INTERVIEWS

03/04/99 - Feature magazine by "Puffy" and Yoshitomo Nara.
03/08/99 - Jugem magazine
04/14/99 - Ain't Nothin' Like F***in' Moonshine (zine) - by Bwana Spoons
08/19/99 - Interview for Giant Robot by Eric Nakamura
10/1/99 - Rotatoru/Petit Glam-interview
12/20/99 - Ain't Nothin' Like F***in' Moonshine (zine) - by Bwana Spoons part2

3/4/99 - Feature magazine by Japanese pop stars "Puffy" Ami Onuki, Yumi Yoshimura and visual artist Yoshitomo Nara.

Questions from Ami
1. Who is your favorite artist? By the way, my favorite is Basquiat.
Every month I have a different favorite visual artist. This month my favorite is Vincent Van Gogh. I saw a movie about his life called "Lust For Life". He was a very disturbed man, yet his quest was for truth, beauty, and the power of nature.

2. Are you also good at drawing realistically?
Yes, although I am a little out of practice. I am not so good at realistic people, but I can draw objects and buildings with good accuracy.

3. Many of your characters have slanting eyes. Why is this?
Some of my characters have sleepy eyes like me. I think it shows that they are human, and are tired or overwhelmed with life.

Questions from Yumi
4. Is Cleo and Kimberly interested in your work?
Cleo and Kim love my work and are proud of all the fun things their dad can do, but like most kids they are not that excited or interested in my daily work. They have their own interests, friends and schoolwork to think about. They do get excited when a new shipment of RodneyFun samples comes from Japan.

5. At what kind of times do you think up your characters?
I usually get assignments for new characters by email, or at meetings. I usually only have two days or so to come up with something, so I work as soon as I can. I always start with my sketchbook. I never know when the idea will come. Morning is a good time, when my brain is fresh, but sometimes I figure it out in the middle of the night.

6. I think a lot of your characters are of small animals. How about larger animals such as a gorilla or lion?
I would like to see some of your large animals.
I did some large type animals for Minolta. I did a lion and hippopotamus. I used to draw horses and donkeys too. Cows and elephants are fun to draw also.

Questions from Yoshitomo Nara
7. I first saw your art on the album cover of "They Might Be Giants" and I like your artwork ever since. What kind of music do you listen to lately?
Every week I have a different favorite music artist. This week it is Beck, and his new record called Mutations.

8. Do you have many pets at home? Please tell me about them.
I have a Parrot called Cosmo. She is a small Hans Macaw. She is going to be three years old in April. She is very noisy and very messy. She is mean also, and tries to bite visitor who come to my studio. She doesn't usually bite me or Deena or the girls. Her favorite thing to do is to sit in my hand, grip her head with her foot and not move for a long time. She loves to sit with me. Deena and the girls have a small dog named Loki. He is a puppy we have had less than a year. He is the happiest, most friendly dog in the world. He is a very strange mix of a Chihuahua and an unknown long haired dog. If you pet him he will lay on his back and want you to scratch his belly.

9. What kind of Japanese artists do you like apart from Puffy?
I follow a lot of Japanese bands, and am familiar with a few Japanese Visual Artists. Some of my favorite Japanese music artists are: Shonen Knife Tomeo Shinohara Takako Minikawa Cornelius Buffalo Daughter Kahimi Karie Museum of Plate Denki Groove Petty + Booka Some of my favorite Japanese visual artists are: Toshio Iwai Yoshitomo Nara Suzy Amakane Shinro Ohtake Toshico Tsuchihashi UrumaDelvi

10. Among all your characters, which character is the most good (well behaved) and most bad character?
Thunder Bunny is my most all around good character. Except that he is so big, he has no bad qualities. Probably my most devilish new character is Paul Chuck from "Um Jammer Lammy". He loves to cut down trees for fun, and is very threatening. I don't like him.

