For those parents tired of hearing insipid songs by Barney or the Wiggles, I bring you good news: Meet Gustafer Yellowgold.
The New York Times calls Gustafer “Dr. Seuss meets Yellow Submarine” and I don’t think I can top that apt summary. Gustafer is the creation of songwriter/illustrator Morgan Taylor, an incredibly talented, cool guy.
Gustafer Yellowgold has left his home on the sun to experience a cooler life on Earth! He takes us on a humorously musical journey into his life, and also of his new friends Slim the Eel, Asparagus the Dragon, and Forrest Applecrumbie the Pterodactyl.
The new release has both a dvd and a cd so you can listen to it in the car or watch the songs with their illustrations.
Where did this character come from?
Oddly enough, I had written a song a few years ago called "I'm From The Sun." It was released on an album of mine from 2004 called Dream In Green. When I started choosing songs for this cartoon picture-book I was making in 2005 I went back and pillaged some of my favorite of my old songs, and "I'm From The Sun" became the foundation of what was to be the Gustafer Yellowgold character and back story.
Did you develop him - his name, his image, his songs, his background – all from scratch? Was that a difficult process?
His image dates back as far as 1997 when I was drawing him on the marker boards at my old job at Gem City Records in Dayton, Ohio. He wasn't named yet at that point. I also had some illustrations of this little guy jumping off a ladder onto a piece of cake. You can see what I'm talking about here.
How long has he been around?
As actual Gustafer, he's been around since early 2005.
Article comments
1 - Matthew Milam
I think that alot of cartoons in the 70's, the good ones, were seemingly inspired by 60's/70's music. At least that what I think I'm thinking of when I try to make the connection.
2 - Scott Butki
Just to be clear - the item reviewed is only available at Barnes and Noble here
and if you go to the Amazon ads on this screen they will only let you buy the dvd