Doug TenNapel
![]() | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Doug TenNapel | |
---|---|
![]() TenNapel in June 2011 | |
Born | Douglas Richard TenNapel July 10, 1966 Norwalk, California, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Notable works | Earthworm Jim, Catscratch, The Neverhood, Ratfist, Ghostopolis, Nnewts |
Awards | Eisner Award Winner |
Spouse(s) |
Angie TenNapel (m. 1990) |
Children | 4 |
Douglas Richard "Doug" TenNapel (/təˈneɪpəl/ tə-NAY-pəl;[1] born July 10, 1966)[2] is an American animator, writer, cartoonist, video game designer, and comic book artist whose work has encompassed animated television, video games, and comic books. He is best known for creating Earthworm Jim, a character that spawned a video game series, animated series, and a toy line.
Career
TenNapel began as an animator on Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series.[3] He soon began working in the video game industry on projects like 1993's Jurassic Park and The Ren & Stimpy Show: Stimpy's Invention for the Sega Genesis and The Jungle Book for the SNES and Sega Genesis.[citation needed] In 1994, he created Earthworm Jim, the character that would star in Shiny Entertainment's video game, toy line, and cartoon series. Shiny Entertainment head David Perry later commented on working with TenNapel, "I wish I could find 100 Dougs, then I realized I was lucky to have been able to work with one. He is crazy talented, both crazy and talented! He also generates an enormous amount of amazing content and ideas, I wouldn’t be surprised if he sleeps with a sketch-book!"[4] In 1995, he left Shiny Entertainment and founded his own company, Neverhood, with several other former Shiny employees.[5] Working for DreamWorks Interactive, Neverhood created The Neverhood for the PC and PlayStation. The sequel, entitled Skullmonkeys, followed in 1998.[6]
On television, TenNapel was the creator of the Project G.e.e.K.e.R. cartoon series for CBS. He was also a consulting producer on the ABC series Push, Nevada with Ben Affleck.[7] Towards the end of the 2000s, he also created two shorts for Frederator Studios and Nicktoons, "Solomon Fix" (computer generated 3D) and "Squirly Town" (traditional 2D).[8]
As a graphic artist and cartoonist, TenNapel released his first comic book in 1998: Gear, a surreal epic based on his real life cats, Simon, Waffle, Gordon, and Mr. Black in a war against dogs and insects using giant robots as weapons. The cats from Gear would eventually become the Nickelodeon series Catscratch.[9][10]
TenNapel did the cover art for several of Five Iron Frenzy's albums, including a sculpture for their live album, Proof That the Youth Are Revolting. TenNapel has also created album covers and artwork for several Daniel Amos CDs, The 1999 tribute to the band, When Worlds Collide, the Neverhood soundtrack Imaginarium: Songs from the Neverhood and others.[citation needed]
Flink, a graphic novel by TenNapel, was released in late 2007 through Image Comics. Monster Zoo, was released in early summer 2008. In May 2009 his graphic novel Power Up was released.[11]
Between January and October 2009, TenNapel was a regular contributor to Breitbart News' "Big Hollywood" section, covering topics from movie reviews and the state of the comics entertainment industry to criticisms of the Obama administration and the environmental movement.[12][13]
In July 2010, his graphic novel Ghostopolis was released. In 2009, it was announced the book would be adapted into a film starring and produced by Hugh Jackman, but no update has been given since then.[14]
TenNapel produced an episodic spoof of Japanese Super Sentai-style shows called Go Sukashi! based on a character by Shoko Nakagawa (who appears in the films), and starring John Soares and Brooke Brodack.[15] He has also published an online superhero-genre-spoofing webcomic titled Ratfist.[16]
In September 2012, Fox Animation optioned TenNapel's published Graphix novel Cardboard, with plans for actor Tobey Maguire's Material Pictures, graphic novelist Doug TenNapel, and the Gotham Group to be executive producers. Fox planned to have the picture developed under its WedgeWorks subsidiary. WedgeWorks director Chris Wedge (Ice Age) was producing, and considered directing the film as well.[17] As of 2020, no update has been given on the film, especially given the acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets by The Walt Disney Company.
