Monday, June 29, 2009

Michael Jackson Nerd

Anyone who has known me longer than a day knows I am a Michael Jackson nerd. Specificaly about his work from 1968 to 1987. I am a product of the 80's and remember Motown 25 and the premiere of Thriller fondly. You're not going to see me on Hollywood Blvd crying over his star or anything,(I will gladly attend a very exclusive, organized , historiacl memorial you can only attend if you happen to be one of 8,000 people out of 1,700,000 chosen at random.),but I have always had a great admiration for his craft , passion and work as an entertainer. In a world filled with kids who want and expect everything for nothing , Michael Jackson is the constant reminder of working on , researching and honing ones craft.

Why will no one in entertainment ever match what Michael has done ? This is why: No one in entertainment history has ever or will ever work harder and learn more about their craft than MJ did. When he was 10 years old MJ studied other performers, broke down their process and art , and perfected it! As he grew he started looking outside of his own craft and started to study and incorporate all art. He studied the sculpture of Michaelangelo for the design of a pose. He studied Charlie Chaplin , Buster Keaton , and the great mime Marcel Marseau for the design of movement and silhouette. He studied Gene Kelly and Fred Astair Dance routines relentlessly , getting to the essence of their performances. The reason MJ wore short tight pants and thick bright socks (Motown 25 , Thriller , Beat it) Is because Gene Kelly did that to create a clear silhouette and make the feet the focus of the performance. You can track these bright socks like anchor points for the movement.
Jackson studied Indian Dance , the movement of sports athletes , Sword play and fencing , He studied animation for movement. Michael searched out the best street dancers , found them, and learned most of his moves (Moonwalk , Hits , Glides, etc...) from Bugaloo Shrimp , POPPIN TACO , Poppin Pete, Shabadoo, Sugar Pop , Hugo Huizar , and all the Electric Boogaloos out here in California. That is straight from Kid Flash(Pete Gomez)who was part of it all. Taco and Poppin Pete are seen leaning on either side of MJ in smooth criminal(Moonwalker), and are the first two pop locking prisoners MJ frees from their pillar prisons in Captain EO. AMAZING! AND so much more. THEN MICHAEL APPLIED EVERYTHING HE LEARNED AND HONED IT WITH HARD WORK and tireless experimentation !
It is so easy to brush off accomplishment , craft , and passion like that with all the weird stuff surrounding Michael Jackson. And yes I think it is really weird and sad too. But , man that guy was talented. He knew entertainment like nobodies business.

I was at Disneyland on Thursday , June 25th 2009. I was eating a Dole whip in front of the Tiki Room when someone in the crowd started talking about it. I had to interrupt the person and inquire. The person said: "yeah I just got a text about it." I said "What? Come on." Then other people started getting phone calls and texts. More murmers. Then the guy I asked pulled up a news web page on his phone : " MICHAEL JACKSON DEAD". WHAT ? Now everyone was talking about it. Friends were calling me. Then from all over Disneyland you started to hear people yelling: " Michael Jackson Died!!!"Everyone was talking to everyone else about it. "They need to bring back Captain EO in remembrance"... some woman said.
Then a couple hours later I was sitting in Tomorrowland (home of Captain EO) , when Suddenly the Tomorrowland stage starts to rise and a very distinctive beat starts playing: "So you wanta be startin' somethin' , got to be startin' Somethin'"... People started cheering and running towards the stage. It was NUTS!! Everyone was dancing . Then immediately after that they played Thriller! By this time people were just mobbing the area . It was so surreal.
So here are some MJ doodles....Quick impressions of some of my favorite MJ moments over the years. HEEEE HEEEEEEE ! WHOOOOOOOOO!

94 Comments:

Blogger Zach Bellissimo said...

A very awesome and passionate tribute to an american icon!

12:56 PM  
Blogger damon said...

wow great work

moving tribute

RIP MJ

12:58 PM  
Blogger Ben Reynolds said...

Really like what you wrote man, very true. Awesome illustrations too - i L O V E the thriller one at the top! GREAT!

1:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My favorite's the "leaning" Jackson hahaha.

Oh btw, thank you so much for answering my question at the Drawn to Life panel a few weeks ago. I was the one who asked what I can do to keep drawing.

1:30 PM  
Blogger cartoonretro said...

Great post, Shane.
S.

2:20 PM  
Blogger Don Shank said...

amazing post, and great work as always!

2:28 PM  
Blogger Chris Battle said...

These are beautiful, man!

2:48 PM  
Blogger Bobby Pontillas said...

Awesome. I got to bumpin classic MJ tracks as soon as I found out here at work too. And I'm so glad to see the immediate outpouring of tributes to the more positive aspects of his life.

2:56 PM  
Blogger onemanpunkband said...

love the smooth criminal!

3:00 PM  
Blogger Dave Dick said...

GREAT work, man!

3:06 PM  
Blogger RAWLS said...

Moment of silence....
for both the King of Pop and these utterly amazing works of awesomeness!
Nice stuff my friend!!!

3:07 PM  
Blogger jimvanderkeyl said...

Great Story and great illustrations..!

3:32 PM  
Blogger Kmann said...

I wanna make the smooth criminal one a desktop image. nice stuff Shane.

3:36 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

"The Moving King" if only us kids had this kind of dedication, I guess I must work harder to win my gold.

3:45 PM  
Blogger Stephanie Bourbon: Writer, artist, actress, creative consultant said...

Love what you wrote! I grew up with his work and he meant so much in my life. His songs actually made me think, instead of just dance~but there were those too.
GREAT doodles!

3:46 PM  
Blogger Justin Hunt said...

Great tribute Shane! Beautiful illustrations of Micheal as well!

4:09 PM  
Blogger Webster Colcord said...

The words are as great as the pictures

7:09 PM  
Blogger Elaine R said...

hon you are one HUGE N E R D !!! Now we will always remember that moment when we eat future Dole whips. what a treat :)

7:55 PM  
Blogger Drake Brodahl (pumml) said...

These are fantastic, Shane!

8:46 PM  
Blogger sakiteriyaki said...

awesome!

9:21 PM  
Blogger Cal said...

Awesome work. I don't think there's any single person left in the entertainment business that can create that kind of impact.

10:23 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Honestly I feel like studying him to learn dance.

10:27 PM  
Blogger Roland MacDonald said...

Ace post. Lovinhg the illustrations

1:29 AM  
Blogger WJC said...

Really fantastic images, really great and accurate movement in there.

4:05 AM  
Blogger Thierry Cattant said...

Wonderfull work!!!!

Thanks for your art.

Thierry

(I put your bolg as "blog of the week" on my blog)

5:49 AM  
Blogger OV! said...

S,

cool paintings.

yeah i use to be a MJ freak too. i think i can still moonwalk. haha.

o well, thats life, guess MJ knows the truth now...

6:14 AM  
Blogger Emily said...

These are the best Michael Jackson drawings I've ever seen! They perfectly capture him!

9:25 AM  
Blogger Matthew Baughman said...

Great post and drawings! So true what you say about drawing on outside influences and his absolute commitment to perfection -- very inspiring.

9:45 AM  
Blogger shiyoon said...

sick!! awesome paintings!!!

u forgot to mention poppin taco and the electric boogaloos- he studied from them too-

10:14 AM  
Blogger Andre Moore said...

dude these are just too damn sweet. I like them all.

12:00 PM  
Blogger SHANE PRIGMORE said...

HEE HEEEE!

THanks for the cool coments guys.I have been looking for an excuse to draw some MJ. And I'm glad people can actualy talk about Michael now.

SHIYOON: Yes ABSOLUTELY THE ELECTRIC BUGALOOS! I Added a blurb about them in the post now. OF COURSE!! Thanks for calling me on it.

1:37 PM  
Blogger amanda rynda said...

Nice tribute, Shane! Awesome drawings too! I love the leaning MJ.

4:00 PM  
Blogger Vi said...

