Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Cake-n-Bake Game: a Fun Cake Themed Birthday Party with Friends & Family

Disclosure: I received Cake-n-bake Challenge from Tryazon in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. I may collect a share of sales from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them.

                I celebrated my birthday by playing Hey Buddy Hey Pal's Cake-n-bake challenge game. It is so fun to play. I think a great additional to any birthday. Hence, I decided it would be really creative to make my birthday party a cake theme. To surprise my guests, I thought it would be clever to bake a cake and decorate it with the essence of the Cake-n-bake game in mind. Since the playing pieces are shaped like a round layer cake and the frosting is covered in sprinkles, I made a round 2-layer box cake from Dolly Parton's banana cake mix and added milk chocolate ganache filling. It was my first attempt at a ganache, so I am happy that it came out really delicious. Once it cooled, I covered the cake with a Dolly's white butter cream frosting and rainbow sprinkles. I kept the cake out of sight, saving it as a surprise, until we finished playing the Cake-bake game.

                The game is really interactive, hands on, and more competitive than I would have expected. The play time can be quick or long depending on how many and who the other contenders are. My mom played the role of show host calling out: ready set bake each time we set up another round after each player received a new card. The first player to complete their cake according to their card's instructions and ring the bell called out: cake done. The host then checks to make sure the player's cake slice is constructed according to that round's card instructions. If it is, then the host gives them a candle card. The object of the game is to acquire 6 candles. Because challengers are competing to be the first to ring the bell, you must have excellent concentration and hand eye coordination while doing the task at a fast pace. My friends and I giggled a lot trying to get our cake slices in the correct order according to each card we got. I was happy that I won the overall game. However, the real prize was watching my guests' eyes open wide with awe when I uncovered my Cake-n-bake looking birthday cake.


Game: https://amzn.to/4eoPSeh

Cake mix: 
https://amzn.to/4gFVulX

Frosting: https://amzn.to/3XJISS9

Additionally, I am wearing my own design. The Queenie4ever faux bow t-shirt in burn out white. If you are interested in purchasing one of these t-shirts, please send us an e-mail at info@queenie4ever.com for pricing & size information.
Continue Reading...

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Kisko Popsicles Party

 Disclosure: I received a packages of Kisko popsicles from Tryazon in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. I may collect a share of sales from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them.

          I hosted a Kisko Country orchard popsicle party to celebrate the 4th of July holiday. There were four tasty flavors for my guests to try. The Tropical passion fruit was very tart. The taste of passion fruit was more apparent than the pineapple. I also found it interesting that the Orange pineapple reminded me more of an apricot or a super frosty glass of orange juice than pineapple. The Berry blast tasted earthy to me. The popsicle reminded me of the flavor of the jelly in Fig Newton's. My favorite was the Strawberry mango. I thought it tasted a lot like a Snapple iced tea.

          I love that the ice is not as hard in texture compared to other popsicles. Since they are in a tube, these desserts are much easier to eat. Both the soft composition and the tube packaging ensures they are not as messy either. Even after shaking them, these popsicles take a while to freeze up. I had placed them with an ice pack inside a cooler bag to transport them, but the popsicles still melted very rapidly. Therefore, I recommend these to be consumed inside of your home or you could also just drink it like a juice.

          My friends got the tops of the popsicles to rip open, but I needed scissors. Since the weather was super-hot, we really appreciated a yummy cold sweet treat. Kisko Country orchard popsicles definitely made the perfect party food to serve my guests, so they could just relax and enjoy a snack, while cooling down in the summertime heat wave.

Berry blast & Tropical passion: https://amzn.to/3VWsPQ3

Strawberry mango & Orange Pineapple: https://amzn.to/4cA9YRO

Additionally, I am wearing my own design. The Queenie4ever Cap sleeve blue panda ice cream t-shirt in brown. There are still a few left in stock. If you are interested in purchasing one of these t-shirts, please send us an e-mail at info@queenie4ever.com for pricing & size information.

Continue Reading...

Thursday, June 6, 2024

Lattini Sunflower Milk

Disclosure: I received a carton of Lattini from Tryazon in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. I may collect a share of sales from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them.


    I am a big fan of sunflower butter, hence I was hoping that Lattini's unsweetened sunflower milk would be  the beverage equivalent. It does taste as I expected. The sunflower milk was slightly sweet and nutty like sunflower seeds. I also found the flavor to be light and mild when I added it to a cup of hot black tea. I think it would be really delicious in a hot chocolate or, perhaps it would enhance the flavor of your favorite baked goods recipes, such as cake. The consistency is not thick and creamy like dairy milk. Instead, it is most similar to the more watery texture of macadamia milk. I highly recommend the sunflower milk as a great tasting product that has a variety of uses and versatility in meal planning.