TenNapel has used Kickstarter to produce a bound collection of his sketches, named Sketchbook Archives.[18]
TenNapel and other former members of the Earthworm Jim team at Pencil Test Studios launched a Kickstarter campaign in May 2013 to fund a PC game project called Armikrog, described a spiritual successor to The Neverhood and also being animated using clay animation techniques.[19] It was successful, and reached its stretch goal for a Wii U version.
In 2018, TenNapel self-published the graphic novel, Bigfoot Bill, launched as an Indiegogo, successfully funded and reaching various stretch goals.
In May 2019, TenNapel and other members of the original Earthworm Jim team announced a new Earthworm Jim game, to be released as an exclusive for the upcoming Intellivision Amico.[20][21] He also self-published the graphic novel, Earthworm Jim: Launch the Cow, again on Indiegogo, raising over US$100,000 in less than 24 hours.[22] It has since been successfully funded, with various stretch goals achieved. As of August 2019, Earthworm Jim: Launch the Cow is the second-highest-grossing crowd-funded comic book of all time (US$816,000), trailing only The Order of the Stick Reprint on Kickstarter ($1.2 million), and overtaking the comic book anthology Ctrl+Alt+Del (US$665,000).
Personal life
He has been married to Angie since 1990.[23] The couple have four children.[24] TenNapel was personal friends with Andrew Breitbart prior to the latter's death.[12][13]
Controversies
TenNapel has attracted criticism for his remarks on the LGBTQ community and its issues, including vocal opposition to same-sex marriage and referring to a journalist who criticized the Earthworm Jim video game as a man, thus potentially mis-gendering them.[25][26][27][28][29]
He has dismissed this criticism, and has written that "transphobe (like homophobe) is a made-up word used to slander conservative people of faith with a mental condition, and is only used by SJWs".[30] TenNapel is also involved with Comicsgate, a loosely organized campaign against diversity in the super hero comics industry.[30] Sean Gordon Murphy had drawn a cover for one of TenNapel's works. Murphy withdrew the cover and issued an apology after being made aware of TenNapel's history of anti-LGBTQ comments. In response, TenNapel tweeted that it is "more important than ever that pro-family comic lovers support my work", alleging that LGBTQ people are waging a "culture war" against him.[31]
Bibliography
Graphic novels
Year | Title | Publisher |
---|---|---|
1991 | They Called Him Evil | Mockingbird Studios |
1998/2018 | Gear | Fireman Press/Image Comics |
2002/2019 | Creature Tech | Top Shelf Productions/Image Comics |
2004 | Tommysaurus Rex | Image Comics |
2005 | Earthboy Jacobus | Image Comics |
2006 | Iron West | Image Comics |
2007 | Black Cherry | Image Comics |
2007 | Flink | Image Comics |
2008 | Monster Zoo | Image Comics |
2009 | Power Up | Image Comics[32] |
2010 | Ghostopolis | GRAPHIX[33] |
2011 | Bad Island | GRAPHIX[34] |
2012 | Cardboard | GRAPHIX[35] |
2012 | Return to the Neverhood (illustrations) | Stunt Grafx[36] |
2015 | Nnewts - Escape From the Lizzarks | GRAPHIX |
2016 | Nnewts - The Rise of Herk | GRAPHIX |
2017 | Nnewts - The Battle for Amphibopolis | GRAPHIX |
2019 | Bigfoot Bill: Shadow of the Mothman | Self-published |
2019 | Earthworm Jim: Launch the Cow | Self-published |