I DO remember how much of an MJ nerd you are. Actually, you turned our whole class to him when you and Shannon came by Andy's class and showed us those rad videos.

It's like watching a lava lamp - you can't take your eyes off him.

Rad stuff, Shane!

5:08 PM  
Blogger Gillian Comerford said...

These pieces are the business! Particularly the "Thriller" one. Some very nice and passionate words too about Michael Jackson. I was born on his birthday August 29 but 20 years later. His music always makes me wanna dance...Aaowwwww!

12:54 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Hey Shane, I'm really feel'n what you're saying about MJ. He will go down as the GOAT. Your MJ drawings are great abstractions of him from all the classic periods.

12:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

These are amazing. Each image brought back a whole load of memories from when I was little. Nice one.

1:45 AM  
Blogger XAV said...

nice tribute shane !

2:29 AM  
Blogger Lori G. said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

7:23 AM  
Blogger Lori G. said...

Shane...awesome as always. I remember you dancing like MJ at Tiff's 16th b-day party. Great drawings and tribute.

7:25 AM  
Blogger shiyoon said...

NICE!

11:36 AM  
Blogger cwyatt said...

These are amazing!

11:44 AM  
Blogger lorelay bove said...

Wow!
Nice post Shane!
LOvely designs !

12:44 PM  
Blogger Matt Jones said...

Great tribute Shane-I wasn't aware just how much MJ had researched motion in all forms. CAN YOU FEEL IT is one of my all time favourite promos. The man was a true original, trail-blazer. God rest his his soul.

4:33 AM  
Blogger jriggity said...

AWESOME!!!

and he was a Talent EXTREME.

jriggity

12:04 PM  
Blogger Alisa said...

These are fantastic! You really captured the essence of each of his looks.

1:29 PM  
Blogger Josh said...

Woah, I really like what you wrote and more so, how you wrote it. Without ignoring the wierdness that surrounded him, but focussing on him as an artist (as that is what he should be remembered for). I only just enjoyed his music and didn't know any of that stuff about how he learned all his moves and movement from all those different people. Really interesting. Thanks for sharing that.

ps: your illustrations seem to capture that special something about MJ perfectly. awesome :)

4:01 PM  
Blogger michael robertson said...

what an incredible tribute...and of course your illustrations are as beautiful as ever.

4:41 PM  
Blogger Tim Heitz said...

Love these drawings Shane (and the information as well)!

You captured him perfectly- the poses, the feet.

Great stuff!!

7:38 PM  
Blogger Heidi Gilbert said...

So awesome Shane! You should make prints so we can all buy them. :)

10:43 PM  
Blogger Bryst said...

lovely awesome man.

2:56 PM  
Blogger Bob Canada said...

Due, that Thriller zombie is AWESOME!

And you're right about MJ's talent. I hope that's what people will remember when they think of him, and not the sideshow aspects of his final years.

7:33 PM  
Blogger kaNO! said...

what an awesome post man about MJ, I followed the link from facebook, we pretty much share the same respect for MJ, the drawings are top notch as well, that smooth criminal lean is MJ to a tee.

6:41 AM  
Blogger Dacosta! said...

Great image and a great tribute to MJ.

8:49 AM  
Blogger Yavuz said...

damn!!!! these are great works.

M.J. forever....hiiiii hiiii

10:10 AM  
Blogger Gabriele Antonini said...

Dear Shane,
i hope you will not be annoyed if i've put one of your Michael's arts on my blog.
Always adoring your arts.
Gabriele

1:38 PM  
Blogger Marcos Gp said...

Well said

8:25 PM  
Blogger Esteban Caballero said...

Awesome!

RIP King Of Pop

12:52 AM  
Blogger Tel Coelho said...

I like it!!!
congratulation!!!

8:38 AM  
Blogger roque said...

Are you kidding me?! That's awesome!!! They must have seen your drawings and been like "Get this kid a ticket, now!"

Take pics please!!!!

10:06 AM  
Blogger Sho said...

Awesome , and awesome drawings !

