Bad Cat the seer

Bad Cat has a lump body shape like a Buddha or yoda. She is a seer and has one blind blue eye. She looks mongrelish. Her front paws and tail look like robes wrapped in front of her. Although, occassionally, in the midst of very mystical advice, she will bite her tail when "it is trying to get away". It should always be flopping at the tip irregularly, ruining her mystique.

Mikenese

The moose's heavy Mikenese slang contributes to the confusion about the basement and canada being the same place.
The Mikenese should escalate: e.g. "for days" has to be said before "por dias"

South Park Storyboards

South Park Storyboards

Here's some great examples of storyboards from Southpark.  There is a short continuous storyboarded sequence as well as an unfinished version of the episode with some animation mixed with storyboard sequences and VO.  

sketch 1st episode

1. Overhead shot of Algebra sleeping on Moose: Crane up revealing partied-on deck
2. Moose wakes up, flinging cat off himself while yelling "hot"/Moose thought bubble=fire
3. Cat runs to and hangs out under bench
4.  Wider shot of deck
5. WS disheveled Santa flying of in night sky
6. CU Moose talking/
7. CU Algebra talking/lady filling food bowl
8. FS Moose stretching
9. FS or CU Algebra's ears perk up accompanied by sound of food hitting bowl
10. Shot of Algebra talking
11. WS of Moose walking to hide on deck
12. FS of Algebra leaning against the door
13.  Cut to moose
14. Cut to Moose's perpective=the door opens.  A pair of Legs emerge (maybe this shot should be reconsidered as Moose is tall) and tosses some food in a bowl and grabs the other bowl.  Algebra begins eating.  The door opns again
15. MS Algebra rolls over on her back 
16. Low Shot:Algebra runs when human gets close and deposits water back on deck.  
17. Moose Perspective: The human has an old fashioned ice pack held to her head as she goes to exit.  
18. Low shot:  Another cat comes out gets tangled in the legs, and enters the porch.  Manchego, the new cat, approaches the food bowl and Algebra moves out of her way.
19. CU mooses perspective:  Algebra eats only a little before sauntering around the deck,  Algebra resumes eating
20. Cut to the Moose watching, he hears a loud thumping of a crash. He turns to look.
21. Manchego jumps to the roof and looks down at the Moose from this vantage point. She says "Who are you? You're on my deck. Are you from my party?"
22. Moose look up and says "I was a reindeer"
23. Manchego "What are you anyway, you don't smell like a dog and you're too big to be a raccoon."
24. (two shots intercut and the animals say their lines)
25. CU Manchego appears to consider
26. Manchego jumps into the bowl of Moose's antler
27. Manchego walks to the moose's top of the head
28. Shot of Manchego peering into Moose's face
29. Algebra jumps back onto the roof and disappears over the roof
30. Moose walks around to meet Algebra.  When he gets to the doorway, the door is now open and the bowl of cat food is full
31. Moose pokes his head into the doorway. He has to turn his head sideways to accommodate his antlers
32. Algebra is inside the kitchen, eating the inside food
33. Moose turns his head back to the outside bowls and slurps all the water in one gulp.
34. The Moose shuffles down the porch, and eats the dying plants
35. CU:  Moose is chewing, plants are hanging out of his mouth and he chews and hollers:Who's that bitch? She was buggy.  He calls back into the kitchen.  
36. Algebra walks out of the doorway and licks her face as she walks. She says: meal ticket
37. Moose looks down at the full bowl of food in the doorway, reaching his head around
38. Cu Moose looking at food, head low: That stuff looks like what comes out not what goes in
39. Algebra says: better than grass.  Where is Algebra when she says this?  has she moved to sit somewhere?  does her face peer into the bowl with Moose?
40. MS Moose tries some of the food
41. CU Moose makes an appreciative evaluating face
42. Algebra speaks again same q's about where is Algebra now
43. WS of both Algebra and Moose on deck.  Moose says: I like this place. I think I will crash for a while..  Camera crane up to show wider view of environment
44. FS of Algebra hiding under something (possibly under steps leading down, looking through cracks, perhaps having been there during this whole interaction) Says: Yes, you're warm. Stay
45. END OF 1ST mini Story

Prompt Book of The Godfather

1. The synopsis
2. The imagery
3. the core
4. the pitfalls

hijinks ideas

Either the moose or one of the raccoons is constantly picking up new SF hobbies:

• firedancing
• tightrope walking
• capoiera
• yoga
• a new kind of better yoga
• Hula hooping
• making fancy drinks with weird ingredients found on the deck
• jewelry making
• marijuana cultivation/bakery
• meth lab
• real estate agent
• Filipino gangster
• wild foraging chef
• energy work/psychic studies
• works for sierra club as a door to door canvaser
• graphic designer/animator

