Exclusive: Olan Rogers (Final Space/The Lion’s Blaze) Q&A

We talk to the up and coming TV producer about Final Space, his new pilot for The Lion’s Blaze, and a new feature film? PHEW! This guy’s busy.

John Schwarz: How did you start making cartoons? Can you give a little about your background as per where you went to school and where your initial interests in producing came from?

Olan Rogers: Back in 2010/2011, I made a terrible cartoon called Gary Space on my YouTube channel (The rough inception of Final Space). It was just images – zero motion. I went to school at the University of Memphis for Film and Video. It didn’t really teach me anything mainly because I had been doing YouTube for 6 years and actually taught myself a great deal prior to that. I had wanted to create, direct and produce since high school when I picked up my dad’s old Sony Handycam.

JS: What were some of your favorite animated TV shows growing up, adult animated or otherwise?

OR: DragonBall Z, Reboot, and X-Men – just to name a few

JS: How did you come up with the concept of Final Space?

OR: My love for all things Sci-Fi. It was something I wanted to see out of a cartoon that I haven’t yet seen besides Pixar movies. I wanted a cartoon that pushed the limits and really made you feel something. I mean like the first 10 minutes of UP feel something.

JS: How will Final Space differ from the other animated shows that feature space adventures i.e. Futurama, Rick and Morty, etc?

OR: First off, I love both of those shows so much and my biggest goal was to make sure this was different than both of those shows. The tone is everything with Final Space. We aren’t commenting on sci-fi cultures like Rick and Morty or Futurama. Final Space is sci-fi like Star Wars and Mass Effect are. I think it’s something that once people see it in 2018 they will say “Wow that is pretty unique”

JS: How did the concept for The Lion’s Blaze come about? As per the pilot, will the series continue to feature a unique balance of 8-bit animation as well as the traditional animation the series currently employs?

OR: The Lion’s Blaze came from a live action YouTube series I made and had decided to turn it into animation. I hope for it to continue and I have a pretty great idea of where I want to go with it. I think there has to be that blend of 8-bit and traditional since it’s in the 80’s.

JS: When you produce characters for your animated projects, how do you weigh the characters that you will voice/continue to voice versus characters that you cast different actors for?

OR: Budget. For Final Space and The Lion’s Blaze I threw all the money into the animation and I usually just do the characters that are the most work. There are always re-takes and I’ll record at least 4 times before I’m happy with a performance.

JS: Adult animation has grown in feature films the last year or two. Is this something that would potentially inspire you to do your OWN adult animated film?

OR: YES! I have an idea I’m working on now called The Woodsman. But yes 100%

JS: Are you developing other animated TV shows at the moment that you are allowed to share?

OR: I’ll say this…I’m always working on something

 

Final Space will premiere on TBS in 2018