Here's my full piece for the VK Onceler Zine! I was very lucky to get to be a part of it...🥹 I used concept art as my inspiration this time: [link] Keep reading below for my process vid and all my director's commentary!
Thank you for being curious! Here's a video of my WIPs:
Deadlines were TIGHT for this zine! We were given only 2 months (compared to the 6 months I had on the previous onceler zine), so to make sure I could finish on time, I decided to do only base colours and lighting, with almost no shading anywhere. Still, trying to balance all the colours took the longest for me, as you can see in the vid. xP
Also idk if anyone noticed, but for the face I chose to use an already existing onceler doodle: [link] Why? Well, why not! I really liked that doodle and I didn't want it to go to waste. 😆
Things that I enjoyed sneaking in:
-the golden spiral! Vaguely, at least! At the very least I hope your eyes can follow the order of thneed production, from the fallen tree at the window to the tuft harvesting to the thread spinning, to knitting the thneed and then drawing up plans for bigger and better things, and then ending with him pulling on his iconic glove to show he's going to take control now
-15 cents, a nail, and a great great great grandfather snail, as well as a tin pail since that's where you're supposed to deposit your payment
-combining things from the 2012 movie and concept art, the 1972 movie, and the 1971 book (e.g. that funny wrench he uses to fix pipes)
-Miss O'Schmunce-ler! You can see from the vid that I added the bracelet pretty late, because it was a late decision to have a Miss O'Schumunce-ler somewhere. I chose her to be the one picking up the pencil in the end, since she's pretty good with a pencil in the movie hehe. You guys can pretend the arms holding the phone is Miss Funce-ler.
-a thneed, a seed, and a (grickle grass) weed on the floor. The thneed is just the first of many that will soon create a giant pile. The seed lies forgotten in the corner. The weed is foreshadowing the future.
-hinting that Lorax and Once-ler were actually good friends, like they were in the Lorax musical stageplay. 🥺 I kept this part of the script in my mind for this piece:
This was aftermath Once-ler talking to the Lorax, reminiscing on their good times...and also being stupid and inconsiderate because the Lorax was in fact there all along as his friend, trying to warn him of what was going to happen. 😔
So in my zine piece we're witnessing a peaceful time before all the real biggering really starts. I like to think that in this scene, the Lorax had been sitting on the Once-ler's lap, holding his gloves for him and having a nice chat together with maybe some harmless bickering, but then the Once-ler gets a phone call so he cuts their convo short and rolls his chair over to the window to answer it. Putting business over friendship as usual, of course. Inspo for the lap sitting comes from this fanart by Emi that I love: [link]
What else...the parts that I'm proud of the most are the stool (I spent 2 days just drawing this stool), the curtains, the fact that I was able to include every truffula colour, and the Once-ler's pose. I was close to giving up on that pose because I had no idea how to draw it but I'm glad that I tried again. I wanted to show him at ease during a stage in his life that we never got to see much: the happier and more innocent days of his biggering when he only had a small shop. 😊
That's all, I think! Thanks for reading if you did! Once again it was an honour to be part of this zine!!
Thank you to Catidot for releasing such a beautiful book 🥹💕💕 thank you to the 50 artists for your hard work, the illustrations came out so wonderfully, I’m so happy I get to keep this fandom with me even when I’m gone. I was especially excited for @miru667’s work, the print quality did not dissappoint! It looks just as good as your digtal release. Congratulations @justmarrik!! We’ve never talked actually, but I was a silent fan of yours’ back then ^_^ Your style is very recogniseable and I remember you being a small artist before, so I was shocked when I saw you in it.
I know everyone already has their credits in the book, but for those who couldn’t buy the book but still wants to see who participated, here it is! All the lovely artists 🥰💕💕💕 I can’t take pictures of the WHOLE book, but there is a section near the end where Catidot writes a blurb with regards to the Onceler stageshow, it’s really well-written and super heart-warming. I really like the editing in the book. The pic collage is so cool and proffessional… I forget this is a fanbook, hahaha.
I ordered some merchandise, those turned out very well aswell!! I love the two-sided keychain, I was really impressed by how good the quality is. You cannot see it in yhe pocture but even though his hair is black, you can still see the black lineart?!? As for the stickers, I’m really happy someone made fanart for the stageshow musical ver. 🥰 I think his design there is very unique, and I’m happy someone with such a perfect art style was the one who drew him. He is equal parts Seussian with his subdued and vibrant palette ♪(๑ᴖ◡ᴖ๑)♪ and very modern with the triangular and clean shapes.
