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laughing at her.
'Really, what behaviour,' said Kuzmin contemptuously. Just then the sound of a gramophone playing a foxtrot came from his daughter's room and at the same moment the professor heard the chirp of a sparrow behind his back.
He turned round and saw a large sparrow hopping about on his desk.
'H'm . . . steady now! ' thought the professor. ' It must have flown in when I walked over to the window. I'm quite all right! ' said the professor to himself severely, feeling that he was all wrong, thanks to this intruding sparrow. As he looked at it closer, the professor at once realised that it was no ordinary sparrow. The revolting bird was leaning over on its

Kuzik Jared.

BUDDY BOLTON STANDUP COMEDY - 01

At the beginning of the month Fatkat hosted a massive bash for the official wrap up of season one of Happy Tree Friends. Fatkat Financed and Co-Produced 39 seven minute episodes with Mondo media over the last year which are now airing globally (G4 Tech TV in Canada and United States).

While the awesome folks at Mondo Media couldn't make it up, they sent up tons of swag! Thanks guys! - Despite hiring a most kick ass band for the evening in Montgomery Moth, we also had our very own Development guru Buddy Bolton, fly up from NYC to smash out some Comedy for us here in Miramichi.

Check it out here on Youtube, or further down via Quicktime.

Snuggles,

Gene.

QUICKTIME HERE

SECOND STUDIO CONSTRUCTION - DAY 06

This morning Andrew Dunn and I packed up the truck with Keith Dury, Lead Animator and Mike Concannon, Art Director at Fatkat to get their oppinion on the new Studio.

The whole place is going up nicley! Man, that Hubert Williston is a miracle worker! Fast fast fast!

Going upstairs we get a good view of the rows of desks that will soon be animation stations for dozens of folks! - It's going to be great, tons of desk space for everyone!

The Hallway will have nice flooring and some cool ass paint to keep it fresh.

All the framework for the offices in the accounting and business sections are up! Looking good too!
Lots of light coming in from huge bay windows.

Andrew and Keith discuss with Hubert about a new water slide.

OK, just kidding about the waterslide, but that would be cool right?! Keith and Mike checking out the gorgeous view from Nikki's new office. She'll have more windows then anyone else in the entire studio! - (she deserves it as she's been in a cave of an office for the last year now!)

Not a bad view eh?

Even on the roof, where the offices for Andrew and me will be going (as well as the huge ass boardroom) We'll have a great view of the Miramichi River!

Then right here, where I'm standing (photographer) there will be a patio with some picnic tables. NON SMOKING AREA! TOO BAD ANDREW!

What a beautiful view of downtown and the river though! I can hardly wait to move in!

Won't you kindly remove your hat and come in for some tea?

Gene.

SEASONS GREETINGS FROM THE BROTHERS GRILLO

SECOND STUDIO CONSTRUCTION - DAY 4

Construction has started at our new studio and second location here in Miramichi! YAY! Nikki, above stands on the second floor in what will be new office area for our accountants, administration, account managers and distribution agents.

The fine and dandy Hubert Williston our contractor who's knocking stuff down and putting stuff up in record time! This guy is great!

Downstairs on the main level, there will be cubby type offices off to one side, we're thinking they will be reserved for commercial artists or supervisors and directors, not sure yet. But we think after the desks are finished (framework shown above) folks will be hot and heavy to get in there...

...The cubby offices have 3 huge windows that overlook the beautiful Miramichi river.

Desk space in this area will be grand, Andrew points out how far the table top will be coming out past the actual desk frame, to allow your arms of your chair to slide underneath. Something we don't have at the moment.

The main production area (cubby offices off to the right) is huge! It'll seat alot of folks! Towards the back of the big room will be a reception area, games area and a kitchen which will house our very own kitchen staff! Yeah Fatkooks!

Other angle: Also located by the washrooms towards the back (dark corner) area, is a boot and coat room for slushy boats and cumbersome winter jackets in the winter time. The room is spacious and will have hangers and bars all over the place, I think there's a foot locker too.