11. What comes to mind first about childhood?
Some of my earliest memories are of being at my Grandmothers house. She always had a good supply of Chocolate. I used to draw with crayons on big pieces of paper at the dining room table.
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3/8/99 - Jugem Magazine Japan

1. How did you get involved to work on Parappa the Rapper and Um Jammer Lammy?
Matsuura and his wife Kiri were both fans of my childrens' book illustration, and CD-ROM projects. When Matsuura decided to do his first Playstation game I was already working creating characters for Sony Creative Products. It was natural for us to work together.

2. How do you feel that is all finished now. Are there any interesting episodes during the making you would like to tell us about?
For me, making "Um Jammer Lammy" was much more difficult than Parappa. There was more pressure to make everything better than before. Creating sequels to hits is a very difficult task in itself. We tried to make "Um Jammer" an original game too, not just a sequel. The most challenging part for me was creating the main character. It had to be perfect. Matsuura asked me to redesign it a least three times.

3. What did you think about when you played the game UJL?
It is a like a wild out of control ride.

4. What is the main concept of the characters in UJL?
The "main concept" may be that in each level Lammy must face an even more strange and challenging obstacle. Lammy must prove her confidence, even though she is always missing her actual guitar, the source of her confidence.

5. We see a lot of your characters appear in Family Mart and Minolta TV commercials. Where do you get your ideas to create these characters? And what do you especially pay attention to when making the characters?
When clients order character designs from me, they usually have a purpose for the character in mind. My job is to surprise them with something different that will work. Sometimes it takes more than one try. When I draw the characters and I look at the drawings, if the characters look back at me and say "Hi Rodney!" I think it must be right. If they don't say anything then I keep trying.

6. A lot of your characters have vivid colors and are interesting shapes, why is this?
I love vivid colors and interesting shapes. And, why is it you make characters out of unusual things such as ears and teeth?
Part of the fun is to even surprise myself.

7. In what kind of way does the art scene in New York and living in New York influence your art?
New York City is full of galleries and museums. There artist all around trying to come up with something different and to express themselves. I feel like I am one of them, and I can get energy from them.

8. You were the visual designer for UJL. Do you have any plan to create your own multimedia contents or game?
Yes. Someday.

9. What do you want the UJL users experience from the game?
Fun. It should be even more fun the Parappa, because of the multi player functions. Friend can challenge each other to super guitar lick battles.
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Ain't Nothin' Like F***in' Moonshine (zine) - Interview by Bwana Spoons

1. I hear there is a new Rodney designed video game out. Is this a follow up to Parappa, or something entirely different?
"Um Jammer Lammy" is the sequel to Parappa. It stars mostly new characters, and a new main character named Lammy, who is the guitarist in an up-and-coming rock band. She wakes up from a dream about Chop Chop Master Onion, and realizes she only has 10 minutes to get to the gig on time. On the way she has to put out a fire, fly a 747, comfort babies at a birthing center and many other psychodelic adventures. The game play system is similar to Parappa, but because you are exchanging guitar licks instead of rapping it is more complicated. Also the game has 3 multi player modes that all must be completed in order to "win" the game. I took two years to finish. I'm really glad it is done. It is out in Japan now, for Playstation only, and will appear in the US this summer.

2. What inspires you, and what is your thought process when developing a new idea?
When I am working on a product or game design I am processing information from the client or my collaborators. It is like a puzzle to give them what they want, but surprise them at the same time. My inspiration comes from them, and the situation. When I am in my studio working on a drawing or painting everything is totally different. Inspirations come from memory, music, sketches, or even a reaction to the materials I happen to be using. Sometimes ideas seem to come from nowhere at all. Lately I have been trying to pay special attention those nowhere ideas that make no sense.

3. What is your favorite character that you created? (mine's the DJ Bear)? What was the idea behind this character, and why is it your favorite?
Did you know PJ Berri is also my favorite character? I am always pushing Sony to make more PJ products. Originally in 1995 Sony Creative Products hired me to create 4 characters for licensing purposes. One of the ones they picked was a forlorn and listless bear I named PJ Berri. PJ's quest in life is to eat, sleep, and listen to music. I think a lot of people can relate to this. I have started working on a comic book about PJ. Nothing much really happens. It is going to be great.

