Charles Apple

Last we heard of artist/illustrator/3D whiz/evil genius Kevin Hand, he was taking a buyout after eight years with Newsweek.

While most of us stumble around, after buyouts or layoffs, looking for something to do, Kevin managed to dive directly into a new project: Animation for a TV show debuting this weekend on MTV.

The show is called DJ & the Fro. The official debut isn’t until Monday, June 15. But MTV will show the first episode Sunday night, immediately following the MTV Music Awards. Look for it around 11:30 p.m. EDT.

Remember Beavis and Butthead? That show was basically a series of brief comedy bits designed to link music videos. DJ & the Fro is similar: It’s about two lifelong buddies who work in a cubicle farm and spend nearly every waking moment watching viral videos via the internet. On company time, naturally.

Here’s a trailer. Warning: Some viewers might find some of the material a little, um, tasteless. Meaning this will probably be a huge hit on TV:

The job came as a result of “sheer luck,” Kevin says.

Kevin tells us he found an ad on Craigslist requesting Flash animators. Having done a bit of animation — but not much — he dove into the 40-second test they assigned him, pulling an all-weekend shift to polish it off. Despite his efforts, the studio eventually called to say they’d have to pass him by.

Two hours later, Kevin says, the producer called him with an offer. They flew him to Hollywood and put him up in a hotel until he could find temporary housing for the two month gig.

MTV bought 20 episodes from Titmouse Productions, the company actually producing the cartoons. Kevin says if the network funds a second season, he’s up for another trip to Hollywood.

Kevin began his newspaper graphics career straight out of high school in 1982 at the Fort Pierce (Fla.) News Tribune. In 1986, he moved to Gannett’s Florida Today and then to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 1988.

After nine years in the land of McGarrett, Kevin moved to the Chicago Tribune in 1997, where I had the pleasure of working with him. He became assistant graphics editor at Newsweek in 2000.

A few samples of his print work (click for a larger view):

DJ & the Fro debuts Monday, June 15 on MTV, at 5 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times. Watch a preview episode Sunday following the MTV Music Awards, around 11:30 p.m. Eastern.

Go here to read more about the DJ and the Fro series. Go here for more about Titmouse animation studios (Warning: A video will automatically play).

Go here to see Kevin’s personal portfolio.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 28th, 2009 at 11:48 am and is filed under Free-lance, Illustration, Job changes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.