Milk: amzn.to/4e82JSl

Dress: https://amzn.to/3yQV8HJ


Continue Reading...

Thursday, November 16, 2023

Taste Testing Ritter Sport Colorful Chocolate Bar Varieties

Disclosure: I received Ritter Sport chocolates from Tryazon in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. I may collect a share of sales from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them.

         Chocolate is one of my favorite sweet treats. I often reach for some when I need a snack. I really like German chocolate, so I was delighted to try some Ritter Sport confections. They offer numerous varieties of distinct flavors. Since the chocolate comes in colorful chocolate squares, I decorated my dining table with this theme in mind. I set out the chocolate on top of a bright tablecloth to get ready for a rainbow-colored taste test.


            The dark chocolate with 50% cocoa, Whole almonds, and Hazelnuts began my sampling journey. Each of these 3 were not bitter tasting, like most dark chocolates tend to be. Also, these flavors had a hard texture that made them difficult to snap into perfect squares. On the other hand, the fourth dark chocolate was quite easy to break off into the perforated squares due to the interior's softer texture. The marzipan tasted as one would expect.


            Next on my chocolate tasting journey were 6 milk chocolates. The Alpine, Whole almonds and Hazelnut bars were similar in quality to the dark chocolates. That is, each reminded me of the standard higher in price chocolates that I have eaten before. The tastes were traditional with no surprise ingredients. However, I saved the more distinct flavors for last. Ending my chocolate tasting with a sampling of three unique milk chocolates. The Butter biscuit and cocoa creme reminded me of an inverted Petit ecolier biscuit. The Cornflakes reminded me of a crunchier and saltier version of ChocoFlakes. On the other hand, a surprise favorite to me was the Honey sea-salt almonds. This bar stood out to me as it was pretty sweet, and I could not detect a hint of salt. Overall, I had a good time taste testing Ritter Sports chocolates. From traditional flavors to more creative ones, the varieties offered are plentiful and delicious. In short, each inspires a colorful chocolate celebration for you to enjoy with every bite.

Chocolate: amzn.to/3ub2Ud1

Additionally, I am wearing my own design. The Queenie4ever classic cameo on a hot pink tank top. If you are interested in purchasing one of these t-shirts please send us an e-mail at info@queenie4ever.com for pricing, color, and sizing availability. 

Continue Reading...

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Saffron Road's Delicious Plant Based Meal Options

Disclosure: I acquired products from Saffron Road in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. I may collect a share of sales from the link on this page if you decide to shop from it. 

      Saffron Road's offers a variety of vegetarian meal options that are easy to prepare, healthy, and delicious. Depending on how much prep time you have, you can choose to spend more time incorporating fresh ingredients into your meal or popping a frozen item in the microwave for a quick lunch.

      The first two Saffron Road Food product's I sampled were the lemon grass simmer sauce and the crunchy sea salt chickpeas. Since I eat  plant based dishes, I made a green curry with tofu, corn, and potatoes entree using the lemon grass simmer sauce. I served it over a bed of saffron rice. I was surprised at how mild and sweet the curry sauce tasted, as it seemed to have a lot of different peppers listed in the ingredients. As a garnish, I sprinkled a small handful of Saffron Road Crunchy sea salt chickpeas. They also make for a yummy savory snack.

      The third Saffron Road product I tried was the frozen Vegetable Pad Thai. The rice noodles are a good texture, the tofu is on the spongier side, and I liked the softness of the peanuts. This entree was fast and easy to prepare. Whenever I am craving Asian cuisine and I only have a bit of time to cook, I will definitely choose something from Saffron Road. Not only were the dishes simple to heat, but they were also made from healthy and quite flavorful ingredients.

Saffron Road: https://amzn.to/3FicSvv 

Additionally, I am wearing my own design. The Queenie4ever classic cameo in teal. If you are interested in purchasing one of these t-shirts, please send us an e-mail at info@queenie4ever.com for pricing, color, and sizing availability.


Continue Reading...

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Nutrient Survival Powdered Beverages to Power Your Brain

I received a package from Nutrient Survival in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. I may collect a share of sales from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them.

