Hey you! My name is Thomas 'TomSka' Ridgewell and I… Am an inspiration! To some people.
For some strange reason.
The idea of creative inspiration fascinates me because it's not a simple case of person
one inspiring person two. No, if you are inspired by someone you are likely the ten thousandth
person in an unending chain reaction of creative inspiration. An inspirational equation,
which kinda rhymes. I guess. I don't know.
It all would have started a very, very long time ago with person one. Who was probably
a caveman and person one would have maybe made a little version of themselves out of
sticks. A stickman if you will, which would have inspired person two to maybe paint that
person, that stickman, onto the wall of their cave and then person three was inspired to
paint a stickman and a stickwoman and so on and so forth. Then thousands on thousands
of generations of inspiration later we get to you! And me! And the thing that inspire us.
It's a long equation.
Anyway, this train of thought inspired me to jump back a step in my own inspiration
equation and pay tribute to those who directly inspire me. Because they're awesome and I
love them and you should love them. Ahem... Let's go.
Number one! The comic artist Gary Larson. I When I was 10 years old I discovered his
comic The Far Side and it taught me the basics of subverting expectations - the foundation
of most comedy. I also ripped off the way he drew eyes to create my own original character...
Tom.
Number Two! The artist and animator Tom DesLongchamp. A yearlater I stumbled across Tom's online
videos and animations and knew that whatever that was, I wanted to do it for the rest of
my life. And that’s exactly what I did! YAY! I achieved my dreams! At a really young age...
Now I don't know what to do with myself.
Number Three! The late animator Edd Gould. Edd was a lot like Tom DesLongchamp but less
annoyed by me. He actually let me work with him and through that I got invaluable experience
writing and directing animation. I also ripped off his art style to create me own original
character... Tom. Another way Edd inspired me was his unadulterated passion for creation.
He didn't care about money or status, he just wanted to make cartoons. Can't relate. I love money.
Number Four! The comedian and musician Bo Burnham. Bo started out on YouTube at the
same time as me but has since grown to be a internationally successful standup comedian.
His sense of humour, his darkness, his delivery, his struggles, his delivery. They all resonate
pretty hard with me. Basically he's just a dude! Just a really cool dude!
Number Five. The multitalented filmmaker Dominic Fera. The only person on this list younger
than me (spit), Not only did Dom directly inspired asdfmovie with his Lazer Collection
series but has also since grown into one of the most talented filmmakers and storytellers
of our generation. Basically I ship it real hard. Muah!
Number Six. Writers and actors Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher. These two are the minds behind
the YouTube channel BriTANicK and lemme tell ya, for me, they wrote the playbook on sketch
comedy. Structuring, pacing, delivery. It's all just... Mwah! Mwah! Mwah! I love it so much.
Number Seven! Writer and director Joss Whedon. I mean, c'mon. Firefly, Avengers, Doctor Horrible's
Singalong Blog, Fucking Toy Story! I just... Aaah! AAAH!
Number Eight. Pendelton Ward. Pen is the mind behind both Adventure Time and Bravest Warriors.
He's a master of creating wonderfully insane worlds that are also incredibly dark and complex
below the surface. Also a shoutout to Adventure Time's show-runner Adam Muto who's leadership,
in my opinion, has only served to make the show even better. Yeah!
Number Nine! Writer Dan Harmon, the creator of Community and co-creator of Rick 'n' Morty.
Big up Justin Roiland. Dan's work doesn't just inspire me creatively, but also on a
personal level as a fello chunky, angry, drinker, he constantly reminds me that there's still
a place in the world for people like me still. And that's a beautiful inspiration.
Number Ten! Song-writer, word-writer, and picture-drawer Rebecca Sugar. Not only is
Rebecca responsible for some of the best, most musical moments of Adventure Time
but she also brought us Steven Universe, which is another show that is outwardly fun and vibrant, but with
a deep and dark undercurrent. I really like that show. I really do. I don't care what you think.
Number Eleven. Alex Hirsch. Alex is the mind behind Gravity Falls which is a pretty huge
inspiration to me in, once again, how it’s simultaneously the super goofy, fun show that
takes an exceptionally dark turn. That’s exactly the kinda stuff I wanna make!
Thank you for that show good sir.
Number Twelve. Writers and directors Chris Miller and Philip Lord. Clone High, Cloudy
with a Chance of Meatballs, 21 and 22 Jump Street, The Lego Movie, ugh! These guys are
an unstoppable comedic force and I just… I dunno how they do it. Teach me your ways.
PLEASE. PLEASE!!!
Finally, the honourable mentions. The people who have inspired or influenced me in one
way or another but… I don’t really have enough to say about… They are!
Rob Denbleyker Seth MacFarlane
Don Hertzfeldt Matthew Perry
Matt Groening Matt Wilson
Chris Kendall Fred Siebert
Garth Ennis Dylan Moran
Edgar Wright and Louis C.K.
So, those are people who have had a pretty sizeable impact on the way I go about doing
the things that I do. At least, those are the ones I can remember… I drink a lot.
Now, the question I have for you is, who are you inspirations and influences? Leave a comment,
make your own video, and spread the love or spread the lurve. How ever you want to say
it. If you wanna say words wrong. Whats wrong with me. Whatever! I'll see you next time.
TomSka out.