I almost never draw fanart, but when a character works pretty well with my style... say hullo to the Dog from Footrot Flats. It's a comic from New Zealand I only recently discovered and found to be quite endearing. It's beautifully archived on the official website if you're unfamiliar & curious - ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

umpleframple.bsky.social • 30 days ago

I almost never draw fanart, but when a character works pretty well with my style... say hullo to the Dog from Footrot Flats. It's a comic from New Zealand I only recently discovered and found to be quite endearing. It's beautifully archived on the official website if you're unfamiliar & curious

Comments

ladycygnetina.bsky.social•30 days ago

My childhood favourite! This comic was really popular in Australia too. I think I saw the movie about 100 times.

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Sweet! Sadly it wasn't known in my part of Europe, but I read once that the movie was distributed in Serbia!

jeffpidgeon.bsky.social•30 days ago

I used to have a making-of book of the Footrot Flats movie. I’ve still never read the strip, so I’ll check it out. Thanks!

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

You're welcome! Definitely give the comics a chance, they're worth it!

thx1964.bsky.social•30 days ago

I have one of the comic books somewhere from MANY years ago. I wonder if the movie is available anywhere?!
OMG: https://footrotflats.com/!

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

The movie is on YouTube for free :) Watched it last week and it was so fun

bakertoons.com•30 days ago

Aw nice art! Love "Footroot Flats" myself.

There's a movie based on it as well if you haven't seen it.

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Thank you kindly! I watched the movie last week, the date scene with Cheeky Hobson is my absolute favourite!

aloyzius.bsky.social•29 days ago

I was trying to remember what this comic was for a very long time! Thank you! Also, you nail it!

umpleframple.bsky.social•28 days ago

Happy to be of service, anytime! Thank you very much!

arcvvizard.bsky.social•30 days ago

Ah yes, Dog

alyzard.bsky.social•30 days ago

I love Footrot Flats! I have all the books that were gifted from my Grandad

ladycygnetina.bsky.social•30 days ago

My grandad collected the books too! It appealed to grandads.

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Lucky you :D I wish I had at least some of them on paper, but I'm very grateful for the online archive!

snoamo.bsky.social•30 days ago

Cross between Pepe Le Pew and Sylvester the cat

foxlover91.bsky.social•30 days ago

Cute little guy there Bluesman, great work! 🥰

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Thank you so much! :)

daftpunkyoshi.bsky.social•30 days ago

I watched the movie a few years ago and I had discovered that it had its own theme park during the 80s as well.

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umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

I learned that Footrot Flats was a cultural juggernaut there & I'm honestly not surprised! I wish I owned at least one book!

mattjbunny.bsky.social•30 days ago

Wow! You drew Dog really well mate. I'm a huge fan of Footrot Flats myself as well. First got into the comic back in 2008.

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Thank you very much! It seems everybody who ever read them loves them & I'm honestly not surprised!

albertobalsalm.bsky.social•30 days ago

Every time I look at one of your works I learn something, and I mean that as a massive compliment.

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Wow, this is a HUGE compliment & definitely not something I ever expected to hear!! I'm just dumping my silly ideas onto paper - knowing you view my work in that way means a ton, Alberto!

albertobalsalm.bsky.social•29 days ago

All your figures, line work, character design, it's just all so beautiful and inspiring!

umpleframple.bsky.social•29 days ago

Gosh, thank you so much! :) It's the highest honour to know I was able to inspire you & I can die happy!! (but hopefully not soon!)

albertobalsalm.bsky.social•29 days ago

I'd like to think making excellent toons forges a path to a long happy life

umpleframple.bsky.social•29 days ago

Beautiful. Goes right into my quote book, which only gains new entries on special occasions like this one!

drhoz.bsky.social•30 days ago

probably the only syndicated newspaper comic that regularly featured testicles in the art, too. Murray Ball had few illusions about farm life, being a farmer himself.

drhoz.bsky.social•30 days ago

reacquired many of the collections whilst over there this time last year.

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Haha, it's true that some of these comics are quite ballsy. I really enjoy his portrayal of traditional farming though, it's charming, but not sugar-coated!

devastator77.bsky.social•30 days ago

The Dog is an enduring part of my Kiwi childhood :0)

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

I'm happy for ya! He's a proper role model :D

devastator77.bsky.social•30 days ago

There's a Footrot Flats movie, see if you can hunt it down.

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Yes! It's free on YouTube, I watched it last week & it was fun!

devastator77.bsky.social•30 days ago

Those BLOODY Murphys!

voicesman63.bsky.social•30 days ago

Lots of Looney tune designs in the mix with this!!!! I like it alot!!!!!

