Byron Vaughns Shazam Blog: HOW I CAME TO WORK ON “SHAZAM”

Thursday, October 15, 2009

HOW I CAME TO WORK ON “SHAZAM”

After working in a multitude of creative cartoonist positions, I ended up employed for Hanna Barbera Productions (you know, the “Jonny Quest/Scooby-Doo” people). During my tenure as Producer there, I was involved with ABC network’s children’s division working on the animated television series, “Dumb & Dumber”, and guess who was ABC’s General Manager? Why none other than the multi-talented nice guy (and future DC Comics Executive Editor) Dan Di Dio (yes he has two last names). After that series ended, I moved on to Cartoon Network’s “Johnny Bravo” to produce and co-develop the series with the creator Van Partible. Dan eventually left California and went on to DC Comics in New York. Years later, when Dan needed help on BB&MS, he called me out of the blue and wanted to know if I was available to pencil and ink issue #5. Would I?…..You bet I was available……to be continued……………..

2 comments:

AnonymousOctober 16, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Very interesting Byron. Can't wait to see you cover to BBMOS # 12 on Monday at Newsarama.

All the best,

mdtk
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BYRON VAUGHNSOctober 17, 2009 at 1:03 AM
And thank you for your interest. As far as Monday goes.....we'll see....
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WELCOME

Salutations and Howdy, Folks! Excuse my overt greetings, but, being from the South (Arkansas, that it is), I thought that I would open the first installment of this “Shazam!” missive in a friendly, down home manner. Welcome to my Shazam blog; hope you like it because this blog is really your blog! What are your interests regarding the good Captain? How often have you followed his adventures? What would you like to discuss? Feel free to respond, I am very much interested in your comments!

MORE STARVING

He moved on to the Arkansas Dispatch, where he wrote/drew a regular series of historical panels and editorial comic strip series, “The Arkankids” and wondered if/when/how food/and/or money would materialize. Later, he ended up at the Pine Bluff Commercial where he did local editorial cartoons and a daily comic strip series, “Pine Bluff Paradise” and continued to wonder if/when/how food/and/or money would materialize. The world of television beckoned when KATV Channel Seven in Little Rock, Arkansas employed him as graphic designer, working closely with the news department. This led to work as an Artist-In-Residence (a high falutin’ title for an on-site artist at a school campus) with the Arkansas Arts Council. This job had Mr. Vaughns in Hope, Arkansas (Clinton Country, y’all) only a few miles from Egg City (no joke again!). A natural interest in cartooning opened the door to work as an Animation Director with the Arkansas Arts Center.

SEEKING HIS FORTUNE IN THE WEST, “YOUNG MAN”

Eventually, he moved west where he worked for various animation studios (such as Warner Bros., Disney, Universal, Starz Media, etc.), and found that finally he no longer had to wonder if/when/how food/and/or money would materialize. He worked his way through the ranks peculiar to the animation profession: storyboard artist, assistant animator, character designer, development artist, director and finally, producer. He has directed/produced traditional animation, computer animation (CGI) and internet animation (Flash). He has also worked on a variety of cartoon series and direct-to-video features including the recently released Rob Zombie’s Haunted World of El Superbeasto, Starz Media, Burbank, CA

MORE ANIMATION BACKGROUND

His background includes television series such as "Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures" and "Animaniacs" (Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment). While directing the popular cartoon series "Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures" for Warner Bros. Television Animation, he received an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program (Fox Network). Other series and direct-to-video features include "101 Dalmatians" (Disney), "Weird-Ohs" (Mainframe), "Casper’s Haunted Christmas" (Harvey Entertainment), "Make Way for Noddy" (SD Entertainment).

HOW HE MET DAN DI DIO

Mr. Vaughns met Dan Di Dio (then a general manager at ABC Network’s Children’s Division) while working as Producer on "Dumb & Dumber", Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc., Hollywood, CA. While Mr. Vaughns moved on to Cartoon Network’s Johnny Bravo to produce and co-develop the series with the creator Van Partible, Mr. Di Dio (yes he has two last names) eventually left California and went on to DC Comics in New York. While working on the "Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam" Comic Book, Mr. Di Dio remembered Mr. Vaughns and gave him a chance to work on it. The rest, they say, is history!