Martin Woolley Interview – Co-creator of Ace Discovery

At the beginning of June, Ace Discovery a comedy cartoon created by Tom Gran & Martin Woolley and produced by WONKY Films crash landed with a pilot episode on Frederator Studio’s Cartoon Hangover, the home of films that are too weird, wild and crazy for television. Show Me The Animation caught some time with Martin Woolley, co-creator of the cartoon.

Hi Martin, can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a bit about yourself?
Hi I’m Martin, co creator and general wise guy with a dark sense of humour.

Where did the idea for Ace Discovery come from?
I think it was a bit of an amalgamation of wanting to do something futuristic but with a bleaker outlook, but also paying some tribute to all the classic notions of space from the 50’s and 60’s. We also realized there are few black lead characters in cartoons and I think only one black astronaut who was killed during a takeoff. –so a bit of a mix of loose facts and wild fantasy.

Can you tell us about the process of making the cartoon?
It pretty much started with Tom and myself, a lot of rough sketches and a large bottle of rum a few years ago. We messed around recording ourselves improvising nonsense on a laptop and from that built a very crude animatic. Once it seemed like we had something kind of serious we pitched it to Frederator who added their suggestions and gave us more of a timeframe. Then there was a lot more rough sketching for characters props etc. As we developed the final concept we brought in other animators to do the leg work –as we’re lazy reprobates, and with the assistance of Wonky(a Bristol based production house) organized voice actors and all the social media promotional stuff.

Are the characters in the film inspired by any people you know, or any famous celebrities?
The initial idea for Ace was a more jaded, apathetic “House” and the name of the robot Rip Torn we just stole from the actor because it’s ridiculously good.

Which character would you be from the cartoon yourself?
Ha, I voice the robot Rip so I’m already pre-disposed to that guy as most of what he says is just me improvising. I would’ve quite liked to have been Ace before he was shit though.

Is there anything you would change about the cartoon?
The sound seems to be kinda off, a lot of the viewers are saying the same thing, which is frustrating so I’d like to have fixed that but as a Pilot episode I’m happy with the end result. I’m just happy to see it out in the world its been along time simmering in the back of our minds so to get it out there is exciting.

Whats been the most challenging aspect of making the cartoon?
I think negotiating between us in the UK and America, coupled by the fact that I live in Oxford and Tom’s in Bristol has been a little tricky but manageable. Finding the right voice actors took some time. –We had quite specific ideas for what we were looking for, the guys we’ve got have done a great job.

We really love the little side story with the dick creatures, whats you favourite part about the cartoon?
Yeah, everyone seems to like those things. I think we’ve accidentally uncovered a weird niche for cute looking dicks. I don’t know what that’s all about. I still find Jets visa-view with the “Prick” and “Spaz” tags hilarious, and any of the abuse Crackerjack takes.

Can we expect to see more from Ace soon?
Hopefully so if we get our way. We’re waiting to hear back from Frederator at the moment Ace’s fate’s in their hands. Perhaps someone should start a petition to get Ace on our screens.

Have you always want to make films and cartoons?
Yeah, I think there’s always been a part of me that enjoys making people laugh and telling stories, I don’t know if it’s an attention thing. Tom and I both love films and I think I’ve probably learned more from films and tv than in a classroom, so to be able to get your own creative ideas into that area and make your own mark is particularly rewarding.

Where does your overall inspiration come from?
A lot of films, books as many Hollywood clichés as we can find with a mix of dark comedy and I think mostly whatever makes the two of us laugh when we’re together. It’s a bit egotistical but we figured if its something we’re laughing at other people will too.

How did you and Tom start working together?
We were both at university studying animation, and simply became friends after I saved Tom’s life from a 60ft robot.

Can you tell us about some of the other projects are you working on at the moment?
It’s all super secret hush hush. But we’ve always got a bunch of ideas on the back boil and are currently putting something together pitch ideas together. You can see a lot of our work in development on our tumblr –spinkick bros.

What words of advice would you give for aspiring students studying animation?
Make good close friends, for ace we enlisted a bunch of buds from university who helped out massively. Also come up with the idea and design it but if it’s a 20 armed monster from the deep – get someone else to make it move.

What was your earliest memory of animation?
I can remember very old reruns of shows like the clangers and button moon, but actually now I think about it when I was very young I was a massive fan of Thomas the Tank Engine. –Pretty rock and roll.

What animated film do you wish you could have made?
That’s a difficult question, I think the Nightmare before Christmas is fantastic so possibly that or Who Framed Roger Rabbit, that was a great idea.

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