There are many tales in Oz.
But surely one of the strangest is that of Loonville.

If you were to adventure away from the Land of the Winkies...
If by chance you would bypass the Emerald City of Oz...
You might find yourself at the a crossroad...
And see signs of things quite odd.

(the signs might even say)

- Keep out! Stay out of Loonville!
- HereThere is no place to be
- Beware! Run away! Be elsewhere!
- Leave! Throw away the key!

- Go Away! Don't go! Loonville!
- Best you up and Leave!
- Don't like your kind in Loonville!
- Final chance to leave!

- Turn around! Do not Pass! U Turn!
- Wouldn't go that way if you were me
- Run away! Get away from Loonville!
- "Loonville POpulation 3".

(and in very very tiny lettering)
"This Means You!"
King Bal of the Loons



There have been rumors of a whole lot more Loons living in Loonville.
Here though are the three most illustrious inhabitants of Loonvile seen to date.

King Bal
Chief Loon
and the Loon without a name

Ideally the Generic Loon should be used to create other Loons but you may find King Bal and Chief Loon to better fit your specific needs. Keep in mind that King Bal and Chief Loon stand out in the crowd.

The following Loons have been reported in the vicinity of the Crossroads and the forest just beyond:
(Playing Loons)
(Working Loons)
(Talking Loons)
(Arguing Loons)
(Baloon carrying Loons)
(Belly Bouncing Loons)
(Bowling Loons)
(Rack o' Loons)
(Frozen in time Loons)
(Running Loons)
(Attacking Loons!)
(Large Arm Loon)
(Sea of Loons) *a crowd... not their lake rennovation project!
(Vine holding Loons)
(Cowboy Lasso throwing Loons)
(Leaping Loons)
(Strange noise making Loons)
(More Bouncing Loons)
(Lustily Cheering Loons)
(Bouncing up and down while lustily cheering Loons)
(Professional Dragging Loons)
(More bouncing and cheering Loons)
(Assembled Loons)
(Gasping Loons)
(Lowering of the eyes in honor to their King Loons)
(Two attendant Loons)
(Chanting reverently Loons)
(Stopping of that infernal racket Loons)
(Vigorously 'woo'ing' Loons)
(Reacting, Wailing and moaning wretchedly Loons)
(Supportive Loons)
(Assembled yet suddenly fallen silent Loons)
(Crowd o' Loons)
(Easily impressed Loons that have a penchant for muttering)
(More gasping Loons)
(Cowering, frightened Loons)
(The big pump team of Loons)(hose connectoring Loons)(Pumping Loons)
(Wails in anguish Loon)
(Facinated Loons)
(Platform Loons)
(Loon with a thorn for our heroes!) (More cheering Loons)
(Muttering Loons)
(Popping Loon#1 of many)
(Flee for your Lives! Loons)
(Screaming Loons)
(More Screaming Loons)
(Poor unlucky fellow who gets popped by Woot Loon)
(Pile of deflated Loonskins Loons)
(Lamenting Loons)

If you see one please at least take a photo of them so we document them in their natural habitate.
Here's what they reportedly look like:





The following links contain additional information and imagery of the Loons:
- Loons - Initial Character Design
- WIP: Loons - Creating a Loon
- Evolution of a Loon
- Loonville Set
- Rigging a Loon
- A few Loon props

*Special thanks to Robert Taylor and Jeff Bolle for the hard work in designing and modeling the Loons.
Additional appreciation extended to all those who have added personal touches to the world of the Loons too.

Rodney, you forgot to tell them that this is v13 only.

Also the generic loon should've been the only one released, IMO.

Can't seem to say that enough these days.
So... once more with feeling: TWO models are v13 only!

Anyone with access to v13 has access to all three Loons so... now they just don't have to look as far.

Thanks Mark.

Is the FACE rigging done on all them? I have a feeling it's not done on the generic loon. There's no point duplicating them until that's been done.

For 'hero shots' I agree, we'll need fully rigged Loons.

While I see your point Ken there are lots of reasons to keep creating Loons.
The whole idea is to design more Loons... a village of them.
Most won't be seen in the Movie... but they may inspire some that do.
Its a way of getting creative juices flowing and letting everyone participate in TWO.

I can think of lots of reasons to stop... a few really good ones to press on.

P.S. The Loons aren't decaled either.

I've stepped back a bit from the Loonville project to concentrate on the Extra DVD but if anyone is working on a Loon don't be shy... post your work, questions and Loons.

I'll join in the fun as I'm able.

Rodney

Thought I'd help by showing what you do not want


A couple of "Spokemen Loons"


[attachmentid=20253]

Please note: Loonville Population: 5

You crack me up John.

Rodney you said

You crack me up John.


Actually I did not post a plumber loon until now


[attachmentid=20272]



By the way the generic loons tongue is not attached to any bones as well as the little "bump" on the top of his head




I hate getting sidetraced......

OK John - now you cracked me up - I am truly laughing out loud - That is funny funny funny!

