Wednesday, November 09, 2011

What Line Is It Anyway?

Yo strikaland… we can’t decide what Shakes should say in this clip from episode 31 of the show at the point just before he takes the shot.

The show is about IU trying to trick SS with illusion, so currently he’s saying: “Abracadabra”.

Please help us out – serious and not serious suggestions welcome.

Animation Council of Strikaland

Thursday, October 13, 2011

MARKET DAY

Check out the Strika merch at the CPUT Market Day:

Every year the Office Management Technology first year students at CPUT participate in an entrepreneurial fundraising day, the profits of which are donated to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital.

This year one of the students approached Strika to donate some merchandise for the good cause. As the only stall with branded goods, Theresa made quite a splash.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

GO BOKKE!

It’s rugby time at Strika and we’re upping the stakes with TWO competitions!

Competition 1 – The Draw

Two weeks ago, the lovely Yandi came around and let you choose a team at random from all the teams in the World Cup.

If the team you pulled makes it to the semi-finals, you win a Kitchen lunch voucher worth R50.

That is… unless your team makes it to the finals! If the team you pulled takes the runner up place in the finals you’ll receive a R100 Kitchen lunch voucher.

And if your team wins, Strika will give you a R250 voucher to spend at either the Royale Eatery in Long Street, or Bardeli’s in Kloof.

Yum yum.

Competition 2 – The Best Supporter

Over the next few Fridays Strika will be watching to see who consistently embodies the spirit of Rugby. Whether it’s supporting our boys in Green & Gold, wearing your flag in solidarity, or supporting whomever you think is going to win… if you keep it up until the end of the World Cup, you will also win a R50 lunch voucher from the Kitchen.

So show your colours and win!

Guess who already has a head-start.

Remember to support our boys as they play against Samoa tomorrow.

Friday, September 02, 2011

Strika Newbies

Some of you may have noticed a few new “eager” faces around Strikaland lately. Very astute of you. Here’s a little more info on them:

Matthew Ackermann

Dept: Writing

Originally from: Somerset West

Life before Strika: freelance comic maker (check out his webcomic, www.thefamilycrest.yolasite.com)

Studied: Writing at Rhodes University

Factoid: Getting married in December


Gabriela Farias

Dept: Production (animation)

Originally from: Washington DC

Life before Strika: Managing our favourite kitchen, The Kitchen!

Comment: “Shout out to Karen!”

Factoid: Recently started rollerblading


Dene McLeod

Dept: Editing

Originally from: Bothasig

Life before Strika: Clockwork Zoo

Studied: Film Production at UCT

Factoid: Huge Liverpool Supporter

Comment: “You’ll never walk alone.”


Neil Phyfer

Dept: Post Production

Life before Strika: freelance illustration (check out his site, www.playmation.co.za)

Comment: “No Comment.”

Factoid: Produced a daily comic strip for local newspaper, the Voice.


Ryan Rix

Dept: Design

Originally from: Milnerton

Life before Strika: Agency background

Studied: at the Art Director’s Workshop

Factoid: Expert touch rugby player, martial artist, and boozer.


Mega Stapler

Dept: Stationery

Originally from: scrap metal

Life before Strika: First job

Factoid: Industrial strength stapler, able to staple 60 sheets of paper in a single bound

Comment: “Snikt.”


Johnny Van Der Merwe

Dept: Storyboarding

Originally from: Karoo

Life before Strika: Clockwork Zoo

Comment: “I like robots, fast cars and mechanical stuff!”


Megan Wolstenholme

Dept: Sales Team

Originally from: Washington DC, Virginia, Colorado, Cape Town, Grahamstown, Denver… 19 other moves… Cape Town!

Life before Strika: Auto Industry

Studied: Journalism at Rhodes University

Factoid: Is a total socialite

Comment: “The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success.”


Now you can put a name to the friendly face, remember to say “Hi!”

Friday, August 26, 2011

A Taste for Life: The Supa Strikas Spur Day Experience

On Saturday the 20th August 2011 the Supa Strikas team (Richard, Loyiso, Bonisa, Yandi and Andrew) took 28 lucky fans to the Amitola Spur in Gugulethu, Cape Town.

On the day all the kids were treated to a delicious Spur burger, Supa Strikas quiz and were given a character illustration workshop from the Supa Strikas head illustrator, Bonisa Bonani.

There were various prizes on offer, with the overall winner from the artwork/creative story walking away with a brand new Blackberry cell phone!

At the end of the day everyone walked away with a full belly, Supa Strika merchandise and a bright smile on their faces. Strika Blog interviews event organizer, Andrew Flanagan, about the experience.

What were your hopes for the day?