Charater list with descriptions

• Moose:  Gay partier, who arrive with lecherous Santa's crew of wild boys at a Xmas party on a deck in SF.  Speaks "Mike-sican" Needs to get back to Canada, but taking his time.  Very social, and naive.  Trusting and fashionable [LOVABLE LOSER? out of this world?]
• Algebra:  the outdoor cat and roommate to Moose.  She is lonely and cold living on the deck but enjoys the free food of her rich indoor neighbor. She is intensely distrustful.  She is however confident she has things figured out.  She tries to teach Moose "the streets" in the same way she was educated by her deceased outdoor cat friend. [Neurotic/Straight, sarcastic character]  Thai bar girl-type character?  Uses the famous expression "Same Same".  Expression often means that what you want is the same as the thing I am offering for sale.  This also adds to the basement/Canada confusion.  It also echos the philosophy that your best strategy to receive assets from those that have them is to agree with anything/appear to agree with everything.  Also, showcases the divergence of true feeling which is utter disdain for their benefactors
• Manchego (cartoon name TBD): the rich indoor cat.  Shallow, free-spirited, adventurous.  Arrogant.  Shares with her friends but to a point.  Maintains her "top cat" placement.  Was also educated by Bad Cat.[Materialist]
• Raccoon (name TBD) :  Does not follow the rules or code passed down to the cats.  With his nimble fingers and paws, the raccoon open doors and takes the things that he wants and believes those who do not are weak and suckers.  Also the raccoon has not been fixed, like the cats. [Bastard]
• The Legs:  feeder of the animals.  Both cares for and tries to keep the animals in check but is basically dominate by the animals.  The animals are shown reacting to The Legs, but not much is shown about the Legs directly.
• Erin (name TBD):  the human who hangs out on the porch and makes friends with Moose.  The gossip together and smoke.  She is also young to the city but a bit more seasoned than the Moose.  She is also at the mercy of the charity of the legs.  Algebra is wary of Erin
• Bad Cat: (name TBD)  Bad Cat appears in flashback and to Algebra ala OB1.  She plays the role of the wiseman, although her advice is somewhat questionable.  Her body is shown coiled up like a Indian-style Buddha.  She is an orange cat and appears like a monk.[WiseWoman]
• The city SF itself:   The city is an exaggerated version of itself.  This version of the city is SF 20-30 years later as if the recession that has begun now just got worse and worse.  Something of a modern Havana. The city is made up of multiple layers of development and decay and the building are made up from multiple eras.  The city is consumed with itself and is consuming itself.  It is both a celebration and a destroyer. 

MINOR Characters:

•  Santa:  drunk and debauched, but somewhat benevolent and enjoying life.  Picks up hooved animals and hitches them into his sleigh as his entourage. Loves to visit the Folsom Street scene in SF as they share his appreciation of harnesses and a theatrical flair [Manizer]
•  Rats:  live in ganglike and culturally distinct and separate communities.
  
• Other Raccoons: 

Beats for opening sequence

1. This is the story of how I,  a Canandian moose, came to stay on a city deck: (shot of moose/deck, from above)
2. I showed up at a Christmas themed costume party, and missed my ride (shot of party/moose in reindeer outfit, shot of drunk Santa driving away)
3. I made friends with the locals, some are nicer than others (shot of cats/ shot of raccoon or bunch of revelers together, with Legs?)
4. I had always been intrigued by the bright lights of the big city, and decided to stay awhile... (shot of Moose looking up at northern lights)
5. But I knew one day I would have to get back to Canada...
6. Have you met Algebra?  She's from Canada too...Only she calls it the basement (Shot of Canada or Canadian flag fade into a basement)  Together, we're making a plan to get home, and I know we'll make it back by next winter--but I hope we don't make it too soon! because I am having a great time in the city!
7. [We call her Algebra, because she's got it all figured out] (shot of Algebra with elaborate drawn out numeric plans)

cat behaviors

Cat shredding a box

cat fight

eating a bird against a window

raccoon molest cat

video

stealing food

invading a kitchen

cat eating with Raccoon

cat vs. bear

cat fights another cat through a window

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJZMunpgOtI

drunk moose cartoon

More Moose inspiration

Moose and Northern lights

Santa's sleigh images

A cat and moose touch noses

Dates and times for presentations

May 8th 2:00, present "The Adventures of Cat and Moose"

12.45 may 22 dvd presentation

Animation software/stop motion

Frame Thief

Stop Motion Pro

Pieces of the story in screenplay format, that for some reason I can't get to stay formatted on blog