4. Age? - 38.
5. Residence? - New York City.
6. Favorite Tokyo neighborhood? - Shimokitazawa.
7. Favorite snack? - Lemon Coolers
8. Favorite childhood toy? - GI Joe Mercury space capsule adventure set
9. Favorite current toy? - 1924 Model T Ford

10. How long have you been showing your works? When were you able to make the switch from 9 to 5ish to 24 hour art slave, and how were you able to do this? This is always my favorite question for great artists, I think it's out of jeleousy. Duh.
While I was in art school (School of Visual Arts in NYC) I had a show at the school's private gallery. That was 1981 and I was 21 years old. I actually sold some of the pieces at the show, and I realized I would probably have a career as a fine artist. At first, just after I graduated, I had to hustle for commissions and carpentry jobs, but eventually I found a gallery, (or they found me) (Gracie Mansion) and the rest is history. The east village art scene was booming at the time, and I luckily fit right in. The art scene crashed in 1990, but luckily (again) I was fooling around with computers, and was contracted to do quirky CD-ROMs for kids. That went on for four years, until I got connected with a great agent in Japan. I have been doing commercial work in Japan since then, and have only recently started painting again. It has been quite a journey.

11. What is your favorite season?
I like the middle of summer when it is really hot. Things really slow down. It is a great excuse to do nothing. In the city it is smelly and sweaty. In the country there are tons of bugs.

12. If you were another animal than human, what would it be, and why?
I would like to be a river otter. They seem to have a lot of fun. They slide down wet leafy hill sides into clear fresh water streams, where they frolic all day and eat fish and frogs while floating on their backs.

13. You have alot of popularity in Japan, are you ever recognized on the street, or chased around like the Monkeys?
Depending on the neighborhood I do get recognized on the street. One night I went to Puffy's live show, and was briefly on stage to admit I created the stage backdrop. Afterwards I was mobbed by fans and had to escape in a speeding taxi. It was a little like being one of the Monkees. Monkee for a day.

14. What was the project that you worked on with Puffy?
I am still working with Puffy creating the art for their various projects. Including stage back drops, and the set of their TV show. Specifically I do the jacket illustrations for their many CD singles. Some of these have gone platinum. Again, amazing luck for me.
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1. Is Parappa a special character for you? If so in what way?
Parappa is a very special character for me. I never made so much money on a single project in my life.

2. How long did it take to make him?
A few weeks.

3. Why is parappa a dog?
Before I drew Parappa, Matsuura-san and his team had an idea of what his personality should be like. A guy who always tries to please the girls, a little gullible, but with a lot of heart. I could relate to this. It sounded like a dog to me. Very loyal, not wanting to give up.

4. How long do your characters take to create?
Sometimes I'm such a genius I can create a great character in just one or two sketches. Usually though it takes weeks with many many revisions and whole concept changes. This is because character designing is a collaborative business. The clients or game producers have to like it too.

5. Are there characters you throw away? Can we have one?
Yes. Well - I'll have my team of lawyers create a thick pile of contracts for you to sign so you can use one of my throw away character in a very limited way. Just kidding.

6. Are you involved in the story line for the games? Do you have preconceived story lines for all of your characters that people either change or modify?
The main story in Parappa and Lammy comes from a great writer named Gabin Ito. He was very open to changes and suggestions from me. I was also helpful in the "will this make sense in the US market?" department. For my own projects like Dazzeloids, Thunder Bunny or Rotatoru I write the stories, and I'm not very open to suggestions.

7. How much of your personality is in your characters? Is there one that's most like you? OR is there one you wish you can be? Why?
I try to put a little bit of my personality into each of my characters: Parappa - my gullible and romantic side. Sunny - my sweet and efficient side. PJ Berry - my lazy and hungry side. Katy - my cool and bossy side. Lammy - my insecure and frustrated side Thunder Bunny - my vapor like lightness of being.

