Saw this on Dapper Dan's Deviantart page, and thought great idea! It's nice to have what has influenced/inspired you in one image, to remind you what it is that you aspire to. I got the stuff that has influenced me the most over the years in there -- aside from some close friends and people that have greatly influenced my life and decisions, but that could be a separate influence map all together!
Printed this out and put it on my wall in front of my computer.
In no particular order/magnitude of influence:
1. Toy Story/Pixar -- which aspiring animator has not been influenced by this film and this company?
2. George Perez/New Teen Titans -- the first comic series I read as a kid. I sooo wanted to be George Perez when I was a kid! I wanted to be able to draw just like him. His art made me fall in love with comics, and the only comics I still buy today are the books he draws. And I got to meet him!
3. Star Wars -- probably the heaviest influence on my life.
4. Bruce Timm -- Batman: The Animated Series is perfection, as are the subsequent DC Timm series
5. Frank Miller -- great storyteller and artist
6. Videogames -- what better image to symbolize videogames than this?
7. Dapper Dan -- the guy whose blog I saw this influence map on -- love the way he draws.
8. Dungeons & Dragons -- spent many hours playing D&D as a kid, and I loved the cartoon! Watched it faithfully every Saturday morning as a kid.
9. Ansel Adams -- iconic photographer, incredible talent
10. Herb Ritts -- another favorite photographer
11. Eyvind Earle -- made Sleeping Beauty pop!
12. The Lord of the Rings -- as much impact as the original Star Wars trilogy
13. Bev Doolittle -- invented camouflage art, and an incredible painter
