No14. Charlie Faulks

ISSUE: No13
Charlie Faulks
Animation Character Designer/Writer

We shine a light on some of Aotearoa's best and brightest.
They shine a light on their favourite 3 Wise Men Clothing.

Most kids growing up in rural NZ look to their fathers to learn how to drive a tractor, shear a sheep or shoot a rifle. For Gisborne raised Charlie Faulks however, it was for a different reason entirely.

Charlie, an animator, now based in Wellington, together with his producing team, received almost half a million dollars funding from NZ On Air earlier this year to create an animated comedy web series, called Bloke of the Apocalypse. The plot? A father, Bloke, and his son, Oliver, discover a zombie apocalypse on their farm.

"It's based on my dad, and my brother, and my upbringing in rural Gisborne," says Charlie, “although with a bit of creative license of course,” he laughs. “Basically the dad is this macho farming guy who struggles with emotions. The son can’t connect with him because of this, until they’re forced to, with the arrival of a zombie apocalypse.” Classic situation that.

“The rural in me loves 3 Wise Men’s navy merino crew necks, while the creative in me loves to add a splash of colour with some wild polka dots or striped socks!”

“I love rural New Zealand, the landscape and the people (Charlie reckons his dad is actually pretty good with his emotions!). There is so much potential in terms of story and comedy. I think we have a particular sense of humour that doesn't seem to exist anywhere else,” he says.

Growing up, Charlie always drew. “I’ve always fizzed on being creative, taking a project from the seed of an idea to completion. Being able to do that as a job is a dream.”

A Bachelor of Screen Arts in the capital paved the way for plenty of freelance animation work all over the world, before he had his lightbulb idea for the show.

With the series being released on YouTube in October next year, Charlie is both incredibly grateful and excited for the opportunity. “Getting a chance to stoke my passion, working with talented people, and having creative control is amazing. I’m insanely lucky to get a taste of that.”

When it comes to clothing Charlie loves that 3 Wise Men gear covers all bases. “The chore jackets are great for meetings and such an easy way to level up the outfit. The rural in me loves 3 Wise Men’s merino crew necks, while the creative in me loves to add a splash of colour with some wild polka dots or striped socks!”

So Charlie, where do your ideas come from? “I’m always reading, watching and consuming stuff. The creative cogs inside of me are always turning, but whenever they slow down I’ll head back to the farm. Nothing gets me energised like being in the fresh air.” Just watch out for stray zombies mate.