8. Do you like rap music? Was the cow in Parappa supposed to be somewhat like Queen Latifa? If so, were the other characters supposed to be someone else?
Yes I like some rap. Beasty Boys, Missy Eliot. If it's far out and creative I'll listen to it. I think the Queen Latifa likeness of Instructor Mooselini was an accident. Cheap Cheap the Cooking Chicken was supposed to be Julia Childs.

9. Do you have a favorite character of your own creation?
Pj Berry is probably my favorite. I envy his life. Eating junk food and listening to music all day, working as a DJ in a club at night. Waking up at noon. It is nothing like my life. That's why I like him.

10. Are you good at the Parappa game? Are you into videogames? If so which ones?
I stink at video games. I am so slow and un-coordinated. It is a miracle I'm in this business.

11. Was the making of Um Jammer Lammy similar to Parappa? Do you like it better? What's that title mean?
"Um jamma" means something like "that's enough" or "so what" in Osaka language. I thought is was to coolest name I ever heard. "Jamming" is something you do with a guitar. The Lammy part was the characters name and animal type. Making a sequel is much harder than making the original.

12. Why is the band called MilkCan?
I have no idea.

13. Why a lamb?
They are cute and fragile. My original character design looked a lot more like a lamb. Matsuura kept making me change her until she looked more like a cool college girl. Somehow it works.

14. Do you think your designed videogames get enough of a push in America vs Japan? Why is there less merchandise here in America including Thunderbunny and the items on your site?
Hey Sony! WAKE UP! Let's make Rodney big in the US too! I think the US divisions of Sony either don't understand me or maybe they are afraid of me, or maybe they just don't like me. I don't know what it is. Why can't we all just get along.

15. Are you single/married? Age?What kind of mate do you look for?
I am a very young 39, I have been happily married for 15 years to Deena Lebow, and we have brilliant and adorable twin daughters named Cleo and Kimberly who are 13.

16. Do you have favorite cartoon characters (US and Japan)?
Simsons
Ren and Stimpy
Rocky and Bullwinkle
all Jay Ward characters
Deputy Dog and all Terrytoons characters
Speed Racer
Astro Boy
Ultraman (not really cartoon, but an important influence)
The Little Mermaid
Muppets - especially Burt

17. Is Matt Groening someone you admire? If so, what aspects?
He has gone further than any other undergrounds style comic creator ever in the universe. I have met him and was impressed and happy he is a very real person.

18. Is there a such thing as too much marketing?
I think there might be. Maybe someday there will be a collective revelation that nothing we are presented with has any substance, and then there will be a revolution and we will all live in small tribes and grow our own carrots.

18. Are there other artists you dig?
Jackson Pollock
Phillip Guston
Pablo Picasso
Lari Pittman
Sigmar Polke
Carroll Dunham
Richard Pousette Dart
Keith Haring
Yoshitomo Nara
Shinro Otake
Takashi Murakami

19. What's a typical Rodney Greenblat day?
Get up. Watch Pokemon cartoon on TV. Make sure kids eat and go to school. Eat Bagel. Get Email - answer some of it. Meet Kumi my assistant. Tell her what to do. Work on funny things for Japan. Lunch break. Work on more funny things for Japan. Take a nap on the couch. Eat dinner - talk to kids. Free associate with sketchbook or play piano. Talk to agency in Japan. Talk to wife. Go to sleep.

20. What do you do in your spare time? What books/comics/tv do you check out?
Play piano. Watch movies. Read magazines about antique cars. Work on antique car. Clean parrot cage. Hack my website.

21. What are the last 5 things you bought?
Head phones for kids Walkman CD player. Wooden Screen for bathroom in the barn. Tires for Antique car. Star Wars action figures for kids Bar of soap with a smiley face on it

22. Do you dig peewee's playhouse?
That was the best show. My friend Gary Panter did the set design.

23. Do you smoke out?
Are you talking about the inhalation of the illegal plant substances? Of course not.

24. Does inspiration come from anywhere?
Day time night time and Saturday too!

25. What does your apartment look like?
I own two very large and luxurious homes. In New York City our spacious loft is decorated in the classic Rodney 80's style, complete with play houses and a light up dragon head. Our country estate is fashionably subdued in 20th century junk.