Maybe strange to say congrats here, but it is indeed an historical farewell, and the only chance to say goodby to the one whom was part of our lives growing up. RIP Michael

10:27 AM  
Blogger SHANE PRIGMORE said...

THanks guys,

Yeah I'm freaking out over it. Pretty crazy. God ,I hope Corey Fieldman is there!
No , its gonna be crazy town for sure though. I'll keep you all posted.

11:55 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Cool drawings!

3:52 PM  
Blogger arlo ramz said...

wow.
please take pics!
touching tribute btw. [=

4:36 PM  
Blogger ALMSMcQ said...

Hey Shane! Meg just told me about the tickets! THAT IS SO AWESOME! Karma, man! You SHOULD be there! Bring some love tomorrow from Larry, Scarlett and I! AnaLisa

9:29 PM  
Blogger Andrew Murray said...

craaazy luck.

hope you take some photos.

awesome sketches.

-Andrew

5:43 AM  
Blogger Angela said...

Love your MJ pieces. Thinking of you today! Can't wait to hear about it!!!!

9:07 AM  
Blogger the doodlers said...

That smooth criminal pose...perfect.

1:01 PM  
Blogger Gerald Guerlais said...

I was wondering who, in the animation/illustration community would make the best hommage. I think you did !

8:15 AM  
Blogger Damon Bard said...

Shane, I love your Michael Jacksons...especially the zombie Thriller one...I would love to sculpt it! Hope your well.

Damon

12:27 PM  
Blogger Kei Acedera said...

Such a good tribute. I love the smooth criminal!

1:00 PM  
Blogger Adele K. Thomas said...

OOOOOH I was waiting for an artist to do some MJ tribute drawings...and yours are brilliant!
what a beautiful post.
I was going to do some images, one from Beat It as its my favourite, but was so busy...would you mind doing that one PLEEEEASE?

7:54 PM  
Blogger Nixnotz said...

amazing stuff...

10:32 PM  
Blogger Jason Scheier said...

I love your paintings so much Shane!
I watched Captain EO over and over when I was a kid at Disneyland...

12:24 AM  
Blogger Mattio said...

is it possible to get a print of any of the michael jackson pieces? I searched through all the comments, and nobody has asked... is it bad form? I am WILD about these images... SeƱor Prigmore?

12:51 PM  
Blogger Howard Shum said...

Nice tribute!

12:53 AM  
Blogger TotalD said...

It's funny, when I heard he died I thought of you and how much you loved his work. The saddest thing to me is that MJ could not have seen your drawings of him. I think he would have really loved them. So to the true fans who knew MJ was too innocent to hurt anyone I send my condolences .

1:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great post and drawings! So true what you say about drawing on outside influences and his absolute commitment to perfection -- very inspiring.

___________________
Smarry
Naton wide cash is easy and fast

5:11 AM  
Blogger lindsey olivares said...

i love this post
awesome sketches
i love michael

3:51 PM  
Blogger Damion009 said...

the Michale you have on here are amazing... makes me look at my Michale in a new light!

4:59 PM  
Blogger Anna Gopin said...

Shane you are AWSOME!!!

3:18 PM  
Blogger Rafa Toro said...

:_D

3:13 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Shane, we haven't met but we have a mutual friend in Peter Gomez? I stumbled across your blog and was really blown away with your work. I am a huge fan of Art/Animation/Character design and am an artist myself. I do graphic design and dance on my spare time... I'm actually the guy Pete spoke to you about that worked with M.J. on Smooth Criminal & Captain EO. I'd love to meet you someday, you can either reach me through Pete or via email... hugo_huizar@verizon.net

12:54 PM  
Blogger Edwin Rhemrev said...

The leaning MJ:
Best
MJ
Illustration
EVER!

-Edwin

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8:07 PM  
Blogger Arrthi said...

These are awesome! Love the style and poses!

6:39 AM  
Blogger Hobo Divine said...

Love those Michael Jackson caricatures especially the Thriller one!!! I remember when that video debuted!! Everyone talked about it all day at school the next day!

5:50 PM  
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