I cannot wait to animate!

Saying that prompts the natural response of "Umm... nobody is stopping you, BUDDY!", but I've been so busy with the graphic novel lately that no animation has taken place for months.

Well.. ALMOST no animation... and that time is coming to an END!

The DIGITAL version of the graphic novel will be releasing next month (September) after a final crunch period. All Starbarian-tier supporters can read all 100+ pages here on Patreon, but I really hope that anyone who bought the physical version will consider waiting to have it in-hand before reading, as I think the experience will be even better! I'm hoping the physical copies can ship in September but am waiting on some news there...

Part of why I did the comic is because of how disappointing the last few years have been in terms of output. I want to tell long, ambitious stories that the audience can really settle in with, not just 2-5 minute shorts. Comics represent a great way to tell those longer stories, but I feel more like an animator and filmmaker than a comic creator. During work on the graphic novel, I kept yearning to animate and If I can, I will tell long stories in motion.

This strong desire has recently lead me to play around with some cost-saving tweened animation that still uses original drawings for each pose. I've been excited by a) how fast these tests were to do and b) how "acceptable" they are for non-action scenes. I hope you agree that even sans-mouth and cape and legs, Killgar almost appears frame by frame animated!

1st test (not so good)

2nd test (refined method)

I'm really looking forward to returning to animation in September and using these "invisible" time-saving methods to get Starbarians 4 or Dr Bees Forever out before the years' end.

Maybe... just maybe, I can manage a release for BOTH of these longer 9-15 minute cartoons before 2025. That would be something really special.

If not, I can return to looking for new ways to fund more animation, and that may require a return to comics to get more funds. It will be worth it if I can afford more incredible clean-up work by people like Yap Chung Shing (see his recent efforts below).

See, I told you SOME animation was happening! More soon. 

Thank you to every incredible supporter for making this possible. I promise that I will never stop trying to make entertaining work for you all.

-Harry