Mike BaBoon Design

Sesame Street Alphabet

2012-02-23T08:40:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've done another alphabet. I keep coming up with these and they kind of become an obsession until they are finished. This time, I wanted to pay tribute to another Jim Henson creation after the success of my Muppet Alphabet and my continued appreciation of these characters, but Sesame Street spans so many years and so many generations of fans that it was difficult to try to restrict to only one character per letter. After all, how do you choose between Bert and Big Bird? Elmo and Ernie?

So in the theme of education, I opted to expand this alphabet to include upper and lower case letters for more of an epic creation. Even with this, I had to put some popular characters aside, including Hoots the Owl, the Tweedlebugs, SAM the Robot, Sully, Biff, Barkley, Betty Lou and Baby Bear (that's a lot of B's). How many can you name?

Legend: Anything Muppet, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird, Bert, Cookie Monster, Gladys the Cow, Don Music, Dorothy, Ernie, Elmo, Forgetful Jones, Farley, Grover, Guy Smiley, Herry Monster, Honker, Ingrid, Invisible Man, Mr. Johnson, Joey Monkey, Harvey Kneeslapper, Kermit the Frog, Little Bird, Lefty the Salesman, Murray, Mumford the Magician, Dr. Nobel Price, Natasha, Oscar the Grouch, Ovejita, Placido Flamingo, Prairie Dawn, Queen Olivia, Queen of Six, Rosita, Roosevelt Franklin, Mr. Snuffleupagus (aka Snuffy), Sherlock Hemlock, Two-Headed Monster, Telly Monster, Uncle Jack, Umeko, Count von Count, Captain Vegetable, Wolfgang the Seal, Slimey the Worm, X (star of The X-Files), Ex-Ray, Yip, Yip, Zoe, ZZ Blues Muppet

Prints, skins and shirts are available at http://society6.com/mbaboon/Sesame-Street-Alphabet_Print.

The Simpsons Alphabet

2012-01-23T14:01:00.000-08:00

Depicted are: Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Bart Simpson, C. Montgomery Burns, Dr. Julius Hibbert, Edna Krabappel, Ned Flanders, Groundskeeper Willie, Homer Simpsons, Itchy, Jimbo Jones, Krusty the Clown, Lisa Simpson, Marge Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Otto Mann, Principal Seymour Skinner, Major Joe Quimby, Ralph Wiggum, Scratchy, Troy McClure, Uter Zorker, Milhouse Van Houten, Waylon Smithers, Xena Warrior Princess, Yes Guy, Artie Ziff

Prints, skins and shirts are available at http://society6.com/mbaboon/Simpsons-Alphabet_Print

Wallpaper:

By the way, I know there is another Simpsons Alphabet out there. I found it when I was over 3/4 done this one. Oh well, there's room out there for two of these.

Vinylmation Concept: Headless Horseman

2012-01-17T12:46:00.000-08:00

I had been working on a few ideas for new Vinylmation sets, one of which was Villains 3. Included in this set was going to be the Headless Horseman from 1949's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Of course, Disney then decided to include the Headless Horseman as the chaser in their Animation 2 series (http://destinationvinylmation.com/2012/01/animation-2-chaser-great-or-missing-something/)

So rather than waiting for everything else to come together, I thought it would be a good time to share my concept for this character:

I'll admit that this one was a bit of a challenge. I think it turned out okay, but not great. You could make a removable pumpkin head perhaps but I wanted to try to include the horse as well. Plus there isn't a lot to the design of the character other than shadows and some key light effects. This has been one of the key criticisms of the official Disney design actually (well, that and the fact that it doesn't actually have a head).

So I imagined Mickey's arms as the Horseman's legs, with the Mickey head as his body. The use of the arms as legs would be more obvious with a side or back view. In the ears are the flaming pumpkin and the spooky moon from one of Sleepy Hollow's last images.

When I design these, I try to stick to the limitations of the design, so I didn't include any accessories here. You could put the cape on as a sort of crown on the Mickey head though. Would be nice to perhaps include a sword somewhere as well. Perhaps either attached to the back or drawn there. I do like the glowing pumpkin accessory on the official Disney design.

P is for Pixar (Pixar Alphabet)

2012-01-09T14:12:00.000-08:00

I'm on a bit of an Alphabet kick right now.

