ideas. You should post your designs, as well. I would be keen to see them.
Thank you for your interest in our show,
Thomas
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Post by /\/\att on Aug 17, 2005 1:34:11 GMT -5
I'm working on some rough design ideas for a false face society. The general idea is that its headed by black mask and one of the members is anarchy. Obviously in the episode, its revelaed anarky has infiltrated them, and it out to destroy them. etc.
I'm also trying to develop a Green Arrow.
I'll post some scans soon.
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Post by arkhaminmate on Aug 17, 2005 1:39:18 GMT -5
Matt I would love to see your designs! they should put that in The Batman.
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Post by Scribbler on Aug 17, 2005 1:39:22 GMT -5
Hey Matt,
That sounds pretty cool. I would dig hearing more about it. Do you wish to pitch it as a premise? Drop me a line to discuss it. Also, I am a big Green Arrow fan! lets see those scanned up, lad.
Thomas
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Post by arkhaminmate on Aug 17, 2005 1:41:24 GMT -5
Tom, any characters you r working on at the present that we'll see in the future?
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Post by The Demons Head on Aug 17, 2005 7:26:14 GMT -5
Did it also include some of the modern/ ancient rituals, practices, or beliefs on how to thwart off the undead, like, burying a supposed-vampire face-down 9-feet-under after they're dead so that it would be harder for them to claw their way back to the surface? Just wondering...
Two things (that are mainly background information, but, since I am related to it [Slavic culture and the folklore of vampyres] in some way, I thought I'd share it...)...One, I love reading the folklore/ oral histories of such things as vampyres...And, two, I'm actually Slavic (Russian Carpathian[Romanian], Ukrainian, Hungarian, Slovakian, and just plain Russian) myself which accounts for a/my last name that only 3 people in my entire life have been able to pronounce correctly on the first try...
Also, I have a question pertaining to a "The Batman" False Face Society; would you make the members of it other "super villains" (for example The Riddler), or, would you use just a "regular Joe-schmo" for the design?...Do you envision a False Face Society [in the/ a cartoon setting] with members like in the comics, wearing business suits and a mask, or, would they wear special attire like in a cult-setting? (Because, the FFS is basically a cult if you think about it...)
BTW...Thanks for responding to my previous question! Keep up the/ your excellent work on The Batman!
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Post by Scribbler on Aug 18, 2005 0:58:01 GMT -5
Hey Young Patishnock,
I must confess that I read Perkowskis book back in 1991 or 1992...so specifics now elude me. I do recall however that it was a very interesting look at the vampyre/wampir myth before it became as codified as it has in films and novels today. The undead were an interesting and loosely defined lot as mofolktale entities can be, changing a little or a lot from region to region. Give it a read. If you are curious about the folklore of that nature, it is a very interesting read. Kinda scholarly and historical, though. Not a book for those looking for a story / novel type approach to the subject matter.
As to the FFS, there are anynumber of ways to approach the recreation of these folk into the Batman continuity of our show. It would be fun to explore the redevelopment of the FFS. I would say though that I would try to steer away from just making it a conglomerate team of Batmans other villains (Like Joker, Riddler, Penguin, etc) simply because it is more interesting to me to try to broaden that world rather than rehash the same folks repeatedly without let up. I think that the returning Nemesis is a great theme. It is certainly integral to the comics genre, but creating a broader stage and cast for our hero to interact with is important too.
My thanks for you curiousity,
Thomas
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Post by The Demons Head on Aug 21, 2005 19:43:17 GMT -5
If you could design a/the cartoon-version of the Batman Begins armor, how would you design it, and, would you change anything to fit the animation style of The Batman?
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Post by Scribbler on Aug 24, 2005 2:27:34 GMT -5
That's a good question. It would be much simpler in detaila s that animating that much detail would be cruel to the animators.
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Post by /\/\att on Aug 29, 2005 1:42:28 GMT -5
A curiousity for me T.
What went into the process of designing Dracula? Those of us not lucky enuf to have attended the panel at San Diego have only seen the DVD art...but he looks very cool.
Did a particular version of Dracula inspire you? Any particular Dracula lore?
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Post by Scribbler on Oct 1, 2005 23:45:55 GMT -5
Hey Demons Head,
I think that is is sort of a situation when one designs a character, that you must think about how that individual is as an icon and work from that. It is important to make what elements you bring to the character relect their inner workings. It would be interesting thought to be able to stage an episode where one were able to see the world as it is and as it is through the eyes of one of the characters portrayed on screen. It would be great to show the great and small divergences that you could fool about with.
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Post by Scribbler on Oct 1, 2005 23:56:29 GMT -5
Hey Matt,
There were a lot of thoughts about the direction that Dracula should take in the DTV. The vampire lore is a vast tapestry to draw from. I drew quite a number of sketches that would suggest various possible options, as did Jose and Jeff.. Our writting team and producers liked the one we went with because to them it best symbolized the character as it spoke to them. Many folks remember the days of the suave and enigmatic sort of Dracula embodied by the likes of Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee. It is that sort of vibe that they were hoping for.
I am looking forward to hearing what you folk think of the DTV. Both favorable and unfavorable opinions are welcome. I am really curious to hear your thoughts on it.
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