Who YOU is?
Calvin O'Neill AKA CAL(vin)
My journey coming up was all about collaborating with other artists that aspired to make cartoons. We'd design merch, put on events to showcase work, make animated films and were always drawing, having a laugh and bouncing ideas off each other. In those days, I made my living taking commissions (and teaching), usually working with local content creators who had their own ideas for animated shows, apparel or social media content.
In my down time, I'd spend hours drawing comic strips and developing the ideas that would define my life moving forward.
(The Barmy Horde)
While I still love collaboration, I've always had many big ideas of my own too. In 2022, I shifted my focus to The Barmy Horde and started working on The Parade of Screw Ups, an indie cartoon about three clowns.
(The Parade of Screw Ups)
After a well received screening of my proof of concept at Matchstick PieHouse in Deptford, I produced a handful of shorts and began performing at alternative comedy nights alongside a rotating door of real clowns, as a caricature artist.
Since then, I have began working towards publishing my first graphic novel, as well as collection of original comic strips created over the last decade. The Parade of Screw Ups is also still in production, with a series of 10 - 15 minute episodes which premiered in August at The Edinburgh Fringe, and are currently being pitched to additional film and comedy festivals.
It's not easy making so much independent content. Not smart either. You might even say not sane...but...it's what I does! In the midst of this, I'm also working on a poster of 100 different characters with punchline names and am recording the process, which will be made available as a series on YouTube once it's complete. And of course, I'm still working with creatives and brands on exciting new projects. Every month, I release a newsletter updating readers on what I've currently got in the works, and what new things fans can check out.
So, if none of that interests you...why are you still here?!