Originally I was thinking about a Toy Story alphabet but there were still quite a few blanks. Expanding to include the entire Pixar collection was very helpful, though I did have to cut a few key players to try to keep somewhat of a balance between the films (sorry Woody, Mike Wazowski and Marlin).

Depicted are: Anton Ego (Ratatouille), Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story), Carl Fredrickson (Up), Dory (Finding Nemo), Eve (WALL-E), Flik (A Bug's Life), Geri (Geri's Game short), Hamm (Toy Story), Mr. Incredible, aka Bob Parr (The Incredibles), Jessie (Toy Story), Kevin (Up), Lightning McQueen (Cars), Mater (Cars), Nemo (Finding Nemo), Omnidroid (The Incredibles), Princess Merida (Brave), Queen Ant (A Bug's Life), Remy (Ratatouille), Sulley (Monsters, Inc.), Tinny (Tin Toy short), Underminer (The Incredibles), Violet (The Incredibles), WALL-E (WALL-E), XR (Buzz Lightyear of Star Command), Yeti (Monsters, Inc.) and Emperor Zurg (Toy Story)

Prints are available at http://society6.com/mbaboon/P-is-for-Pixar-Pixar-Alphabet_Print.

Wallpaper:

Magazine Alphabet

2011-12-05T13:49:00.000-08:00

Following a fundraiser at my daughter's school, I was impressed at the sheer number of magazines available, even with the "death of print." So I set up a little challenge for myself to see how quickly I could do up a "magazine alphabet". How many can you identify?

TMNT ABCs

2011-11-29T09:04:00.000-08:00

They are heroes in a half-shell... and all the letters of the alphabet.

Depicted are: Ace Duck, Bebop, Chrome Dome, Donatello, Doctor El, Foot Soldier, General Traag, Hothead, Irma, Casey Jones, Krang, Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Napoleon Bonafrog, April O'Neil, Pizzaface, Dr. Quease, Raphael, Shredder, Triceraton, Utrom, Vernon, Wingnut, Dr. X, Usagi Yojimbo, Zak the Neutrino

I originally did this for my brother-in-law (a huge fan of the Ninja Turtles) and made prints available at http://society6.com/mbaboon/TMNT-ABCs_Print

Muppet Alphabet - In T-shirt form!

2011-11-09T10:55:00.000-08:00

Exciting news: My Muppet Alphabet design has been turned into official Disney merchandise!

Decorate your midsection and learn your Muppet Alphabet at http://www.threadless.com/product/3361/Muppet_Alphabet

Or, if prints and posters are more up your alley, be sure to visit http://society6.com/mbaboon/Muppet-Alphabet_Print

Muppet Vinylmation Series 5 Proposal - Classic Muppet Movie Moments

2011-11-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

With the release of The Muppets just around the corner, I figured it was time for one more set of Muppet Vinylmation art. I tried something a little different this time, focusing on key scenes from the first three Muppet Movies.

Depicted are:

Rainbow Connection Kermit, Electric Mayhem Bus, Airborne Gonzo and Growth Pill Animal (from 1979's The Muppet Movie)
Wedding Kermit, Wedding Piggy, Manhattan Melodies Program and Sardi's Kermit (from 1984's The Muppets Take Manhattan)
Motorcycle Piggy, Airfreight Gonzo and Fozzie, Fozzie and Kermit's Dad and Gang in Disguise (from 1981's The Great Muppet Caper)

The Gang in Disguise would be the chaser in this set. The back of the figure would be a mirror image of the front except everyone would have their fake glasses and mustaches removed.

Muppets in Space

2011-09-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

Here's my tribute to Pigs in Space and the various aliens that the Muppets encountered during the course of The Muppet Show.

I had originally intended this to be a concept for the welovefine.com Muppets T-shirt contest. The idea was that nothing would be more adventurous - or dangerous - than being a "red shirt" on the Swine Trek. But since the contest was only open to residents of the US, that plan was, well, shot into space.

Camilla De Vil

2011-09-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

If she doesn't scare you, no chicken will.

Muppet Alphabet - Final version

2011-09-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

Here it is. The final version of the Muppet Alphabet, featuring Xomfey the Pink Stalk from The Muppet Show pilot, Sex and Violence.