I THINK I TALKED ENOUGH NOW! Soooo… Chop chop! I’ll go now!
Most children his age did what was expected of them, such as playing ball at the park or having lots of friends that helped them cause trouble at school. They were loud, careless, and overall just not nice to be around.
Sure, he wasn’t as outgoing or playful as his peers, but that was just the way he was. And he liked being who he was.
But his mother didn't.
Hey everybody! Alice here! ^^
After lots of procrastinating, I finally got to post my piece for the @oncelerzine! I really wanted to create something for a child!Onceler and see what his family dynamic would be like prior to the movie since I love this man so much <3
I had so much fun writing this, and I hope you all can enjoy it too!
Onceler had always felt like he didn’t belong.
Most children his age did what was expected of them, such as playing ball at the park or having lots of friends that helped them cause trouble at school. They were loud, careless, and overall just not nice to be around.
But Onceler was different.
Whenever the sound of the bell was heard, all children would leave their desks and immediately hit the playground without a second thought— All except for him. The brunette would stay indoors and begin doodling in his notebook about all sorts of weird and wacky gadgets he thought would make the world a better place. He considered himself an inventor, and as such, he didn’t like hanging out with the other kids due to the massive differences between them.
Teachers would be concerned at times, but later brush it off as a phase that he would outgrow eventually. “He’s just a kid”, they’d say. “He doesn’t know what’s good for him. Just give him a little time.”
But Onceler never saw what was so wrong with him that needed fixing.
Sure, he wasn’t as outgoing or playful as his peers, but that was just the way he was. And he liked being who he was.
“Oncie~! It’s mommy! Breakfast is ready!”
Well, at least for the most part.
The little boy was brought back to reality by the voice of his mother ringing from the other side of his bedroom door. He quickly finished adjusting a small device that was on top of his drawer and then proceeded to shout in reply. “I’m awake!”
With a creak from the wooden door, the woman came inside while combing her long strawberry-blonde hair into its usual flowy state. Her expression immediately changed from a smile to a slight frown as soon as she saw what the boy held in his hands. “Oncie, honey. What is that?”
Trying to ignore the obvious tone of annoyance coming from her mother’s voice, the boy smiled as he showed off what appeared to be a remote control, connected via some wires and made out of pieces of scrap metal and old toys. “Mom, you’re gonna love this, I promise! I present to you: The Turbo Splash 3000!”
“Onceler…” A sigh escaped the woman’s lips as she rubbed her temples. “How many times have I told you-?”
“But this one’s different, I swear! Just hear me out, pleeeease?” Wide blue eyes stared in plea as a pout began to form on the boy's lips.
“... Oh alright! What’s your new splashy toy thingy do?” The woman sat down on a chair and then placed one hand under her chin. It was now or never.
Clearing his throat with a small cough, the boy continued with his demonstration. “Have you ever been stuck with an unpowered item, only to be met with the disappointment that there’s no electricity to charge it with? Well never fear, because the Turbo Splash 3000 has got you covered! For this demonstration, I will be using a common household item: A flashlight!”
Almost like magic, Onceler reveals a small handheld flashlight from behind his back and then plugs it into the socket that is on one side of the tiny purple thing-a-mabob. Turning towards the drawer once more, the brunette heads over to grab a glass of water that was waiting in preparation. Inserting the propeller that is on the other side of the machine into the liquid, he continues. “Behold, as science saves the day! When the device is turned on, the propeller will begin to spin and the mass of water will serve as resistance which in turn will create kinetic energy to power the flashlight!”
Once everything was in place, Onceler silently crossed his fingers as he hesitated for a moment before finally daring to flip the switch.
Multiple sounds began coming from the Turbo Splash 3000 as it started coming to life. The small propeller got stuck a few times, but eventually started to spin in a timely fashion with little to no spillage in the process.
The duo waited as they stared at the flashlight in silence.
It wasn’t turning on.
The boy began to panic as he quickly turned the switch on and off in an attempt to unjam the device. He could already see the look of disappointment in his mother's eyes without even looking up. “I-I don’t get it! It was working fine yesterday! Mom, you gotta believe me, it works!”
