Doug TenNapel
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox comics creator Douglas Richard TenNapel (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell;<ref>Template:YouTube</ref> born July 10, 1966) is an American animator, writer, cartoonist, video game designer, and comic book artist whose work has encompassed animated television, video games, and comic books. He is best known for creating Earthworm Jim, a character that spawned a video game series, animated series, and a toy line. He is also the creator of the animated television series Catscratch (2005–2007), which aired on Nickelodeon, and was itself a loose adaptation of TenNapel's comic book limited series Gear.
CareerEdit
TenNapel began as an animator on Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> He soon began working in the video game industry on projects like 1993's Jurassic Park and The Ren & Stimpy Show: Stimpy's Invention for the Sega Genesis and The Jungle Book for the SNES and Sega Genesis.Template:Citation needed In 1994, he created Earthworm Jim, the character that would star in Shiny Entertainment's video game, toy line, and cartoon series. Shiny Entertainment head David Perry later commented on working with TenNapel, "I wish I could find 100 Dougs, then I realized I was lucky to have been able to work with one. He is crazy talented, both crazy and talented! He also generates an enormous amount of amazing content and ideas, I wouldn’t be surprised if he sleeps with a sketch-book!"<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1995, he left Shiny Entertainment and founded his own company, Neverhood, with several other former Shiny employees.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Working for DreamWorks Interactive, Neverhood created The Neverhood for the PC and PlayStation. The sequel, entitled Skullmonkeys, followed in 1998.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On television, TenNapel was the creator of the Project G.e.e.K.e.R. cartoon series for CBS. He was also a consulting producer on the ABC series Push, Nevada with Ben Affleck.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Towards the end of the 2000s, he also created two shorts for Frederator Studios and Nicktoons, "Solomon Fix" (computer generated 3D) and "Squirly Town" (traditional 2D).<ref>Random! Cartoons</ref>
As a graphic artist and cartoonist, TenNapel released his first comic book in 1998: Gear, a surreal epic based on his real-life cats, Simon, Waffle, Gordon and Mr. Black, in a war against dogs and insects using giant robots as weapons. The cats from Gear would eventually become the Nickelodeon series Catscratch.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
TenNapel did the cover art for several of Five Iron Frenzy's albums, including a sculpture for their live album, Proof That the Youth Are Revolting. TenNapel has also created album covers and artwork for several Daniel Amos CDs, The 1999 tribute to the band, When Worlds Collide, the Neverhood soundtrack Imaginarium: Songs from the Neverhood and others.Template:Citation needed
Flink, a graphic novel by TenNapel, was released in late 2007 through Image Comics. Monster Zoo was released in early summer 2008. In May 2009 his graphic novel Power Up was released.<ref name=CBRPowerUp>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Between January and October 2009, TenNapel was a regular contributor to Breitbart News' "Big Hollywood" section, covering topics from movie reviews and the state of the comics entertainment industry to criticisms of the Obama administration and the environmental movement.<ref name="TenNapel-FearOfFailure">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="TheGG-Interview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In July 2010, his graphic novel Ghostopolis was released. In 2009, it was announced the book would be adapted into a film starring and produced by Hugh Jackman, but no update has been given since then.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
TenNapel produced an episodic spoof of Japanese Super Sentai-style shows called Go Sukashi! based on a character by Shoko Nakagawa (who appears in the films), and starring John Soares and Brooke Brodack.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> He has also published an online superhero-genre-spoofing webcomic titled Ratfist.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In September 2012, Fox Animation optioned TenNapel's published Graphix novel Cardboard, with plans for actor Tobey Maguire's Material Pictures, graphic novelist Doug TenNapel, and the Gotham Group to be executive producers. Fox planned to have the picture developed under its WedgeWorks subsidiary. WedgeWorks director Chris Wedge (Ice Age) was producing, and considered directing the film as well.<ref name=cartoon>Template:Cite news</ref> As of 2020, no update has been given on the film, especially given the acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets by The Walt Disney Company.Template:Citation needed
TenNapel has used Kickstarter to produce a bound collection of his sketches, named Sketchbook Archives.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
TenNapel and other former members of the Earthworm Jim team at Pencil Test Studios launched a Kickstarter campaign in May 2013 to fund a PC game project called Armikrog, described a spiritual successor to The Neverhood and also being animated using clay animation techniques.<ref name="EurogamerKickstarter">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was successful, and reached its stretch goal for a Wii U version.
