Calvin & Hobbes is, to this day, a huge inspiration for me. Not that you see it in my work, reading it just makes me really excited and energized to create comics. Bill is a remarkable creator.
I remember reading a Frank Miller interview in the 90s and they asked him what cartoonists influence him and the only contemporary he cited was Bill Waterson.
I remember the full colour Sunday comics with him having a big watercolour spreads. I'd collect them and tape them on my wall. Especially the Spaceman Spiff alien worlds.
Something nostalgic and great about spending a Sunday morning in a C&H headspace! As much fun as the Wizard vids are, I’m quite looking forward to more TCJ explorations.
Loved this vid and glad to hear mention of For Better or Worse! Growing up, I loved that strip so much (as well as Bloom County, Far Side &, of course, Calvin & Hobbes. Thanks guys!
I remember Watterson saying, in a forward to one of his books, that he didn't like the idea of licensing the comic strip to make a movie or TV special. He felt that an actor giving Calvin a voice would ruin some of the magic of the original strip. He also didn't like the consumerist feeding frenzy that licensing would inevitably bring--Hobbes dolls everywhere, Calvin on mugs and T-shirts and hats... I get what he means and agree with him. You really have to respect a guy who turns down vast wealth in favor of maintaining the integrity of his art. And Calvin & Hobbes can definitely be called "art."
When talking about the licencing, I was reminded of the Eastman interview. Obviously the Turtles wouldn't have been the big deal that they are now if they had taken the same position as Watterson, but maybe they would've saved themselves a lot of heartache and had been able to dedicate themselves to their work.
There will never ever be as good of a comic strip as Calvin and Hobbes and I haven’t found a show as good as Friends yet. Two of my most influential favorites
Another really good episode guys---my favorite since the epic Benjamin Marra chat, though I've not seen them all yet. Interesting insights on one of the all time comic strip greats, up there with Hal Foster, Chester Gould, and Charles Schulz. And yeah...flawed and hypocritical characters are much more compelling than puritanical or shallow dialogue machines. ---S. Craig Zahler
Back in the 80s I would cut all the my favorite comics out of the paper to collect, my favorites was Bloom County, Far Side and of course Calvin and Hobbes.
Watterson didn't want us to "consume" Calvin and Hobbes as a commercial product instead of enjoying the world that the artist SPECIFICALLY has control over
At a bare minimum, his stuff is just enjoyable to look at, everything from Calvin's incredibly plastic expressions down to that energetic line Watterson makes. Developing your characters pays off in the long haul because you don't have to fall back on repetitive jokes. We know the characters so well that all you have to say is "Calvin and Hobbes walk into a dinosaur exhibit" or "Calvin finds a nuclear warhead" and you know something insane and hilarious is likely to happen.
From what I remember from the Animag article on him (am I old or what?), I could have sworn Osamu Tezuka's last words were, "If I can just get to my drawing table, I'll be all right.". Either way, really. Great video, guys.
Guys could you talk about Walt Kelly's Pogo? It's not well known here (finland) I have read somewhere it's funny animal cartoon and political meta commentary?
I bet that celebrity net worth number is incorrect. He probably does well, but 100 million? A quick search and Frank Miller is at 45 million and I'd be surprised if Watterson has made more than him.
I wasn`t Calvin and Hobbs fan but always thought his art style was brilliant. You can see his influence on Skottie Young.Is there any chance you could you could something on Bloom County or Doonesbury?
Calvin & Hobbes is, to this day, a huge inspiration for me. Not that you see it in my work, reading it just makes me really excited and energized to create comics. Bill is a remarkable creator.
Calvin had an Uncle that appeared only a few times, he had a sweet Kevin Eastman mullet.
Uncle Max.
we all miss Eastman’s mullet and ‘stache combo. Im from the area he’s from and you used to see that a lot.
No he hadn't. Just the moustache.
Uncle max had a sweet mustache!!
I remember reading a Frank Miller interview in the 90s and they asked him what cartoonists influence him and the only contemporary he cited was Bill Waterson.
Based on
This is just super great. This is such a huge part of my life. I loved this episode!
As always you guys are the perfect team to dissect an interview like this. Great video!
I’m 4 years late, but this was such a fantastic discussion! Absolutely worth every minute I spent on this!
I remember the full colour Sunday comics with him having a big watercolour spreads. I'd collect them and tape them on my wall. Especially the Spaceman Spiff alien worlds.
What a wonderful and perfect video to wake up to on a Sunday morning.
Thoroughly enjoyed this perspective on Watterson's work! Thanks!
Great episode about one of my favourite things!!! Just awesome stuff.
Something nostalgic and great about spending a Sunday morning in a C&H headspace! As much fun as the Wizard vids are, I’m quite looking forward to more TCJ explorations.
