D. C. Simpson
Encyclopedia
Dana Claire Simpson is an American cartoonist, best known as the creator of Ozy and Millie
.
A graduate of Evergreen State College, Simpson was once a reporter for a weekly newspaper, and did a stint as a graduate student in communication at Washington State University
. As an undergraduate, Simpson was a finalist for the 1998 Scripps-Howard Foundation Charles M. Schulz College Cartoonist Award, and won the 1999 College Media Advisers award for Best Strip Cartoon. Simpson lives in Auburn, Washington
with husband David Brodbeck.
Simpson's other comics include I Drew This
, Raine Dog and Girl.
– began running regularly in 1998. The strip centered on Ozy (an arctic fox) and Millie (a red fox) as they and their friends dealt with everyday elementary school
issues and more surreal situations. Ozy and Millie won the 1999 College Media Advisers award for Best Strip Cartoon, the 2002 Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards
for Best Anthropomorphic Comic and the Ursa Major Award for both "Best Anthropomorphic Other Work" for 2002 and for "Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip" for 2006 and 2007. The final regular strip was published on December 23, 2008.
Simpson's second published comic strip, I Drew This
was primarily about politics and proudly admits to its liberal
orientation. The May 16, 2005 edition, "Teaching Gravity", featured the first reference to the theory of intelligent falling
.
After appearing at local open mike nights, Simpson went on to become a musician and songwriter, performing at local cafes and bars and selling works online – including the album Shiver
, released in May 2005. Simpson cites as influences R.E.M.
and Elliott Smith
.
On January 16, 2009, Simpson posted the first page of Raine Dog, a graphic novel
which follows an anthropomorphic dog living among humans with other recently-liberated house dogs. The most recent update was in January 2010.
Simpson's third comic strip, Girl, was the winner of Amazon.com
's "Comic Strip Superstar" contest. The winner was to receive a publishing contract from Andrews McMeel Universal
. Despite this, as of February 2011, the Andrews McMeel Universal website displays no evidence of having published Girl or any other work by Simpson. According to Simpson, the delay has been imposed by the syndicate, GoComics
, due to its reluctance to launch two "talking animal
" strips at the same time, as well as its request for further edits.
Ozy and Millie
Ozy and Millie is a webcomic, created by D. C. Simpson, which debuted in January 1997. The comic was part of Keenspot from 2001 to 2003, going independent for several years before returning to Keenspot in November 2006. It follows the adventures of assorted anthropomorphized animals...
.
A graduate of Evergreen State College, Simpson was once a reporter for a weekly newspaper, and did a stint as a graduate student in communication at Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
. As an undergraduate, Simpson was a finalist for the 1998 Scripps-Howard Foundation Charles M. Schulz College Cartoonist Award, and won the 1999 College Media Advisers award for Best Strip Cartoon. Simpson lives in Auburn, Washington
Auburn, Washington
-Parks:Auburn has an extensive system of parks, open space and urban trails comprising 29 developed parks, 5 undeveloped sites under planning, 2 skate parks, 2 water roatary parks, and over of trails , and almost of open space for passive and active recreation.-Environmental Park:The Auburn...
with husband David Brodbeck.
Simpson's other comics include I Drew This
I Drew This
I Drew This is an online political cartoon created by Dana Simpson, the creator of Ozy and Millie. The strip is primarily about politics and is of proudly liberal orientation...
, Raine Dog and Girl.
Career
A comic artist from an early age, Simpson's first published comic strip – early web comic Ozy and MillieOzy and Millie
Ozy and Millie is a webcomic, created by D. C. Simpson, which debuted in January 1997. The comic was part of Keenspot from 2001 to 2003, going independent for several years before returning to Keenspot in November 2006. It follows the adventures of assorted anthropomorphized animals...
– began running regularly in 1998. The strip centered on Ozy (an arctic fox) and Millie (a red fox) as they and their friends dealt with everyday elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
issues and more surreal situations. Ozy and Millie won the 1999 College Media Advisers award for Best Strip Cartoon, the 2002 Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards
Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards
The Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards are annual awards in which online cartoonists nominate and select outstanding webcomics. The awards have been held since 2001, were featured in a The New York Times column on webcomics in 2005, and have been mentioned as a tool for librarians.The WCCA represent a...
for Best Anthropomorphic Comic and the Ursa Major Award for both "Best Anthropomorphic Other Work" for 2002 and for "Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip" for 2006 and 2007. The final regular strip was published on December 23, 2008.
Simpson's second published comic strip, I Drew This
I Drew This
I Drew This is an online political cartoon created by Dana Simpson, the creator of Ozy and Millie. The strip is primarily about politics and is of proudly liberal orientation...
was primarily about politics and proudly admits to its liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
orientation. The May 16, 2005 edition, "Teaching Gravity", featured the first reference to the theory of intelligent falling
Intelligent falling
Intelligent falling is a parody of the intelligent design movement. IF is a pseudoscientific supernatural explanation of the effects of gravity that has become an Internet phenomenon. It says free fall is being caused by "the hand of God", as depicted in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel fresco...
.
After appearing at local open mike nights, Simpson went on to become a musician and songwriter, performing at local cafes and bars and selling works online – including the album Shiver
Shiver (D. C. Simpson album)
Shiver, released May 18, 2005, is the first album released by D. C. Simpson, author of the webcomics Ozy and Millie and I Drew This. The album was recorded by the artist and released on CafePress.com, but the tracks have also been made available for free download.There is also an expanded edition...
, released in May 2005. Simpson cites as influences R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
and Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...
.
On January 16, 2009, Simpson posted the first page of Raine Dog, a graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
which follows an anthropomorphic dog living among humans with other recently-liberated house dogs. The most recent update was in January 2010.
Simpson's third comic strip, Girl, was the winner of Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
's "Comic Strip Superstar" contest. The winner was to receive a publishing contract from Andrews McMeel Universal
Andrews McMeel Universal
Andrews McMeel Universal is an American corporation based in Kansas City, Missouri. It was founded in 1970 by Notre Dame alumni Jim Andrews and John McMeel as Universal Press Syndicate and was renamed in 1997 to AMU to reflect the diversification that had taken place since its founding...
. Despite this, as of February 2011, the Andrews McMeel Universal website displays no evidence of having published Girl or any other work by Simpson. According to Simpson, the delay has been imposed by the syndicate, GoComics
GoComics
GoComics is a website launched in 2005 by the digital entertainment provider Uclick. It was originally created as a distribution portal for comic strips on mobile phones, but in 2006, the site was redesigned and expanded to include online strips and cartoons...
, due to its reluctance to launch two "talking animal
Talking animals in fiction
Talking creatures are a common theme in mythology and folk tales, as well as children's literature. Fictional talking creatures often are anthropomorphic, possessing human-like qualities but appearing as a creature...
" strips at the same time, as well as its request for further edits.