Tim and Ralph: Motor Madness (Episode 40)

Episode 40: At it again with those wacky cars...

Theme song by Charles Harrison:

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

My name is Michael Hickox. I create stop motion videos of various themes, but all made from LEGO and similar brand toys. I try to make my videos universal, with a wide range of cultures and ages in mind. Please take a look around, watch some videos, and enjoy the Lego community.

Tim and Ralph motor madness is a funny lego stop motion animation video

[blazetube]

I know a lot of you are going to comment about where he is and if he’s okay, so based on current research (and other comments), I finally understood what happened to him. So before you do anything else in the comments, please read this.

In 2021, Micheal Hickox had officially retired off of YouTube and returned to his technology company in Ohio (his hometown). The reason for it being because he was unhappy with the current state of YouTube at the time (COPPA, channels shutting down, strikes, etc) and his business partners had to cut down on budgets because of the pandemic. With all these issues coming at him at once, it was difficult to produce a simple video. Not wanting to risk anything else to occur, he had no choice but to call it his time and officially leave the platform after this video.

Now I know a lot of you are upset with him leaving (I myself) but when you think about it, all of it makes sense. He’s been making videos for over a decade now. That’s a lot of years of development, and like anyone else he’d be burnt out from constant work. Especially for videos like the pizza delivery ones, he was growing tired of constant maintenance and development.

Also note that he quit his old job back then (the one he works for now) to focus full time on these videos. While he was able to make a living and support himself, with everything that happened on YouTube and the current inflation, it was hard to make enough on one video. And when you look at his new videos compared to his old ones, they’ve lost quality. Not saying they’re bad, but they don’t have the ring anymore (compare Lego Shopping to this video, you’ll see the difference).

And lastly, Micheal Hickox has a life like anyone else. He has more to do than animate Lego’s all day. He stated that he was in his late 20’s and as of now he’s most likely in his 30’s . In that time, you have a lot more to worry about (e.x moving somewhere else, getting married, etc). At that time, perhaps the only way to fully focus on those things is to sacrifice something that requires a lot of focus, which were his videos.

Micheal Hickox was perhaps one of the greatest Lego animators at the time. But as time goes by, you realize nothing lasts forever. He had to sign off at some point. Now while I wasn’t expecting a sudden one, he knew he had to do what he had to do. Now if none of those things happened, would he still continue making videos? Maybe, but he’d have to leave at some point. Either for something he’d want to tell or not. But instead of being upset about his departure, let’s appreciate everything he did. Years of animating, editing, developing, all for us to be happy. Who knows, maybe today he’s looking back on his channel and smiling at all he’s created. Maybe he might come back one day. But if not, he had his time, why not begin yours? Surely you have ideas for stop motion right? Develop your own stories and make the next generation happy. Carry his legacy for your own. And one day, you’ll feel like Michael himself, and have your own start and end.

Thank you Michael, for everything.

[monkeman]

Ive used to watch these videos back then, it looks like he stopped making videos. Thank you for making these awesome stop motion vids man, they were the best. Hope your planning on doing this again, but for now. Thank you 🤘

[Hungie_Wumbi]

Michael Hickox’s videos are one of the reasons that got me into Lego when I was 9. Ten years later, I became a design major college student, and during this morning, we learned about stop-motion animation, and the professor showed the class the “Lego Mini Golf” video as an example. The nostalgia hit hard as hell. I came to his channel to see how he has been doing, and it seems like he has stopped making Lego videos. Whatever the reason is, I wish you the best, Michael, and thank you for being a part of our childhood.

Update: nvm it seems like he's back so yay

[AtomicSuperMe]

some older videos popped up in my recommended and sad to see that there hasn't been anything in a few years, but nice to see that people are remembering even from a few days ago. loved watching these videos as a kid and got me into doing Lego stop motion a bunch when I was younger. Hopefully some day we get some more

[CurryfromWAYdowntown]

Watched all your videos when I was younger, I’d love to see you back on here, not just for me but for other kids to have something good to watch, thanks for all of the content though!

[genrodrigo]

2 years have passed and everyday I have checked to see if he’s back please don’t be gone I love your videos the only reason why I love Lego now is because of your videos they’re amazing and so fun and bring back my childhood I need these

[eee_lilmoe]

as someone who's watched almost all his videos (and some more times then i can count) i have allways been inspired by Michael i hope whatever Michaels doing now he enjoys as sad as it is im still going to watch his videos in hopes of one day he reterns we love you Michael may you be blessed in every thing you do and know that you made millions happy putting smils on everyones face and if you ever come back we will all be here waiting for you as if you never left you will reman in my hart putting a smile when i am sad and relive me when i get home from work God bless you and every thing you do we love you :)

[DuplexQST]

Thank you Michael for the childhood memories

[omethchez]

I could have sworn the comments weren’t open before. Hope you’re doing well Michael!

[RoryKid]

So I've just figured out what happened to Michael, so he actually left youtube after this video due to dissatisfaction with the updates to the partner program and the fact that potential sponsors have cut back on their budgets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. He has returned to his old job at an Ohio based technology company. This channel was part of my childhood so I am sad he left YouTube, but it’s great he is still alive and doing well.

EDIT: HE'S BACK!

[ChávezMarín]

Someone in 2025?? Watching the end of this series, which is really sad that it's over, I liked the series.
Here are those who miss the series.
👇

[PiotrBarcz]

I hope you come back to make a short flick every once in a while, you're work got me more into lego stop motion and your work was a huge motivator for me!

[Eli]

Hey Michael! I see you stopped posting videos, I just wanna say turns out you actually live about 20 minutes away from me which I found super crazy, also I attended the LEGO event at the Cleveland science center when I was young and that’s where I met you in person! Really interesting to know that someone I looked up to in making my own creations, was so close in reality! Thank you mike!

[BrickifyYT]

This dude inspired me as a kid since I was 5 (now I'm 16). I remember growing up loving his content when I was in the spirit of Lego in 2012 as a little boy, and since then, I'd never stopped loving it and I started Stop motion in 2022 when I was 14 after a Cold January Blizzard in Virginia and Thanks to him, Kroper, Legoanimations6370 and Hamster productions I can make stop motion even though I don't own a Canon camera and I'm on a low budget I can Still make good content and MichaelHickox if your reading this Thank you so much For inspiring me You have Inspired me since I was a 5 year old and also my Real Name is Joshua Giron or my Full name Joshua Alexander Giron

[account-csth]

I'm a Japanese university student. After watching your video, I became interested in LEGO and started playing with it. The video you created is amazing. Please don't stop making videos. I'll always be waiting for you to come back.

[GAMRKNG.]

these videos were childhood. i grew up watching these when i was a kid, im 20 turning 21 november.

[MotionFishy]

Theese videos inspired me to do animations myself, so huge thanks.💯

[isaackubrick]

Do Episode 41 Because I'm dying for it

[giacomo]

I used to watch every single video of your channel when I was a kid…Love your work, greetings from Italy.

[Stellar]

These videos are a literal representation of my childhood I would watch them over and over waiting for the next one to release my favorite Lego stop motion animations I hope to some day see a new video but just in case one never comes I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a huge part of my childhood and making my days as a kid happy once’s