    Whether spending time in the great outdoors hiking or just hanging out at home, I try to keep my body hydrated by drinking healthy beverages. So, I decided to sample some of Nutrient Survival Braincare beverage line. Not only do they come in an easy to prepare powder form, but they are also packaged in portable and storable pouches that are small enough to fit in a backpack. Therefore, it makes the perfect disaster preparedness product to keep in your pantry.  All you need to serve it is water or whatever liquid, intended for human consumption, you have on hand. Preparing any of the Nutrient Survival flavored powdered drinks are quite easy. Just add an appropriate liquid such as tea or fruit juices to a container. Then, give it a good shake or stir and sip away.  

            As an added bonus to keeping your body well hydrated, the Nutrient Survival beverages contain ingredients that are good for your brain health. For example, the chocolate flavored Brain shake. To me, this beverage smells like Coco Pebbles breakfast cereal. However, it has a nutty flavor as well as a very prevalent monk fruit presence. Thus, I think it would be a good idea to add a nut butter for creaminess. I used whole milk, but water or non-dairy milks should work too. I was able to mix this shake with a spoon, but I think it might be best to prepare this in a blender.

            Nutrient Survival's Classic Roast Coffee is another drink from the Braincare line that I tried. I decided to make my cup an iced version. This drink did taste like a standard coffee. My overall favorite that I drank was the tropical lemonade. I added it to my favorite brand of orange juice. It reminds me of the fruit smoothies that can be ordered at Jamba Juice. The lemon flavor is more on the subtle side even though it did smell like pineapple. If these sound of interest to you, then click on the links below to stock up.

Shake:  alnk.to/44TYbYe

Spoons: https://amzn.to/3RGYWCz

Hat: https://amzn.to/3ZKuVUr

Coffee: alnk.to/31pycRP

Lemonade: alnk.to/8iSdjsA

Macadamia Milk: https://amzn.to/3POF2Do

OJ: https://amzn.to/46edFJS

Additionally, I am wearing my own designs. The Queenie4ever Camouflage peach tank and kid's blue panda ice cream t-shirt that was exclusive to CheatDayLand in LA. There are still a few left in stock, so if you are interested in purchasing one of these t-shirts, please send us an e-mail at info@queenie4ever.com for pricing and size information.

Continue Reading...

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Space Themed Party Featuring itCoinz

Disclosure: I received itCoinz from Tryazon in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. I may collect a share of sales from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them.

         ItCoinz are magnetic battle coins that are a super diverse toy.  Not only can you collect these cool looking coins, but you can also turn them into game pieces to challenge opponents with or play on your own. For example, spinning them on top of a spinner or flinging the coins onto a surface.  Since the back of the coins are magnetic, most metal backdrops can be turned into a makeshift game board. For instance, a metal locker at school would be a perfect place to set up an impromptu round of tossing the coins during recess. The set up and game play time can be pretty quick. The game board fits easily in a backpack, and it has a magnetic backing. Therefore, the set up on a locker is quite easy.  Just attach the magnetic side on the surface and have fun lobbing the coins at it. If you do not have a game board, then make a game out of throwing the coins directly onto the locker to have just as much fun.

            The itcoinz come in a mystery pack of five. Hence, this is just enough to engage in a rapid battle. If you love the collecting aspect, then there are currently sixty Itcoinz that make up the Series A collection. My favorite part is that This includes holographic ones that are rarer to find inside of a package.  

            There are several game boards to choose from. I got the planet game board, so I thought it would be fun to invite my friends over for a Space themed game night. Additionally, I decided to incorporate a circular theme as a homage to the round shaped Itcoinz.  Once my friends arrived, we watched the first episode of the space themed anime, Wandaba Style. I served a helping of homemade cheddar herb quiche, that I had baked the night before using a round cake pan, for dinner. After enjoying a relaxing movie and quiche meal, we switched to a livelier activity by engaging in several rounds of hurling the ItCoinz at the numbers on the game board. We found it to be a game of strategy because after throwing one ItCoinz on the magnetic game board, it can be repelled when another ItConiz is tossed. Since, two magnets do not typically stick together.  Although I had gained the highest score, I awarded the second-place winner a gift bag filled with Nutrient Survival packs as they are practical to take on a trip to outer space because they just require water. As a competitive closure to end our tournament, we participated in the Spaceland version in the Mario party video game. Overall, my friends and I had a blast playing with ItCoinz. as an added bonus, I gave them each a Starter Pack, so they can continue the fun we had together collecting and battling on their own.

itcoinz: https://www.itcoinz.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-itCoinz-Site/default/Stores-Find?showMap=true&horizontalView=true&isForm=true&fbclid=IwAR0LhWFmEAirte1CZnnmjTBXG4t-Du7et78rb9GpqZcZwh4m8TW2c-BVleA

Cheese: https://amzn.to/45RxqXa

Nutrient Survival: https://alnk.to/ge4m2n1

Additionally, I am wearing my own design. The Queenie4ever Wongwear Crest men's t-shirt. If you are interested in purchasing one of these t-shirts please send us an e-mail at info@queenie4ever.com for pricing and size information

Continue Reading...