FADE IN
EXT. THE BACK DECK, SF? -- MORNING
A cat, ALGEBRA, sleeps nestled onto a strange furry object. As the camera pulls away, we realize the cat is sleeping on top of a MOOSE, who is dressed as one of Santa's reindeers. The animals are on an urban ramshackle deck strewn with the wreckage of a booze and costumed Christmas party. Cigarette butts, liquor bottles.
MOOSE
Hot, hot, hot!
The moose shakes violently, tossing the cat into the air.
The cat is flung to the ground, and characteristically lands on her feet. She scuttles under a bench and looks out at the moose with big staring eyes. Her head is low to the ground
Off in the distance, what appears to be a disheveled Santa is flying off with a rag tag group of animals (all in the deer family) flying drunkenly away
MOOSE

O, Bummer my Ride! Well screw that old lech anyway, he's beyond Daddy and well into Grandpa. Sort of a Jelly belly too. I am not ready for boring old Canada.
Moose addresses the cat
MOOSE
Hey you,What do I have to do to get water around here.
ALGEBRA
The lady comes
The Moose stretches and shakes its head, causing the jingle bells on its harness to RING.
MOOSE
Chard for days last night. So hungles
SOUND OF CAT FOOD IN METAL BOWL
Just then, the cat's ears perk up.
ALGEBRA
Shh! Hide over there! You'll ruin it
Moose tosses his head and shuffles over to the other side of the L shaped deck behind the blind, JINGLING as he walks
The cat runs low to the ground and props herself up on the window of the door leading out to the deck.
A pair of legs appear from the door in sweat pants and slippers. One hand pours food from a bag and grabs an empty bowl.
Algebra rolls over on her back flirtatiously, but runs when the legs get too close. The legs puts down new water.
The legs exit, holding an ice pack to its head with the other hand. As the legs does this, another cat gets tangled in her legs and enters the deck.
Algebra concedes the food to this other cat.
This new cat, Manchego, eats a few bites and saunters over to the moose. She jumps up to a roof to be above its eye level.
MANCHEGO
Who are you? You're on my deck. Are you from my party?
MOOSE
I was a reindeer.
MANCHEGO
What are you anyway, you don't smell like a dog and you're too big to be a raccoon.
MOOSE
I'm a moose, dressed as a reindeer.
MANCHEGO
Which what?
MOOSE
I'm a moose, dressed as a reindeer
Manchego seems to consider this, and then jumps into the bowl of the Moose's antlers, throwing the Moose off balance, and causing it to JINGLE again.
Manchego peers down into the Moose's face.
MANCHEGO
Well you seem good for climbing. You can hang out on my deck, but remember you're only an outside animal.
Manchego climbs back on the roof and disappears.
Moose walks around the deck to find Algebra.
Algebra has pushed the door open and is eating a bowl of food inside, although the one outside is still full.
Moose drinks all the water in the water bowl in one slurp, and then starts nibbling on the nearly dead potted plants on the deck.
MOOSE
(while munching on plants)
Who's that bitch? She was buggy
ALGEBRA
Meal ticket
MOOSE
That stuff looks like what comes out not what goes in
ALGEBRA
Better than grass
Moose tries some from the outside bowl. Moose chomps on it, considers, and makes a face of appreciation.
ALGEBRA
Legs feed us. Feeds inside cat. Sees us, hears us, feeds us
MOOSE
I like this place. I think I will crash for a while.
ALGEBRA
Yes, you're warm. Stay
E
EXT. THE BACK DECK, SF? -- MORNING
Moose is drinking water on the back deck out of a bowl. He keeps interuptting his drinking to try to scratch his junk with his hoof.
Note:
The Moose realizes that his junk is itching. Moose crabs? Algebra and Manchego tell Moose about the SPCA, where they have had to go when they were "in trouble" Moose convinces the indoor cat, Manchego, to go with him, as he is scared. Moose uses the last of the magic juice of the reindeer harness to get them to the SPCA and back.
INT. WAITING ROOM, SPCA, SF? -- DAY
The SPCA is modeled after the 7th street clinic. There is a terrible rainbow themed mural of animals in the jungle. The muzak is on the smooth R'N'B station. The seats are arranged in rows with an occasional table.
Manchego and Moose wait in the clinic. Manchego sits on the table next to Moose's chair. Moose is trying to read Ranger Rick.
A sign up front reads, "The SPCA is only treating patients with active symptoms today." The sign is reposted around the lobby.
A mule arrives and moves into the row of seats behind the Manchego and the Moose.
The Mule begins to stare hard at Moose. The mule leans its head into the row ahead of him. "
MULE
Hey
Moose sits uncomfortably. His back legs are crossed. He picks up his front hoof on the Mule side and puts it to his temple, and looks more fixedly at Ranger Rick.
MOOSE
(whispering)
Can you at least pretend to read so he doesn't try to talk to us
Manchego opens a Cat Fancy.
MANCHEGO

