Bob Flynn
@bobjinx.bsky.social
Cartoonist. Character Designer. Doodler. Director of Art & Animation at FableVision Studios
jinxthemonkey.com | https://linktr.ee/bobflynn
jinxthemonkey.com | https://linktr.ee/bobflynn
Pinned
Bob Flynn
@bobjinx.bsky.social
· Sep 11
I shared a still from this over the summer, but now BlueSky has video! Give it a watch and listen.
It’s an iPad tapping soundboard I created with my 5yo. (He did the voices and inspired some of the character ideas!)
It’s an iPad tapping soundboard I created with my 5yo. (He did the voices and inspired some of the character ideas!)
Not everything needs new features. You’d think they’d realize most of the people who’ve decided to stay with Flash after nearly 30 years aren’t asking for anything new (besides periodic bug remedies and crash fixes).
We pay to use the tool. That should be enough to cover basic maintenance.
We pay to use the tool. That should be enough to cover basic maintenance.
Called and spoke with Adobe customer support and the guy told me Adobe is discontinuing Animate because apparently the company can't think of any new features to add to the program and they feel it's gotten stale.
So they're just GETTING RID OF IT???
So they're just GETTING RID OF IT???
February 2, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Not everything needs new features. You’d think they’d realize most of the people who’ve decided to stay with Flash after nearly 30 years aren’t asking for anything new (besides periodic bug remedies and crash fixes).
We pay to use the tool. That should be enough to cover basic maintenance.
We pay to use the tool. That should be enough to cover basic maintenance.
Reposted by Bob Flynn
I AM FURIOUS.
Adobe Animate remains an industry standard for TV animation. Star Trek: Lower Decks was made in Animate. Haunted Hotel was made in Animate. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic was made in Animate.
And because you can't buy a permanent licence anymore, it'll just be gone.
Adobe Animate remains an industry standard for TV animation. Star Trek: Lower Decks was made in Animate. Haunted Hotel was made in Animate. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic was made in Animate.
And because you can't buy a permanent licence anymore, it'll just be gone.
February 2, 2026 at 7:52 PM
I AM FURIOUS.
Adobe Animate remains an industry standard for TV animation. Star Trek: Lower Decks was made in Animate. Haunted Hotel was made in Animate. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic was made in Animate.
And because you can't buy a permanent licence anymore, it'll just be gone.
Adobe Animate remains an industry standard for TV animation. Star Trek: Lower Decks was made in Animate. Haunted Hotel was made in Animate. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic was made in Animate.
And because you can't buy a permanent licence anymore, it'll just be gone.
Reposted by Bob Flynn
I think the expectation of people to pivot fast to changes is one thats rooted in the normalization that we should be automated. Things are so fast and convinent, surely there must be an easy solution.
I think that really downplays the nuances of everyone's craft, regardless of what it is
I think that really downplays the nuances of everyone's craft, regardless of what it is
February 2, 2026 at 8:43 PM
I think the expectation of people to pivot fast to changes is one thats rooted in the normalization that we should be automated. Things are so fast and convinent, surely there must be an easy solution.
I think that really downplays the nuances of everyone's craft, regardless of what it is
I think that really downplays the nuances of everyone's craft, regardless of what it is
Reposted by Bob Flynn
I keep seeing the “reminder don’t use Adobe here are the alternatives” image going around and folks, the problem is not just that Adobe sucks, the problem is they’re blocking legal access to decades of art files utilized by individuals and entire teams
February 2, 2026 at 8:01 PM
I keep seeing the “reminder don’t use Adobe here are the alternatives” image going around and folks, the problem is not just that Adobe sucks, the problem is they’re blocking legal access to decades of art files utilized by individuals and entire teams
Reposted by Bob Flynn
Hoping to christ that they reverse this or the industry is going to take a massive hit... that and force industry people to permanently pivot away from Adobe for good. ughghghhhhhhhhhhhh
February 2, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Hoping to christ that they reverse this or the industry is going to take a massive hit... that and force industry people to permanently pivot away from Adobe for good. ughghghhhhhhhhhhhh
Reposted by Bob Flynn
Someone has a year to buy the code for Adobe Animate, make it open source like Blender, and really do something worthwhile in this world.