I hoped that the kids would arrive and be visibly excited about the day ahead. That they would engage with Bonisa during his illustration workshop in order to gain the valuable drawing skills. I had hoped that they would have sufficient Supa Strika knowledge so that we could gain valuable insight into our true fan base. I wanted the kids to have a great Saturday afternoon at the Spur and walk away a happy and committed Supa Strikas fan!

What surprised you most about the event?

The amount of in-depth knowledge some of the kids had about Supa Strikas and their sponsors and how much they enjoyed the illustration workshop. Many of the kids had to be told to stop drawing and eat their delicious Spur Burger. I had imagined the opposite, that as soon as the burgers came all chaos would break out and the illustration workshop would have gone out the window, however it was quite the contrary!

If you could take one moment from the entire day with you always, what would that be?

It would have to be the celebration from the 2nd placed winner of the Nokia phone and how chuffed he looked in his new Supa Strikas hat. This kid in particular knew every Supa Strikas players jersey number off by heart and the smile on his face after winning was priceless!

Friday, August 12, 2011

The First Line in Animated Defence: Storyboarders

By now we’ve all met Wickus and Kay, the storyboarders on our latest season of Supa Strikas.

But do we really know them? Where do they come from? What do they want? What are their surnames?

Only Strika Blog asks the questions you want to know (and never knew you cared about):

Strika blog:

What were you up to before Strika reached out and touched you?

Wickus Coetzee:

When I moved to Cape Town from Pretoria (originally from all over South Africa) I started straight away with storyboarding for two international shows. After that I was illustrating 14 issues of a Hercules children’s book as a freelancer.

Kay Carmichael:

Sitting at home, unemployed for six months after a bad studio experience. I’ve been at three other studios, mostly working as a 2d animator (ironically drawing much less for that than I am now) and generally bopping between Johannesburg, where I’m from, and Cape Town, where I like to be.

Strika blog:

What did you study and why?

Wickus Coetzee:

I studied Graphic Design and honestly I don’t know why… but then did some courses on Film and photography. I love Visual story telling.

Kay Carmichael:

I studied Animation Directing at AFDA JHB - quite by accident - I was there to study writing originally. But the megalomaniac Disney nerd in me had its way and I found myself storyboarding, directing and animating stories as well as writing them. Actual competence came later.

Strika blog:

What’s your fave animation?

Wickus Coetzee:

Favourite… mmmm not sure. Truly I like most animation.

Kay Carmichael:

Beauty and the Beast!

Strika blog:

Who’s your fave Supa Strika?

Wickus Coetzee:

I would say Klaus and El Matador: they are just such fun characters to board.

Kay Carmichael:

Dancing Rasta’s my favourite; he climbs freaking Everest to relax.

Strika blog:

What are your hopes for Supa Strikas and your time with Strika?

Wickus Coetzee:

My hopes for Supa Strikas would be that it grows even more in popularity. And if I could be a part that, Awesome!

Kay Carmichael:

I hope to have a long and fruitful stint at Strika and I’d love to get into the comics side and learn as much as I can there.

Strika blog:

What do you think is the future of Supa Strikas and Shakes?

Wickus Coetzee:

A movie of course!

Kay Carmichael:

I think Supa Strikas will soon have a real-life team representing them (dinosaurs included), and discover alternate universe versions of themselves as an all-girl team :-)

Strika blog:

Riiiigghht…

And now you know!

Thursday, August 04, 2011

The Exhibitionist


Strika illustrator, Loyiso Mkhize, was recently interviewed for an article in the Tonight.

Read it here:

http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/news/local/mkhize-an-artist-by-design-1.1102657

When we heard that he will be re-launching his exhibit as a collaborative piece, we decided to throw our own questions at him.

SB: What can you tell us about your upcoming exhibition launch?

LM: Well the upcoming launch is a joint effort seeing myself and a lady by the name of Leila Bennelli showcasing our stuff. I'll be re-introducing my series entitled "Reflections of inner truth". She will be launching her jewellery range entitled "The Leila Benelli collection” for the first time.

SB: How does this differ from your current exhibition at the Framery Art Gallery?

LM: It differs in the way we are packaging the entire experience of the opening night. We are fusing both national treasures (fine arts, jewellery) into one message: "Reflections of inner truth and beauty".

SB: Tell us a little about your latest collaboration?

LM: Well, I met up with Leila on a radio interview that she was doing of me and my exhibition. Little did I know that three weeks later we would meet again, only this time we would be discussing collaboration. It kinda just happened really.

Wanna know more?

Get to the Framery Art Gallery on 25th August 2011 for Loyiso’s collaborative re-launch of "Reflections of inner truth and beauty".