Pencil for Hire's Page

Tell us your story:

Mike Gray is an award–winning writer, cartoonist, animator, and stand-up comedian who lives and works in Northern California. As a writer, Mike was awarded 6th place in the 1995 Hanna-Barbera Storyboard Contest, Honorable Mention in the 1996 Hanna-Barbera Storyboard Contest, and 9th place in the 1997 Nickelodeon Storyboard Contest. Mike’s cartoon, “The Three Pigs,” which he animated and voiced, appeared in the 2002 Spike and Mike’s Sick and Twisted Festival. Mike was a finalist in the 2005 Rooster T. Feathers 3rd Annual Amateur Stand-Up Comedy Competition. Mike is proud to have created two shorts for this 2008’s Random Cartoons series: “Thom Cat,” which he created, wrote, and co-produced, and “The Infinite Goliath” which he co-created, wrote, storyboarded, directed and co-produced. Mike is currently working as Story Editor/Head Writer for the upcoming series of shorts based on the hit video game "Ape Escape" to premiere on Nickelodeon in 2008. His work can be seen at www.pencilforhire.com.

Hometown:

Hayward, CA

Personal Website:

http://pencilforhire.blogspot.com

Portfolio Site:

http://www.pencilforhire.com

About Me:

Mike Gray: I am an illustrator, animator, writer and stand-up comedian who lives and works out of Northern CA, my business name is "Pencil for Hire."

Favorite Cartoons:

Classic Warners (especially Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble cartoons, Foghorn Leghorn), Fleischer Popeyes, Tex Avery MGM, Mr Jinks (Pixie and Dixie, but he was the real star!), Very early Hanna Barbera (Yogi, Huckleberry, etc.), Spongebob, Venture Brothers, animated parts of Song of the South, to name a few.

Favorite Films:

Marx Brothers (Horse Feathers, Animal Crackers, Night at the Opera, Monkey Business, The Cocoanuts, and parts of their later ones), The Jungle Book, Lilo and Stich, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Frederick March version), The Ghost and Mrs Muir.

Favorite TV Shows:

Nip Tuck, Heroes (1st season), Spongebob, reality TV, Faulty Towers, Monty Python, Benny Hill, Little Britain, Sanford and Son (only with Lamont), Big Love, Flight of the Conchords,

Favorite Comics:

Carl Barks (all), Walt Kelly Pogo Dell comics, 1963 to 1969 Marvel Comics (FF, Spider-man, Thor, Avengers 1-10, Dr Strange (Ditko only)), Early Superman, Tom Strong, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Little Lulu (john Stanley only), Creature Tech by Doug TenNapel, Wimbledon Green by Seth, Peter Arno (all), Bone by Jeff Smith, Tiny Tyrant, Scott Pilgrim, Groo, Usagi Yojimbo, Jack Cole Plastic Man.

Favorite Books:

The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay, Soon I Will Be Invincible, Cyrano De Bergiac, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Hobbit, Where the Wild Things Are, The Wind in the Willows, Frankenstein,

Favorite Artists or Illustrators:

Walt Kelly, Charles Schulz, Carl Barks, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Maurice Noble, Chuck Jones, Eldin Dedini, Peter Arno, Bernet, Chaland, Shane Glines, Jeff Smith, Seth, John Stanley, Dan Decarlo, Ed Benedict, Sergio Aragones, Stan Sakai, Chris Sprouse, Don Rosa, Bill Peet, Andrew Loomis, Jack Cole, CC Beck, Whitney Darrow Jr., Richard F Outcault, Ted Key

Favorite Music:

Beatles, Willie Nelson, Led Zepplin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, John Lennon (solo), The Shins, Hank Williams Sr and Jr, Waylon Jennings, Neil Young, Primus, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Fiona Apple, 70's disco, 80's new wave, Elvis.

Favorite Robots:

Lost in Space, Robbie the Robot.