Heh. That's quite a sink....obviously it belongs to King Bal.

When the generic loon's face is rigged, it'll be possible to use a slider to make his nose bigger or another to make his face slimmer. Lots of sliders to play with.

Nancy

I think you would prefer a Fleur de Loon wearing a Pant de Loon


[attachmentid=20304]


Okay enough..Rodney what should the loon be wearing or how are they identified

This from me who claims no artistic directive authority at all here.

Loons are:
- Mostly naked (baloons usually are)
- Tattooed (Patterns identify and distinguish them from each other)
- Wearing Loin cloths, feathers and colorful beads but all Loony designs will be considered

Thats the classic design look of the Loons.
Which is not to say we can't expand on those ideas.

The Loons are a 'people' who think themselves fierce and warrior-like but are more prone to bumbling and blundering. When left alone they are just Loons living in their own little world.

In the Animatics they were playing games (like Bowling) where some unfortunate Loons were 'voluntold' to play the part of the bowling pins.

Some Loons do wear clothes but generally they would be 'examples' of the personality they represent.
For instance, if we were to go hyperLoony and lets say a fire broke out in the middle of Loonville... a few small Loons in really big Firemens hats would stage in and make a mess of the scene trying to put out the fire.

Exaggeration is key in any comedic scenes.

They can be quite scary at times when they get serious.
Its like something 'clicks' when the word 'Perferate' is used and their personalities morph.
They DO NOT like outsiders. If they had hair they'd let it down when they think they are in their own Loon world.

There is a pump scene were a larger Loon pushes down on the pump and the smaller one gets lifted each time.

As repetition is funny... consider repetition... in tattoos... in activities... in stature (a line of 5 little Loons with a 6th really Large one at one end)

Consider female Loons... what sets them apart... what do they like to adorn themselves with... Ribbons... Bows... Flowers?

The Loons are quite comfortable in their forest.
A lot of things are made out of wood, leaves and grass.
Anything else they have they've probably taken from strangers unfortunate enough to wander into Loonville.

There was a little talk of having a few be representatives of a Loon artist colony.
We know there is at least 1 that is quite artistic... he probably painted the signs at the crossroads and possibily tattooed every Loon.

Loons have a strange relationship with pointed and sharp objects.
They love them.... yet fear them too.
Some Loons are obviously the warrior class while others the village idiots, edumicators, bookworms, inventors (don't get too crazy here as we don't want to detract from the Ku Klip scenes... most innovation is probably seen subtley in the props and dressings of Loons and Loonville.

Loons may fear strangers but some may secretly envy the outside world.
A sign our heroes see as they finally return to the crossroads they started from might read, "Now leaving Loonville. Please come again!"

In short, the Loons are each one a very unique personality but when threatened or otherwise joined into a group will quickly assume the common mob mentality.

Think 7 Dwarves... on a Loony scale!
If Disney had his Bashful, Sleepy, Happy, Grumpy, Doc, Sneezy and Dopey the Martin's got to have his fair share too.

If you can name the Loon the major activity he would be responsible for then the personality might stick.
Somewhere else I suggested names like "Dances with Wolves".

'Picks Nose with Hammer' was the first Loon that immediately came to mind.

I went ahead and temporarily assigned the unassigned CP's to the head bones on the Generic Loon. The tongue will change if bones are used to rig it.

Me too. Can't help myself

Meet the Red Loonie Balloonies Tribe & the fierce Warrior No-Gray-Matter-Here Looniekins

I know I'm repeating myself...but, Nancy, you kick ass! Those are fantastic.

It deviates from Baums' original vision, but it just might be worth it.

Nice work Nancy!!

Those are some great loons!!!

Wonderful job Nancy!

A bit of a blast from the 70s, but I still love them!

Got this idea so I had to post
Its even animated and I think closer to the intent of the original post


[attachmentid=20527]


Meet Walterballoon Loon firefighter

YOU TRULY CRACK ME UP! - that is so funny.

Yep... Very funny.

I could even see some variations on the theme...
Lady Loon watering her flowers for instance.
Or Loons with umbrellas... one little one under another larger one under another even larger one, each protecting him/herself with an umbrella as the water rains down.

Those Loons are so Loony!

Dusting this off as I've been researching Loons again.

I found the old topic I was trying to find way back when we started this one.
Ken Heslip added some of his ideas to the mix:



I'm a big fan of the Loons 'going native' as Will Sutton describes (see in link below) but imagine that looniness will rule the day.
I'd love to see Loons who think they are savage and fierce but are entirely incompetent. The serious side of it would enhance the comedic effect.

The link to the discussion is HERE.

Anyway... back to working on the song treatment.

Sound like you're talking about the dodo birds from ice age.

Hmmm... not a bad comparison. Only with long pointy spears and yeah.. they'd keep the feathers... and dodo beaks...
Okay... we'll just substitute Will Sutton's dodo! <!kidding!>

There are several aspects of the Loons that are still in the design stage.
It'd be nice to lock those down.