Loved this vid and glad to hear mention of For Better or Worse! Growing up, I loved that strip so much (as well as Bloom County, Far Side &, of course, Calvin & Hobbes. Thanks guys!
Thank God for the RUclips algorithm that brought this to my attention.
I remember Watterson saying, in a forward to one of his books, that he didn't like the idea of licensing the comic strip to make a movie or TV special. He felt that an actor giving Calvin a voice would ruin some of the magic of the original strip. He also didn't like the consumerist feeding frenzy that licensing would inevitably bring--Hobbes dolls everywhere, Calvin on mugs and T-shirts and hats...
I get what he means and agree with him. You really have to respect a guy who turns down vast wealth in favor of maintaining the integrity of his art. And Calvin & Hobbes can definitely be called "art."
Good stuff! Would love to see a vid on the Harlan Ellison interview & fallout.
i would love to see you guys break down some classic Bloom county books
When talking about the licencing, I was reminded of the Eastman interview. Obviously the Turtles wouldn't have been the big deal that they are now if they had taken the same position as Watterson, but maybe they would've saved themselves a lot of heartache and had been able to dedicate themselves to their work.
There will never ever be as good of a comic strip as Calvin and Hobbes and I haven’t found a show as good as Friends yet. Two of my most influential favorites
Another really good episode guys---my favorite since the epic Benjamin Marra chat, though I've not seen them all yet. Interesting insights on one of the all time comic strip greats, up there with Hal Foster, Chester Gould, and Charles Schulz.
And yeah...flawed and hypocritical characters are much more compelling than puritanical or shallow dialogue machines. ---S. Craig Zahler
Back in the 80s I would cut all the my favorite comics out of the paper to collect, my favorites was Bloom County, Far Side and of course Calvin and Hobbes.
Still my favorite comic strip since I was 8 years old
Watterson didn't want us to "consume" Calvin and Hobbes as a commercial product instead of enjoying the world that the artist SPECIFICALLY has control over
Good morning from Aizawl India.
I thought you were going to be interviewing him.
At a bare minimum, his stuff is just enjoyable to look at, everything from Calvin's incredibly plastic expressions down to that energetic line Watterson makes. Developing your characters pays off in the long haul because you don't have to fall back on repetitive jokes. We know the characters so well that all you have to say is "Calvin and Hobbes walk into a dinosaur exhibit" or "Calvin finds a nuclear warhead" and you know something insane and hilarious is likely to happen.
Not long enough. I need more Calvin & Hobbes videos from you guys. Maybe go through some the strips next time.
From what I remember from the Animag article on him (am I old or what?), I could have sworn Osamu Tezuka's last words were, "If I can just get to my drawing table, I'll be all right.". Either way, really. Great video, guys.
BILL WATTERSON CANT YOU HEAR ME?, BILL WATTERSON PLEASE DONT FEAR ME
DONT TREAT ME LIKE I HAVE RABIES, I ONLY WANNA HAVE YOUR BABIES
i literally only came here because Lemon Demon LMAO
This was a cool video, thanks for sharing. Dusting off the Calvin and Hobbs sunday anthologies now!
A Hobbes plush toy would just be a plush toy...to an adult.
I love this. Ahhh! 😍
Guys could you talk about Walt Kelly's Pogo? It's not well known here (finland) I have read somewhere it's funny animal cartoon and political meta commentary?
I tried to found the webtoon docuentary no netflix and didin't found it... :(
Bill Watterson is a reclusive yet influential genius in the same way that Brian Wilson Of The Beach Boys is a reclusive yet influential genius.
Has he ever listened to song made for him by lemon demon
I read this interview before watching this. You guys have got me doing homework. Whats happening to me !?!
great video! always inspiring
Were to go when you were done
Also gasoline alley ?
I remember obsessing over those brush strokes in middle school!
Hobbes was so human like.😊
It's great to read about the reverence he has for animation/animators. It's unsurprising , given how expressive his panels are.
I bet that celebrity net worth number is incorrect. He probably does well, but 100 million? A quick search and Frank Miller is at 45 million and I'd be surprised if Watterson has made more than him.
I wasn`t Calvin and Hobbs fan but always thought his art style was brilliant. You can see his influence on Skottie Young.Is there any chance you could you could something on Bloom County or Doonesbury?
There's a good interview with Berke Breathed in TCJ #125 as well. And I think he did an essay or two for them.
Damn Bill was really not interested in being in the public eye. Wish we at least knew what his voice sounded like
I pored over the Calvin & Hobbes collections until they fell apart. They altered the shape of my brain
Listening to this makes me understand why Bill hides away.
Really putting the “fanatic” in “fan” here fellas…
Watterson FTW!
because of the art and imagination C&H is better than peanuts
Saweet