26. What's a good day for you?
When I wake up singing the song from the theme from Gilligan's Island.

27. Own Sony Stock? Has Nintendo or rival companies called you?
I'm planning on starting my own company that will be bigger than Sony and Nintendo put together. I'm going to call it "THE GODLIKE ENORMOUS RODNEY EVERYTHING CORPORATION".

28. Are you most into doing character design? What about your other art projects like sculpture and painting?
My job these days is really character design. I figure some day I'll be able to retire, and then get into becoming a great painter and sculptor.

29. Are your characters intentionally geared towards a Japanese market? Or do you make certain characters for the Japanese market?
I don't understand markets. Who knows what people will want to buy? I just try to make things I think are funny. Also if my wife thinks it's stupid, that means it will probably sell well.

30. Do people think you're Japanese in Japan? (before they see you)
No. I don't think so.

31. Do you get more work in Japan? Is America finally coming around?
In the US I only want to do gallery shows and illustrations for The New Yorker.

32. Do you care about getting "popular" in America?
I just want to be rich in America. Popular is too scary.

33. Does your fame in Japan lead to crazy fanfare at appearances? Have any stories?
Once after Puffy's concert in Kawasaki, where I made a brief appearance on stage, we had to run away from attacking (loving) fans, and dive into the nearest taxi. I felt like the Beatles.

34. When is a Rodney store going to open in America?
Please ask Sony about this.

35. Has any bootlegs of your work surfaced? Have an opinion on it?
Some tee shirts. I thought they were cool.

36. What's your favorite Japanese neighborhood and why? How about in America?
Kiddyland in Harajuku is like the ground zero or Rodney culture. When I go there I always meet some of my fans. I like the little back streets in Harajuku, and would like to have a secret apartment there some day. My second favorite is Shimokitazawa. In New York I am a Soho guy.

37. Is it easier to work on computer?
No

38. Do you sketch first on paper?
Yes

39. Do you feel limited using the computer along with what skills you have?
Yes.

40. What's kind of computer do you have?
Right now I am typing this on a blue Mac G3

41. What do you recommend at famliy mart?
The Spicy Rice.

42. Do you do research behind a character you create? Like did you eat some of the things at Family mart before you designed them?
No I don't get to taste the food before I work on the characters. It might not be a good idea. I did some research for the Japanese "Okowa" characters.

43. What foods do you like to eat in general?
Tofu and chocolate chip cookies.

44. Do you dig Puffy?
They are so sexy I can't even believe I know them.

45. How does the work happen? Do you do everything? Or do you job parts out? How many work around you? Are you a control freak?
I have one assistant at my studio named Kumi. She converts the drawings into computer graphics and fixes them up a little. My wife Deena does the financial papers. My agent Tak in Japan is a genius and thinks up all the business deals and tries to keep me doing good projects only. His assistant Nicky translates my emails and tries to explain to me bizarre corporate decisions.

46. Do you believe? What do you believe?
I believe in everything and nothing.
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About Rotatoru
1. You have created many cute characters such as Parappa The Rapper and Thunder Bunny, which I presume all your characters are from Rodney Planet. What is "Rodney Planet"?
It is another planet just like Earth, Mars, Tatooine or Degobrah (planets from StarWars).

2. I believe Rotatoru is one of the new members of Rodney Planet. Please tell us about Rotatoru.
Most of the humanoids of Rodney's planet never heard of Rotatoru, mostly because the Rotaoru were confined to a small island in the unexplored north eastern sea. When they were discoved everyone thought they were "new", but really they had been there for a long long time. At first the humanoids thought the tiny Rotatoru would make good pets. After a few years the Rotatoru started to have a strange effect on the humanoids. Everyone started to want to have fun all the time, so some of the hard work in some of the cities began to stop. No one noticed at first , because they were so happy. Then some of the elders decided too much fun and happiness might be bad. Thats when they decided to start exporting Rotatoru.

