Director of The Simpsons’
to explain animation work
w
MattHaney/DN
By Sarah Baker
Senior Reporter
You’ve watched Bart write sentences on the
board. You’ve watched Homer try to eat the
world’s biggest hoagie. You’ve even seen
Sideshow Bob turn good
Now its time to see what goes on behind the
L scenes.
“Absolute Animation,” a presentation by
David Silverman, supervising animation
Vi director for “The Simpsons” makes a stop
VV at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
tonight at 9.
Jtnjji Silverman, who works with direc
l*J\ tors and artists on animation for “The
Simpsons,” said he discusses his work
in more detail during the presentation.
“I worked with all the facets
of die animating, including the
f j X \ directors, the newest artists,
fjdie do’s and don’ts of the layout
' J/ composition, and I also did some
fdesign and animation myself,”
/£ Silverman said.
f Silverman said he had worked on “The
/ Wj Simpsons” since the show first started.
* FI “Animation has really benefited
. EI from the success of ‘The Simpsons,”’ he
/ / said. “When the show began, we knew
i g/J we had some good material, but we were
Jm/ still surprised at the popularity.”
Silverman said he gave much credit for
9 the success of animated Shows to “Who
r I Framed Roger Rabbit?”
“Before that movie, no one would have taken a
I chance on an animated prime-time series,” he
said. “‘The Simpsons’ is one of die biggest
/ j successes in animation, comparable to ‘The
f j Flinstones,’ and that was 25 years ago.”
Silverman said he felt he had no
choice other than getting involved in the
animation business.
‘1 was going to quit animation in ’ 87, and
then I got involved with ‘The Simpsons,”’ he
said. “I started it with the ‘Tracy Ullman Show,’
and it just continued from there, and there you go.”
Silverman said he never tnougnt me
Simpsons” would become what it has turned into
today.
“We thought it might have a cult following,
and last for maybe two years, and that would be
good,” he said. “What it became was an overnight
success. And we were completely unprepared.”
Silverman said most of the changes the show
had gone through over its eight seasons were
mostly evolutionary.
“We have a story retreat twice a year every
year, and that’s where we think of our new ideas,”
he said. ‘“Let’s try it’ became a mantra for us.”
Silverman said the creators of “The
Simpsons” benefited from trying new things.
“When we came up with a cool design or a cool
voice or a weird story idea, we tried it,” he said.
“Sometimes when the well is dry you have to give
it a shot and see what happens. That’s showbiz.”
Adam Snyder, event director with the
University Program Council, said he thought
Silverman’s talk would have entertainment value
for almost anyone.
“Anyone who is interested in ‘The Simpsons’
will really enjoy the presentation,” he said. “It’s
also interesting for people interested in anima
tion or graphics. But if you are big into ‘The
Simpsons,’ it will be a really fun time.”
Silverman said he hoped his presentation
will teach the audience more about the process
behind “The Simpsons.”
He also said die presentation includes video
clips of old episodes of “The Simpsons,” as well
as some never-before-seen. clips.
“It will show how the show is put together for
TV and certainly about the history of ‘The
Simpsons,”’ he said. “It also gives insight on the
business itself. There is no right or wrong way to
get into the business. You just never know how
things are going to work out.”
“Absolute Animation” with David
Silverman, animation director for “The
Simpsons,” is tonight at 9 in the Great Plains
Room of the Nebraska East Union.
A reception will be held following the pre
sentation for anyone interested in meeting
Silverman. The event is sponsored by the
University Program Council and is free.
Visiting bands to put the‘ska’in Nebraska
By Patrick Miner
Music Critic
Tonight at the Ranch Bowl, you will not
see Eddie Vedder.
The venue will instead bring the positive
vibes of three diverse ska bands. As it
becomes more and more apparent that ska
isn’t the next big thing to eventually die out,
it’s time to just lack back and enjoy the mul
tiple styles the genre can bring.
Three bands, Hepcat, The Slackers, and
The Gadjits, from three different regions of
the country, unite tonight at the Ranch Bowl.
All three acts have new albums out, with
Hepcat’s and The Gadjits’ records released
Jan. 27, and The Slackers’ album released
late last year. The records can be found on a
band has developed a blend of ska, reggae
and jazz that has been turning the heads of
fans all over the world. The band earned a
mam stage on the Warped Tour last summer,
with fans crowding up to catch a glimpse.
The band’s latest release is titled “Right
On Time” and features the dual vocals of
Greg Lee and Alex Desert. The two frontmen
compliment each other well, as well as com
plimenting the solid play of the rest of the
band, especially drummer Scott Abels.
Abels’ versatile style is frequently remark
able, as heard on such songs as “Goodbye
Street” and “Tommy’s Song.”
New York’s The Slackers add a soul feel
to ska with their latest release, “Redlight.”
The band seems to effortlessly flow through
the 12-song album, beginning with the jazzy
instrumental, “Cooking For Tommy,” which
new label, Hellcat
Records, which is
a joint venture
between Epitaph
Records head
Brett Gurewitz
and Rancid’s Tim
Armstrong.
Hepcat has
been making quite
a name for itself in
recent years.
Formed in
Sou t h e r n
California in 1989,
the nine-member
iM ML '1WII
Courtesy Photo
HEPCAT, a nine-member ska outfit from
Southern California, will perform at Omaha’s
Ranch Bowl tonight in an all-ages show.
mmu i.r m
is dedicated to
Skatalite’s saxo
phonist Tommy
McCook.
Featuring gui
tarist T.J. Scanlan,
trumpeter Jeremy
Mushlin and saxo
phonist David
Hillyard, The
Slackers are prob
ably the most
relaxing of the
three bands.
However, on such
songs as “Fried
Chicken/Mary
Mary” and “She
Wants To Be
Alone,” the band
shows it is able
to liven its sound
up.
Hailing from
Kansas City, The
Gadjits represent
the Midwestern
portion of the
evening. The
band offers more
of the pop-ska
mixture that has
recently been
doing very well
commercially.
The quartet
includes the
brothers Phillips;
with the eldest,
Brandon, on gui
tar; middle
Coubtesy Photo
THE MEMBERS OF TIE GADJITS, a riubaMl from Kansas City, haw an aver
age age tf 17. They will profane with Repeat aid The Slackers tonight in
an all-ages shew at Omaha’s RanchRand.
brother Zach on ——
bass; and the Tracks such as “Bullet in the Mattress,”
youngest of the three, Adam, on drums. The “Party Girl” and “Backup” are very catchy
group is completed with Heidi Blobaum on and should convert well to the live setting,
keyboards. Hepcat, The Gadjits and The Slackers
. With an average age of 17 for its mem- will perform tonight at Omaha’s Ranch
bars, The Gadjits don t really have the quali- Bowl, 1600 S. 72** St. Tickets for the all
ty musicianship of Hepcat and The Slackers. ages show are $ 10. Doors open at 8 p.m.,
However, its latest release, “At Ease,” is one and the show begins at 9 p.m.
of the more entertaining albums this year.
