Designer of the Day… RON COBB
Got to work with Ron on CATS & DOGS…
Ron Cobb (born 1937) is an American cartoonist, artist, writer, film designer, and film director.
By the age of 18, with no formal training in graphic illustration, Cobb was working as an animation “inbetweener” artist for Disney Studios in Burbank, California.
He progressed to becoming a breakdown artist on the animation feature Sleeping Beauty (1959). (This was the last Disney film to have cels inked by hand.)
After Sleeping Beauty was completed in 1957, Disney laid off Cobb and he spent the next three years in various jobs — mail carrier, assembler in a door factory, sign painter’s assistant — until he was drafted in 1960 into the US Army.
For the next two years he delivered classified documents around San Francisco, then, after signing up for an extra year to avoid assignment to the infantry, was sent to Vietnam in 1963 as a draughtsman for the Signal Corps.
On his discharge, Cobb began freelancing as an artist. He began to contribute to the Los Angeles Free Press in 1965.
Edited and published by Art Kunkin, the Los Angeles Free Press was one of the first of the underground newspapers of the 1960s, noted for its radical politics.
Cobb’s editorial/political cartoons were a celebrated feature of the Freep, and appeared regularly throughout member newspapers of the Underground Press Syndicate.
However, although he was regarded as one of the finest political cartoonists of the mid-1960s to early 1970s, Cobb made very little money from the cartoons and was always looking for work elsewhere.
Among other projects, Cobb designed the cover for Jefferson Airplane‘s 1967 album, After Bathing at Baxter’s.
He also contributed design work for the cult film, Dark Star (1973) (he drew the original design for the exterior of the Dark Star spaceship on a Pancake House napkin).
In 1981, Colorvision, a large-format, full-colour monograph appeared, including much of his design work for the films Star Wars (1977), Alien (1979), and Conan the Barbarian (1982), the first feature for which he received the credit of Production Designer.
Cobb has also contributed production design to the films The Last Starfighter (1984), Leviathan (1989), Total Recall (1990), True Lies (1994), The Sixth Day (2000), Cats & Dogs (2001), Southland Tales (2006), and the Australian feature Garbo, which he directed. Cobb contributed the initial story for Night Skies, an earlier, darker version of E.T.. Steven Spielberg offered him the opportunity to direct this scarier sequel to Close Encounters of the Third Kind until problems arose over special effects that required a major rewrite.
While Cobb was in Spain working on Conan the Barbarian, Spielberg supervised the rewrite into the more personal E.T. and ended up directing it himself. Cobb later received some net profit participation.
Cobb also co-wrote with his wife, Robin Love, one of the (1985–1987) Twilight Zone episodes.
Among the most famous film props signed by Cobb are two of the swords he designed for the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian (the “Father’s Sword” and the “Atlantean Sword”).
Cobb’s original drawings of the swords are nowadays used, in cinema merchandising, to mass-produce and sell replicas.
Today’s FEATURED CONCEPT ART… RON COBB
An amazing artist, I got a chance to work with Ron on CATS & DOGS at WB. His technique was innovative, fun and sometimes unnerving.
Featured CONCEPT ART… The Lost Images of ROBOJOX by RON COBB
This lost images of Ron Cobb’s work from the film ROBOJOX (Robot Jox) have been in my collection for over 25 years. My wife was the costume designer and managed to work with Ron and get these shots. Although not the originals, they are still some of Cobb’s best.
HUNCHBACK BIKE BUILD puts the Power to the Pavement… um, Cobblestone.
If you don’t know the true story of the HUNCHBACK of NOTRE DAME, then boy are you missing something. The whole point of him being cooped up in the Cathedral was because he was building something cool…
If you go back and watch the movie, you’ll see bits and piece of his Jules Verne-Inspired HUNCHBIKE. Yep, we’re not kidding…
A Steam-powered Unicycle that hits 0-60 in 4.8 seconds flat! Who WOULDN’T want to rip this!!
Be on the lookout at Hunch cruises Paris. I hear he’s collecting Cheese Wheels for a new Car Show!
(This one… from our GHOUL’S GARAGE Coloring Book available on Amazon.)
EMERGENCY, Clockwork, BMW, Back to the Future & WHAT IS IT?
It’s FRIDAY!! Woo Hoo and WELCOME TO AUTOMOTIVE POP CULTURE DAILY! Some great Art today and more NEW CONCEPTS coming, but let’s hit the sirens with this EMERGENCY TRIPTYCH featuring Fireball’s three hottest pieces! Hit the Garage and snag a MUG, then slurp ’til the Cows come home! (That’s a Farmer Reference joke… No Insult intended, you lillies.)
DID YOU KNOW?? John Gage was based on Battalion Chief Jim Page, who helped create the firefighter/paramedic program for LACoFD. Executive Producer Jack Webb wanted to name the character after Page, but he declined. Jim Page died on Saturday, September 4, 2004, and Randolph Mantooth was one of the speakers at his memorial. Aslo, John Travolta earned his first TV credit on the show!!