3. What does the name "Rotatoru" mean?
Rotate means spinning, ru sounds like rude In Japanese, ro = fireplace ro = wax, yotaru = dizzy and off balance, toru = take

4. The package is very cute, what kind of concept did you have designing it?
When the Rotatoru are transported they like to see where they are going. That is why they always come in a clear plasic bubble.

5. What was difficult or fun while creating Rotatoru? We would like to hear some kind of secret (inside) story of how Rotatoru was created.
Durring the process of arranging to transport the Rotatoru to Japan-Earth, There were some cost problems. Rotaoru wanted to come in little houses, and bring all there little stuff with them. Cube could only offer them a plastic bubble, with only enough room inside for a key chain. The Rotatoru were so excited about coming to Japan-earth, that they decided the bubble would be OK.

6. There are 6 types of Rotatorus now. Will there be more variations in the future?
Many other kinds exist on Rodney's Planet, and an unknown amount of different types might be hiding in huge underground cities. It is up to Cube and the leading Humanoids on RP to figure out how to capture them.

7. Rotatoru's movement is very unique and humorous. How do you wish people t o play with them?
No one really knows how to play with them. They seem to always try to fall off the table. Maybe falling off the table is fun for them.

8. Now Rotatoru is a wind-up toy. Do you think Rotatoru will appear in anoth er media such as become an animation or comic book? Do you have any ideas ab out this now?
As I am just finishing some comics about my other characters, I think a Rotatoru comic might be very interesting. I'll dicuss it with the Humanoids.

Questions about being an artist
9. Tell us about your work environment. How many staff do you have? and what do they do?
Many people are involved in creating the RodneyFun movement. Interlink Planning and Sony Creative products have many talented people who work all the time for RodneyFun. We also work with many other talented people from companies like Nanonsha, Sony Computer Entertainment, Dentsu, Cube, and many others. They all work very hard. At my studio here in New York I have a very small staff. My wife Deena handles the financial situation, and makes sure I do the right thing. My assistant Kumi, does computer graphics preparation work, and website design. Our dog Loki protects us from strangers and other dogs, and our parrot Cosmo scares away everyone else.

10. Your characters all have life in them, not only when they are animals and humans but also when they are still life such as a house and furniture. I think that shows your love towards the object. Is there anything you always try to do or think of when you create?
Many of my creations seem to be like little parts of my own personality. I don't always try to make this happen, but when it does, the characters or drawings seem more real.

11. You studied at the School of Visual Arts where Keith Harring and Kenny Sharf also studied, and began your career as a fine artist. During this height of the graffiti art period, what did you learn from them or how were you inspired by them?
Keith was very inspiring. He was always so busy and seemed not to care about what other people thought. I feel he opened many oportunities for me, as he attracted attention to what younger artis were doing.

12. Both Keith and Kenny were very enthusiastic in making merchandise from their artwork, even making their own stores. I think this was a big step towards bridging art and entertainment. And I think you are the successor. Please tell me about your ideas about character merchandising.
It is very natural for me, because I have alway felt my characters and drawings are searching for a wider audience. They want to be popular. It's actually part of the idea of my work. I think because of the nature of my work that I may be able to bridge the "art and entertainment" gap in new and interesting ways, and on a scale most people wouldn't imagine an artist would be able to.

13. Who are your favorite artists? Or most influential artists? and why?
Not in order: Past:
Jackson Pollock - epic struggle
Paul Klee - master drawings
Phillip Guston - brave and sadly funny
Pablo Picasso - Superstar
Keith Haring - Hero of the 80's
Richard Pousette Dart - Reaching the mystical
Current:
Lari Pittman - Scary cartoon energy
Sigmar Polke - wild drawing
Carroll Dunham - abstract cartoon expressionism
Some new japanese artists that I like:
Yoshitomo Nara - sad funny cartoons
Shinro Otake - crazy mess like life
Takashi Murakami - out of control anime

14. The Japanese readers(of this magazine) like your characters very much and know a lot about your work in Japan. But they do not know much about what kind of activities you are doing out side Japan. Please tell us what kind of non-Japanese projects you are working on.
I am too busy working on RodneyFun to do any big projects in the US. Lately I have done a few small illustrations for The New Yorker magazine. That's about it.