“Oncie… is that thing a frankenstein of the toy boat I gotcha for Christmas?”
“T-Technically it's a mix of the boat and batteries, but-”
“Alright, that's enough!”
The boy's mother ripped the device from his hands and quickly placed it inside of a drawer as she sighed. Adjusting her glasses, she turned to her son with a look in her eyes that the brunette was more than familiar with. “Onceler… You can play inventor whenever you want, but our dear neighbors are coming to visit today and I need you boys to be on your best behavior!”
With widened eyes, Onceler stared in confusion at the statement. “The McDodds are coming?”
“That's right! And I can't have you spookin' their kids with all your contraptions! Thank heavens that ‘Splash Devil’ thing didn't do anything, otherwise mommy was gonna have to clean up all over again…”
“I could always just... Stay here? It's not like the McDodd's like me very much...” A flashback to the last time they'd come for dinner came to mind. Everyone had ended up covered from head to toe in soap, and it wasn't really as pleasant of an experience as Onceler first hoped as a gift for their guests. Not like a shoe-shining robot was meant to explode like that.
“Oh no, you don’t! Brett and Chet are lookin’ forward to playin’ with their little brother and the other kids! You don’t have to be cooped up in this room if you just try and act like a normal kid.” Onceler’s mother moved from her position on the chair to sit next to her son on the bed. She placed a hand on his shoulder in what appeared to be a comforting motherly gesture. And yet, all the brunette could feel was another lecture coming his way. “Oncie… you have a large imagination! I’m sure you can find something in common with the McDodd’s children. Just… try to stay out of trouble.”
With a deep sigh, the boy replied with a forced smile. “Okay, mom…”
As she heard those words, the woman’s expression immediately changed back to it’s usual peppy self as if nothing ever happened. Standing up, she pulled the boy into a tight hug as she gave him a kiss on the forehead. “And that’s why you’re momma’s favorite! Now, breakfast isn’t gonna eat itself, so be sure to come down quickly~”
Without even giving him a chance to reply, the older woman finally left and closed the door behind her.
With a long sigh, Onceler stood up from his bed and went to the vanity in the corner of his room, taking out the invention from his drawer and examining it with annoyance.
The brunette's mother never gave him the benefit of the doubt when it came to his ideas. She always had a perfect picture in mind that she wanted the family to fit into— a picture in which he never had a place in.
The only thing she could do was try to mold him the best way she could into the child that she wanted. Most of the time it was a failure though, since the boy knew in his gut that she would never accept him no matter what he did.
Wanting to avoid unnecessary trouble by having his mother come back, Onceler made his way out of the bedroom with his invention in hand, heading downstairs to the dining room.
What greeted him was just a typical morning.
Uncle Ubb was sitting down at the table with a newspaper in hand, sipping into his coffee unassumingly as Aunt Grizelda was going on about how she burned her hair into the curling iron. Onceler's mother was trying to comfort the older woman as she set the plates of eggs & bacon in front of them.
Three plates were also placed on top of the kiddie table, and two of the seats there were already taken by the brunette's annoying older brothers. The twins were too busy playing with their chicken nuggets to notice him, though.
“Maybe I can just grab my stuff and leave…” He started to reach for his share— a dish with one less bacon strip and no chicken nuggets because his mother always gave them to the other two— until unfortunately Bret noticed his presence.
“Hey, where do you think you're going?”
The older twin reached for Onceler's plate and then immediately placed his arm in front of it, blocking the way. Chet, who had finally noticed the presence of his little brother, smirked at his twin's actions and stood up. “Yeah ‘Oncie’! Why don't ya sit and have breakfast with your dearest big brothers?”
“Maybe he's too busy with his new gizmo!”
It was at this moment that Bret snuck behind the youngest boy without even making a sound, and quickly ripped the invention from his grasp.
Onceler gasped and quickly reached forward. “Give it back! You're gonna break it!”
“Oh, come on! Don't you know what mom always says? Sharin' is carin'! We just wanna have a little looksie!” Bret turned to Chet with a smirk. “Catch!”
An unspoken game of hot potato began with Onceler's invention being tossed from one side to the other, making the younger brunette sweat bullets in both fear and exasperation. He knew he had to get it back before the adults finally paid them attention, since one way or another the twins would turn it around and make it seem like they hadn't done anything wrong.