Yeah, he's kind of an ass
Manchego looks up from her magazine.
MANCHEGO
You know this new Tokinese model totally does coke to stay that thin. She looks like she has worms
Moose glares at Manchego and moves a seat away from the Mule. Manchego gets nervous and moves over to Moose. She climbs up and perches on his shoulder and shows Moose another page.
MANCHEGO
I was really pissed at Brad for a while, but he's really great with her litter
As she talk, she shreds the corner of the magazine with her teeth.
The Mule moves down and sticks his face into their row.
MULE
What are a couple of hotties like you doin in here? I just here getting drug tested for my new job. Yeah, I'll be making like 20 dollars an hour, the drug test is only a formality
MOOSE
Well all they're treating today is people with VD symptoms. It's posted, like, everywhere
MANCHEGO
And we don't want whatever you've got, although we're amazed you got any from anyone, so big ups on that
A Human NURSE stands at the front
NURSE
Letter E? Letter E?
MOOSE
(whispering)
You have to come with me.
MANCHEGO
(in a low voice)
No way, bad memories
MOOSE
You want to stay out here with the ass
The Mule winks at Manchego and licks his lips.
Moose stands up.
MOOSE
Well?
Manchego hops on Moose's back and follows the nurse into the back.
INT. DOCTOR'S EXAM ROOM, SPCA, SF? -- MOMENTS LATER
Manchego is hiding unconvincingly behind a plant, staring at the Moose
The Moose is wearing a paper hospital gown.
The DOCTOR comes in and puts on a pair of surgical gloves. She grabs a thermometer with a little thermometer condom on it.
Manchego's eyes are open wide. Her tail sticks sticks up.
DOCTOR
So what's going on back there, you're hopping with crabs.
Manchego's POV looking head on to Moose. The doctor leans behind the moose.
DOCTOR
Have you been having dry sex? You need to be using lube.
The doctor stands back up and appears to move her arm.
DOCTOR
How have you been in the city? You look like you're a long way from home. This should take care of it but you need to be practicing safer behaviors.
The doctor gives the Moose a shot.
MOOSE
Well, I..
DOCTOR
You've been really irresponsible. The city is no place for a Moose. We will make arrangements for you to stay at the zoo until we can find you a bus ticket back to Canada
MOOSE
But, I...
DOCTOR
I see you too, cat, I bet you've been encouraging him. A moose has no business outside of the wild! Stay away from cats--they're a bad influence.
The doctor taps her clipboard.
DOCTOR
Well, I'm going to call around and see which zoo or shelter can put you up tonight, don't go anywhere.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE ROOM, SPCA, SF? -- MOMENTS LATER
The door opens and the moose tries to peer out the door with one side of his face, which is difficult, with his antlers. Manchego sits on top of his head and looks out.
They creep down the hall, although they are very loud. The moose hooves and bells make a lot of noise.
They walk out into the lobby. Moose almost runs smack into someone in his haste. When he recovers he looks up to see Santa, sitting in the lobby staring at him. They avoid eye contact. Moose and Manchego make a hasty exit.