15. You originally started your career paintings and sculpture, but since your encounter with the Macintosh you have been very enthusiastic using the digital media in your artwork. Is there a difference in your expression when you create using the Macintosh and when you are use other materials(drawing , painting, sculpture, etc.)? What kind of materials do you like to use lately?
In the early 90's I loved the computer too much. Now I only use it if it makes sense for whatever the project is. Lately I have been having more fun with ink, markers, pencil and watercolors.

Questions about your private life
16. What kind of family do you have?
Wife Deena Lebow, Twin Daughters, Cleo and Kimberly, age 13

17. I imagine you house interior must be very fun. Can you tell us about your house?
In the late 80's I designed the interior of the ground floor loft we live in, in New York city. It is a very colorful place.

18. How do you spend your days off?
As an artist I don't really have "days off", but on the days when I don't have any deadline work to do on RodneyFun, I do fine art stuff , or music, or if I'm at my country studio I work on my old car.

19. Do you have any favorite sports or game?
Driving around in my antique car. It is a Ford from 1924.

20. I heard that you liked to go to the Smithsonian museum when you were a child. Do you still sometimes go to see the Smithsonian?
Yes, when I visit my father in Washington DC.

21. You played in a band before. Do you still play or make music?
Yes, but I am not very serious about it.

22. What kind of music do you listen to?
I am trying to make my record collection like a mini record store, with selections of all kinds of music. I really like interesting music. Experiments, and artists who break the rules are my favorite.

23. Please write a message to your fans.
Thank you so much for supporting me and RodneyFun. RodneyFun is about love, honesty and enjoyment, in a simple, practical and funny way. My fans understand this, and this makes me want to give more
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1.What inspires your characters, and where do your influences come from?
What inspires you, and what is your thought process when developing a new idea?
When I am working on a commercial product or game design I am like a machine processing information from the client or my collaborators. It is like a puzzle to give them what they want, but surprise them at the same time. My inspiration comes from them, and the situation. When I am in my studio working on a drawing or painting everything is totally different. Inspirations come from memory, music, sketches, or the deep reaches of my spastic subconscious. Lately I have been trying to pay special attention the deep reaches of my spastic subconscious.

2.In elementary school what kind of pictures did you draw? Were you into comics and Atari like the rest of the kids on the block?
I'm sorry to say I am so old that we didn't have an Atari. I did have a large electric trains set, with a complete little town and mountains that I built myself. I've always been drawing little funny characters. Super heros too and machines. I did cartoons for the school newspapers, and lots of posters and stuff like that. Art nerds forever!

3.Who is the man with the beat's that's dope? Uh, what are your musical likings?
I like music that is extreme. Extremely loud, extremely cute, extremely angry, extremely beautiful, extremely pop, extremely experimental, extremely creative. This month (December 1999) my top 5 cds are:
1. Flaming Lips - Soft Bulletin
2. Space Raiders - Don't be Daft
3. Le Tone - le petit nabab
4. Filter - title of record
5. Suppa Micro Pamchopp - Kaeru ni atet yokatta

4.Baby Sea Robot. Could you talk about this project. Have you done more cds?
I have always been playing music, and in my college days I was it two famous unknown bands "The Celebrity Teens" and "The Frank Maya Band". Those bands are gone, but I continue. In 1997 I started working on my own CD at my home studio. It is a little rough technically but it was good enough. My agent and I self published it in Japan. Sony distributed it there. There are no plans to distribute it in the US. I put some of it up on my website, if any of the readers want to hear it.