Almost as if the universe were mocking him, Aunt Grizelda's booming voice spoke in the boys' direction. “Ah, check that out. Even the little weasels are having a better day than I am! What'cha doing over there, anyway?”
Bret and Chet immediately stopped and put on their good boy masks as Chet raised Onceler's invention for the whole family to see. “Just helpin' Oncie with his new gizmo, auntie! He said he needed help disassembling the thing!”
After that statement, the younger twin began tearing at the small remote's wires and pulling it apart, Bret joining in soon after. Onceler yelled in horror as he pushed against the boys and finally ripped back the invention from their hands.
“Oncie, what are ya doin'?! Your brothers are trying to help ya!” The blonde woman rose from her chair with concern in her eyes for the twins— yet nothing for Onceler. That was the last straw.
Leaving the room behind even after hearing his mother's cries for him, the boy opened the front door and headed towards the animal's stables with tears streaming down his cheeks.
As he arrived, he was then greeted by his dearest friend, Melvin. The baby mule's expression filled with joy at seeing the boy, but quickly changed to concern as Onceler fell next to him and buried his face into the soft fur.
The tranquility of the early morning was a contrast to the young boy's quiet sobs— birds even stopping their chirping almost in sympathy for him.
“Are you alright over there, kiddo?”
The voice of an older male quickly snapped Onceler back to his senses as he placed his head between his legs in shame— trying to hide in any way he could from the world that was constantly mocking him.
Soft footsteps could be heard getting closer, and the brunette began unconsciously bracing himself for whatever his Uncle Ubb had to say.
That is, until he realized the man was not Uncle Ubb.
A round and short figure greeted the boy when he opened his eyes. The man was probably about as tall as he was, with a small patch of strawberry blonde hair covering the top of his head. What was most distinguishing of all was probably his prominent mustache that the man clearly groomed on a regular basis.
The stranger knelt down in front of Onceler and silently eyed the broken gyzmo in the boy's hand. With a nod, he spoke once more. “Need some help with that?”
Staring in confusion, the boy slowly nodded as he handed over his invention to the person in front of him. It wasn't like he cared much about it anymore. There was also something about this man that really compelled him to say yes.
Minutes went by between them, until eventually the mustached stranger raised the invention to examine it against the sunlight, and then gave a low hum of approval. He then handed it back to its owner with a smile and wink. “Good as new. No need to keep crying like that, beanpole.”
Ignoring the odd nickname for a moment, Onceler examined the invention closely as it was given back to him. It was as good as new.
Regardless, he could feel the sadness from before crawling back into his gut, and that caused him to pull his legs close to his chest once more. “Thanks… but it doesn't work anyway.”
The man stared in silence for a moment, but then plopped into the barn's dirty floor next to the boy with a smile. “Yeah, I noticed that's a pretty cool gizmo you got there. You trying to be an inventor or something?”
“Not anymore. I suck at it.” Onceler spoke without a second thought, and that made him wonder what was it about this man that made him so easy to talk to.
“Ha! We all suck at something, kid. Doesn't stop us from still doing it, especially if we love it as much as you do. I'm a terrible dancer— but ask me how many times I've asked the ladies to the dance floor!”
Picturing this middle aged short man trying to dance with other women had Onceler chuckling softly against his palm. This caused his companion to smile in return as he nudged the boy with a smirk. “Now that's the spirit, Mr. Inventor.”
Smiling in return, the boy turned to his invention and began speaking in melancholy. “It's not like I don't love it… I just make too many mistakes and that's something no famous inventor ever does!”
“If that's what you think then you've got a lot to learn. The best inventions always come out of mistakes… You learn more when you fail than when you succeed. Ask Albert Einstein.”
Placing a hand on the boy's shoulder, the man spoke once more with conviction. “If you put your mind to it, you can do anything…”
Onceler started thinking long and hard. If there was one thing he knew, it was that he wanted to make his family proud, but not just them but himself too. It didn't matter if he had to climb a mountain to get there— he would create something worthwhile.
All these feelings came rushing into him as determination settled into his gut.
“Thank you, mister. I'm gonna try-”
As soon as Onceler turned to thank the man, he had vanished. Almost as if he was never there to begin with.
But the boy knew he was real.
And he was more than sure that he would make him and everyone around him proud.
Because all that mattered, was making people happy.
