Sunday, 18 December 2022

The totally UNexpected and UNplanned return of Oliver Simonsen!

Hi, Everybody!

Before we get into it, 
December 18th. Click for Bigger

Coming to The Waverly Press on March 1st, 2023. (And there MIGHT be Holiday Bundles left.)

Oliver Simonsen reached out, and asked if he could come back for one more...
Oliver Simonsen:
Can't believe it's been a year already since our "THE ABSURD, SURREAL, METAPHYSICAL AND FRACTURED DESTINY OF CEREBUS THE AARDVARK" Cerebus Animated Movie Film was released.

Time flies when you are having fun - thank you all who have shown such kindness. It's truly been one of the best years of my life.


Seen in 46 countries so far and available on TubiPlexXumo, Box Brazil Play, and just now also the new streaming service Mometu - here's some of the highlights from the past year of the first ever no-budget and no marketing budget CGI feature film:

"Animation World Network" article on our project
https://awn.com/animationworld/absurd-surreal-metaphysical-creation-no-budget-animated-feature

"Film Threat" review (8.5/10): "...the animation on Cerebus is excellent, making the character stand out starkly against the backgrounds, just like in the comics. Also, the camera angles are great, as is the lighting." "The script and general vibe are slavishly faithful to the comic books. I can’t imagine the godawful changes a more commercial production would have imposed on the adaptation. The Elrod sequence, in particular, is a showstopper" "I have already watched the film three times. I plan to watch it several more" "...movies don’t get much more independent than this"
https://filmthreat.com/reviews/the-absurd-surreal-metaphysical-and-fractured-destiny-of-cerebus-the-aardvark/

"Another Millennial Reviewer" review (5/5):
"This film struck a chord with me. There was just something about it I really enjoyed. The thing I perhaps enjoyed most of all was the wonderful absurdist elements that both made me laugh but were also quite deep and introspective at times, this film really goes places.
In that vein I thought the writing was clever and really helped the film to excel. The runtime flew by and by the end of it you are asking for more, if only more films could be paced liked this. The characters all felt fully realised and rounded, you ended up caring about each of them and becoming somewhat lost in the world.
The animation was beautiful and really highlighted what can be achieved on a budget. I thought the animation had way more personality than a lot of the samey looking animated films that come out, and that brought with it a lot of charm. I think the animators of this film deserve a pat on the back, they did top notch work.
Overall, a magnificent film that definitely deserves a watch."
https://anothermillennialreviewer.wordpress.com/2022/02/12/the-absurd-surreal-metaphysical-and-fractured-destiny-of-cerebus-the-aardvark-a-new-candidate-for-best-animated-feature-has-arrived/
"Another Millennial Reviewer" interview
https://anothermillennialreviewer.wordpress.com/2022/02/12/interview-with-editor-director-oliver-simonsen-the-absurd-surreal-metaphyiscal-and-fractured-destiny-of-cerebus-the-aardvark/

"UK Film Review" (4/5):
"Immersion is an area that Cerebus the Aardvark gets so, so right. The animation style is incredibly distinct. While it’s rough around the edges and very obviously made on a tight budget, it’s full of character, allowing it to stand out from the crowd. There are some great visuals here, too: close, intimate shots and sweeping scenic shots that give us the feeling of being transported to another time and place; Simonsen is a master of worldbuilding. The black and white scenes, in particular, are absolutely stunning to behold and also serve to hide the animation’s imperfections.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time in the world of Cerebus the Aardvark. It’s not perfect by any means, and it’s significantly held back by budgetary constraints. But Simonsen has shown himself to be a talented director. I’d love to see him do a sequel. I’d especially like to see him given a bigger budget to work with; I can only imagine what such a visionary could achieve."
https://www.ukfilmreview.co.uk/post/the-absurd-surreal-metaphysical-and-fractured-destiny-of-cerebus-the-aardvark

B&S About Movies: "Before the black and white comics explosion, I discovered Cerebus"" You’ll be quite surprised how great this looks and moves" "This is an incredible effort" "I consider it a success." "I’m just so pleased that this exists. 12-year-old me is so excited about it."
https://bandsaboutmovies.com/2022/07/09/the-absurd-surreal-metaphysical-and-fractured-destiny-of-cerebus-the-aardvark-2021/
Comic Crusaders: "I mega loved it! I had a blast! It's fun! It's fire!"
https://www.comiccrusaders.com/al-chats-with-oliver-simonsen-comic-crusaders-podcast/

"The Independent Critic" review:
"...lot of evident artistry from beginning to end." "...a joy to watch""
https://theindependentcritic.com/cerebus_the_aardvark

"Fat Guys at the Movies" radio show: "I respect the heck out of it." "Deserves to be seen" "Kinda Rocks!"
https://fatguysatthemovies.com/tag/the-absurd-surreal-metaphysical-and-fractured-destiny-of-cerebus-the-aardvark/

A thumbs up review from "Voices from the Balcony" saying: "...deserves notice..."
https://www.voicesfromthebalcony.com/2022/04/13/the-absurd-surreal-metaphysical-and-fractured-destiny-of-cerebus-the-aardvark-2021-review/

