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Frank
Trosper
Frank creator Jim Woodring and legendary jazz guitarist/Nonesuch recording artist Bill Frisell have collaborated to create this unique multimedia storybook for the ages. Reminiscent of a Little Golden Book, this full-color hardcover contains a delightful story made all the more special with the inclusion of a CD created and recorded by Frisell especially for this book and inspired directly by Woodring's story.With one full-color painting per page, and no words, Woodring has crafted a simple narrative of innocence and fear that will inspire multiple re-readings by children and adults for years to come. Trosper, the playful little pachyderm-like creature, wants nothing to do but play with his ball. But there are menacing forces that have other ideas for him You will surely lose yourself in Woodring's masterfully created world of innocence and fear.The accompanying CD comes packaged inside the book in a custom pocket. Frisell's ambient and ethereal jazz soundtrack creates a remarkable aural tension that perfectly accompanies Trosper's fright-filled adventure as well as Woodring's eye-poppingly vibrant and colorful landscapes.
18 pages, Hardcover
First published February 15, 2002
About the author
Jim Woodring
133 books248 followersJim Woodring was born in Los Angeles in 1952 and enjoyed a childhood made lively by an assortment of mental an psychological quirks including paroniria, paranoia, paracusia, apparitions, hallucinations and other species of psychological and neurological malfunction among the snakes and tarantulas of the San Gabriel mountains.
He eventually grew up to bean inquisitive bearlike man who has enjoyed three exciting careers: garbage collector, merry-go-round-operator and cartoonist. A self-taught artist, his first published works documented the disorienting hell of his salad days in an “illustrated autojournal” called Jim. This work was published by Fantagraphics Books and collected in The Book of Jim in 1992.
He is best known for his wordless comics series depicting the follies of his character Frank, a generic cartoon anthropomorph whose adventures careen wildly from sweet to appalling. A decade’s worth of these stories was collected in The Frank Book in 2004. The 2010 Frank story Weathercraft won The Stranger’s Genius Award and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for that year. The most recent Frank book, Congress of the Animals, was released in 2011.
Woodring is also known for his anecdotal charcoal drawings (a selection which was gathered in Seeing Things in 2005), and the sculptures, vinyl figures, fabrics and gallery installations that have been made from his designs. His multimedia collaborations with the musician Bill Frisell won them a United States Artists Fellowship in 2006. He lives in Seattle with his family and residual phenomena.
-Walter Foxglove
He eventually grew up to bean inquisitive bearlike man who has enjoyed three exciting careers: garbage collector, merry-go-round-operator and cartoonist. A self-taught artist, his first published works documented the disorienting hell of his salad days in an “illustrated autojournal” called Jim. This work was published by Fantagraphics Books and collected in The Book of Jim in 1992.
He is best known for his wordless comics series depicting the follies of his character Frank, a generic cartoon anthropomorph whose adventures careen wildly from sweet to appalling. A decade’s worth of these stories was collected in The Frank Book in 2004. The 2010 Frank story Weathercraft won The Stranger’s Genius Award and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for that year. The most recent Frank book, Congress of the Animals, was released in 2011.
Woodring is also known for his anecdotal charcoal drawings (a selection which was gathered in Seeing Things in 2005), and the sculptures, vinyl figures, fabrics and gallery installations that have been made from his designs. His multimedia collaborations with the musician Bill Frisell won them a United States Artists Fellowship in 2006. He lives in Seattle with his family and residual phenomena.
-Walter Foxglove
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 30, 2009
I have to confess, I only "read" this book in the Tate Modern bookshop, so I haven't heard the Bill Frisell soundtrack that you get with it, but I have to say that this is quintessential Woodring! I suppose it's intended for kids, but it's also an excellent primer for anyone not used to the man's work, as it has the same oneric, and sometimes vaguely horrifying quality that you get in the Frank books- poor Trosper is scared out of his wits by squamous things that are often "off-frame" as he scuttles about trying to regain his lost ball.
Anyone that hasn't read any of his other work should go from here to The Lute String (Pushpaw and Pupshaw might also appeal to kids who liked this- it is strangely absent from Goodreads) or dive straight into the world of Frank-although this last is probably crossing the line of grotesquerie for littl'uns, what with the diabolical, opportunist Manhog and unsettlingly unreliable figure of Frank's (Faux) Pa.
Anyone that hasn't read any of his other work should go from here to The Lute String (Pushpaw and Pupshaw might also appeal to kids who liked this- it is strangely absent from Goodreads) or dive straight into the world of Frank-although this last is probably crossing the line of grotesquerie for littl'uns, what with the diabolical, opportunist Manhog and unsettlingly unreliable figure of Frank's (Faux) Pa.
June 4, 2008
A neat little book about a happy-go-lucky domesticated small elephant-like creature who while merrily playing on his ball is confronted by mean creatures who are like manifestations of the universe's forces of darkness (Woodring is slyly metaphysical). These creatures try to ruin Trosper's merry day, but fail, and Trosper ends happily back atop his ball, plump and jouncy.
The story is wordless and comes with a CD with somewhat dark ambient music by Bill Frisell, who collaborates quite a bit with the artist Jim Woodring.
It's a good little pick-me-up when you're feeling blue.
As is said - It's for kids of all ages.
The story is wordless and comes with a CD with somewhat dark ambient music by Bill Frisell, who collaborates quite a bit with the artist Jim Woodring.
It's a good little pick-me-up when you're feeling blue.
As is said - It's for kids of all ages.
February 10, 2008
I got this for my neice - it is a great psychedelic art book that comes with it's own soundtrack! Jim Woodring is one of my favorite comic/visionary artists.
October 18, 2013
Lullabies for little psychonauts.
October 9, 2021
The comic is included in the later Jim book but this time I got to "read" the slightly larger story while also listening to the music. The whole thing is quite cute and well designed but the whole package is not enough to make me feel awe. The music is good but I personally find it not very fitting. But such is the life of the completionist.
March 5, 2020
Cute and fun!
November 24, 2010
Trosper is a confused creature who looks something akin to a miniature elephant. He wants only to play with his red ball and enjoy his day, but bizarre and at times terrifying elements seem to rear up everywhere around him.
Jim Woodring brings his signature surrealistic style to this wordless picture book; however, he tones down his works’ violent elements in interest of a wider audience. As with much of Woodring’s work, one gets the sense that there are deeper life metaphors lurking in these cartoons.
Jim Woodring brings his signature surrealistic style to this wordless picture book; however, he tones down his works’ violent elements in interest of a wider audience. As with much of Woodring’s work, one gets the sense that there are deeper life metaphors lurking in these cartoons.
May 27, 2010
comics,indie,alt,fantasy,weird,family,comedy,drama,woodcut,punk
December 9, 2011
Hahaha. The whole time I was expelling snorts of laughter while audibly? thinking "poor Trosper" until the last frame, at which I let out one guffaw and closed the book. "Yes."
July 16, 2015
Probably not the best picture book to show your 2 year old ... great trippy art though.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews