Amanda Visell and Michelle Valigura are building a toy army in Los Angeles. Robot Girl, shown to the left, is the first member of that army. For six years, Visell and Valigura worked in stop-motion animation as sculptors and fabricators. Together they formed The Girls Productions, where they create their offbeat paintings and objects, which have an otherworldly feel of a cartoon character’s dreams. Visell and Valigura recently talked (via email) with Pink Raygun about The Girls Productions, Switcheroo, and their artwork.
Pink Raygun: Why did you launch The Girls Productions?
The Girls: We were doing a lot of different things and really needed to create an identity, we work together on a lot of stuff and everyone already called us The Girls.
[nms:Amanda Visell,4,0]
PRG: You have another project called Switcheroo. What’s that all about?
TG: Well, we want to make stuff we like. There’s products we’d like to make for ourselves, different mediums we want to work in, and also to use it as a way to push artist we like. We’ll have a lot of collaborations coming out this year. Our next product will be with Anna Chambers.
PRG: How did you get in with the Pirates of the Caribbean 40th Anniversary?
TG: Michelle and I are huge Disneyland fans. We have worked with Disney and the park a few times already, and during a meeting about upcoming projects we’re doing with the park, our Disney contact in merchandise and collectibles noticed that I have a skull and crossbones tattoo. Its a perfect match.
PRG: On your blog, you said some of the artwork will be featured in a new Disney product line. Other than the product line, how will your artwork feature in the anniversary?
TG: Michelle and I will be a part of two Disneyland Gallery exhibits at the Disneyland Gallery in New Orleans Square. One is original artwork for the Pirates anniversary, I’ll have paintings that some of the merchandise features and Michelle will have one of a kind plush and sculpts. The other is an Art of Disneyland event, in general its art inspired by the park. They’ll both be up on March 18th for the Pirates merchandise signing.
[nms:Michelle Valigura,4,0]
PRG: Your artwork makes me think of Looney Tunes. Like if Marvin the Martian had dreams, he’d dream your paintings. Where do you get an idea for something like a giant toaster robot or an astro-monkey?
TG: Who doesn’t want a giant toaster robot? Mostly we just try to make fun things that appeal to us. We are really influenced by vintage animation concepts and designs so that’s not a big leap.
PRG: Which of your pieces is your favorite or was the most fun to create?
TG: Mine is Robot Babysitter, because it came out exactly how I wanted it. Michelle’s is Babe the Blue Ox, which she did for a gallery show called Remixing the Magic. Its so sharp in person.
PRG: Robot Girl rocks. Where did that project come from?
TG: Michelle originally made it as one of a kind, it really got tremendously popular. We knew we wanted to start manufacturing our own products, this ended up being the obvious choice. Who doesn’t love robots?
PRG: What got you into creating the pieces on the “Objects” section of your website?
TG: Michelle and I have both worked in stop motion animation sculpting and fabricating. Michelle mostly works in 3d, our site is so outdated right now. We really need to add a lot of work.
PRG: What interested you in working in stop motion animation?
TG: Well we both tried to get in on a lot of different kinds of animation. It just happened that this kind of animation is pretty easy to get in the door in LA. Neither of us had any idea we could sculpt or fabricate these complicated armatures until we had to, its a great way to learn how to build things in your brain.
PRG: And. . . in addition to your paintings and objects, what projects are The Girls Productions working on?
TG: We have a couple of books coming out in the next two years, I’ll have an art book for Comic Con and we’ll have a storybook that Michelle wrote. Also we’ll be expanding our toy army and working with some other companies like Strangeco and Munkyking.
Keep up with Amanda Visell’s and Michelle Valigura’s current projects and shows at The Girls Productions. There, you can also see their artwork for the Pirates of The Caribbean 40th Anniversary celebration. Robot Girl is available online at Munky King.
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