2020 | Bigfoot Bill 2: Finger of Poseidon | Self-published |
Web comics
Year | Title |
---|---|
2011 | Ratfist |
2012 | Nnewts |
Children's books
Year | Title | Publisher | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Doug and Mike's Strange Kid Chronicles #1: Mighty Monday Madness | Scholastic Press | Co-written with Michael Koelsch |
1997 | Doug and Mike's Strange Kid Chronicles #2: Tuna Fish Tuesday | Scholastic Press | Co-written with Michael Koelsch |
1998 | Doug and Mike's Strange Kid Chronicles #3: Wisenheimer Wednesday | Scholastic Press | Co-written with Michael Koelsch |
1998 | Doug and Mike's Strange Kid Chronicles #4: Just Thursday | Scholastic Press | Co-written with Michael Koelsch |
1998 | Doug and Mike's Strange Kid Chronicles #5: Fateful Friday | Scholastic Press | Co-written with Michael Koelsch |
Filmography
Television
Year | Title | Note |
---|---|---|
1991 | Attack of the Killer Tomatoes | Animator |
1995 | Earthworm Jim | Creator, executive producer, and writer |
1996 | Project G.e.e.K.e.R. | Co-Creator and executive producer |
2000 | Koghead and Meatus | Short Director and writer |
2002 | Push, Nevada | Consulting producer |
2004 | Sockbaby | Director, writer and voice of Sockbaby |
2005–2007 | Catscratch | Creator, executive producer, director, writer, and storyboard artist |
2007–2008 | Random! Cartoons | Creator, writer, character designer, storyboard artist, and voice director Episodes: "Squirly Town" and "Solomon Fix" |
2009 | Ape Escape | Writer and storyboard artist |
2012 | Adventure Time | Writer Episode: "Sons of Mars" |
2012 | It's a SpongeBob Christmas! | TV special Stop Motion animator |
2014–2016 | VeggieTales in the House | Writer and executive producer |
2017 | The Legend of Boo-Kini Bottom | TV special Stop Motion animator |
Video games
Year | Title | Note | Publisher |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | Jurassic Park (Sega Genesis) | Animator | Blue Sky Software |
The Ren & Stimpy Show: Stimpy's Invention | |||
1994 | The Jungle Book | Virgin Interactive | |
Earthworm Jim | Creator, writer, designer, voice of Earthworm Jim | Shiny Entertainment | |
1995 | Earthworm Jim 2 | ||
1996 | The Neverhood | Creator, writer, designer, voice of Hoborg, Bil, and Klogg | DreamWorks Interactive |
1998 | Skullmonkeys | Creator, writer, designer, voice of Klogg | Electronic Arts |
1999 | BoomBots | Creator, writer, designer | SouthPeak Interactive |
2015 | Armikrog | Creator, writer, designer, artist, additional animation | Versus Evil |
Discography
Cover art
Year | Album |
---|---|
1994 | BibleLand |
1997 | Our Newest Album Ever! |
1998 | Quantity Is Job 1 |
1999 | Proof That the Youth Are Revolting |
2000 | When Worlds Collide: A Tribute to Daniel Amos |
2003 | The End Is Near |
2004 | Imaginarium: Songs from the Neverhood |
2013 | Engine of a Million Plots |
References
- ^ "Doug TenNapel - how I draw panels for my comics" on YouTube
- ^ "Doug TenNapel (dougtennapel) on Myspace". Myspace.com. February 9, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- ^ Bello, John De (October 8, 1978), Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!, David Miller, George Wilson, Sharon Taylor, retrieved January 2, 2018
- ^ "David Perry (Virgin Games) – Interview". Arcade Attack. January 10, 2016. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- ^ "Gaming Gossip". Electronic Gaming Monthly (74). Ziff Davis: 44. September 1995.
