John Fountain worked as a storyboard artist and director for ChalkZone.[1] While on the show, he also voiced Howdy Rudy in the episode of the same name.[2] He has been active in the animation industry since 1995, having storyboarded on several Nicktoons (The Fairly OddParents, My Life as a Teenage Robot) among other series.
Early life[]
Fountain was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan.[3] He went to Western Michigan University, studying fine art.[3] Fountain never aspired to be an animator, having viewed it as tedious (due to the cel animation process common at the time) and "far from creative."[3] However, this point of view changed once he learned of directors, storyboard artists and other animation personnel.[3] Prior to animation, he was a stage actor and illustrated alternative comics for a small publisher.[3]
Career[]
Fountain's career in animation began in 1995, working for a commercial company in Kalamazoo.[3] This was short-lived, as the company shut down.[3] Following this, he left Michigan for California, hoping to enter the animation industry there.[3] In 1997, Fountain animated sequences for a CD-ROM focusing on animals. He submitted a segment from the game he helped create, Rapping Raven, to MTV, which later aired on the channel's Cartoon Sushi.[3] He contributed one short to Oh Yeah! Cartoons, The Tantrum, even providing the title character's voice.[3] Fountain was an animator for the 1999 film South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut.[4]
Throughout the early 2000s, Fountain worked with Nickelodeon as a storyboard artist[5] and director, also reviewing portfolios of potential applicants.[6] He was a storyboard artist for The Fairly OddParents, having worked with Butch Hartman on Oh Yeah![3] Fountain later became a director,[7] supervising director and storyboard supervisor on the series.[8] He also worked as a storyboard artist and writer[9] on My Life as a Teenage Robot[8] and was a consultant on Chaotic.[3]
He served as director for Hero: 108[10] and was both a writer[11] and director for Yin Yang Yo![12] Other companies Fountain has worked for include Disney, Klasky-Csupo, Pixar[13] and Warner Bros.[3]
Fountain has served as an overseas storyboard and animation supervisor for Cartoon Network Hong Kong (for the local series Toonix) and Cartoon Network South America.[8] As of 2013, he worked for Baboon Animation and was a storyboard artist for the pilot episode of Rick and Morty.[8]
ChalkZone storyboard credits[]
- OY8. "Rapunzel" (later incorporated into the first season)
- 101c. "Bushel Full O' Yum"
- 102d. "Mumbo Jumbo Jump"
- 103a. "The Wiggies"
- 103d. "Coming to Life"
- 105d. "All Day Jam"
- 306a. "Let's Twister Again"
- 314a. "Howdy Rudy"
- 316b. "No Place Like Home" (with John Conning)
- 316d. "I Need a Song"
Personal life[]
He and his wife Leigh have published children's books together.[3]
References[]
- ↑ Perlmutter, David (May 4, 2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Page 120. Rowman & Littlefield. International standard book number 9781538103746.
- ↑ ChannelFrederator (May 19, 2017). 107 ChalkZone Facts You Should Know! (107 Facts S6 E11). YouTube. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Janovsky, Jeaux (April 4, 2007). Straight from the Fountain’s Pen! (The Channel Fred Interview with John Fountain. Frederator. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- ↑ Beck, Jerry (October 28, 2005). The Animated Movie Guide. Page 261. Chicago Review Press. International standard book number 9781569762226.
- ↑ Ball, Ryan (July 8, 2003). Animation Panel Discussions at ComiCon. Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- ↑ White, Tony (September 10, 2012). Animation from Pencils to Pixels: Classical Techniques for the Digital Animator. Page 473. CRC Press. International standard book number 9781136144226.
- ↑ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003. Page 311. McFarland. Second edition. International standard book number 9780786420995.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Baboon Animation (December 15, 2013). What’s the Story, John Fountain?. Animation Magazine. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- ↑ Crump, William D. (March 11, 2019). Happy Holidays--Animated!: A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film. Page 256. McFarland. International standard book number 9781476636467.
- ↑ DeMott, Rick (April 18, 2007). Cartoon Network Joins Animated Hero:108 Production. Animation World Network. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- ↑ Perlmutter, David (May 4, 2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Page 716. Rowman & Littlefield. International standard book number 9781538103746.
- ↑ Nordyke, Kimberly (January 8, 2007). 'Yo!' ho: Dis inks Season 2. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- ↑ Kadin, Deborah (May 23, 2003). Animated Message Willowbrook Student's Film Wins Prize at International Festival. Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
External links[]
- John Fountain's profile on Baboon Animation
- John Fountain's portfolio