T.D. Snoggins

This past Saturday, the Book Revue in Huntington sponsored a book reading by an amazing local author and veteran cartoonist, T.D. Snoggins. His new book, "I Once Met a Monster On the way to School," explains one of life’s great mysteries...missing socks!

The book is available at the Book Revue, and also at T.D. Snoggins website: tdsnogginsart.com

The following is my interview with Mr. Snoggins after the reading.

Me: Mr. Snoggins, can I call you MISTER?

No Mister. Call me Snoggins or Snoggs. And once I really get to know you, you can call me Snoggy.

Me: SO, tell me about "I Once Met a Monster On the way to School."

I once met a Monster on the way to school started one morning when I was in L.A. to take my Nephew Jude for his first visit to Disneyland. As we rushed to get ready Jude couldn't find his socks. So that gave birth to the question of what happens to missing socks? Where do they go and why is it that only one sock is missing from the two piece sock set? Then the answer came to me that a sock monster eats them when your not looking. He leaves the other sock for you because he doesn't want to appear to be greedy. Its the only reasonable explanation I could think of.

Me: Where did you go to school?

I went to the Art students league in NYC and then to the School of character animation on Long Island that was run by a brilliant animator named Brian Mitchell.

Unfortunately that school no longer exists. However, Fortunately Brian Mitchell still does…

Me: Who are your greatest influences as a cartoonist?

Milt Kahl, Ken Anderson (Brilliant Disney art director) Chuck Jones, Ed Benedict (Designed early Hanna-Barbara characters like Yogi Bear and the Flintstones) Tim Burton, Charles Schultz, Hank Ketcham, (Dennis the menace) Paul Coker JR (Mad magazine) and Ronald Searle (the illustrator who's style influenced the late 1950s Disney graphic Xerox look.) These are just a few influences. I think its worth mentioning Maurice Sendak the creator of "Where the wild things are.” Beautiful illustrations.

Me: What advice would you give kids who want to be cartoonists?

Become a doctor instead. But If you must become an artist then keep drawing!keep writing!! Every day!!! Put a note book and a pencil on your night table in case you wake up in the middle of the night with an idea or design in your head. You can write it down or draw it without getting out of bed.And learn your computer skills. They are important.But most important have fun writing and creating your story. Enjoy every minute of it because it really is a lot of fun!

Me: What are some cool projects you have been involved in? Either recently, or over your long career?

There was an animated show going back about 10 years ago for Disney television called Stanley. I had the privilege to work on it with a group of very talented, funny people. Every day we would laugh producing the show. And we all helped each other as artists. I miss those days. Lots of camaraderie.

Another Disney show I worked on was called Katbot. This show unfortunately never made it to television. But the group of artists I worked with where all brilliant and I learned a lot just by observation.There was also a fun time at a place called Noodle Soup where I did character layouts for Looney Tunes. I got to work on Tweetie and Sylvester. Another fun job was for the General mills cereals working on Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms and the Monster Cereals. These projects reunited me with a friend from Stanley. (Blogger note, he means me) Also I worked on live action Storyboards. These where industrial films that allowed me to work in a Marvel comics type style. Really cool! There may have been one or two projects that I didn't like but for the most part I had a lot of fun. Still am!!!