iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

I’m so glad I was finally able to get a copy of this in HD with subs a few years back. It’s so immensely charming.

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Reposted by Michael Ruocco

Animation Obsessive @ani-obsessive.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

From: Grimm's Fairy Tales - The Golden Bird (1987), dir. Toshio Hirata, Toei Doga/Madhouse

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

My head feels like I got sucker punched by an engine piston. Perfect time to make today an AMA day. Ask me the questions that only my restless rattled brain can answer!

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Rewatched "Over the Garden Wall" this past weekend with friends, and while there's of course so many great things about it that folks have already discussed in great detail, I was reminded how good John Cleese's performance was in the Endicott episode. It's a shame it's such an asterisk point now...

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

No cheating, post your lock screen: A section of my favorite painting, “Heart of the Andes”, with a pleasing color filter over it so my apps pop off it better for my old man peepers to see.

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Despite the Sisyphean hurdles one must endure when doing it, I really do love to animate.

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Reposted by Michael Ruocco

Amid Amidi @amidamidi.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

It’s amusing to think that Chicago once had a steakhouse themed around the 1951 UPA short Rooty Toot Toot.

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Reposted by Michael Ruocco

Nico Colaleo @nicocolaleo.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I've finally found a new venue home for my art gallery shows. Presenting STRANGE FRIEND, a dog rescue, cafe, gallery, theater screening, comedy venue ALL-IN-1 HYBRID! Donate/share to help my pals Julia & Tom make this much-needed addition to Los Angeles a reality! www.kickstarter.com/projects/str...

kickstarter.com

STRANGE FRIEND: A Rescue Dog Cafe + Immersive Art Space

Help us build a wonderfully weird rescue dog cafe and art space in downtown Los Angeles, created in partnership with Mutt Scouts!

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Haven't done a warm-up in a minute, and this morning is no exception. Hope to get back into it again soon, but I've been so busy with work and my freelance on weekends that I haven't drawn for fun in weeks. But to tide you over, here's a Wile I started drawing for fun yet didn't get to finish:

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Had an amazing time at Bob Baker Day today! Great vendors, lots of puppets, puppies n play all around! But I think my favorite thing was the amount of hand-made art everywhere, and seeing people’s audible rejection at what little AI was there (only on menus from food trucks). Read the room, guys!

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Reposted by Michael Ruocco

Animation Obsessive @ani-obsessive.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Concept art by Leonid Shvartsman for A Kitten Named Woof (1976–1982), created by Lev Atamanov, Soyuzmultfilm

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Something I think every artist can relate to, especially on a new job, is the feeling of being humbled by your own perceived skill level and overcoming it. I'm relearning that now, even after 15+ years in the business. It's never easy going on that journey but it's an ultimately rewarding one. (1/?)

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I've convinced myself (more like forced, really) to stop being so tempted by art auctions, ebay listings and frivolous tchotchke purchases from now on, just to save money and not fill my home with more dust collecting junk. However, I WOULD make an exception for this Bob Baker Pete puppet someday.

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Oof today was another rough one... painfully even. Haven't felt like this in a hot minute, I think I'm just stressed about a lot of little things at once and its slowing me down. I need to balance n recenter myself again.

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Trying to build up my strength to work on a long shot that's been kicking my ass, so let's make this an AMA day to balance out my occasional breaks from tearing my hair out. Ask me anything, about animation, about philosophy, about whatever! Some levity goes a long way!

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I think in this current climate, my dopamine hits come from the small little bits of good news that sometimes enter my periphery. Artists getting support n finding success, hard work being rewarded, small acts of kindness for the sake of it, new discoveries and advances in research and medicine…

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I'm excited that the new Magic of Disney Animation attraction is open in Florida, mostly because I want to be able to see better quality videos of the new animation that was done for "Once Upon a Studio" and the gallery outside it. I wonder if they'll add more over time, like update the gallery.

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

*wakes up after having a not-so-great night of sleep after having a not-so-great evening after having a not-so-great day* “Ah fuck, today’s gonna be another rough one, isn’t it?”

Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

"I'm so excited to work today, lemme just eat my bagel with way-too-much lox n cream cheese and I'll get sta-" [collapses]

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Some movies I love: Fantasia Amadeus 12 Angry Men Murder on the Orient Express (1974) Whisper of the Heart Twice Upon a Time Top Secret The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh Kiki's Delivery Service City Lights The Terminal

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Bonus: these weird but somehow beautiful mid-century lobby cards promoting cartoon screenings at a local theater. Love the Googie-accented Goofy.

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Sometimes I browse through heritage auctions and I find the occasional odd gem, but today I stumbled upon the mother-load: these ridiculous grocery store ads promoting the release of The Jungle Book, and each one has me absolutely reeling. Sharing them here so you too can share in my bewildered joy

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Reposted by Michael Ruocco

GLITCH @glitchprod.com · 11/09/2026

Caine presents... the Art and Making of The Amazing Digital Circus

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

I try to keep a sense of levity on my social accounts, keep things light, but I have to acknowledge the anniversary. Being a New Yorker, 9/11 was a fairly dark day for so many of us, and like many I consider it one of, if not THE, defining moment where my childhood essentially and suddenly stopped.

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I remember Jeremy Polgar enlightening me to the term "cousin art", when you see art for a business that was clearly done by the owner's cousin/brother-in-law/nephew/niece/etc. who "went to school for art", and I still find it immensely charming. It somehow tells a story in itself.

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I really do feel it big time when I don’t do warms ups during the week. Right now it’s the only art I do that feels close enough to being “for myself”. Not related to work or pressure of getting paid for it, but posting it online and getting likes on it is the only thing making it not quite pure.

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Reposted by Michael Ruocco

Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

working late tonight, drew a Coyote in my margins as a "break"

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Hey my friend lost her access to Illustrator/Photoshop and needs an alternative program that she can make vector SHAPES with, not just lines. She's already relearning CSP, but it doesn't do vector shapes, which is what she needs for printing n exporting for cutting. Any recommendations?

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

working late tonight, drew a Coyote in my margins as a "break"

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Reposted by Michael Ruocco

Animation Obsessive @ani-obsessive.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

From: Winnie-the-Pooh Goes Visiting (1971), dir. Fyodor Khitruk, Soyuzmultfilm

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I made a thread about my thoughts on "Coyote Vs. Acme". There's more I could say, but in all honesty the film, and it's history, is THE highlight of the year filmwise. It's been a long time coming, and I'm happy that Coyote, of all characters, is the thing that puts a spotlight on a broken industry.

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Reposted by Michael Ruocco

Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

I’m the type that needs a few days to sort of digest a new film after seeing it to gather my honest thoughts n feelings on it. And I can finally say that, while my specific concerns n quibbles are moreso based on personal tastes in animation approach, I genuinely really enjoyed “Coyote VS Acme”.

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

In other news, I hit over the funny DragonBall-Z number of followers here. Thanks everyone for both enjoying my art and my occasional rambling threads where I try to make sense of things in society that I'm genuinely thinking about but too smooth-brained to properly clarify those thoughts into words

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Quick n crappy Coyote doodle on a sushi lunch receipt from earlier today

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Gosh I miss drawing this guy... an almost perfect design for animation.

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I haven't been in-the-know about the indie animation scene in a minute, but anybody who's even TRIED to animate before knows how hard it is, and what a personal investment it is to do it. It's a lot of work, and anyone who still does it despite that is commendable, regardless of it's "quality".

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Reposted by Michael Ruocco

Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Another scribbly illustrative cat warmup, of a cute little flower kitten.

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

I can't believe the Burbank Butt Sniffer is still out there. Every few months this clown gets out of jail, immediately goes somewhere, sticks his nose into other people's business, gets arrested and gets thrown back into the pen. This time he got caught "snorting crack" in Glendale.

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Another scribbly illustrative cat warmup, of a cute little flower kitten.

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Had a fun time seeing Coyote VS ACME last night, and seeing so many of my friends n colleagues’ names up on the screen.

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Reposted by Michael Ruocco

Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Since I think it's been online on YouTube long enough and I don't think I'm gonna get more than the $5-6 from it from the last few years of views, and the fact there's longer uploads here on Bluesky now, here's the entirety of my short film 'Snif & Snüf'. Watch and enjoy!

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Michael Ruocco @michaeljruocco.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

For my morning warm-ups, I'm just gonna draw some cats this week... on top of already drawing cats for work!

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