Today on PLANET FIREBALL, the Ball hangs with Car Show Celebs like HOT ROD HOLLY & Pinstriper VON HOT ROD! INGLIS CLASSICS is coming and YOU should be there!
NEW FEATURED ART!! Brand New A CLOCKWORK ORANGE M-505 Adams Brothers Probe 16, designed by former Marcos Cars designers Dennis and Peter Adams! Check out the goods, now! Plus, Fireball’s CRAZY COOL BMW ISETTA CONCEPT neeeeds to be built, a Concept piece from the film LOONEY TUNES BACK IN ACTION and today’s RANDOM FIREBALL!!
BEHIND THE SCENES! What is this thing? Part COP CAR, part PONTIAC BANSHEE? Do you know??
FEATURED ARTIST! Today’s awesome art comes for the desk of Master RON COBB. This was the original DELOREAN SKETCH for BACK TO THE FUTURE!! And being a first pass, it was pretty close…
BEST OF SHOW!! Check out the PORSCHE PLAYLIST!! Some seriously cool Aircooled whipsters in this one! Watch BELOW or on YOUTUBE! Have a great weekend, folks!!
*All Products in The Fireball Tim Garage are available WHOLESALE for Shops, Dealerships, Museums and more! Level up your Store!
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DELOREAN RED STEEL, Monkeys, New Mugs, Cadillac & GI JOE!
Happy HUMP Day and WELCOME TO AUTOMOTIVE POP CULTURE DAILY! So many cool things happening here at the Garage that we have to pinch ourselves with Engine Tongs! First up… ALL-NEW ART with the launch of DELOREAN RED STEEL! This was the Car designed for SEMA last year with TRW. And the only thing faster through time would be a CHEVY 3100 TIME MACHINE!! What would YOU have Fireball turn into a TIME MACHINE?? Check out the MUGS & PRINTS NOW!
DID YOU KNOW?? The iconic DeLorean Time Machine from “Back to the Future” was designed by a team, including Fireball Pals concept artist Ron Cobb, storyboard artist Andrew Probert, and special effects consultant Michael Fink, who helped shape the car’s look and the flux capacitor’s name. Cobb designed the car in a week, envisioning the interior as a professor’s secondhand parts store. Production Designer Larry Paull previously helped designed vehicles for “Blade Runner” and “Knight Rider” before working on the DeLorean for “Back to the Future.”
Today… on PLANET FIREBALL… Fireball has done many shows over the years for DISCOVERY, TLC, HISTORY & SPEED. Which one was your favorite? For us… it was “WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE RIDES!” But what’s next?? One thing is for sure… it’ll be some MONKEY BUSINESS!!!
MUGSHOTS!! Today’s New Art Mugs include the Duke’s Cadillac from ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK and a stunning SOCAL LOWRIDER. Check ’em out and HIT THE GAS!
COMMISSION ART… Today’s Featured Fireball Print Art is this awesome CUSTOM BUGATTI CHIRON and a HOT WHEELS CUSTOM ELDORADO! Which Hot Wheels was your favorite? Fireball is still working on the Sweet Sixteen Series!
MOVIE CAR of the Day isn’t a Movie Car at all… but a GI JOE JET SKI! Back in the day, the shop was filled with cars being worked on… And this Custom Jet Ski had to sit outside due to limited space. And so did something else! But tomorrow… Fireball WILL MAKE UP FOR THAT HERE IN THE GARAGE!!
The New VINTAGE CARS COLORING BOOK is only days away! CAR MUSEUMS BOUND!! But that’s not all… Shhh.
FEATURED ARTIST today is this awesome original STAR WARS POSTER Concept by JOHN BERKEY. He and Fireball Pal TOM JUNG were tasked to create the VERY FIRST POSTER. The only thing that would have made this poster better?? A COOL CAR! Muhahahahaha!!
BEST OF SHOW?? Check out Fireball’s amazing PONTIAC PLAYLIST!! Watch, drool and then (and ONLY then… can you leave for work!) WATCH BELOW or hit it ON YOUTUBE! Have an awesome and prosperous day, folks!
*New AUTOMOTIVE POP CULTURE ART on Mugs, Canvas & TeeShirts comes into THE GARAGE Daily! https://fireballtimgarage.art
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*THANK YOU for LEAVING A REVIEW in the Garage! It really helps and 10% goes to DOG RESCUES.
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ALIENS, ANDY & ATEAM, GNRS Mad Max Bike & Fantastic 4!
Howdy folks, and WELCOME TO AUTOMOTIVE POP CULTURE DAILY!! Some new features today, so let’s start out with some cool MASTERPRINTS with THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, ATEAM, ARK 2 and an all-new ALIENS LV427!! Which one you like BEST? LEAVE A COMMENT below and you could WIN A FREE MUG!!
DID YOU KNOW?? James Cameron’s APC TANK from the film ALIENS was built around the air towing tractor Hunslet ATT77. It had as six wheels instead of four and the interior set was much larger than the actual vehicle! Welcome to Movie-Making… It was designed by the late Concept Artist RON COBB and you can see some of Ron’s Original Marker SKETCH Work from THE FIRST FILM below!
Also in today’s “WE’RE DEAD, MAN BLAST!!… Fireball hits GNRS and spots friend JOHNNY AGNEW from the TV Show, “FUNKY JUNK!” Fireball’s HeliTRUCK Concept Art from the film SIX CITIES, GNRS Fireball BEST OF SHOW went to a guy named Keith Young who built this insane MAD MAX-inspired Bike built from Copper and SLAMMED. AMAZING!! And lastly, Ron Cobb’s SKETCH from the original film ALIEN had the NOSTROMO being called THE LEVIATHAN!
IN THE NEWS!! The all-new FANTASTIC 4 Movie is coming (See the Trailer Below) along with a cool new RETRO CAR! Oh yes… THIS WILL BE SKETCHED! Also check out the NEW TRAILER from JURASSIC PARK REBIRTH!! Fireball worked on the very first JURASSIC PARK and LOST WORLD, and now it seems to be starting over! Also, a funky weird CHEVY BEL AIR Concept… What do you guys think??
*NEW ART on Canvas, Mugs & Tees in THE GARAGE! https://fireballtimgarage.art
*The FIREBALL TIM GARAGE BLOG is a daily dose of AUTOMOTIVE POP CULTURE ART! https://fireballtim.com
*THANK YOU for LEAVING A REVIEW! It really helps and 10% goes to DOG RESCUES. THANK YOU!
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WATCH! All new ALIEN ROMULUS Trailer brings out your SHRILL
Really looking forward to this latest ALIEN installment, ALIEN ROMULUS. I’m assuming that Romulus is the name of the ship in keeping with past films…. the original being the Nostromo. But there have been many vehicles from this franchise over the years and I may have to do more of them like this APC. Check it out IN THE GARAGE and WATCH below!
DID YOU KNOW?? It was Concept Artist Ron Cobb who came up with the idea that the Alien should bleed acid.
My STORY with the BACK TO THE FUTURE DELOREAN…
In 1985, I was taking a plethora of Art Classes at Ventura College having graduated High School in ’83… “which was meant to be.” And ’85 was when BTTF 1 came out. So no, I DID NOT design this car for the umpteenth time, so quit askin.’I saw it in the theater like everyone else… but it was there that I decided that CARS & FILM was it for me. So I got busy…
Many Concept Artists had a hand in the design including the infamous (and now gone) Ron Cobb and my good friend Andy Probert. I worked with Ron on CATS & DOGS and with Andy at Disney IMAGINEERING. Most big movies have several Artists on them, but because of BTTF, I began to lean in hard to Movies as I was growing up in a film family… up on Ojai. My first designs were for the 80’s Twilight Zone and The Phoenix in 1982. Both, my parents Produced. So they let me play and it was awesome.
’89 was when everything changed for me in designing the Batmobile, but the Delorean was the original inspiration for the direction of my life. And it STUCK. I have a crap-load of DIECAST Deloreans, too.
“Universal Studios Special Effects Department built three main DeLorean Time Machines for the first Back to the Future. The film’s producers characterized the DeLoreans with three names: the A car, B car, and C car.” So no, George Barris did not build these.
Everything about BTTF was spot on for what movies should be. Unique, fun, exciting and most of all… something you’ve never seen before. Movies are rarely like that now. Over the years, I’ve gotten to play with the multiple versions of this car in shows, events and toys. And to this day, it is still one of the most unique vehicles ever inspired for film. And this is why it’s IN THE GARAGE NOW, along with other BTTF vehicles I’ve sketched.
What have I missed?? Flying Delorean, BTTF3… yes. But they’re coming folks. I’m closing in on over 400 SKETCHES of TV & Film Cars. Got an idea? REACH OUT.
Until then, grab a MUG and LET’S DO LIFE RIGHT.
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- Paul Nigh’s ‘TeamTimeCar.com’ Back to the Future DeLorean Time Machine
These are the Best POSTER ARTISTS in Hollywood…
I’ve been in Hollywood (doing Concept Work) since 1983. And in that time, I’ve gotten a chance to meet and work with many really great artists. Drew Struzan, Dan Goozee, Syd Mead, Ron Cobb. All, exceptional talents and have certainly inspired what we’re doing today here at Fireball Publishing.
But Poster Art is far more complex than it looks on the surface. Designing a poster for movies is about leading the eye where you want the viewer to go via subject matter, color and contrast in order to lead a story.
Here’s a piece from Drew. Amazing Ver2 from BTTF3. This is an evolution from the first two films, but very successful. Great example of movement, color, contrast and humor. I could stare at these for days…
If you’re an artist, consider the superior importance of composition design long before color and texture. This is what we apply to all our Coloring Books here at Fireball. Composition is KEY. Lead the viewer on an incredible journey and the dividends will be immense.