- ^ "Skullmonkeys". IGN. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- ^ Push, Nevada, retrieved January 2, 2018
- ^ Random! Cartoons
- ^ Catscratch, retrieved January 2, 2018
- ^ Scholastic
- ^ CBR Staff (May 28, 2009). "Power Up - CBR-SA". CBR. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
- ^ a b TenNapel, Doug (June 2, 2018). "Fear of Failure". Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ a b Ek, Robin (August 7, 2017). "Interview with Doug TenNapel – The Earthworm Jim drama and thoughts on #GamerGate, censorship and SJWs". The Gaming Ground. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- ^ Kit, Borys (May 3, 2009). "Hugh Jackman to haunt 'Ghostopolis'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 7, 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
- ^ Go Sukashi (November 19, 2009), Go Sukashi Episode 1, retrieved January 2, 2018
- ^ "Ratfist". ratfist.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- ^ Anderson, Paul (September 8, 2012). "Fox Animation helping Maguire bend "Cardboard"". Big Cartoon News. Archived from the original on December 2, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ "BOOK NEWS – 'Doug TenNapel Sketchbook Archives' Kickstarter Announced". Alternative Magazine Online. October 15, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
- ^ Matulef, Jeffrey (May 31, 2013). "The Neverhood creators launch Kickstarter for spiritual successor Armikrog". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved June 8, 2013.
- ^ Romano, Nick (May 1, 2019). "Earthworm Jim is making a comeback with new game". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ Crecente, Brian (May 1, 2019). "New 'Earthworm Jim' Game in Development From Original Team". Variety. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ Trent, John F. (May 14, 2019). "Doug TenNapel's 'Earthworm Jim: Launch The Cow' Raises Over 100K in Less Than 24 Hours!". Bounding Into Comics. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- ^ Thompson, Pamela Kleibrink (December 1997). "Welcome to the Neverhood". Animation World Magazine. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ "Doug TenNapel Books, Author Biography, and Reading Level". Scholastic. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ Evans, Nathan (June 11, 2011). "Popzara Interviews: Ratfist and Earthworm Jim Creator Doug TenNapel". PopZara. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ Mackey, Bob (June 17, 2013). "The Worm Turns". The Gameological Society. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ Joseph, Remington (August 3, 2017). "Earthworm Jim Creator Under Fire for Transphobic Comments". Comics Gaming Magazine. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- ^ Hughes, William (August 3, 2017). "Earthworm Jim creator pops up to remind Twitter of his transphobic views". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ "Journalist" Chris Scullion Doesn't Want Doug TenNapel Involved in Upcoming Earthworm Jim Game - Bounding Into Comics
- ^ a b Tamburro, Paul (March 5, 2020). "Earthworm Jim creator: 'Transphobe' is used to slander conservatives". GameRevolution. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ Dominguez, Noah (March 6, 2020). "TenNapel Retracts Claim DC's Jim Lee Pressured Murphy to Pull Variant Cover". CBR. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Heroes + Villains: All Powered Up". Chicago Tribune. 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ "Ghostopolis". Kirkus Reviews. June 15, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ "Review of the Day:Bad Island by Doug TenNapel". June 4, 2011. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
- ^ "New tweener graphic novels by Doug TenNapel, Raina Telgemeier and Royden Lepp are hitting the shelves". Los Angeles Times. August 26, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ Return to the Neverhood
Other sources
- Dumesnil, Sébastien (February 22, 2006). "Interview: Doug TenNapel". Futureal Studio. Retrieved May 27, 2007.[permanent dead link]
- Young, Sarrah (August 2005). "Father Figures: God Is in the Details of Earthboy Jacobus". Exclaim! (Canada). Archived from the original on June 3, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2007.
- Kit, Borys (March 12, 2008). "Paramount nabs 'Zoo'". The Hollywood Reporter.
- TenNapel, Doug (January 1, 2011). "Webcomic: Ratfist". Wordpress with Comicpress.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- 1966 births
- Living people
- Animators from California
- American animated film directors
- American animated film producers
- American cartoonists
- American Christian writers
- American comics artists
- American people of Dutch descent
- American male screenwriters
- American male video game actors
- American male voice actors
- American storyboard artists
- American television directors
- American television producers
- American television writers
- American video game designers
- Album-cover and concert-poster artists
- California Republicans
- DreamWorks Animation people
- American male television writers
- Stop motion animators
- Point Loma Nazarene University alumni
- Voice directors
- American male non-fiction writers
- Video game artists