In 2018, TenNapel self-published the graphic novel Bigfoot Bill, launched as an Indiegogo, successfully funded and reaching various stretch goals.
In May 2019, TenNapel and other members of the original Earthworm Jim team announced a new Earthworm Jim game, to be released as an exclusive for the upcoming Intellivision Amico.<ref name=EWIntellivision>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=VarietyIntellivision>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also self-published the graphic novel Earthworm Jim: Launch the Cow, again on Indiegogo.
Personal lifeEdit
TenNapel was born in Norwalk, California and raised in Denair, California.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has been married to Angie since 1990.<ref name=AWM>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The couple have four children.<ref name=ScholasticAuthorPage>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> TenNapel was personal friends with Andrew Breitbart prior to the latter's death.<ref name="TenNapel-FearOfFailure" /><ref name="TheGG-Interview" />
Criticism and controversyEdit
TenNapel is an outspoken Republican and has attracted criticism for his remarks on the LGBTQ community and its issues, including vocal opposition to same-sex marriage and intentionally misgendering a transgender journalist who criticized the Earthworm Jim video game.<ref name="PopZara">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Gameological">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="CGMagazine">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="AVClub">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
He has dismissed this criticism, and has written that "transphobe (like homophobe) is a made-up word used to slander conservative people of faith with a mental condition, and is only used by SJWs".<ref name=GameRevolution>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> TenNapel was involved with Comicsgate, a right-wing campaign against diversity and progressivism in the superhero comics industry.<ref name=GameRevolution/> Sean Gordon Murphy had drawn a cover for one of TenNapel's works, Bigfoot Bill 2, which he withdrew and issued an apology after being made aware of TenNapel's history of anti-LGBTQ comments. In response, TenNapel tweeted that it is "more important than ever that pro-family comic lovers support my work", stating his belief that LGBTQ people are waging a "culture war" against him.<ref name=CBR-BatmanWhiteKnight>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Political views and beliefsEdit
TenNapel supported Donald Trump's presidency and regularly posts his political opinions on various social media platforms.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Since 2021, he has hosted Doug In Exile, a political talk show. It has been hosted on YouTube and Rumble.<ref> https://tennapel.com/</ref>
BibliographyEdit
Graphic novelsEdit
| Year | Title | Publisher | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | They Called Him Evil | Mockingbird Studios | |
| 1998 | Scud: Tales from the vending machine #3 | Fireman Press | |
| 1998/2018 | Gear | Fireman Press/Image Comics | |
| 2002/2019 | Creature Tech | Top Shelf Productions/Image Comics | |
| 2004 | Tommysaurus Rex | Image Comics | |
| 2005 | Earthboy Jacobus | Image Comics | |
| 2006 | Iron West | Image Comics | |
| 2007 | Black Cherry | Image Comics | |
| 2007 | Flink | Image Comics | |
| 2008 | Monster Zoo | Image Comics | |
| 2009 | Power Up | Image Comics<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | |
| 2010 | Ghostopolis | GRAPHIX (an imprint of Scholastic)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 2011 | Bad Island | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 2012 | Cardboard | GRAPHIX<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | |
| 2012 | Return to the Neverhood (illustrations) | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
| 2015 | Nnewts – Escape from the Lizzarks | GRAPHIX | |
