Craig Clark
Encyclopedia
Craig Clark, is an American animator
, an art rock
, darkwave
musician (Chorus of Souls
on Fluxus Records), a comic book artist
(Nemesister and Astrothrill
), and an album cover artist (The Nymphs
on Geffen Records
).
called "Forgive and Forget" directed by voice actor Shep Menken in 1968. Switching to animation at age 14, he was discovered by animators Corny Cole (Looney Tunes
) and Duane Crowther (Yellow Submarine), and was mentored by longtime Disney animator Amby Paliwoda
. Clark was one of the original animation and layout artists on the first three seasons of The Simpsons
, and has gone on to animate on various other animated projects such as several Peanuts
TV specials for Bill Melendez
productions, and many special effects feature films such as, Forrest Gump
, The Mask
, Godzilla
, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
, Big Trouble in Little China
, Cool World
, and Poltergeist II: The Other Side
.
Clark has produced and directed The Kustomonsters
animated show for the web and TV through Cheeky Entertainment in 2010-2011, and is currently airing on KLHU-CA
in Lake Havasu Arizona.
(2010) (visual effects)
Dixie Dynamite (2009) (animator)
Slacker Cats
(2007) (TV Series) (animator)
Lil Pimp (2005) (storyboards and design)
Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi (2004) (digital artist)
Godzilla
(1998) (technical director)
Mortal Kombat
(1995) (digital animator)
The Mask
(1994) (digital roto and paint)
Forrest Gump
(1994) (digital animator)
Cool World
(1991) (effects animator)
Animator
An animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
, an art rock
Art rock
Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, with influences from art, avant-garde, and classical music. The first usage of the term, according to Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, was in 1968. Influenced by the work of The Beatles, most notably their Sgt...
, darkwave
Darkwave
Dark Wave or darkwave is a music genre that began in the late 1970s, coinciding with the popularity of New Wave and post-punk. Building on those basic principles, dark wave added dark, introspective lyrics and an undertone of sorrow for some bands...
musician (Chorus of Souls
Chorus of Souls
Chorus of Souls was an industrial music, art rock, darkwave Los Angeles band formed in 1988. The main personnel of the band were drummer Craig Clark, keyboardist Tom Bailey, guitarist Thomas "Chas"Connors, bassist Kenny Lefort, and singer Jill Sparks...
on Fluxus Records), a comic book artist
Comic Book Artist
Comic Book Artist was an American magazine founded by Jon B. Cooke devoted to anecdotal histories of American comic books, with emphasis on comics published since the 1960s...
(Nemesister and Astrothrill
Astrothrill
Astrothrill is an animated short film based on the alternative comics of the same name published by Cheeky Press. The film is directed by its creator, Craig Clark, an art rock, darkwave musician , animator , comic book artist and album cover artist...
), and an album cover artist (The Nymphs
The Nymphs
The Nymphs were an alternative rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s with lead singer Inger Lorre. The band was signed to Geffen Records, and released their only album in 1991. The Nymphs were known for their wild stage shows and their rebellious attitude towards record companies...
on Geffen Records
Geffen Records
Geffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
).
Biography
Clark began his career as a child actor at the age of 8, when he starred in an educational filmEducational film
An educational film is a film or movie whose primary purpose is to educate. Educational films have been used in classrooms as an alternative to other teaching methods.-Cultural significance:...
called "Forgive and Forget" directed by voice actor Shep Menken in 1968. Switching to animation at age 14, he was discovered by animators Corny Cole (Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television...
) and Duane Crowther (Yellow Submarine), and was mentored by longtime Disney animator Amby Paliwoda
Amby Paliwoda
Ambrozi "Amby" Paliwoda was an American animator.Paliwoda graduated with honors from the Cleveland Institute of Art in the early 1930's, thereafter touring Europe on a year's art scholarship. Paliwoda worked as an animator for Walt Disney Studios from 1935 to 1960...
. Clark was one of the original animation and layout artists on the first three seasons of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, and has gone on to animate on various other animated projects such as several Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
TV specials for Bill Melendez
Bill Melendez
José Cuauhtémoc "Bill" Meléndez was a Mexican-American character animator, film director, voice artist and producer, known for his cartoons for Warner Brothers, UPA and the Peanuts series...
productions, and many special effects feature films such as, Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise...