Santa's inspired "reindeer" harnasses

photo of moose in wilderness

character and scene scketches

The adventures of Algebra and Moose

Cat and Moose Story—1500


A moose wakes up on an urban deck. He has been sleeping off his hangover from the Christmas party the evening before. He had come as a guest; his costume was as one of Santa’s reindeer. In his drunken slumber, a feral cat has climbed on his back and slept on him, as she found him to be a warm place to sleep. The Moose, who by nature can tolerate temperatures up to 50 degrees F in summer, shakes the cat off his back not knowing what it is and investigates the situation in which he has put himself.
Off in the distance, a disheveled Santa flies away. His costume is halfway off and he is having trouble standing on the sleigh. His sleigh is pulled by a drunken and confused group of animals. Most, but not all, of the animals are of from the deer family. Their harnesses look more like that of a Folsom Street leather daddy than that of children’s illustrated Christmas books.
The Moose expresses his remorse over losing his ride. He tells the cat that he is from Canada and that he’s not sure how he will get back without Santa’s version of a G-V. He reveals himself to be gay and to have come to the party as one of Santa’s companions/arm candy. The moose confesses, however, that Canada is boring and he loves the excitement of the big city.
The cat, whose name is Algebra, is preoccupied with her own problems. Algebra has taken up residence on a deck that is attached to an apartment with an indoor cat, which allows her ample opportunities to steal its food. In fact, the Legs, (inside cat’s feeder) has given up chasing her off and has just begun to feed Algebra on purpose. Algebra must remind the Legs, though, that she still exists. Algebra longs for the days when she was still able to sneak in the basement of the building and find a good place to sleep and get out of the rain. She has also mysteriously lost her outdoor cat companion, which leaves her colder too, and lonely.
After some listening to Moose for a while, and this place he wishes to get back to for winter, she determines this place Canada and The Basement, must be one and the same. Algebra tells Moose he should crash with her for a while, as he can enjoy the city and eat all the cat food he wants. Together, the two will be able to formulate a plan on how to get back to the basement/Canada.
As the two animals discuss, Algebra is distracted by that familiar and most loved sound: hard cat food pellets hitting inside cat’s bowl in the room off the deck. Algebra runs to the door to throw herself at the window. This reminds The Legs she too, needs to eat and rolls on her back to demonstrate her trust of the Legs. As the Legs pops the door open, it pours food into the outside bowl and grabs the dirty water bowl. As the Legs return with water a skinny and well groomed cat dashes out the door onto the deck, getting tangled in the Legs. The Legs (whose face we never see) sighs an exits back off the deck holding an icepack that covers the face. The indoor cat ousts Algebra from eating at the bowl. She eats only a few bites and then makes her way around the deck and meets the Moose.
She lets the Moose know he can crash on her deck, put to remember that she it Top Cat, and that only she gets to go inside. Other than these rules the inside cat is friendly, free-spirited and shallow.
After this first introduction, Moose tells Algebra this inside cat is a bit of a bitch. Algebra explains that she is a bit annoying but that she is the reason there is free food and doesn’t cause any fights.
Moose and Algebra live together on the deck for many months. During this time
Algebra hatches various harebrained schemes for the two of them to get into the basement a la Pinky and the Brain. As their plans are constantly thwarted, Moose has time to adjust to the city. He is essentially a small town gay boy come to SF for the first time. The two cats try to teach him the ways of surviving in this tough environment, the way the missing older outdoor cat taught them. The animals have many mishaps along these lines.
One of the adventures the Moose has with the cats is a visit to the SPCA. Moose discovers shortly after the Christmas party that he has an animal version of crabs. The cats tell him he must go to the SPCA. This is the place, although terrible, that the cats had to go to when they were in a family way, or got into trouble. The SPCA is modeled after the SF City Clinic. Moose takes the inside cat for moral support, Algebra is too afraid. Although Moose receives treatment, the human who treats him makes him uncomfortable and threatens to put him in a shelter or zoo, as the doctor finds a moose living in the city offensive. The Moose and the inside cat escape narrowly and return back to the safety of the deck.
In addition to the cats, Moose meets other city animals, which also impart their life philosophies to the Moose. One such animal is the raccoon, which feels the cats are no role models. He does not have to whore himself to people to get things. His powerful jaw defends him, and his dexterous hands open doors. He makes his way into apartments and garbage cans and takes whatever he wants. The cats, knowing they can’t win a fight with a raccoon, are only polite when he takes their food. (By contrast, the cats frequently scrap with other neighborhood cats when they invade the deck). The raccoon also shares his nostalgia about the basement, as for him it was full of delicious garbage and served as another entrance into the apartments.
Moose also meets rats. The rats live in warrens with other rats that are very similar to themselves. They hate all other groups of rats. Some of the warrens are like gangs, while others are more like a culturally identical group that all live in the same neighborhood and keep to their own. They have their own experience as city dwellers.
Another interloper is another small town animal: a grizzly bear. The grizzly bear shows up to deck parties and is constantly asking everyone if they remember him from the movie Grizzly Man. He gets too drunk at parties. His enormous weight causes the deck to depress like a trampoline, causing all the partgoers to fall toward wherever he stands.
Eventually, an intense earthquake happens. The city is in chaos. The houses around them are in various states of destruction. Algebra see this as her big chance to finally get back in the basement, which is now a hole in the ground covered in rubble. Her tiny cat brain finds the Utopia she remembered improved. There are even more nooks to get into and hide. Overtime, the naïve Moose has come to realize that “street smart” Algebra is a bit off her rocker. The Moose, is spite of its shallow self, has grown fond of Algebra and goes out to save it using its unique skills. Because the Moose is especially adapted with long legs to navigate high drifts of snow, he can easily navigate the rubble. He finds Algebra and manages to coax her out before the next aftershock.