February 2, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Someone has a year to buy the code for Adobe Animate, make it open source like Blender, and really do something worthwhile in this world.
Reposted by Bob Flynn
lol Adobe is just killing Animate/Flash for no particular reason, completely upending the animation industry. just your average monday
February 2, 2026 at 6:40 PM
lol Adobe is just killing Animate/Flash for no particular reason, completely upending the animation industry. just your average monday
Everyone make a stink about Adobe pulling the plug on Animate (Flash). Or someone internal, right now, leak the source code so some noble citizen can make a clone of it.
February 2, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Everyone make a stink about Adobe pulling the plug on Animate (Flash). Or someone internal, right now, leak the source code so some noble citizen can make a clone of it.
A common thing I see in recent grad portfolios is they're loaded up with what are clearly school assignments, which by their nature have an unfinished quality to them. Realizing that students' time is limited, when I taught I'd give assignments that could be spun into something like personal work.
January 30, 2026 at 3:08 PM
A common thing I see in recent grad portfolios is they're loaded up with what are clearly school assignments, which by their nature have an unfinished quality to them. Realizing that students' time is limited, when I taught I'd give assignments that could be spun into something like personal work.
Design took a practical wrong turn when people thought (or were taught?) that turnarounds are the best way to create characters.
You’ll be doing yourself a favor if you conjure your characters moving. Doing the things they do.
And an even bigger favor if you can doodle them quickly.
You’ll be doing yourself a favor if you conjure your characters moving. Doing the things they do.
And an even bigger favor if you can doodle them quickly.
What advice would you give an aspiring comic creator? - 🦝
January 26, 2026 at 1:19 AM
Design took a practical wrong turn when people thought (or were taught?) that turnarounds are the best way to create characters.
You’ll be doing yourself a favor if you conjure your characters moving. Doing the things they do.
And an even bigger favor if you can doodle them quickly.
You’ll be doing yourself a favor if you conjure your characters moving. Doing the things they do.
And an even bigger favor if you can doodle them quickly.
Reposted by Bob Flynn
don't draw it the way you think it looks best. draw it the way you have the most fun doing it
What advice would you give an aspiring comic creator? - 🦝
January 25, 2026 at 11:34 PM
don't draw it the way you think it looks best. draw it the way you have the most fun doing it
Reposted by Bob Flynn
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said the feds denied them access to the scene even after investigators got a search warrant signed by a judge.
January 24, 2026 at 10:36 PM
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said the feds denied them access to the scene even after investigators got a search warrant signed by a judge.
Reposted by Bob Flynn
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
January 23, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Tomorrow's front page of the Minnesota Star Tribune: Jan. 24, 2026
Reposted by Bob Flynn
@acollierastro.bsky.social says it better than I did. "Everyone can have maximum output while accomplishing nothing." www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pqF...
January 24, 2026 at 1:28 AM
@acollierastro.bsky.social says it better than I did. "Everyone can have maximum output while accomplishing nothing." www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pqF...
Lots of classic Sesame Street on the youtube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMXu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMXu...
Captain Vegetable Song | Sesame Street Classic
YouTube video by Sesame Street Classics
www.youtube.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Lots of classic Sesame Street on the youtube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMXu...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMXu...
Did communities once track incidents of kids accidentally hitting baseballs into the windows of their cranky neighbors?
Seems like it would be important historical data to have. Like, in terms of the prevalence. If it was an up year or a down year.
Seems like it would be important historical data to have. Like, in terms of the prevalence. If it was an up year or a down year.
January 15, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Did communities once track incidents of kids accidentally hitting baseballs into the windows of their cranky neighbors?
Seems like it would be important historical data to have. Like, in terms of the prevalence. If it was an up year or a down year.
Seems like it would be important historical data to have. Like, in terms of the prevalence. If it was an up year or a down year.