Amongst also having an edit suite (finally) and an exclusive computer maintenance room, we'll have exclusive offices for our producers and directors at the back of the main production area. We're hoping we'll have enough room left in the budget to make the front of these offices look like an old western town, with real wood siding, shingles, windows, old doors and signs that would say things like - Sherrif Little, Big Show's Brothel and Fatkat Klub. Man I hope there's some cash left!

More pictures soon,

Gene.

MOVING AGAIN?! - YOU KNOW IT!

Miramichi animators move to bigger studio

Fatkat Animation Studios purchases Newcastle Legion building for upstairs office space, rents main floor back to veterans' group

George Hogan began the renovation on the Newcastle Legion building, Branch number 10 yesterday by demolishing the stage to make way for office space. The building was bought by the Miramichi-based Fatkat Animation Studios to accomodate their growing workforce. Now, the legion will be roomates with Fatkat. Instead of moving, the Legion will rent the downstairs portion of the building.

MIRAMICHI - The banging clash of sledgehammers ripping apart the staging replaced the typically serene mood of the Newcastle Legion building yesterday.

It was the first day of renovations in the old building that will now house an animation company. The space from the stage will create more workspace for the new owners.

Fatkat Animation has done so well in its three-year Miramichi existence that it had to move, for a fourth time, to accommodate its continually expanding waistline.

And the only place that had enough room was the Newcastle Legion, Branch number 10.

The legion members put the building on the market a few years ago. Dwindling membership made it necessary for a few changes and the building was one of them. The 450 current members are just a fraction of its peak 1,400 person membership in its golden age.

The idea was to sell the 2½ storey building and move into a smaller building. Many of the Legion members, who are Second World War veterans in their 80s, have more difficulties using the stairs. So, moving into a single-storey place seemed to make sense. But, when Fatkat bought the building they struck a deal that looks like a win/win for everyone. Fatkat animation is taking over the second floor and the legion will remain in the building, renting out the first floor.

Fatkat Animation owner, "King of the Litter Box," Gene Fowler said it just seemed like the right thing to do. Not only will they have the rent from the Legion as income but the Legion members will still have a home base.

Fowler admits Fatkat's continued growth is a bit "scary" for a man who wanted to have a small business of about 20 employees in his native Miramichi. But, his dream has become a business success story and he hopes to inspire others in the Miramichi area to pursue their goals.

The company now has more than 60 employees. When it moves into the Legion, hopefully by January, the company will have more than 100 employees. Right now, animators and other Fatkat employees are crammed together sharing desks.

"We're running out of space," said Andrew Dunn, Fatkat's marketing manager.

Fowler himself has been working from home because three employees are in his office with no other space to move into. To accommodate their growing demand for employees, they've lured people from across Canada, Ireland, England, China, Italy and other parts of the world.

This homegrown company has attracted international attention. About 90 per cent of its business is done internationally. The company will sometimes come up with its own concepts or it will be asked to put an idea down on paper and make it reality. For example, Fatkat just finished one full season of 39 seven-minute episodes, of an adult-themed animated series called Happy Tree Friends for a company based in California.

Fowler's dreams fostered through hard work and dedication along with some help from all levels of government. "Miramichi is a great place to do business," said Dunn.

Now Fatkat is renovating. Walls will go up to allow for offices and a new roofing area will be put on the patio to make it into a work station area. At some point, a new storey will be added to allow for more workspace.

Legion president Denis McNeil admits seeing the old staging ripped out is hard, especially since he helped design it in the 1980s."It wasn't easy for us to give up this building," McNeil said, but added that he believes it was the right decision.

They too were doing a bit of their own renovations yesterday as they downsized from the entire building to one floor. Decisions were being made on what to keep, what to sell and what to give away to accommodate their cozier work space.But he believes they've made the right decision."I think we'll be OK," McNeil said. "I think we'll survive and part of that is because we've downsized. I'm pretty sure both of us can co-exist in the same building."

McNeil also hopes that Fatkat employees will take advantage of what they have to offer, including the bar area. A playful McNeil said, "I hope they (Fatkat) will pay our rent by using our bar."

This latest move is the largest in Fatkat's short history but it likely won't be the last. Fowler said the future could hold multiple locations for the business in Miramichi and beyond.

BY AIMEE BARRY
times & transcript staff
As published on page B2 on November 18, 2006

SPACE KNIGHTS SPIN OFF SHOW!