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

No One Ever Sleeps at Slumber Parties: Featuring the Bestway Tritech Air Mattress

Disclosure: I received a Bestway Mattress from Tryazon in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. I may collect a share of sales from the link on this page if you decide to shop from it.

    Since my friends and I have all been pretty busy working this summer, I thought it would be fun to host a no one ever sleeps slumber party. We took a break from job obligations and just had a relaxing night, at my place. No one could really spend the night, since they had to wake up early for work. However, my guests were willing to enjoy hanging out in their lounge wear whilst reclining upon the Bestway Tritech mattress. We watched a surprisingly good anime called Ruin Explorers, while munching on my homemade mini raspberry German jelly tarts and vegan nuggets.

            The Bestway tritech mattress made the perfect furniture for my friends to hang out upon. Since, it is a full-size bed it was big enough for four people to stretch out comfortably without feeling claustrophobic. What I really love about this product is that it was quite simple to set up, before my slumber party guests arrived. To my shock and delight, it inflated super-fast. The bed is easy so I was able to take a quick nap in my living room, then move it out of sight after it had deflated. The built in pillow also makes for a swift clean up. On the other hand, the mattress may be left blown up for an extended period of time. Not only will it stay firmly inflated, but also the antimicrobial layer ensures it will remain sanitary. The cord has a little door that it can retract into, keeping it safely out of the way from someone tripping on it. The storage bag makes it portable, so you can pack the bed away. The bed can be taken on visits to a relative's house or camping trips where an extra place to sleep on comes in handy. Even though my friends were unable to actually sleep over at my no one ever really sleeps slumber party, they definitely got in some relaxation time on my super comfy new Bestway tritech mattress.

Mattress: https://amzn.to/44ZL1LJ

Joggers: https://t.co/Y4rf63TJyh

Jelly mix: https://amzn.to/3qhLn1o 

Additionally, I am wearing my own design. The Queenie4ever floral thermal waffle knit long graphic sleeve shirt. If you are interested in purchasing one of these t-shirts, please send us an e-mail at info@queenie4ever.com for pricing, color, and sizing availability.

Continue Reading...

Monday, July 24, 2023

Azul Board Game with Themed Snack Ideas

Disclosure: I received this Asmodee game from Tryazon in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. I may collect a share of sales from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them.

            Since my friends enjoy playing board games & tasting new recipes, I thought it would be fun to invite them over to play the Azul Board Game. They were able to munch on tasty themed snacks based on the game's tiles, which are the colorful playing pieces. The lemon bars were a big favorite among my guests. Not only did they admire the way the lemon bars resembled the square shaped tiles, but they were similarly decorated with chopped pistachios to mimic the tile's patterns. Additionally, I served sliced cucumbers. They were cut up in circles, as a homage to honeycomb mosaic patterns.


            The Azul Board Game is intended for 2-4 players. If you really love art and are good at math, then you are in for a fun time.  The object of the game is to imagine that you are an artisan placing colorful tiles on a wall. Players must make patterns using the least amount of tiles possible. Azul is a super strategic game; since, your moves will be affected by what the person who goes before and after you do. For example, if you had planned to take 2 red tiles from the factory, but someone takes them before you do, then This could cause you to get 4 red tiles from the center of the table. Therefore, at least 1 tile would have to be placed on the floor line resulting in a 1-point minimum loss.  note that the main goal of competing to complete the beautification of the wall of the Evora palace is a big win for fans, like me, of the royalty genre.

Game: https://amzn.to/476qjeS 

Eggs: https://amzn.to/44FFhql 

Butter:  https://amzn.to/44QbNG2 

Ranch: https://amzn.to/3QjgTX4 

Additionally, I am wearing my own design. The Queenie4ever kids blue panda ice cream t-shirt that was exclusive to CheatDayLand in LA. There are still a few left in stock, so if you are interested in purchasing one of these t-shirts please send us an e-mail at info@queenie4ever.com for pricing and size information.

Continue Reading...