Reposted by Bob Flynn
Another way I phrased this in the past:
expectation: “when I get good enough at art I won’t need to use reference”
reality: “the better I get the more I realize I am not using reference/doing research enough”
expectation: “when I get good enough at art I won’t need to use reference”
reality: “the better I get the more I realize I am not using reference/doing research enough”
January 12, 2026 at 6:34 AM
Another way I phrased this in the past:
expectation: “when I get good enough at art I won’t need to use reference”
reality: “the better I get the more I realize I am not using reference/doing research enough”
expectation: “when I get good enough at art I won’t need to use reference”
reality: “the better I get the more I realize I am not using reference/doing research enough”
Reposted by Bob Flynn
art is often a lot less about making stuff up from your brain whole cloth and more like arranging observations and editing them into delightful and insightful patterns; worry less about invention and originality and more about sincerity and clarity
ARTISTS: quote with some random art advice!!
January 12, 2026 at 6:25 AM
art is often a lot less about making stuff up from your brain whole cloth and more like arranging observations and editing them into delightful and insightful patterns; worry less about invention and originality and more about sincerity and clarity
Reposted by Bob Flynn
Last year, I had the experience of being asked to transition to AI generation at my ongoing illustration job, which was surreal for sure. I wrote a post about my experience and my thoughts about using AI as an artist in the workplace, you can read it on my Instagram bit.ly/3NluzS2
January 9, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Last year, I had the experience of being asked to transition to AI generation at my ongoing illustration job, which was surreal for sure. I wrote a post about my experience and my thoughts about using AI as an artist in the workplace, you can read it on my Instagram bit.ly/3NluzS2
Reposted by Bob Flynn
A thoughtful obituary for beloved cartoonist Dan Moynihan by Dave Kierch: www.tcj.com/remembering-...
Remembering Dan Moynihan, 1973-2025 - The Comics Journal
The news came out towards the end of the month that Boston cartoonist, illustrator and children's author Dan Moynihan passed away on Dec. 21 due to a medical emergency. He was 52. His friend Dave Kier...
www.tcj.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:20 PM
A thoughtful obituary for beloved cartoonist Dan Moynihan by Dave Kierch: www.tcj.com/remembering-...
Reposted by Bob Flynn
1980s 'Hypercard' clipart, which I think of as the original clipart, had way more going for it than the minimalist straight-line vector clipart we have today.
When computers were novel & new in the 80s, I would go to school library just to print this clipart.
src: egardepe.itch.io/hypercardgra...
When computers were novel & new in the 80s, I would go to school library just to print this clipart.
src: egardepe.itch.io/hypercardgra...
January 5, 2026 at 8:59 PM
1980s 'Hypercard' clipart, which I think of as the original clipart, had way more going for it than the minimalist straight-line vector clipart we have today.
When computers were novel & new in the 80s, I would go to school library just to print this clipart.
src: egardepe.itch.io/hypercardgra...
When computers were novel & new in the 80s, I would go to school library just to print this clipart.
src: egardepe.itch.io/hypercardgra...
1980s 'Hypercard' clipart, which I think of as the original clipart, had way more going for it than the minimalist straight-line vector clipart we have today.
When computers were novel & new in the 80s, I would go to school library just to print this clipart.
src: egardepe.itch.io/hypercardgra...
When computers were novel & new in the 80s, I would go to school library just to print this clipart.
src: egardepe.itch.io/hypercardgra...
January 5, 2026 at 8:59 PM
1980s 'Hypercard' clipart, which I think of as the original clipart, had way more going for it than the minimalist straight-line vector clipart we have today.
When computers were novel & new in the 80s, I would go to school library just to print this clipart.
src: egardepe.itch.io/hypercardgra...
When computers were novel & new in the 80s, I would go to school library just to print this clipart.
src: egardepe.itch.io/hypercardgra...
I recommend reading the whole essay. This excerpt especially clarifies the goal and intention of everything lumped under ‘AI’ and the sparkle icon. Not to unleash a utopia, but to reseed the labor hierarchies of the Industrial Revolution.
January 4, 2026 at 10:05 PM
I recommend reading the whole essay. This excerpt especially clarifies the goal and intention of everything lumped under ‘AI’ and the sparkle icon. Not to unleash a utopia, but to reseed the labor hierarchies of the Industrial Revolution.