Not exploiting your creation (Bill Watteson)

[Nr1Humanoid]

No movie, no cartoon, no merchandise and he actually stopped writing to avoid going mediocre rather than run the strip into the ground just for the profit.

Are there any other creators of something that has taken the same kind of stance that you know of?

I think it's very admirable.

[Sir Woodrow]

It's a great strategy all round as Calvin and Hobbes remain a beloved strip to this day.

[Zabel Zarock]

Good way to keep the comic alive. Wonder how much more cash he could have gotten if he sold out just a little, know I'd do it in a heartbeat.

[Tom Turkey]

Kudos on him for keeping his wits about it, regarding Calvin & Hobbes.

[Sir Woodrow]

He's the mirror opposite of Jim Davis

[Macho Dude Handy Damage]

Rumours say Bill Watterson does in fact have an interest in making a Calvin & Hobbes animated movie. But it's kinda hard, as he apparently wants full creative control and do most of the animation himself.

It's been a couple of years since I heard this rumour and it's never been fully verified.

But if the rumour is correct, he's not fully finished with it just quite yet.

[S-Chrome]

Sept 1, 2011 19:59:53 GMT -5 Macho Dude Handy Damage said:

Rumours say Bill Watterson does in fact have an interest in making a Calvin & Hobbes animated movie. But it's kinda hard, as he apparently wants full creative control and do most of the animation himself.

It's been a couple of years since I heard this rumour and it's never been fully verified.

But if the rumour is correct, he's not fully finished with it just quite yet.

I mean, considering that it's been 15 years since the last C&H strip, I think Watterson has moved on to different priorities and projects this current day.

[MolotovMocktail]

Watterson has said he always wanted to do an animated special, but what held him back was he felt that no matter who he cast for the voices, it would come out sounding wrong.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Larson did the same with Far Side.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

Watterson is a really odd guy. Love the comic, but the dude is a little off in the head I think

[Sajoa Moe]

Sept 1, 2011 20:58:39 GMT -5 MolotovMocktail said:

Watterson has said he always wanted to do an animated special, but what held him back was he felt that no matter who he cast for the voices, it would come out sounding wrong.

I feel the same way. I just can't imagine any of the characters with actual voices.

But then again, somebody probably said the same about Peanuts years ago.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

^^^ Robot Chicken and Family Guy have both done C & H jokes and it just sounded weird with them having voices

[Deleted]

As far as other creators, there are a few comic book creators that fit the mold. Most famously is Alan Moore, who pretty much distances himself from his books after completing them and goes out of his way, for better or worse, to recommend that people don't make movies and merchandise for them. Neil Gaiman could have continued on the Sandman for years, coasting on its rep as the #1 alternative adult comic at the time, but decided to end a series that could theoretically done anything imaginable at seventy-five regular issues and one special. Dave Sim, creator of Cerberus, knew when he wanted to end the series and, like Gaiman, could've continued for years doing middling in quality work while still collecting pay checks.

[TCA]

Sept 1, 2011 18:42:26 GMT -5 Nr1Humanoid said:

No movie, no cartoon, no merchandise and he actually stopped writing to avoid going mediocre rather than run the strip into the ground just for the profit.

Are there any other creators of something that has taken the same kind of stance that you know of?

I think it's very admirable.

It is admirable and I respect his choice, but I don't have a problem with artists that turn their products over for merchandise, movies, and keep on writing new strips every day. It keeps it alive and relevant, as well as allowing fans to have their own personal part of something special.
I must confess I'm a bit biased, as I am a Garfield collector.

[Hit Girl]

Are there any other creators of something that has taken the same kind of stance that you know of?

Mark Hollis, the lead singer of the British group "Talk Talk"

Just basically walked away from the music industry.

[Deleted]

While I have no objections to merchandise by any means, I do respect his devotion to the idea of not whoring the series out. I imagine it must be pretty tempting to go against an idea like that but all of these years he's managed it.

Although I have to admit, selling a stuffed Hobbes would be kind of awesome.

[biafra]

I'm sure he made millions with the "Calvin pissing on the Ford/Chevy" logo thing.



I'm kidding.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

He's a better man than I. If I made something famous I'd sell out as much as possible so that my family would have a nest egg.

[Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture]

I always wanted to see a short run of C & H where Calvin is grown (maybe college age), and reconnects with Hobbes after many years.

[Nr1Humanoid]

Strangly enough I have a t-shirt where Hobbes eats Calvin's intestines. Guess it was made without consent.