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

Drinkmate Omnifizz countertop machine

Disclosure: I received a Drinkmate Omnifizz from Tryazon in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own. I may collect a share of sales from the link on this page if you decide to shop from it.

     When hosting a watch party, I like to serve a variety of beverages including lemonade, ice tea, and juices.  I thought it would be fun to get creative and turn some of my favorite drinks into a variety of healthy carbonated versions by trying out the DrinkMate Omnifizz Countertop Machine.  After  testing it out a few times, I realized that practice makes perfect.  The Omnifizz definitely does an excellent job of carbonating the drinks I chose, as it added an impressive amount of bubbles. I gave my friends a demonstration to show them how the machine works. They then wanted  to give it a try. One of my friends took a turn figuring out how to operate the button to get a full fizz as well as being able to recognize the sound the device makes that indicates that the bottle is ready to be removed. My friend's delighted  smile and giggles made the rest of the group laugh out loud too!  Who would have thought a carbonation machine could be so entertaining? Everyone drank every drop of their fizzy drinks which made me a happy host.

            I really love the beautiful  selection of colors that are offered by Drinkmate. The main reason that I chose the Arctic Blue shade is because it matches the color of my microwave. Not only is the Omnifizz a great asset to my kitchen gadgets, but  it is also a perfect addition to my home's interior decor style.

            One example of the drinks I used the Omnifizz to carbonate is called Mermaid Lemonade. The following recipe is how I made it. Firstly,  I purchased a bottle of strawberry lemonade. Secondly, I added two drops of teal food coloring to the jug. Next, I mixed the lemonade with an ice cream sundae spoon. Then, I used the machine to add the carbonation. Finally, I garnished the lip of the cup with a cloud of Starburst cotton candy. 

Additionally, I am wearing my own design. The Queenie4ever classic cameo in teal. If you are interested in purchasing one of these t-shirts, please send us an e-mail at info@queenie4ever.com for pricing, color, and sizing availability

Continue Reading...

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Animation director Dan Riba Interview: Superheroes are his special directorial power

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I may collect a share of sales from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 

            Some kids grow up just pretending to be their favorite superheroes.  Fortunately, animation director Dan Riba took it a step further and actually decided to draw his childhood action figure toys on paper. His love for the superhero genre began developing at a very early age, as he spent hours building an imaginary world around his action figures. This would become the foundation of the incredible visionary director who basically works on all the globally known and iconic Superheroes animated television series. The beauty of being an animator creator is that your artwork can be transformed from a still drawing to moving footage with voiceover. Dan's job as director is likened to being the Captain of a crime fighting Superhero Team except these heroes are armed with animator power. As Captain Animator, what makes the production team work seamlessly together under his creative vision is his leadership abilities to capture the audience's attention. Being a three time Daytime Emmy Award Winner recipient for Freakazoid, The New Batman/Superman Adventures, and Batman Beyond is certainly proof that Superheroes are his special Directorial power. 

1.   How would you describe your fashion style for promotions events vs personal everyday wear?

 

I wear what is comfortable. I used to wear a red shirt & black pants most of the time when I was back at Warner Bros. My convention attire is usually a show or character themed T-shirt or crew shirt with a loose Hawaiian or solid color short sleeved shirt. I wear a fanny pack so much that it is my signature. I picked up the habit of using them while I was in Japan in 1985. That was where the trend started, I think. People mostly use them now for jogging. I wear them because I have an attachment to things.  I think it is my way of honoring Batman's utility belt.

 

2. What recent fashion trend have you noticed and considered trying, even though they may be a little out of your comfort zone? (During our conversation we spoke about if I had seen the new red boot trend. I recall you mentioning that you were not sure if you would wear them yourself, but you seemed pretty fascinated by these then.)

 

I think that inflated pants trend that the fashion shows were showcasing a year ago or so. I think they look incredibly stupid….and yet a part of me wants to try them on and wear them around.

 

3. Which theme song from anything you worked on is your favorite?

 

I love so many of the theme songs. The Justice League & Justice League Unlimited are great but, the one that I love the most is the Batman Beyond theme.

 

4. What was your favorite toy or activity from your childhood? Were you an avid comic book reader?

 

I loved my toys as a kid & my hands down favorite was the Captain Action figure. We didn’t call them dolls. He could be dressed up as any hero. I had Captain America and the Flash Gordon and Aquaman that first Christmas, then later on the released Spider-man. I was able to recreate my favorite scenes from the comics with him. I got Superman later on and put the Dr. Evil tunic on him & drew a moustache & grey temples and made him into Dr. Strange.