| 2016 | Nnewts – The Rise of Herk | GRAPHIX | |
| 2017 | Nnewts – The Battle for Amphibopolis | GRAPHIX | |
| 2019 | Bigfoot Bill: Shadow of the Mothman | Self-publishedTemplate:Citation needed | |
| 2019 | Earthworm Jim: Launch the Cow | Self-publishedTemplate:Citation needed | |
| 2020 | Bigfoot Bill 2: Finger of Poseidon | Self-publishedTemplate:Citation needed | |
| 2021 | Earthworm Jim 2: Fight the Fish | Self-publishedTemplate:Citation needed |
Web comicsEdit
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Ratfist |
| 2012 | Nnewts |
Children's booksEdit
| Year | Title | Publisher | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Doug and Mike's Strange Kid Chronicles #1: Mighty Monday Madness | Scholastic Press | Co-written with Michael Koelsch |
| 1997 | Doug and Mike's Strange Kid Chronicles #2: Tuna Fish Tuesday | Scholastic Press | Co-written with Michael Koelsch |
| 1998 | Doug and Mike's Strange Kid Chronicles #3: Wisenheimer Wednesday | Scholastic Press | Co-written with Michael Koelsch |
| 1998 | Doug and Mike's Strange Kid Chronicles #4: Just Thursday | Scholastic Press | Co-written with Michael Koelsch |
| 1998 | Doug and Mike's Strange Kid Chronicles #5: Fateful Friday | Scholastic Press | Co-written with Michael Koelsch |
FilmographyEdit
TelevisionEdit
| Year | Title | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Attack of the Killer Tomatoes | Animator |
| 1995–1996 | Earthworm Jim | Creator, executive producer, and writer |
| 1996 | Project G.e.e.K.e.R. | Co-Creator and executive producer |
| 2000 | Koghead and Meatus | Short Director and writer |
| 2002 | Push, Nevada | Consulting producer |
| 2004 | Sockbaby | Director, writer and voice of Sockbaby |
| 2005–2007 | Catscratch | Creator, executive producer, director, writer, and storyboard artist |
| 2007–2008 | Random! Cartoons | Creator, writer, character designer, storyboard artist, and voice director Episodes: "Squirly Town" and "Solomon Fix" |
| 2009 | Ape Escape | Writer and storyboard artist |
| 2012 | Adventure Time | Writer Episode: "Sons of Mars" |
| 2012 | It's a SpongeBob Christmas! | TV special Stop Motion animator |
| 2014–2016 | VeggieTales in the House | Writer and executive producer |
| 2017 | VeggieTales in the City | Writer and executive producer |
| 2017 | The Legend of Boo-Kini Bottom | TV special Stop Motion animator |
Video gamesEdit
| Year | Title | Note | Developer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Sküljagger: Revolt of the Westicans | Animator | Realtime Associates |
| 1993 | Technoclash | Blue Sky Software | |
| Jurassic Park (Sega Genesis) | |||
| The Ren & Stimpy Show: Stimpy's Invention | |||
| 1994 | The Jungle Book | Virgin Games USA/Eurocom | |
| Earthworm Jim | Creator, writer, designer, voice of Earthworm Jim<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Shiny Entertainment |
| 1995 | Earthworm Jim 2 | ||
| 1996 | The Neverhood | Creator, writer, designer, voice of Hoborg, Bil, and Klogg | The Neverhood, Inc. |
| 1998 | Skullmonkeys | Creator, writer, designer, voice of Klogg | |
| 1999 | BoomBots | Creator, writer, designer | |
| 2015 | Armikrog | Creator, writer, designer, artist, additional animation | Pencil Test Studios |
DiscographyEdit
Cover artEdit
| Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Daniel Amos | BibleLand |
| 1997 | Five Iron Frenzy | Our Newest Album Ever! |
| 1998 | Five Iron Frenzy | Quantity Is Job 1 |
| 1999 | Five Iron Frenzy | Proof That the Youth Are Revolting |
| 2000 | Various Artists | When Worlds Collide: A Tribute to Daniel Amos |
| 2003 | Five Iron Frenzy | The End Is Near |
| 2004 | Terry S. Taylor | Imaginarium: Songs from the Neverhood |
| 2013 | Five Iron Frenzy | Engine of a Million Plots |
ReferencesEdit
SourcesEdit
External linksEdit
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- www.TenNapel.com
- Template:Moby developer
- Doug TenNapel Sketchbook Archives at Kickstarter
- Scholastic Doug TenNapel author page
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