Guff 3: Fashion Icon of the Serengeti

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Alexander Zebra

From the Editor

A young visionary leads the world of zebra fashion in colorful new directions, but will his love of plaid win over the naysayers, or be his undoing?

Meet Alexander Zebra, fashion icon of the Serengeti. Artie came up with this idea in while on vacation with Syd in Reykjavik, reported while taking a dip in the Blue Lagoon, which is about as far from zebras as you can be, but that’s how his mind works, I guess. Arrtie wanted to do a test-run on the concept with the Icelandic focus group he formed while sitting in the thermal springs. The problem is the captions were already long enough in English, but when translated into Icelandic, they had to shrink them to 4 point font just to fit them in the panel. And the font we normally use doesn’t have Icelandic characters or diphthongs. (Also, they have 32 letters in Icelandic and problematically, Z isn’t one of them.) So the Committee debated all of this for a while, and they didn’t want to change the font for branding reasons, so not surprisingly they requested a shorter caption from Artie, which he didn’t deliver. So they came up with one themselves. The shorter version is approved for Icelandic translation and the longer one is approved for all non-Icelandic purposes. It’s not clear how I’m supposed to manage the panel numbering going forward, because the Commitee broke for dim sum before I could pose the question. So I suppose I’ll just have to come up with a convention. Zebra in Icelandic is “sebrahestur” btw. So Alexander Zebra is “Erik Sebrahestur.” -Ed.

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Concept of the Week

Some interesting facts uncovered during a research trip to Woodland Park Zoo with Artie and Inky, and confirmed by Google over beers at The Duchess. Inky says next time we can skip the zoo & go straight to the “research” at The Duchess. Anyway, here are the findings: lions, the #1 predator for zebras, are color blind. They have terrific night vision, but don’t see colors particularly well. (The eye has two types of cells, rods & cones. Rods are for night vision, cones for color. Unlike most humans, lions are heavy on rods and light on cones.) So in theory, a zebra can change the color of its stripes without consequence, but wearing paisley & plaid is a dangerous fashion statement, when stepping out for a night on the savanna. Subsequent research & beer uncovered the fact that zebras are also color blind. Which makes Zander a kind of Beethoven of the fashion world, as he explores color without the ability to see it. Except in this case, neither can his audience - nor, presumably, his critics. So not sure what this makes them, but maybe his elevation to genius is partly due to their assumption that it looks pretty good. Inky was thinking of spicing this series up with a triadic color pallete, but looks like we’ll be sticking w B&W, which is how the zebras and lions see it. There is a larger statement about something in all of this. Not quite sure what it is yet, but we’ll ponder that tonight while we’re doing a little more “research”.

“A young visionary leads the world of zebra fashion in colorful new directions, but will his love of plaid win over the naysayers, or be his undoing?”

— Logline

Inky took a while getting Artie’s sketches into publishable form, but that didn’t matter because the Caption Committee debate carried through to this morning. Nine Committee members with nine different opinions. Artie submitted a caption that ran over 500 words and would’ve required 2-point font to get onto a single panel. It involved an elaborate backstory set at a watering hole in Mozambique with a Rick’s/Casablanca-like vibe, in which Alexander (“Xander”) McZebrafeld reflects back on his early days, before he became an international fashion icon, and comes to understand the anger that drives him, and nearly consumes him, as a consequence of a single decision he made in his awkward, rebellious youth.

You might recall Artie’s original submission for this one came with a 500-word caption, set at a watering hole in Mozambique reminiscent of Rick’s in Casablanca. There was some nifty dialogue between the zebras that recalled Bogart & Hepburn, with their history together complicated by Xander’s meteoric rise in the fashion world that led to their parting of ways and ultimately to their ill-fated reunion. That was all too much for the Committee and they ran with Hanelore’s much shorter suggestion and leaned solely on the site gag of the plaid vs polka dots vs stripes. Probably a good thing they did, or it would’ve killed any licensing interest from the get-go. We have here in a highly edited version of that original 500 word submission, & Artie has happily agreed to break the backstory into about a dozen panels, which we’ll run over the next month or so and see where it goes. Sometimes a marriage between art and commerce can be a happy one, as long as commerce keeps telling art it’s both beautiful & intelligent and art keeps being thankful for the attention.

I love Artie’s long captions, but this one was asking a lot. Slothrop declared it a non-starter & everyone in the room seemed to have an opinion. It was Hanelore, of all people, on her first day back in the office, fresh from Munich & having accepted the Head of Films role, who finally suggested “Just...no”. It was the only thing everyone could agree on & it came back from the focus groups as the clear #1. I’d post Artie’s original caption submission, but I’d have to type the whole thing up.

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In the Offing

Minimum Investment: $10.00 /

Security Type: Revenue Share /

Raise: $20,000 - $100,000 /

Est. Launch: Sept 2024 /

Minimum Investment: $10.00 / Security Type: Revenue Share / Raise: $20,000 - $100,000 / Est. Launch: Sept 2024 /

Update: We’ve greenlit Alexander Zebra, created a pilot, and we’re launching a Testing the Waters camapign with the expectation of raising capital in June.

Testing the Waters: No money or other consideration is being solicited, and if sent in response, will not be accepted.  No offer to buy securities can be accepted and no part of the purchase price can be received until an offering statement is filed and only through an intermediary's platform. A person’s indication of interest involves no obligation or commitment of any kind.

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Concepts in Development

Take a scroll through the loglines on the Concepts page and Redlight or Greenlight concepts. If we greenlight a concept, it will receive a pilot and we’ll plan an Offering.

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Feature: Remembering Snagglepus

Heavens to Murgatroyd!

Remember the good old days when Saturday mornings were all about curling up on the couch with a bowl of sugary cereal and watching your favorite cartoons? One character that always stood out from the rest was none other than Snagglepus, the lovable pink mountain lion with a flair for the dramatic.

For those who may not remember, Snagglepus first graced our television screens back in the 1960s as part of The Quick Draw McGraw Show. He quickly became a fan favorite, stealing the spotlight with his catchphrase, "Heavens to Murgatroyd!" and his unique blend of sophistication and silliness. With his dapper top hat and scarf, Snagglepus was the epitome of old Hollywood charm.

He spoke with a refined voice that was reminiscent of actors from the golden age of cinema, adding a touch of class to the often chaotic world of cartoons. But don't be fooled by his elegant demeanor – Snagglepus was also known for his comedic timing and penchant for getting himself into wacky situations.

One of the most memorable aspects of Snagglepus was his perpetual quest for stardom. Whether he was trying to make it big on Broadway or auditioning for a role in a Hollywood blockbuster, Snagglepus always had big dreams and an even bigger heart. His determination and optimism were infectious, making him a character that audiences of all ages could relate to.

But perhaps what truly endeared Snagglepus to fans was his underlying message of acceptance and inclusivity. Despite facing countless obstacles and setbacks, Snagglepus never let his differences hold him back. He taught us that it's okay to be unique, to stand out from the crowd, and to always stay true to ourselves. Sadly, as the years passed, Snagglepus faded into the background as newer, more modern cartoons took center stage. But for those of us who grew up with him, he will always hold a special place in our hearts. He was more than just a cartoon character – he was a friend, a mentor, and a reminder that sometimes, it's okay to be a little bit different. So here's to you, Snagglepus. Thanks for the inspiration. Heavens to Murgatroyd, indeed.