, The Mask
The Mask
The Mask is a Dark Horse comic book series created by writer John Arcudi and artist Doug Mahnke, and based on a concept by publisher Mike Richardson. The series follows a magical mask which imbues the wearer with reality-bending powers and physical imperviousness, as well as bypassing the wearer's...
, Godzilla
Godzilla (1998 film)
Godzilla is a 1998 science fiction monster disaster film film co-written and directed by Roland Emmerich. It is a loose remake of the 1954 giant monster classic Godzilla. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Emmerich and Dean Devlin. The film relates a tale of a nuclear incident...
, An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West is a 1991 American animated film produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblimation animation studio and released by Universal Pictures. It is the sequel to An American Tail, and the fourth installment in terms of the series' fictional chronology...
, Big Trouble in Little China
Big Trouble in Little China
Big Trouble in Little China is a 1986 American martial arts comedy film directed by John Carpenter. It stars Kurt Russell as truck driver Jack Burton, who helps his friend Wang Chi rescue Wang's green-eyed fiancee from bandits in San Francisco's Chinatown...
, Cool World
Cool World
Cool World is a 1992 American live-action/animated film directed by Ralph Bakshi, and starring Kim Basinger, Gabriel Byrne, and Brad Pitt. It tells the story of a cartoonist who finds himself in the animated world he created, and is seduced by one of his characters, a comic strip vamp who wants to...
, and Poltergeist II: The Other Side
Poltergeist II: The Other Side
Poltergeist II: The Other Side is a 1986 horror film. A sequel to Poltergeist, it features the return of the original's family and once again sees a spirit trying to harm their daughter, Carol Anne. It received mixed reviews from critics and did not gross as much at the box office as its...
.
Clark has produced and directed The Kustomonsters
The Kustomonsters
The Kustomonsters is an animated web series and TV show created by, Craig Clark, an art rock, darkwave musician , animator . Clark produced the series as a complilation of his short films from 1983 to 2010...
animated show for the web and TV through Cheeky Entertainment in 2010-2011, and is currently airing on KLHU-CA
KLHU-CA
KLHU-CA channel 45 is a low-power Class A television station serving Lake Havasu City, Arizona. It is an independent station owned locally by Jensen Media Group...
in Lake Havasu Arizona.
Filmography
BunrakuBunraku (film)
Bunraku is a 2011 martial-arts action film written and directed by Guy Moshe based on a story by Boaz Davidson. The film stars Josh Hartnett, Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson, Ron Perlman, Kevin McKidd, and Gackt and follows a young drifter in his quest for revenge.The title Bunraku is derived from a...
(2010) (visual effects)
Dixie Dynamite (2009) (animator)
Slacker Cats
Slacker Cats
Slacker Cats is an animated ABC Family series that premiered on August 13, 2007. It was the first animated show on ABC Family since the Fox Family era. It was created using Adobe Flash....
(2007) (TV Series) (animator)
Lil Pimp (2005) (storyboards and design)
Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi (2004) (digital artist)
Godzilla
Godzilla (1998 film)
Godzilla is a 1998 science fiction monster disaster film film co-written and directed by Roland Emmerich. It is a loose remake of the 1954 giant monster classic Godzilla. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Emmerich and Dean Devlin. The film relates a tale of a nuclear incident...
(1998) (technical director)
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat (film)
Mortal Kombat is a 1995 American action and adventure film directed by Paul Anderson. Based on the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games, the film was the first part of the Mortal Kombat film series...
(1995) (digital animator)
The Mask
The Mask
The Mask is a Dark Horse comic book series created by writer John Arcudi and artist Doug Mahnke, and based on a concept by publisher Mike Richardson. The series follows a magical mask which imbues the wearer with reality-bending powers and physical imperviousness, as well as bypassing the wearer's...
(1994) (digital roto and paint)
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a 1994 American epic comedy-drama romance film based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom. The film was directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright and Gary Sinise...
(1994) (digital animator)
Cool World
Cool World
Cool World is a 1992 American live-action/animated film directed by Ralph Bakshi, and starring Kim Basinger, Gabriel Byrne, and Brad Pitt. It tells the story of a cartoonist who finds himself in the animated world he created, and is seduced by one of his characters, a comic strip vamp who wants to...
(1991) (effects animator)