Animation Cogitation

Experiment - Collaboration

2011-12-05T15:04:00.000+10:00

An audiophone combines with a visioscope in a rolling evolution of sound and animation. Testing ideas for 2012.

For stress relief, right click on the video and leave it looping. Then set it to full screen (ahead).

Update:

White Rabbit - Animated Music by Luke Brohman

2011-11-20T18:42:00.003+10:00

Luke Brohman is a Brisbane animator with a special interest in combining animation and music.

Visit his ePortfolio: http://www.lukebrohman.blogspot.com/

lily and jim - Don Hertzfeldt

2011-10-17T23:54:00.003+10:00

A student film by a 20 year old animator.

Around 8.52 - if you're running out of time, animate the eyes.

Hope this doesn't put any animators off their coffee.

Create an m2v file to put a video clip on to DVD

2011-10-17T23:36:00.004+10:00

This video tutorial shows how to use the Adobe Media Encoder program in the Adobe Creative Suite to format an animation video project file for DVD.

The MPEG2 video file created along with the WAV audio file can be used in DVD authoring software, such as Adobe Encore, to create a DVD that plays in a DVD player (as compared to a DVD backup disc that just stores data).

Cecelia & Her Selfhood - animated by Adrien Merigeau

2011-09-25T11:20:00.002+10:00

3D that looks 2D - the magic of textures and effects

Doodling in Class

2011-09-25T10:24:00.006+10:00

I have always been interested to observe animators doodling in class while a presentation is being made. In fact I encourage it. One reason is that the doodlebrain is disconnected from the chatterbox and that makes it easier, as an instructor, to present information. Doodling helps students to remember. So please doodle!

Animation Scout

2011-09-22T01:46:00.004+10:00

At the beginning of second semester the second year animators were introduced to more detail about facial animation. As time hurries on to the final few weeks they will be working their way back up to their character(s) eyes. Here is an interesting resource: http://www.animationscout.tv

Animated Film Preview/ Trailer Design

2011-09-20T20:09:00.004+10:00

The second years are powering forward with their major projects. Most surveyed in class plan to complete a whole animated narrative film. Some are realising that animation takes a lot of time and that learning animation while doing animation sometimes means doing things over and over again to get them working. The option for some animators will be to create a film trailer/preview that features at least 5 Essential Animation Principles Scenes (EAPS)

Beleow is a trailer for a completed film from a student (3rd year) at the Academy of Arts University (AAU) in San Francisco. How many EAPS can you see?

Let me know if you can find the complete film to view.

Little Boat - Nelson Boles

2011-09-11T15:45:00.000+10:00

Planning Animation

2011-09-08T00:50:00.003+10:00

It is so good to hear other animators say similar things. Just add "Act it Out" and collect video reference to the research and you will be enjoying your animation production. It is all about knowing what you want to do before you start in the animating software (or on the page).

Drakezilla - I Look Down. Animated by Elle Newton-Reid

2011-09-05T23:50:00.002+10:00

Animation by Elle in 2nd Year. Nice work in AfterEffects.

Sheeped Away - Junaid Chundrigar

2011-09-04T23:42:00.000+10:00

There are some excellent animation principles at play in this short film. Appealing spacing and arcs and sheep.

The link was emailed in by Michelle Boland (animation culture writer) via the Spungella blog.

Music Clip - animated by Ari Gibson

2011-08-24T11:32:00.006+10:00

While many animators are spending time worrying, some are animating.

Animation is a compulsion in a rare few creative people rather than a career choice.

They take it into their grasp and hold it like a maleable hot chocolate hug mug. Either the animation forms around the animator, or the animator forms around the animation. In some cases they blend so that the creator is indistiguishable from the creativity. Animation is no longer the illusion of life, it becomes the creativist's life.

I have spoken to a few recent graduates of the animation course recently. They have tried other things. Now, with real-life jobs and tasks pressing sticky fingers on them, find themselves back to exploring the magic of animation.

Here is the music clip by Gotye:

Music Video: Nemasco - Julien Regnard

2011-07-23T21:34:00.002+10:00

Second Year Animators are embarking on their animated music clip. This clip may provide some inspiration. To which famous animator does it pay homage?

Nemasco from Julien Regnard on Vimeo.

Video Reference - Dialogue Sequences

2011-07-15T20:49:00.001+10:00

Gobelins Graduate Films for 2011

2011-07-07T21:22:00.003+10:00

Gobelins is a visual communication school in Paris that offers a 3 year animation course.

