About Brett
Art/Cartooning/Animation/Film
I studied Animation for 4 years and studied Film & TV for 1 year. I always wanted to be a cartoonist/animator. I am a cartoonist by trade, but it's hard to make it a regular full time profession in Australia.
My formal qualifications are:
Diploma of Visual Arts: Animation; Diploma of Freelance Cartooning & Illustration; Advanced Certificate in Multi-Disciplinary Arts, Design & Technology (Fine Art & Illustration); Certificate III in Film & Television
In 1997, while in the USA I had the pleasure of discussing animation techniques with animators in Hollywood studios Klasky-Csupo (Rugrats, Duckman, The Simpsons 87-92) and Film Roman (The Simpsons, Family Guy, King of the Hill).
In recent times, I've done cartoon illustrations for technical and general print media. Some of my clients have included Education Queensland, Lifeline, Leukaemia Foundation, Commerce Queensland and 4ZzZ radio station.
My cartoon/animation influences and interests include:
The Simpsons, Family Guy, The Powerpuff Girls, Clerks: The Cartoon, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Beavis And Butt-Head, Daria, SpongeBob SquarePants, Dilbert, Batman: The Animated Series/Batman of the Future, Dexter's Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Freakazoid, The Critic, Sheep in the Big City, South Park, Classic Looney Tunes, Astroboy, Neon Genesis Evangellion, The Iron Giant, Titan A.E., Beavis And Butt-Head Do America, Les Triplettes de Belleville, Wings of Honneamise, Patlabor, and films by Studio Ghibli/Hayao Miyazaki; Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro.
My film & television influences and interests include:
Jim Henson (creator of The Muppets); The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, Dinosaurs, The Muppet Movie, Follow That Bird, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Labyrinth, etc. Other films; The Shawshank Redemption, The Mask, Ace Ventura, Ghost, Austin Powers, Naked Gun, Hot Shots, Top Secret, Flying High (aka Airplane), Wrongfully Accused, Groundhog Day, The Party, Run Lola Run, Amelie, Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Office Space, and Mafia. Also the movies of Jerry Lewis. TV; Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Micallef Program, Chaser, Crank Yankers, Russell Coight's All Aussie Adventures, The Sketch Show, Keeping Up Appearances, Wonder Showzen, Full Frontal, The D-Generation's Late Show (1994/1995), Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Music
Since learning classical piano from the age of 3, I'm currently keyboard player in the following 3 bands:
Headkase:
www.headkase.net , www.myspace.com/headkasehq
Industrial/techno-flavoured circus-metal.
(Perhaps of interest to fans of Mr. Bungle, Dog Fashion Disco, Vicious Hairy Mary, Carnival in Coal, System of a Down, Slipknot)
Marlinchen:
Crawling ambience, featuring violin, guitar, keys, bass, glockenspiel, and occasional operatic vocals.
(Perhaps of interest to fans of Sigur Rós, Amina, múm, Trinkets, Ulver)
Silent Partners:
www.mp3.com.au/silentpartners , www.myspace.com/silentpartnersau
Avant-garde improvised, experimental noise art.
New 5 track EP "The Marriage of Porcelain and Nightmares" available for download! Featuring guest musicians from The Red Paintings and Headkase.
(Perhaps of interest to fans of John Zorn, Mike Patton, John Kaada, Ulver, End, Einsturzende Neubauten, Toydeath, Boredoms, Fantomas, Locust, Painkiller, Secret Chiefs 3, Mr. Bungle)
Was scratch DJ/turntablist and keyboard player in a jazz-funk band called Boris.
Was a bongo player in an unnamed percussion group... Now I occasionally busk with a djembe, and go to "Moonfest" as often as I can. http://groups.msn.com/moonfest
My musical influences and interests include:
Portishead, 4hero, Goldfrapp, Mr. Bungle, Secret Chiefs 3, Fantomas, Massive Attack, Lamb, Bjork, múm , Primus, Ulver, Beck, DJ Shadow, UNKLE, Alpha, Hybrid, A Tribe Called Quest, Chicane, DJ Cam, Mono, The Herbaliser, Jakatta, Groove Armada, Minus 8, Hooverphonic, Leftfield, System of a Down, Tori Amos, Sneaker Pimps, Moloko, The Wiseguys, Ulver , Red Snapper, Roni Size/Reprazent, Air, Carnival In Coal, St. Germain, Coldcut, Smoke City, Daft Punk, Amina, The Bird, Darth Vegas, Vicious Hairy Mary, The Avalanches, Trinkets, Afro Dizzi Act, Gota Cola and many more!!