 

5.  Were you an avid comic book reader?

 

Yes. I started with Donald Duck & Richie Rich & graduated to the superheroes, both Marvel and DC. I loved Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko’s work, Wallace Wood, Al Willamson, Jim Steranko, Neal Adams, Berni Wrightson, & Jack Cole. Later on, I discovered Will Eisner’s work and that was my biggest inspiration.  It blew my mind that I got to go to School of Visual Arts and Eisner was my teacher. And then on my first in house job in animation, Doug Wildey the creator of Jonny Quest and Jack Kirby were both freelancers and showed up every week. I actually got to ink Jack Kirby’s presentation art!!!!

 

6.  What character do you wish fans cosplayed as more often?

 

There are so many that have been done so many times but, I only saw ONE Freakzoid at a con a few years ago and he was wild…it made me very happy. So, more Freakzoids would be fun to see.


 

7. What makes you feel like a superhero? What everyday talent do you have that could be similar to having a superpower?

 

Helping people. Whether giving a friend a ride or donating to a shelter.  Any time I do something for somebody I feel like a superhero. 

 

8. What everyday talent do you have that could be similar to having a superpower?

 

 I’m told I listen well so, that could be a power. I think it’s my fanny pack or pouch. It really is my utility belt. I keep everything I need in it.

 

9. . What item in your fanny pack/utility belt have you found to be most useful?

 

Phone chargers. I also used to carry a small Swiss army knife type device with pliers and screwdrivers in case of emergencies. I also used to carry a lighter even though I don't smoke.

 

10. What reference in Freakazoid did you find to be the most humorous?

 

My favorite Freafazoid  reference is the way he pretends to fly while running. I used to do that as a kid and it is still so much fun to do. I even came out on stage doing it.

 

11. Since I am a fan of anime and Japanese culture, I really enjoyed hearing about your travels to Asia, in particular the short time you spent in Japan, working on Freakazoid. Besides watching the avant-garde band The Residents perform on a rooftop rockin' giant eyeballs and dapper tuxedos. Was there anything that you did there that caught your attention enough to influence you?

 

In general, seeing how the Japanese work was inspiring to me and affected me. I saw young people sleeping under their desks from the crazy schedules.  I saw how the backgrounds were painted & the cameraman’s setup with all of the special tools used for effects, all obsolete now because of the digital inking.

 

12. What advice do you have for an aspiring director?

 

Try to be open to your storyboarder’s ideas. Some directors have a narrow vision of what they want to see and if they don’t communicate that well to the board artist, they don’t deliver that vision exactly. But I try to be receptive to input. Animation is a collaboration. If people don’t feel they are contributing creatively they won’t give you their best efforts. When I talk to young people starting out, they all think that they are going to be the next big creator, like Pen Ward or Rebecca Sugar. It usually doesn’t work out that way. It is important to have dreams. But, for a long career it is just as important to be able to graft your taste & skills to someone else’s dream and to be versatile.

 

13. What film or TV series made you want to become a director?

 

So many shows inspired me as a child. Astroboy, Jonny Quest, Speed Racer, The Fantastic Four, Spiderman, &  Space Ghost. But I don’t think I was inspired to direct until I was watching the Japanese shows while in college, Cyborg 009 and Captain Harlock. I was also inspired by comic books, Will Eisner’s The Spirit was a big influence, that more than anything.

 

14. How much input do you get in regard to costume design?

 

The costume design depends on the project. I used to have a little when I was in design at Batman but, it was less and less as the shows went on. I put a WW1 flight cap on the Penguin for an episode I directed & drew it myself. Because the crew was so overwhelmed with making the Batman Beyond DVD while we were still making the show, I have to do rough designs for incidentals and some villains. But mostly we have an art director that calls the shots.

 

15. Of those not already adapted into a live action version, which one of your animated works would you love to see become a live action movie?

 

 I usually think that live action adaptations aren’t really better than the cartoon versions, so I don’t think cartoons needs to be adapted to be legitimate. BUT, I have wondered what a Batman Beyond live action would be like. I would be very curious to see how a live action Freakazoid could possibly work. It would have to be completely freeform like Monty Python…nutty. I don’t know it would work as a series or a movie but, maybe as a short or a commercial.

 

16. Do you have any upcoming appearances?

I do commission covers from time to time, & may be setting up another cover signing & commission session with CGC this year.

Dan's website: https://danriba.com/?page_id=373

Wig: https://amzn.to/43bwqfk

Wig extensions: https://amzn.to/3C3G5Zl

Continue Reading...