Jelly is a 13 minute short created and directed by Robin, and produced at Nelvana studios. As of 2023, it is playing at animation festivals around the world.
Direction portfolio
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: The Series
The challenge? Take one of the highest grossing animation brands of all time and adapt it from the big screen to the not-as-big TV screen. No big deal…
RETURN TO NEVER LAND
This proved to be a rare and memorable opportunity to study great art direction while having the privilege of directing this Disney feature. This sequel to the famous Peter Pan is the story of grown-up Wendy's young daughter Jane.
RUBY GLOOM
The bright side of the dark side!
Ruby Gloom started out as a line of t-shirts with a "gothic Hello Kitty" theme. We married two opposites in our storytelling: Goth Drama, and Kids' Comedy.
PRODUCING PARKER
This is a television comedy show aimed at young women in their twenties. Our heroine is an underpaid, overworked young talk show producer. Her therapist is her smart talking dog who also cooks and cleans her apartment.
BEETLEJUICE
Ah, Beetlejuice! This series was where I cut my teeth as a director on the original season's episodes. Loosely based on the original live-action feature, the creation of this surrealistic sitcom for kids with a Tim Burton-esque twist to keep it weird was a lot of fun.
GERALd MCBOING-BOING
Originally written by Dr. Seuss, Gerald McBoing-Boing tells the story of a boy who cannot speak words, but communicates by making sound effects. For this series, our aim was to preserve Seuss' signature quirky tone.
TRUCKTOWN
Goofy trucks that love to build things up, then smash 'em down!
This action-packed show was developed from a series of very simple children's books written by Jon Sciezka.
development & design Portfolio
I really love the exploration & creativity that are involved in the development stage of a project. Since it is often the first time an idea can be seen visualized, it's important to stay loose & try out a number of different "looks," or styles. Designing something from the very beginning is one of my favourite things to do as an artist, because it really stretches my creative muscles! Below are a few examples of some fun ideas I've had the chance to work on.
AQUAMAROONS
This is an original project that I developed with writer Dale Schott. Plunder Incorporated is busy destroying our planet and it's up to the AquaMaroons to stop them. Drama! Danger! One-eyed underwater yetis! Loads of laughs bubbling through a dark conflict of good vs. evil.
DEAD SHERIFF'S WIFE
Long before Strange Empire (CBC Television), a couple of live-action guys asked me to explore a look for a strong female lead in a Wild West animated series. The story: a sheriff gets murdered, so his wife takes on the role. It was a tough world, realistic, and very sexy... I love a good dark Western... just as long as the music has that Morricone feel! (Seriously, his music MADE those classics!)
MASKVISION
This project was inspired by Tim Burton, in a couple of different ways: I really enjoyed directing the animated version of Beetlejuice, and it gave me the opportunity to actually meet the guy. I got the sense that he was the type of person who would really appreciate the ability to see through people's "bullshit" personas to what they're really about. That one little surreal concept branched out into a Burton-esque feature film idea based on a mad scientist who invents a mask that allows the wearer to do just that.
HERCULES, HALF IMMORTAL P.I.
Here was another opportunity to work with Dale Schott, this time for an adult cartoon series with a Greek Myth Twist. Basically, the gods and demigods of old have fallen on some hard times in this modern age, and are forced to get real jobs. Hercules decides to become a Private Investigator, so that he can perform heroic deeds at a pace of his choosing (and let's face it, he's become a bit of a brawny slob who only works so he can keep his horn 'o' plenty filled to the brim). Throw in some run-ins with the mortal types, and plenty of superhuman mayhem ensues... with some chiselled features gone a little bit to seed.
THE PHOBICS
This animated sitcom is about a psychiatrist who finally hits the big time with a best-selling self-help book on overcoming your fears. His dirty little secret? His family is a total mess, plagued by all kinds of weird phobias! The team on this project came up with a number of go-for-the-big-laugh storylines that showed the bumbling doctor's attempts to pull a curtain over his home life as he helps out the people who come seeking aid from the celebrity shrink.
THIEF OF ALWAYS
Thief of Always is a horror story for children written by Clive Barker and produced by Kathleen Kennedy. Working with a fantastic team of artists, the two-year development process resulted in stunning visuals and epic storytelling. I loved the emotional drama and dark twists we explored.
ODDS & ENDS
I've dipped my toes into a number of different pools when it comes to development and design. If you'd like to see more of my portfolio, check out my blog for a few more examples of my development work, some sketches I've done for fun, and a few examples of fun stuff that I've drawn inspiration from!