LISTEN TO THE THEME SONG!!

FAT BROTHERS, FAT SISTERS

YAY For Christmas!
Last night over at Big Brothers, Big Sisters, some of us Fatkats got together and purchased a xmas tree and decorated it for a BB-BS Christmas Auction. T'is a good thing! - All sorts of companies here in Miramichi bought trees and decorated them. The trees go up for bid to whomever, the highest bidders get the trees while the cashola goes to families in need.

Now don't you feel warm and fuzzy? I know I do...

...perhaps it's this small rodent I'm sitting on. Anyway! Moving on!

Spence, Dallas, Edgar, Wanda, Tara and I grabbed a shnoogins full of Tropical decorations for our theme based tree.
Spence thought we should stick a big pinata sun on the top of the tree, what a ridiculous idea, kids think up the wierdest things I swear.

Wanda and Tara get it on with some flower thingies, they called them lays, but I don't believe them.

I'm Dallas Daigle!Edgar, upon Spence's request went and got a pinata sun, I've officially changed my mind, Spence is a genius. IT totally made the tree. He's also still a silly willy, there is no changing that!

TAH DAH!!

What a delicious tree!

Good job, we're going to get mega bucks for this thing!

Gene.

FROM THE OFFICE OF MICK HARRISON

animation lesson just for you ...and everyone else
Lesson seven is about the creation of interest in your film or movie or film. in the above example you can see clearly that there is a tension in the air and the young revolutionary fellow is all too aware of his own mortality. Obviously you will be unable to summise your own story in so few lines. I am however, a proffessional of many years standing and so can instantly capture the imagination and attention of the viewer, drawing them into the story itself. Such lofty accomplishments will come in time but firstly i suggest you make a simple scene wherein a man who has recently lost his umberella on a bus (very common, making it more easy to animate). he of course purchases another, well you never know do you? On returning home he finds that his original umberella is by the door where he left it and not as he thought 'lost'. As you can see this is a straight forward, up and down premise. for added simplicity use stop motion animation and nothing but eggs. good luck

HAPPY TREE FRIENDS | WRAP UP PARTY PHOTOS

What a blast we all had last night at the Happy Tree Friends season one wrap up party. We watched 6 full segments of Happy Tree Friends cartoons made here at Fatkat, drank tons of booze, filled our bellies with grub, snagged some great HTF swag, rocked out to Montgomery Moth and then cracked up at the wild comedy from Buddy Bolton. MAN! I haven't had such a good time in a long time. I'm glad everyone took the time to attend and break out.

Buddy and I snuck into the DJ booth to hook up the DVD player.

Geremy and the gang got nasty with some colouring books, uhm, why is that pelican listening to that elephant's butt?

Matt Taylor schools some NBCC Miramichi Students that we all invited to take part in the celebration!
Andrew's sister, Megan (left) and radiant wife Nadine (right) pose for the camera!

James and Lizard!
Wanda and Glenn!
My aunt Steph, my dad and mum also dropped in!

Tracy and Glenn.
Dallas and Edgar, nice hat!
Big Show and I sharing a moment.

Buddy got to share lots of moments, mostly with other people's wives! Go Buddy go!

Buddy with Tara.Buddy with Tracy!

Buddy with Cheryl.

Animators got to grab some swag, good deal I think for all those hours they put into the production.

Look at this spread!
How come every picture I have with Coyle he's eating chickens or turkeys?

Jeremy Donovan displays the set list for tonights gig.

These guys rocked so hard.

Everyone dug Montgomery Moth, my parents were rocking out!

We're definitly going to have these guys back.

Nice shot of the guitarist.

GO JERMS GO!



Watch some clips of Montgomery Moth on Youtube!

Andrew Dunn introduces Buddy Bolton. (I'm going to post Buddy' stand up once I have his blessing, stay tuned for another post maybe! )

Shane gave this party a thumbs up!

Awesome gig everyone, big thanks to Liz, Dallas, Tara, Choo Choo's and Andrew Dunn, because it's all coming out of his marketing budget! MUHAHA!

Lovies to all!

Gene.

PS: Watch this clip of Beans busting a groove!