Sunday, October 04, 2009

Yellow Cake complete!

It's finished! I started working on Yellow Cake in November of 2006 right after I finished production on 'The Waif of Persephone'. So, after almost exactly 3 years it's all done!

Yellow Cake from Nick Cross on Vimeo.



I've decided to make this film a 'direct-to-internet' release. I will also be sending it around on the festival circuit, so hopefully it will be coming to a screen near you sometime soon.

Until then, enjoy!

***UPDATE***


I added a 'zazzle' store to my sidebar. I'm selling "Yellow Cake" T-shirts with the above design on them. I might be adding some more stuff in the near future if these sell well.

Thanks for all the great comments everybody!

92 comments:

David said...

OH MAN!!! This is realllllly GREAT!! It turned out wonderful! Will this be for sale on DVD? I want to buy it!

You should start a studio called Nick Cross Studios and make 5 films a year like this one! And a lot of cartoon series! And video clips! The world needs cartoons like this!!

As you can maybe tell, I really enjoyed Yellow Cake...

Keep it up, man!

ncross said...

Thanks David!

My plan is to put out a DVD of all my films that I've done to date, so this one would be included on that. I want to do it up extra special with lots of goodies so it may take a little while to do, so that's another reason why I've put it on the internets.

Thanks again!

Troy Little said...

Way to go Nick, another masterpiece!

Willem Wynand said...

Very nice, i really liked it =)

So toonboom? i'm guessing anyway,

really like the style of this piece, can't believe you animated it all yourself, must have taken a long long time.

If you can make it small enough to fit into a .swf under 15mb you should chuck it up on www.newgrounds.com/portal, i'm sure you'll find an audience there who will buy some dvds and shirts in future =)

Goodluck matey =) and goodwork

ncross said...

Thanks!

It was done in Flash, not Toonboom.

I'm going to do a post later with a more detailed account of the making of it, hopefully soon.

Thanks again

GerryD said...

Great work Nick! Can't wait for the DVD compilation!

ALBERT PARDO said...

-THIS IS REALLY GREAT..!

I'VE WATCHED IT TWICE TODAY ALREADY...

NICE WORK, GREAT JOB..!

michael valiquette said...

So great Nick. Really, really enjoyed it. Congratulations!

Glenn August said...

Wow Nick.
this was just great really.
I really love the story.
3 years well spent I must say.
I'm looking forward to that DVD.

Corey said...

It's amazing Nick! Thanks for releasing it online, though I was totally ready & willing to buy my copy!

Can I ask what compelled you to release it online?

Thanks again, it's a great film!

Thunderrobot said...

This is amazing!

Great work! The drawings are wonderful and it's amazing that you did all the animation yourself. The whole thing is so polished that it's hard to believe that one guy could have made it.

The story was even really good. I know it sounds a little cliche, but this cartoon is really like an old 1930s or early 1940s cartoon. It really has a plot structure unique to old cartoons (other than the violence of course). The music was also wonderful, was it public domain?

You give hope to independent animators.

Rich Pell said...

Brilliant..! I didn`t notice in the credits ?? Who did the score ..? The music choices were really good ... that was rocking.. Thanks!

Dave said...

CRAZY GOOD!!!

Congrats dude, this turned out amazing!
Also thanks for sharing - can't wait to pick up a copy!

david gemmill said...

HOLY SHIT YOU ARE CRAZY. THIS WAS AWESOME.

WOW

i feel so lazy :(


BUt motivated at the same time.

AWESOME WORK!

Nico said...

Nick- absolutely fantastic job. Such a great representation of the dark truth behind how society can work in real life. I love this so much, definitely let us know when your complete works DVD is out. Once again, great job

Shawn Dickinson said...

Hey, Nick! This is awesome!!! I'm completely floored by how amazing this is!!!! You are a genius! Seriously the best cartoon I've ever seen! Wow!!!!

geiger said...

my lord this is fantastic.
a little bit breathtaking.
amazing work nick.

Art Grootfontein said...

Just fantastic !
I couldn't wait to see it, and I'm pretty happy now !
Thank you Nick !

ArtF said...

dude! this was freakin' great! awesome! awsome! awesome! you're an inspiration, man.

jessicaLynn said...

hey Nick!!
I just watched" yellow Cake!"
It is sooo great! I love the story and message! The BGs are beautiful. I particularly like th moodiness of the shadows in alot of your shots!
Thank you for inspiring me!
Jessy

Ryan Kramer said...

