ern Robinson(L) and Curt Spurging(R)
of Plan B Production House Inc.

   

they're always getting into
trouble but they’re not doing it
on purpose—it’s just who they
are, Robinson said.

Goblins features a variety
of uncommon format styles,
such as presenting the story
in three-panel layouts with
multiple panels of a character
performing an action set to the
timing of an animation. One
of the reasons for such design
choices is that the comics
will also serve as storyboards
for the 3-D animated Goblins

series.

“We see Goblins asa
franchise and we are looking
to expand on that franchise,
so it’s not just a graphic novel.
Our idea from the beginning
was to use the graphic novel
as more of a marketing tool,
something that would help get
exposure to the brand itself,’
Robinson said. “We've got some
other things in the works that
are going to compliment that.
A big part of that is going to be
the 3-D animated series we're
developing.”

The series will transform
the Goblins comics into seven-
minute, animated episodes that
follow the Goblins’ adventures,
beginning with the pilot
episode, Yard Away.

“We do have a game also
in development, which is
another kind of branch for our
franchise,’ Robinson said. “The

oroductionhouseine.

NM

video game is going to feature
all the bright, bold, colourful
backgrounds that we have in
the comic book and it’s going
to have the really detailed
characters in the costumes
that we see in the 3-D versions
as well. That’s going to bea
really fun, dynamic, fast-paced,
action, side-scrolling game
that’s easy to play.”

When the game is
released, it is expected to be
recommended for ages five
to 12. However, Robinson
encourages Goblins fans of
all ages to try it and see what
kind of mischief Earl, Herbert,
and Peeko get into in various

locations and level designs.
“We've kind of been in talks
with some merchandising and
toy companies to branch out
that way as well, so we're pretty
excited about that,” Robinson
said. “We're doing mock-ups
for T-shirts and hats and things
like that, so that’s definitely part

of it.”

The online comic of
Yard Away is currently being
published as the Goblins first
graphic novel. The funding
was made possible through
a Kickstarter campaign that
raised $5,101 from more than
50 backers, surpassing its
$5,000 goal when it ended on
December 26.

“We had a successful
campaign, but I was expecting

 

a lot more of an explosion

of interest,’ Robinson said,
explaining that Plan B
Production House Inc. had the
campaign planned out and the
graphic novel completed before

the campaign went live.

The campaign offered
rewards for backing the project,
including digital Goblins
wallpaper, digital and printed
copies of Yard Away, Goblins
stickers, and original signed
artwork of Peeko, Earl, and

Herbert.

“We wanted to come up
with things that would really
speak to the comic book
itself and just give people an
opportunity to have an extra
little memento other than just
the comic book,’ Robinson said.
“The artwork itself was the way
to go.”

Goblins will be appearing
again soon on Kickstarter with
the series’ second graphic novel,
The Big Heist, which has the
first two of three parts available

online.

“We've got plans to do
a dozen of these things,”
Robinson said. “If we can get
the explosion and popularity
behind it, then hopefully we
can do all 12 of them—maybe

more.”

The Goblins comics and
other merchandise are available
at goblinscartoons.com