This is the YouTube channel to see more of the student animation: http://www.youtube.com/user/gobelins

Clear Animatic - Get ready for Semester 2

2011-06-18T15:49:00.003+10:00

In semester 2 second year animators will be collaborating with music composers and sound designers on their major project. The animatic for the project is the main form of visual communication. Is it clear? Some of you have some story clearing up to do.

This animatic is by an animation student (Henry Zhang, again)

Be Quiet - Henry Zhang

2011-06-18T15:17:00.002+10:00

This is a first year animation from UCLA Animation Workshop. Look for the arcs and spacing. If you smile, that's because of the timing.

Animation Type - Straight Ahead Animation for FX

2011-06-13T18:17:00.005+10:00

Michel Gagné is an animator who creates wonderful animated FX. Using a 2D style, Gagné has worked with Brad Bird on "Iron Giant" and "Ratatouille". It is worth researching his 2D effects channel on YouTube and then having a go at animating some of the FX.

Animated effects are often organically formed in the animator's imagination with a bit of planning but 'feeling' the animation by working straight ahead. Jason Lynch, our special guest stop motion feature film animator, spoke about this animation type and the animation principles in his recent workshop with SBIT animation students.

The other recently featured FX animator on this blog is Ryan Woodward.

Animation by 2nd Year Students - Gobelins, Paris

2011-06-10T22:05:00.000+10:00

Dripped - Léo Verrier

2011-06-01T16:24:00.002+10:00

If you like or study fine art painting, this film will hold some appeal.

If you like animation being pushed and experimented with, this film may have something for you.

Brisbane Animation - Gus - Andrew Martin - Honeydew Studios

2011-06-01T16:18:00.004+10:00

As Sarah Murray (All Farts are Humorous blog) will tell you, I am distinctly unenamoured by fart jokes. I am counting on "Gus" having a twist. Anyway, Andrew Martin is a Brisbane animator working hard on a project and I seek for you all to lend some support.

Amnesty International Animation

2011-05-26T20:53:00.004+10:00

We all appreciate Zade our animated conscience crusader. I was thinking of his good heart and energy to get us involved in humanity.

To have a great passion and not express it in your art is a crime against your self. Think on that on days when it feels inspiration has run dry.

Amnesty International celebrates a 50th anniversary. That deserves a few thoughts, lively discourse, some pickled squid and a flickering candle.

A great collaborative combination of animation tools and techniques:

Matter Fisher - Student Film from the UK

2011-05-25T22:21:00.002+10:00

This film about a fisherman is an apt way to celebrate the completion of the 2nd years' community project for 2011. Also it links in with their After Effects classes as this film shows great combination of effects, motion graphics and animation.

The 2010 film is directed by David Prosser a graduate from the Royal College of Art in London. It is produced by Passion Pictures who worked with Shaun Tan on The Lost Thing.

Adobe Premiere Pro - Set Up and Export Projects

2011-05-25T00:51:00.004+10:00

Premiere Pro is an excellent animation tool for putting together animation projects. The following video tutorials explain how to set up the project with widescreen settings and how to export a video clip with widescreen settings.

Thought of You - Ryan Woodward

2011-05-11T05:28:00.001+10:00

Some new work by Ryan Woodward and any excuse to bring this animation to the top of the post pile. There also is a final version of the documentary "Making of ...Thought of You" to explore.

Google - Martha Graham from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

I posted about Ryan Woodward's work in May 2010 (below)

Once through for entertainment. Oh, OK, twice through for entertainment because the first viewing is quite stunning. Then study this animated music clip. Note the animation principles. Do you think he used video reference? Note the hand drawn appeal. Ryan Woodward is making a making of documentary. Find out more here.

EVERYTHING WILL BE OK - Don Hertzfeldt

2011-05-02T15:14:00.000+10:00

--- earlier on in February...
I was just over at 2nd Year Harvey's blog being wonderfully challenged by some of his ideas and concepts.

It reminded me of Don Hertzfeldt and how an animated story can be well told with well planned, seemingly 'simple' design.

The telegraph poles and wires in the opening sequence made me think of Johnny H's 3D letter design.

There are quite a few lateral thinking and parallel idea cosmic atomic rays currently basting my thoughts.