Movie Critic Chris Jones: "...It’s incredible" "...deserves all the credit in the world..."
https://themailnewspapers.com/article/2022-04-16/a-lesson-in-dedication.html

Movie Critic Mike Haberfelner: "...really good and also pretty funny..." "enough sarcasm to make it feel as fresh..." "...much care has been put in character designs, richness of backgrounds and looks in general, and the animation is very fluid."
http://www.searchmytrash.com/movies/absurdsurrealmetaphysicalandfractureddestinyofcerebustheaardvark(2021).shtml

Mike Haberfelner also interviewed me
http://www.searchmytrash.com/articles/oliversimonsen(4-22).shtml

Poet Alex Ness interviewed me as well
http://poplitiko.blogspot.com/2022/09/bringing-cerebus-to-three-dimenstional.html

Arguably the biggest comic site "Comic Book Resources" full page spotlight
https://www.cbr.com/cerebus-aardvark-animated-movie-streaming-free/

And vlogger juggernaut "Comic Tropes" gave us a nice shoutout calling our film a gift and saying that Cerebus is well animated and voiced
https://twitter.com/CTropes/status/1478792614300160000

Plugged by "Independent Film Now"
https://independentfilmnow.com/films-%26-filmmakers/f/new-animated-film-based-on-cerebus-the-aardvark-comic-book


Russia's #1 animation channel "2x2" calls the film "a real gem" and "wildly cool!"
https://media.2x2tv.ru/cerebus-fanatskiy-multfilm/

Got interviewed in the lifestyle magazine "D2" which is an insert in Norway's 3rd largest newspaper "DN" every Friday
https://www.dn.no/d2/film/animasjon/los-angeles/tegneserier/oliver-simonsen-og-hans-200-medhjelpere-brukte-14-ar-pa-a-fullfore-denne-filmen/2-1-1099594

And interviewed in the local paper from a magical little town named "Os", right outside Bergen, the second "largest" city in Norway. The paper's earlier incarnation was a mainstay of the household and can't help but flash back when my late Grandma Klara would be reading it.
https://www.osogfusa.no/naeringsliv/filmen-til-oliver-simonsen-53-overlevde-brann-og-tok-14-ar-a-fullfora/

And there's a 6 page interview with me in the upcoming issue of "Bild & Bubbla", Scandinavia's top magazine about comics

Graham Jones (who The Irish Times calls 'the enfant terrible of Irish film") plugs our film
https://twitter.com/nuascannan/status/1520726441222189056

Award-winning playwright, author, humorist Dylan Brody calls the movie amazing
https://twitter.com/dylanbrody/status/1477155699222192130

Hey, the email address on our website got a fan mail yay:
https://www.whatcomicsentertainment.com/
"I'm a longtime Cerebus fan, read it since I was 12 and I'm 42 now, it's my favorite comic of all time, and I just have to say.....
You nailed it! It was beyond my ability to supress a smile and laughter throughout.
The Elrod and Julius sequences were fantastic, as well as the dream sequence which to me at least alluded to the Mind Games issues..love the High Society and Church and State teases at the end!
So, are there plans for physical copies of the movie? I'd love to have it on my shelf next to the phonebooks and the High Society A/V dvd set!
Again, I loved it! Best wishes for you and your company for the future!
Cheers"

...I imagine sometime next year we'll release a DVD - thank you so much to everyone who has asked for one. Will discuss with Dave about maybe doing something special with it.

Speaking of, here's my X-Mas card I sent Dave Sim (Agent X-9 also known as Corrigan was drawn by Alex Raymond. No, the joke isn't any better knowing that:))

And that's my segue to revisit my ol' weekly column "Cerebus Around the World and Web Weekly Wrap-Up" (just in time before twitter disappears?:))

X-Mas card for Dave Sim by Dion Turner
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cerebus/posts/5680802141987114/

Cerebus' Bday!
https://twitter.com/midisteadygo/status/1603266238624538625

James Gunn cosplaying as...Cerebus maybe?
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1601757067013812226
https://twitter.com/Kreniigh/status/1601760264965459971

The DC/Disney/Marvel/LucasFilm/Netflix Cerebus movie
https://twitter.com/theironroses/status/1603411892051009536

Cerebus and Star Wars X-Mas present for Dad
https://twitter.com/AdamComicNexus/status/1602322073136861185

Cerebus and Fantastic Four
https://twitter.com/brent_michaud/status/1603113367375314946

Cerebus and Conan
https://twitter.com/YetiMoose/status/1603085925067915265

Cerebus and Elric
https://twitter.com/davrossbain/status/1602817139752468480

Cerebus and Gilligan
https://twitter.com/Cr0ss0verB0t/status/1602770388529733633

Cerebus and Spawn
https://twitter.com/hikmatdarmawan/status/1603002794977292288 (in Indonesian)
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl_iNEELUUa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Cerebus and Maus
https://twitter.com/RodinsRevenge/status/1602313887851769856

Cerebus and Sherwood Anderson in the UK
https://twitter.com/jessefuchs/status/1602999944218300417