5. What has been your involvement with the music on Um Jammer Lammy and Parappa? I've seen a few Um Jammer music cd's in the import stores. Did you create the music for these?
I wrote and sang the very first song on Parappa The Rapper - "Jet Baby Theme". I had no involvement with the music in Um Jammer Lammy. Masaya Matsuura and Ryu wrote it all.

6. Who did the voice-overs for the games? Anybody chumps like me would recognize?
All the voices for Parappa and Lammy were recorded in Brooklyn. Very fun talented people. Nobody really famous, (as far as I know) but they should be. You can read the credits in the booklet that comes with Lammy.

7. Could you tell the readers a bit about Puffy, and your collaboration with them.
Puffy is the super fabulous super pop super tv personality, super beautiful, two girl super hit record making Japanese music group. I am usually contracted to do the cover art for their singles, which sell millions of copies. I have also designed the set for their TV show, and their merchandise. Things like bandanas, key chains, tee shirts, mugs and even sneakers. It is so super fantastic! They are super nice super sexy and super cool.

8. What is your favorite character that you created? (mine's the DJ Bear)? What was the idea behind this character, and why is it your favorite?
Did you know PJ Berri is also my favorite character? I am always pushing Sony to make more PJ products. Originally in 1995 Sony Creative Products hired me to create 4 characters for licensing purposes. One of the ones they picked was a forlorn and listless bear I named PJ Berri. PJ's quest in life is to eat, sleep, and listen to music. I think a lot of people can relate to this. This summer I wrote a comic book about him. Nothing much really happens. It will be published in Japan this spring. Some us distribution is in the works too.

9. Do you prefer NYC or Tokyo for your living quarters? What is your favorite place to be in those cities?
I am a hardcore New Yorker. The only other big city I'd consider living is Tokyo.

10. Could you tell us about your commercial work? Mr. Bagel, etc.
Sony often connects me with other interesting projects. In 1997 I was contracted to work with Family Mart, a large chain of convenience stores in Japan. I make funny characters for their food products and TV commercials. I have also been creating a line of funny characters for Minolta in Japan. I have made a little blue tiger who sells color copiers. He is very cute.

11. What projects are you currently working on?
Now I am working on a sequel to my 1995 children's book "Thunder Bunny".

12. Are you and Booska still good friends? Any cool new toys lately? Do you have a special toy that you remember from the past?
Booska rules all the Japanese monsters in the bathroom at my studio. In general I like toys that make music. Like little animals that you pull on a string and they hit a little drum. Vintage toys: I am looking for a toy from my past called "Odd Og" it was a large plastic battery operated turtle like creature that moved around picking up bean bags? I think. Maybe it was Kenner or Ideal.

13.What are your favorite cartoons?
Jay Ward stuff like Bullwinkle or Super Chicken. Japanese dubed cartoons from 70s. Speed Racer - Marine Boy. The Tick

14. Are there any Greenblat Corp. cartoons or commercial spots in the works?
I have started self producing my own cartoon. It is called "Bunnysattva and Biff" and is a buddist comedy. I hope to finish the first episode by sometime in 2001.

15. Do you have any cave memories you could tell the Moonshine readers about?
Once when I was 10 I used a book about Rembrandt as a sled. I slid down an icy hill while sitting on the book. It worked great, but the cover got all messed up.

16. How do you think your games have been received in the states?
Great reviews, but distribution and marketing is bad. I have this theory that big American publishing-entertainment companies just don't understand me. It is a problem.

17. Have you ever dreamed that Thunder Bunny is real, and he will take you to places like chatterland? Uh. maybe this is a personal fantasy.
What are you talking about. Of course Thunder Bunny is real. He lives up in the sky. I bet you have even been to Chatterland too. You probably just don't realize it.

18+.How old are you? - very young 39
Where and when was your first art show? - Walt Whitman Highschool "Festival of the Arts" 1976
Your Yummy food? - Pepperige Farms Mint Milanos
Your favorite mode of transport - Model T Ford
What is Rotatoru? - Strange Windup toy exported to Japan from Rodney's Planet.
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