I've been a cartoonist all my life, so while I was writing Rubik's Movie I had to draw him. Almost every scene or mood begged a sketch. The drawing helps me to see the character as I write about him, and I hope the drawings will help other people to see what I want to get across in this story - emotions, actions, and feelings that words can't express.

I first drew Rubik when I was 10. I watched Rubik the Amazing Cube closely every Saturday so I could draw him better. And over time the Rubik in my drawings became what I wanted him to be. In my current drawings he's gradaully become more as I picture him in Rubik's Movie, subtle personality changes represented visually.

And also check out 3D Rubik, the beginning of my concept for a 3D animated Rubik for Rubik's Movie.

Rubik's Movie Concept Art

These are some concept sketches right out of Rubik's Movie.

Rubik Meets the Kids

Carlos, Lisa and Reynaldo discover Rubik one afternoon when Carlos finally solves Rubik's puzzle

Rubik's Mat

Rubik has his own Stackmat. This is a special mat used in Speedcubing competitions. Rubik also likes to pretend that his is a gymnastics mat. He's gotten pretty good at tumbling.

Lisa's Doorway

Rubik likes to sneak out at to sit in Lisa's doorway and listen to her papa tell her bedtieme stories.

Rubik's Nose

Upon seeing Rubik for the first time, Lisa is compelled to reach up and touch his nose..

Thank You, Carlos.

Rubik is grateful for his freedom, and happy to belong to a boy like Carlos.

Sleeping

Rubik is kind of a mouth-breather when he sleeps. He's been known to snore, but not very loudly. He ususally gets better sleep if someone flops him over on his side.

Catching Rain

Rubik likes the rain. Though he doesn't much care for getting a bath.

Carlos and Rubik

Rubik gives Carlos a big hug by carrying up into the air and surrounding him in light.

Without a Straw

The most practical way for Rubik to drink soda is to float up and use a straw, but when there is no straw he just gets the liquid out of the can like any telekentic astronaut would and drinis it right out of the air!!

Shhh...

Sometimes Rubik just can't stop talking, especially when he's happy, and Erno must gently remind him to be quiet so someone else can get a word in edgewise.

Rubik's Best Friend

Rubik and Carlos discover the friendship they're both looking for in each other.

More Sketches

Look... no hands!

The fact of Rubik only having legs - and only when he needs them - actaully makes things humorous rather than difficult.








His short little legs are Rubik's only means of having posture or body language of any sort.

Rubik's legs are also key to expressing any action besides flying, eating, or sleeping.

Cube feelings

Since Rubik is a cartoon, facial expressions come naturally, especially with the big eyes and the heavy brow.

Other Views

Animation requires almost all possible views of a character to be drawn. So I've tried some of the harder more uncommon ones too.

Vintage Rubik

Rubik is fun to draw. I first drew him in 1983. Most of those drawings are gone... I have no idea where, but I know I did a bunch of them. Here's a couple I dug up

At age 11 I especially liked the Christmas episode of Rubik the Amazing Cube. I also liked to dress Rubik up in hats and little scarves and stuff. And for some reason I always drew cartoon characters cross-eyed!

I think I drew this at school because it's on that horrible manilla paper that falls apart after a few years. "I love to see you operate." was some sample sentence we had in English class, and I thought it was funny so I drew a quick cartoon of it with all the ABC cartoon characters - including Rubik as the candy striper. I'm not sure who the fox with the scissors is (I might have made him up), but I think the patient is Wile E. Coyote. The Roadrunner and Lucy Little were cropped out of this image.