Gerhard draws Gerebus Batman
http://gerhardart.com/to-the-vark-cave/
Click for Bigger

Cerebus "Going Home" review translated from Spanish" "...Going Home is probably the best thing Sim ever wrote, the ending of 231 is perfect."
https://twitter.com/HemisferioPrim1/status/1602403138069270530

Cerebus and Jaka scene called unbeatable in Spanish
https://twitter.com/HemisferioPrim1/status/1602403147485483008

Cerebus issues 32-34 spotlighted
https://twitter.com/search?q=Cerebus&src=spelling_expansion_revert_click&f=live

"Cerebus in Hell?" spotlighted
https://twitter.com/Ayarihoussem6/status/1600774979200897025

Dave Sim called best author in the world (translated from Arabic)
https://twitter.com/judge_fair19/status/1601965414493429760

When your Dentist recognizes your Cerebus tattoo it's all good
https://twitter.com/theviking_xxx/status/1601389344572731395

Joshua Even got a Cerebus and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles tattoo
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmKGxY5P6DV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Savage Cerebus & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle commission by Don Simpson for Joshua Even
https://www.instagram.com/p/Clr-ztNsEK9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Savage Cerebus & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle commission by Steven Gordon for Joshua Even
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClsBXzws1WH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Savage Cerebus & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle commission by Uko Smith for Joshua Even
https://www.instagram.com/p/CluBx9NP4oc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Savage Cerebus & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle commission by Anthony Hary for Joshua Even
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl_pGeDul_7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Savage Cerebus & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle commission by Rob Cooke for Joshua Even
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClyhacBrdpQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Cerebus radio show reviewed: "...doing it for the love of the material and that shows through..." "...worth a listen"
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl38hTfL2MQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Reading Cerebus
https://twitter.com/HeroOf3Faces/status/1601322505121456128

Studying Cerebus and funny animal comics (translated from Spanish)
https://twitter.com/itsLondi/status/1601277603909816320

11,000-year-old carving is the oldest comic and takes place in the Cerebusverse
https://twitter.com/ErikRobson/status/1600903746955153408

Cerebus and the age of AI
https://twitter.com/kvetch4evar/status/1602669915017658368

"Was every underground 80s comic series collabing with Cerebus?"
https://twitter.com/spwert/status/1601227248526163968

Ernie Chan draws Cerebus and Conan
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl6B0cduXm0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Video with Todd McFarlane sharing the recent Cerebus Spawn Waverly Press Edition
https://www.facebook.com/CGCcomics/videos/1186277195627142

"...the author who has best understood Moon Knight is Dave Sim in his Cerebus" (translated from Spanish)
https://twitter.com/radiogarra/status/1600932496576638977

Dave Sim guest writes new comic strip
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClgoQAFL5wo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Weldon Adams at Heritage Auction shares
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cerebus/posts/5736487093085285/
https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/illustrations/dave-sim-journey-parody-wolverine-macalistaire-and-cerebus-illustration-original-art-2022-/p/322252-69001.s

Jesse Lee Herndon shares unboxing video of Waverly Press' Hardcover Edition of Cerebus Vol 14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6rj1FmRn_w

Kyle Erickson on receiving Waverly Press' goodies: Merry Christmas to me!!!! Worth every single penny!!!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cerebus/posts/5737057096361618/

Kevin got his and says: it is stunning
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cerebus/posts/5661660373901291/

The secret is out: Waverly Press' Cerebus Holiday Sale to end all Holiday sales is on
https://waverlycomics.com/home/p/8c6od8quwy5w22wfgib62bk9l9t047

Philip R. Frey making great headway on the new Cerebus Wiki - here with help from Waverly Press' very own Dagon James
https://www.facebook.com/groups/cerebus/posts/5725894047477923/
https://cerebus.fandom.com/wiki/Cerebus_the_Aardvark_Trading_Cards
_________________________________________________

Well, Thanks Oliver!

GO watch his movie! The Absurd, Surreal, Metaphysical, and Fractured Destiny of Cerebus the Aardvark, currently available on "Plex", "Xumo", "Tubi". If you're in Brazil... And now on Mometu.
___________________________________
Cerebus in Hell?
___________________________________
ONE WEEK left for Living The Line's Kickstarter for CENTRALIA by Miel Vandepitte.  
___________________________________
____________________________________
Heritage has a bunch of neat original art.
____________________________________

Next Time: Monday! And 72 more sleeps...

4 comments:

Michael R. said...

Welcome back Oliver!

Tony Dunlop said...

A DVD would be great. I just can't see watching a whole movie on my wife's computer screen. I'd easily pay, what, $30? $35? Plus postage. (US - Yankee, that is).

Oliver said...

Thank you, Michael! Much appreciated! It's great to be back - always an honor! Not to mention fun - maybe too much fun lol...I get perhaps too into it:).

And thank you so much Tony for the request and not least of which the price point suggestion, which is something I have no idea about.

Tony again said...

I hope it is feasible, Oliver - I realize this is a labor of love. My price suggestion just comes from what I remember paying for the occasional purchase I make at my local Barnes & Nobles. It may be more now...