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Thank you!! Looney Tunes is one of my biggest influences, so that's a huge compliment!

voicesman63.bsky.social•30 days ago

Definitely a fusion of a few in here!!! Wile E, Sylvester and Pepe immediately came to mind!!!!

jossrickard.bsky.social•30 days ago

Just dropping this here if you don't know it exists! https://youtu.be/Hv5tlyKEoXU?si=Cyg0Z1l7C05KSCqN

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

I watched it last week & had a very good time :) Hopefully others will take a look too!

cabcat.bsky.social•25 days ago

Oh yeah!!

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Also, confession: I don't particularly enjoy Garfield. It had a bad influence on me when I was a dumb kid, made me believe that being a meanie was hip and cool. Meanwhile Footrot Flats hits the spot because the characters are nicer and the strips are much more visually interesting in my opinion!

cabcat.bsky.social•29 days ago

I love Footrot Flats, I grew up in Australia so we had the books as kids :3

umpleframple.bsky.social•29 days ago

It's fascinating how universally loved it is there! Then again, I understand completely :D (didn't take long for me to become a fan, haha)

bixdogbixdog.bsky.social•29 days ago

When I worked at Startoons, the owner & master animator Jon Mclenahan introduced us to this strip! It's so well drawn and energetic. I wish it was more widely seen

umpleframple.bsky.social•28 days ago

Mr McClenahan knew good things! Oh yeah, energetic is the perfect word to describe these comics :) Me too, I only learned about Footrot Flats because I randomly bumped into somebody's online conversation and they mentioned it. Never saw it anywhere in Europe, sadly

bixdogbixdog.bsky.social•28 days ago

I remember Jon encountered it when he worked at the Hanna-Barbera studio in Australia. I don't know if it's ever been animated but the style would lend itself beautifully to animation. Thanks for reminding me of FF, I'm off to see if I can find a collection of strips!

umpleframple.bsky.social•28 days ago

Yes! There's a Footrot Flats movie and it's very faithful to Murray Ball's vision, so I recommend checking it out as it can be found of YouTube for free. You're welcome & have fun reading/watching :D

bixdogbixdog.bsky.social•28 days ago

Wow!! Thanks Bluesman!!

jacobspencer04.bsky.social•29 days ago

This is cool

umpleframple.bsky.social•29 days ago

Thank you!

cartooncomedy64.bsky.social•30 days ago

Is it just me, or is that some kind of a Dr. Seuss styled Sylvester? btw it looks good.

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Thank you! Haha, could just be my rendition because if you take a look at this character in his original style, he certainly looks like a Border Collie

givemespacetravel.bsky.social•30 days ago

'Hullo?'. Probably should have been 'G'day', the greeting shared by we Aussies and New Zealand. Good rendering though. Footrot Flats was very big in Australia, both the comic strip and the movie.

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Thank you! "Hullo" is very commonly used across the comics, so I went with that :) But that's good to know; I only had a single course about Australia during my studies, so my knowledge is limited to the very basics!

givemespacetravel.bsky.social•30 days ago

Ah OK. It's been a long time since I saw any Footrot Flats so you are probably right. I should start looking at them again. I was recently in New Zealand and most people in the 'Wal Footrot' areas would greet you with 'G'day'.

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

It's alright! Definitely give them another read if you feel like it, they're so fun. I've never been there, though I'm somewhat familiar with the accent & it's one of my faves along with the Irish!

ixentrick.bsky.social•30 days ago

Never heard of this character but the google search of it shows lovely cartooning style. Very nice drawing of the dog in your style! Cute!

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

Thank you very much! :) I definitely enjoy the original art style too, it checks so many of my boxes!

lionheart94.bsky.social•30 days ago

I grew up with the footrot flats books, my dad loved them.

The character "Dog" was based on the Murray Balls actual dog, he stopped making the series when his real life inspiration passed away.

Its an amazing series. I recommend everyone read the comics and check out the animated movie.

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

I agree, both the comics and the movie have that special kind of charm that simply can't be replicated by anything else. Thank you for sharing the little fact too! It might be a bit sad, but I respect the creator's decision to retire - it was his vision!

lionheart94.bsky.social•30 days ago

I say all this as an Australian since they were pretty popular here. I have a few of them.

goomonster.bsky.social•30 days ago

I love Dog! My stepdad had nearly the entire book collection. Was so funny.

umpleframple.bsky.social•30 days ago

I feel like he's a type of character you fall in love with just a couple of pages in - I know I did!