Creating Comics!

Job:05-19413 Title:Creating Comics

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Title: Escalator ad, 2005

Client: Chicago Tribune

Creative Process

I follow the same basic approach with my print work that I do

when producing animated projects. I analyze the concept and

choose or create a graphic vocabulary to follow. Every style and

technique comes with baggage that the reader/viewer brings

with him or her—this is especially important to keep in mind when

doing a parody/satire piece.

I illustrated an interview with Kirsten Dunst for Esquire that

coincided with the release of the first Spider-Man. I chose to not

only use the paneled comic book layout to tell the story (a relative

no-brainer under the circumstances), but also decided to make

a transition over the course of the interview/story from the bland

illustration style I’m known for using in my Saturday Night Live

animation, into a full-blown 1960s Spider-Man comic book style.

This accentuated the documentary feel of Dunst being

interviewed, while not only reminding the reader of her role in

the movie, but also weaving a thread throughout the piece that

reflects the transition of Spider-Man’s alter ego Peter Parker into

the troubled web-slinger. The reason Esquire wanted me to do the

piece in the first place was to take a relatively mundane interview

and make it entertaining. I felt that the approach I developed ad-

dressed their desire and more!

I like to tease viewers. I’ve learned by doing thirty-second TV

commercials that you can easily lose your audience if you don’t

keep them interested or—even better—intrigued by what you’re

doing. Teasing and tantalizing works well to keep people locked

in to your efforts. Sometimes it’s as simple as a nice design or

drawing, but often I add subtexts and subtle details that take

repeat viewings to catch.

J.

J. and Patrice Sedelmaier formed J.J. Sedelmaier

Productions, Inc., in White Plains, New York, in

1990. The studio produces animation, print, and

corporate branding, and assists as a reference

resource for various historical research projects.

Although known for its cutting-edge animated TV com-

mercials for clients such as 7 Up, Volkswagen, Slim Jim,

and Hotwire, the studio is also responsible for launch-

ing Beavis and Butthead with MTV, creating the hilarious

cartoons for Saturday Night Live with Robert Smigel, and

developing the pilot episode of Harvey Birdman, Attorney

at Law for Cartoon Network. Illustration and design work

has been produced for Playboy, Esquire, Rolling Stone,

Texas Monthly, and clients such as FootJoy, Converse,

Home Savings Bank, and the Chicago Tribune.

The studio provides creative consultation as well as

gives presentations to corporations and universities, and

has won close to seven hundred film and design awards

from festivals all over the globe.

J.J. Sedelmaier

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Creating Comics

Job:05-19413 Title:Creating Comics

#175 P DTP:204 Page:124

(RAY)

120-176_19413.indd 124 5/26/10 8:56:40 AM