Bravo! Looked wonderful. My eyes were glued to the screen.

Ian Andersen said...

That was amazing! Great stuff, looking forward to the compilation DVD!

Bob Flynn said...

I look forward to seeing your "making of" process post, Nick. The sketches and backgrounds you've posted over the past few years were are treat in and of themselves. So fun to see the finished film. Great job giving it an old-timey feel...it can be done in Flash, folks!

warren said...

....wow dude.

wow.


like an iron hand in a velvet glove.

Uncle Phil said...

Wow! Excellent job. Congrats. I can't wait to watch it again.

Rex said...

Incredible, Nick! You rule!

There's so much good animation in this, and the backgrounds are amazing!

Danny Hynes said...

This is such a wonderful film! It's rare that a new film is as inspirational or exciting as this. It feels like a classic already. Thanks so much!!! This is going to fuel hours of work. Repeated viewings are in order.

Hobo Divine said...

Absolutely Brilliant!
I laughed out loud then felt my gut fold (like a lawn chair) with guilt for laughing out loud.

I love the ending!
The viewer flippantly flips through the channels as if indifferent to the whole atrocity.

Beautiful choice of colours, camera work and music!
The animation & timing is super solid and the expressions are perfect!
It's seamless Nick!
TOP JOB!

~ Hobo

Gina Kamentsky said...

Nick, I've been a big fan of your work since seeing The Waif of Persephone at Ottawa. This is so powerful, wonderful!

ncross said...

Gee thanks again! I'll try to answer some of your questions...

The soundtrack was made with royalty-free music I bought from a music library; the same one I used in "The Waif of Persephone"

Mitch K said...

Fantastic!! Really great animation and beegees! I really enjoyed your last film -- it was great! -- but this one blows it out of the water. It's so well done!

WAY TO GO.

Doctor Jones said...

I watched Yellow Cake this morning and have been still thinking about it.

Just had to find yer blog and send over a congrats on making such a great film. I really hope it does well.

Loved the ending too.

Jon Baker said...

This made my day

Rob A. said...

Right on Nick!!!! Loved it!!!!!
Expect a big hug from me next week when I see you at the fest and no you can't hide. I will find you.

Amir Avni said...

So well done! Congrats Nick!

Suzanne Marsden said...

A very compelling and beautiful piece of animation--where all elements come together and work in absolute harmony. You not only are a gifted story-teller, artist and visionary, you have the patience and discipline to see that vision to its completion.
Bravo Nick--You continue to inspire and give hope. Looking forward to catching up with you sometime soon.
Cheers!
Suzanne.

John T. Quinn 3rd said...

so good. humbling. inspirational.

Riccardo Durante said...

You're the best Nick.

Brian Romero said...

Great job nick. I really loved everything about Yellow Cake. Visually appealing with social commentary told in an entertaining and appealing way. I look forward to your next project.

Kevin Langley said...

WOW!! I love it. Beautiful BGs and lively animation. I love the story too. Not what I expected. Great work, I look to seeing it on DVD someday.

Alex Chechik said...

Incredible! Couldn't believe that you accomplished this all by yourself. I loved the way you ended it, too.

Congratulations, Nick!

Ben said...

That was unbelievable! What a freakin great cartoon! Love the fatcats freaking out sequence after the bombing. So much cool paintings and animation. Crazy ending. blew my mind

-thanks Nick your the best one man show in cartoon showbiz

ted said...

A triumph sir! An entertaining story with beautiful visuals, and a lil political nugget to munch on as well.
Well done.

Kurdt said...

What? Wait a sec. Cartoons can be cartoony and smart at the same time? Thank you for showing me the light, this toon is wonderful!

A.M.Bush said...

Hi Nick,

I watched your movie yesterday, and I can't stop thinking about it. It was really great. It was better than 5 years worth of crap blockbuster movies. I like how the story was just told without the use of false pathos telling me how to feel. It really made me empathize with the bakers.

also, are those mice or rabbits?

ncross said...

Thanks again!!!!!

Anne: They aren't really anything specific...probably some form of cake-eating mouse or shrew...

Brett W. Thompson said...

Congrats!!!!

carlo guillot said...

Simply Amazing. Love the colors, the story, the music, the design, many many many congrats :)

Pouch Junior said...

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

Bouaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

elio said...

LOVED IT.

jacobsteel said...

wow, amazing work! really great short! :D

chrisallison said...

you rule, nick! this turned out awesome!

tomm said...

great great work hats off to you suh

roark said...

cool.....nice to see ones labor of love.