Featured are: Animal, Bunsen and Beaker, Crazy Harry, Dr. Teeth, Sam the Eagle, Fozzie, Gonzo, Hilda, Irving Bizarre, Janice, Kermit, Lew Zealand, Miss Piggy, Newsman, Otto, Pepe, Quongo, Rowlf, Statler, The Swedish Chef (aka "Tom"), Uncle Deadly, Vendaface, Waldorf, Xomfey, Yolanda Rat, Zoot.

And a big thanks to the poster at Muppet Central for the suggestion on Xomfey.

EDIT: The Muppet Alphabet is also now available as a T-shirt and poster. Check out http://baboondesign.blogspot.com/2011/11/muppet-alphabet-in-t-shirt-form.html for more details.

Muppet Vinylmation Series 4 Proposal

2011-09-09T05:22:00.000-07:00

After such a strong positive response to my proposal for Muppet Vinylmation Series 3, it was only a matter of time before I got through some designs for a Series 4.

Shown are: The Great Gonzo, Wayne, Wanda, Clifford, Skeeter, Doglion, Dr. Bob (Rowlf), Pops, Johnny Fiama, Sal Minella, Thog and 80s Robot.

Originally I pictured the adult Skeeter as the chaser, but once I designed '80s Robot, I knew he would be the better choice. He would be printed on a clear mold like Waldo was in Series 1.

Also, I never would have imagined putting Wayne and Wanda on here (after all, I once considered them X-Muppets in the alphabet), but after seeing them prominently in the trailers for The Muppets and the OK Go video, I knew it was time for them to shine.

It says something about the scope of the Muppet universe knowing that I'm considering at least two other full sets of Muppet Vinylmation (in other words, stay tuned!) and in neither case do I feel like I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel.

A big thanks goes out to Ryan Dosier at The Muppet Mindset for featuring my work and the exclusive first look at this series.

Tough Pigs - Happy 10th Anniversary

2011-09-09T05:19:00.000-07:00

I did up the following collage for the Muppet fansite ToughPigs.com to celebrate their 10th Anniversary. I was going to do something along a birthday cake theme but while digging through the ToughPigs archives for ideas, I realized there were a bunch of great memories in there. So decided to put them all together into one image.

A big thanks and congratulations to all of the Tough Pigs who keep the website movin' right along.

Doc Hopper's Other Ideas

2011-09-09T05:17:00.000-07:00

After Kermit slipped through his fingers, The Muppet Movie's villainous Doc Hopper had some other ideas.

Muppet Vinylmation Series 3 Proposal

2011-09-09T05:15:00.000-07:00

I recently found myself addicted to the Muppet Vinylmations sold at The Disney Store and Disney Theme Parks. Now that I've pretty much completed the Muppet series though (with the exception of that dang elusive Kermit), I realized something: I want more. And no, not just other Disney sets. I want more Muppets.

So, not knowing if there was a Muppet Series 3 on the horizon, I thought I would make up my own. I tried to take perceived printing limitations into consideration as well (which is why the Newsman doesn't have a plaid jacket). This was actually a lot of fun. I've already got a bunch of ideas for future series. Enjoy!

Included in this set are Lips, the Newsman, Robin, Crazy Harry, Marvin Suggs, Bobo, Mahna Mahna, Uncle Deadly, Walter, Big Mean Carl, Beauregard and Jim Henson.

By the way, I envisioned Jim Henson as the chaser (when I first did this, I didn't realize that Disney may not own the rights to the Jim Muppet from The Muppet Show). Also, I didn't add it here, but Beauregard could use a hat as an accessory.

Drawn Together

2011-09-09T05:14:00.000-07:00

A common theme in Muppet movies has always been that no matter what the circumstances, the Muppets always find a way to come together to beat the odds. With this design, I decided to take that one step further and actually design a collage by linking the Muppets together based on common elements in their features. They are "Together Again" (cue the music).

I had originally been working on this idea for the Muppet Threadless contest. I ran short on time before the deadline to make this an all-inclusive as I would have liked (I originally envisioned it as a drawing that would cover the whole shirt), but I still wanted to get it out there. Enjoy!

Ladies and Gentlemen... It's The Muppet Alphabet

2011-09-09T05:12:00.000-07:00