(Thread) This is the incredible story of Bill Watterson, the creator of Calvin and Hobbes.
Watterson never licensed his characters. In his own words, "selling out is usually more a matter of buying in. Sell out, and you're really buying into someone else's system of values, rules and rewards . . . [con't]
"The so-called "opportunity" I faced would have meant giving up my individual voice for that of a money-grubbing corporation.
It would have meant my purpose in writing was to sell things, not say things."
It would have meant my purpose in writing was to sell things, not say things."
As a result, any plushy or toy or shirt you see with the characters is an illegal knockoff.
Hobbes would've probably been bigger than Snoopy. But Watterson wouldn't let it happen. Which is part of what makes the comic so magical.
The licensing deals would have generated 100's of millions of dollars.
But Watterson didn't care. Even at the height of the comic's popularity he had the awareness to maintain control of his art in order to keep it special.
Then, despite the comic being the most popular strip in the world, he shut it down. By all accounts he had accomplished what he wanted to do with the characters and had nothing left to say. And that was it.
His final strip featured Calvin and Hobbes on their toboggan, sledding away to explore. It was perfect.
Few people know where Watterson is now. He is notoriously reclusive. By all accounts he's living just outside of a small town where he grew up with his wife painting watercoloursโโcontent and accomplished.
He never craved external accolades and he never sold out. He refused awards and only gave two public appearances.
One of them was a convocation speech he gave at Kenyon Collage, his alma matter. There is no video but the transcript is one of the most important pieces of writing I've ever read. You can find it here: web.mit.edu
Watterson's story is so special to me that I named my son Calvin.
In a world that seems to only care about money and accolades, this man had the awareness to turn it all away in order to preserve his art.
And by all accounts, he's satisfied, accomplished, and happy
In a world that seems to only care about money and accolades, this man had the awareness to turn it all away in order to preserve his art.
And by all accounts, he's satisfied, accomplished, and happy
And shouldn't that be what we all strive for?
"Creating a life that reflects your values and satisfies your soul is a rare achievement. In a culture that relentlessly promotes avarice and excess as the good life, a person happy doing his own work is usually considered an eccentric, if not a subversive." - Bill Watterson
"To invent your own life's meaning is not easy, but it's still allowed, and I think you'll be happier for the trouble." - Bill Watterson
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