Viking_Yearbook_93

5©QC3'iffll .ARQ7 fflgWOi- ‘B’CSftOl • <» ^yar naiflis ««3s^ a flD#«iUi«w+• «<ow«* world,” Callahan said. “Nothing like a little feminist baiting to keep your blood sugar up.” he added. He thinks that Portland produces quality artists because of the weather. “There’s so much rain, it depresses people to death — so they get creative or something,” Callahan said. Despite his success, Callahan still lives in Portland. “I think it’s a nice place in spite of the horrible weather,” he said. Bill Plympton agreed with Callahan. Portland produces great artists because of the weather. “It’s the rain, no doubt..There’s nothing to do all day,” Plympton said. “I grew up in the country and my only friends were the trees.” With the rain, boredom. and trees, Plympton said he started drawing imaginary friends when he was 3 years old. He knew he wanted to be a cartoonist by the time he was 5 , when Disney was coming out with some great animation. His favorite Disney character is Goofy. But, he admits, he “never liked Disney as much as Warner Brothers, especially Daffy Duck and Road Runner.” Since Plympton’s start at the Vanguard in 1966, his illustrations and cartoons have been in The New York Times, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Penthouse, National Lampoon, etc. In 1975 he began “Plymtoon,” a political cartoon strip. By 1981 the strip was syndicated by Universal Press in more than 20 newspapers. The success of Plympton’s comic strips enabled him to pursue his true love — animation. In 1988 he received an Oscar nomination for best animation for the film, “Your Face.” A generation of MTV may know Plympton’s animated shorts such as “How to Kiss” or “How to Quit Smoking.” His full-length feature, “THE TUNE,” was released fall 1992 and has gained popularity. Plympton said it’s tough to sell the idea of animation for adults. He disagrees with the naysayers that say animation is just for kids. “There’s a lot of people our age that want to see animation with adult themes,” Plympton said. And the success of his films proves this to be true. Now Plympton lives in New York where gets most of his ideas for his cartoons. “It’s the weirdness factor,” he said. “Just walk down the street in New York.” Plympton will be back in Oregon, July and August 1993, filming the full-length, live action movie, “Guns on the Clackamas.” Then, he’ll go back to New York to work on his next animated film. Whether its the rain or the freedom of expression the Vanguard offers aspiring artists, Portland State has helped to springboard some of the best. H OW THE ' OET ON the viewers