"In terms of how I drew the book, Simon & Schuster didn't want me to change the way Owly talks or add any words to the stories. Over the years I've been able to experiment with color on various posters, prints and the latest covers for the graphic novels, so it was a gradual learning process," Runton said. "I experimented with a few different techniques but decided to draw the book in the same way I drew the graphic novels. He said that while coloring "Owly" required a few new tricks, he did not alter his line art for the picture book, though other changes were necessary. Working with a mass market publisher and working in color for the first time both contributed to a longer production process than is usually the case for Runton's "Owly" books. As a kid I really loved stuffed animals so I naturally wanted to see Owly as one. Now, we didn't know that he would be that popular, it was just something I wanted to do. Owly got so much attention that we manufactured them and they were a huge hit. My mom and I created a prototype and he traveled around to shows with us. "Around 2005, Chris Staros, my publisher at Top Shelf, and I toyed around with the idea of creating a little plush version of Owly. I just went with it and enjoyed the process and the results," Runton said of the series' development. So, when I started drawing Owly, I drew the stories as comics. I always read comics when I was growing up and loved the storytelling aspects of the medium. "When I first thought of Owly, I had planned to make his stories into picture books. I use vignettes and full-page drawings (including spreads), to really make the characters come to life."Īn "Owly" picture book was a longtime goal of Runton's, and the arrangement between Top Cow and Simon & Schuster came about out of a desire to make sure it reached as many potential new readers as possible, the cartoonist told CBR. It was an interesting exercise because there aren't any panels. I really had to edit down the story to the most important panels and really let it breathe. ![]() The format also allowed me to experiment with a slightly simplified version of my storytelling. "Families love Owly and it seemed like a great way to expand our audience. "The main purpose of the format was to introduce Owly to a whole new kind of reader who might not be aware of the graphic novels," Runton said. The cartoonist hopes that "Owly and Wormy" will reach a whole new audience. 'Friends All Aflutter' originally started out as a graphic novel, but when Simon & Schuster approached us to do a children's book, we decided this was the perfect story for this format." ![]() "It's truly meant to be enjoyed by all ages. Runton said, though, that at its heart the book is "just another Owly story" and that the already all-ages-friendly series was not being adapted to suit a younger audience. ![]() "Owly and Wormy: Friends All Aflutter" is a bit different from the other "Owly" books in that it's a square, 40-page hardcover picture book, in color, published by Simon & Schuster.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |