Getting animated in Ashbourne

An aspiring cartoon strip artist from Ashbourne whose dream it is to have his work published in a newspaper says he has been inspired by animation greats since he was a child.

Fourteen-year-old Hugo Brennan McMahon's first memories are of sitting at his kitchen table sketching characters from well-known cartoon shows and much hasn't changed since then.

The Colaiste de Lacy student inspired by animation icons such as The Simpson's creator Matt Groening has gone on to create his own cartoon strip.

"Sam x 3" follows the amusing exploits of Sam, Samuel and Sammy who offer some quirky and humorous dialogue in the three-square story.

"Since I was very young, I've always loved art," said Hugo. One of the earliest memories I have is of when I was three or four sitting in the kitchen and drawing little animated creations from Thunderbirds.

"My sole interest growing up was cartoons and I remember getting up at the crack of dawn just so I could see as many as I could. I remember thinking how I couldn't believe that people got paid just to do drawing!"

Hugo recently became acquainted with classic cartoon artists spurring his passion on even further as he explains:

"I have become infatuated with creating three panel comic strips, similar to that of “Life in Hell” by Matt Groening, and “Peanuts” by Charles Schulz. I also really enjoy, Jim Davidson's Garfield.

"It started from watching a documentary about Matt Groening and he was talking about the comic strips he used to make before he became famous.

"I love the way you can convey so much comedy and so much detail in just three squares."

Hugo says he has no structured method for creating the witty scenarios for the strips, but content usually just flows when he starts.

"I had been interested in comics for a while so I decided I would sketch three very crude looking characters and three panel strips, Sam, Samuel and Sammy.

I don't have much of a set plan when I start doing each one. The most traditional cartoon strip is the set up of just starting with one of the characters talking to the camera or talking to one of the other guys that are off screen and I get inspiration from there."

Not content with one day potentially taking the animation world by storm, the Ashbourne youngster has set his sights of the film making world.

"I'm very big into film making and that's what I aspire to be when I'm older, an animator, film maker, director and writer. George Lucas has really inspired me.

"I'm trying to get a project off the ground with people from my school. The basic idea is that it's a musical comedy about a guy accidently joining a cult, it sounds a bit far out there but it's going to be good!"