Blammo said...

Hey Nick,
This is beautiful work and your dedication to making such high calibre stuff while you work for hire to pay the bills blows me away!
You are truly inspiring.

Best,
Jason

MIURIKA VALERY said...

Man this is totally awesome, I had to share it with fellow animators... it's a classic

Trevour said...

Simply, utterly amazing!!! It's Yellow Cake for my eyes! Minus the dangerous ingredients of course!

Mike M said...

Great job as always, Nick! Can't wait for the 'Greatest Hits' DVD. I want a copy of Tea for Two!!!

matt dawson said...

Really love your work! Yellow Cake is a beautiful creation. I'm amazed how you have humor, pathos, social comment and 50's cartoon design all joshing for space yet not conflicting. I'll buy a DVD! Thanks for entertaining me :)

prowler said...

brilliant!
also loved the music, did you make it?

prowler said...

whoops, saw that's been answered.

james_william_walsh said...

me too! i can believe how great this is! it's everything cool about cartoons in one cartoon!

tomfowler said...

that's awesome, nick!

i've never seen so poignant a retelling of "pretty woman".

Keunemeun said...

Great work man! When are you going to make your first feature? :)

Claudio said...

wonderful. It´s a really great job and a marvelous idea. best regards from Brazil.

Deemo said...

Simply AMAZING!! Words cannot describe how great this turned out. Great job!

Doctor Nick said...

Remember, every single one of you watching this cartoon is a cat. It's your passive support of imperialism that allows it to continue.

Doctor Nick said...

(including me, i am also a cat)

benj said...

Deemo said it all!
Words cannot describe how great this film is. Your my idol... REALLY.

(For the third time) The Backgounds are AMAZING. The more "contraté" look you went for is a success!

ryan said...

Wow man. Great work. There was obviously a lot of time and effort put into this. I liked the meaningfulness of the story too. And as always, great colors and BGs!

Adam said...

I like the message, great animation as well.

Anonymous said...

You are so talented. I miss you both!

dedmonky said...

FRIGGIN AWSOME NICK!!!

Anthony Woodward said...

I really liked Yellow cake, it has to be the best animation I have seen in a long time and has reminded me of what I like about animation.

A cool t-shirt would be one of the little blue guy/s holding up a plate of yellow cake or pigging out on yellow cake

Hanjie said...

amazing amazing amazing! This goodie goodie stuff is hardly seen anymore nowadays!

Hanjie said...

abit of nitpicking here but is the only one i could find!

is that maybe the title card sequence in the beginning you might want the text to be abit more center aligned. It seems too high and abit to the right to me.. but maybe it is just me. The rest is amazing! ;)

Juan Pablo Solis G said...

the lasts scenes reveal it all, of whom we are talking about... Nice I loved it!!

colin said...

Absolutely incredible. Great to see awesome animation! Make sure you submit to the Atlanta Film Festival :)

Graham said...

Yes, another masterpiece!!

Isaac Pante said...

Excellent. Congratulations Mr. Cross. A really useful masterpiece.

Anonymous said...

awesome!!!

Emmanuel said...

Mes sinceres felicitations pour votre vidéo "Yellow cake" !

halcyonstar said...

Not much I can say except awesome.

Kristy Gordon said...

best fricking animation ever Nick!! Everyone here (in Firenze) agrees ;)

Chris said...

Wow Nick, I just saw this for the first time right now and I can't believe how well done this is. I doubt you're tired of hearing this after three long years of work, but I just have to tell you this is AMAZING!

You're a real inspiration to us all.

-Chris

balast said...

Congratulations! Great work!

Josh "Just What the Doctor Ordered" Heisie said...

That's amazing! One of the best things made for years!
The cat city stuff reminds me of "A Touch of Evil".
I'll buy the dvd when it comes out for sure!

Tristan Zerafa said...

That was FUCKING incredible. I only wish I had worked on it with you. Simply amazing Nick.

Alyssa said...

One of the most amazing animations I have seen in a long time. Reminds me of the golden age of animation; kids today need cartoons like this to know what good cartoons even are! Wonderful job!

onehugeeye said...

I would like to buy a copy of that special DVD with all your films, even without the goodies if that speeds things up! :)

Do keep us posted, will you?

:)

Cheers!

Dylan said...

inspiring!

Arnaud said...

Ho wow, that's such a great movie. Cruel story but well, that's how it is. Your animation is so smooth, dynamic and clever. I loved it and I'm eagerly waiting for your next shorts and the DVD.