Storm - Tim Minchin

2011-04-29T22:00:00.002+10:00

In a recent interview Tim Minchin is described, in part, by Melbourne Comedy Festival Director Susan Provan, "... His art is his activism, and he uses it to surprise people into fresh perspectives."

That quote probably applies more to Tim's views on belief, beliefs and the imposition of beliefs in people's lives. But what we have above is the philosophy and words of this artist communicated through animation. Creative, visually engaging, animation.

Animation carrying a provocative undercurrent of meaning rather than solely (soullessly?)designed for the enterprise of commercial entertainment and profit. Animation and entertainment don't need to be dichotomised into mutually exclusive concepts in these cases. They can be both and more.

It shows that animation can be a unique medium to actively tackle controversial issues in a creative way using the Sean Leahy (cartoonist) ethos, "Make them laugh and make them think."

Pocoyo - Dance Off!

2011-04-29T18:38:00.008+10:00

I love the animation appeal in Pocoyo. It is pose-to-pose animation at its best. Worth studying for timing and learning how long to hold a key pose. When Pocoyo is mixed with dance the benefit for animation students is doubled. Dance is another great visual teacher on music tempo and animation timing. Have you ever seen a dancer as good as Pato? Pocoyo's surfers' stomp (twist) is gold.

How much animation can be produced in 90 minutes?

2011-04-29T12:22:00.007+10:00

Dailymation is a blog by Yoni Goodman who was director of animation on the film "Waltz with Bashir".

Found this blog via Cassie V's Sketchbook Thoughts blog.

It's only chocolate. It's not a rabbit

2011-04-21T10:13:00.000+10:00

a film by Lernert Engelberts & Sander Plug

Animator's Hands and The Moment of Contact

2011-04-12T09:45:00.017+10:00

The second years have been riding along with my explorations on the theme of the "Moment of Contact".

We watched the meeting sequence in How To Train Your Dragon, where Hiccup makes contact with Toothless - the anticipation was about 7 minutes.

We watched Summer Wars and a different type of contact, this time between two human characters. An initial little finger touch building through at least two more powerful hand holds as the emotion in the story intensified.

Something to realise as an animator is that the sense of touch in humans, a life-form the viewer strongly empathises with, is expressed most strongly through the hands. When people describe something as "touching", they describe the idea that contact was made with their emotions.

Hands are important in communication and animation. In many cases they can be regarded as 'best supporting actors' or 'betrayers of emotion'. The secondary action (an animation principle) portrayed in the hands can be at counterpoint to how the character is acting, but at the same time a revelation of how the character is truly thinking or feeling.

Studying people's hands, the shapes, the gestures, the tension, the floppiness during any communication exchange can reveal so much about the true feeling of a moment and the energy and emotion of the speaker.

Milt Kahl's hand drawings are often referenced as examples (especially search out the ruff versions).

Below is a show reel by Mike Stern who animated on How To Train Your Dragon. Watch, in particular, the hand acting at about 00:36 onward. The acting, the contact, may communicate more in that sequence than the dialogue?

(notes on) biology - ornana films

2011-04-03T16:06:00.003+10:00

Lydia posted this film on her student animation blog. Thanks Lydia! Very creative work. Does anyone know any further information about the film makers?

Importing Video into Flash

2011-03-23T00:05:00.000+10:00

Olives & Pub Dog - Sketchy

2011-03-16T22:00:00.003+10:00

Sketchy Showcase. Timing and Spacing. Well crafted storytelling that understands the audience.

Misery Bear - Roughcut

2011-03-16T21:57:00.002+10:00

Animation. The Illusion of Life. Misery Bear. From the UK.

Animated Music Clip made with Coloured Dice

2011-03-15T09:46:00.003+10:00

From a few years ago but still relevant in terms of creativity and inspiring creativity.

Animated Marine Plastic Music Clip

2011-03-13T10:30:00.006+10:00

The second years are working on a community project based on the local fishing industry in Moreton Bay. The Brisbane River empties all the scrapings of sadness and grime of Brisbane's mouldy underbelly into the bay. There is the opportunity to craft some visual ideas on wider topics into a community project. Topics that would effect the decline of the local fishing industry.

Second years will possibly create an animated music clip later this year, so the first clip has double value. Sourced from a post by Ian Lacey.

An ocean environmental campaign that caught my attention when I was an animation student was "Rise above plastics":

Love and Theft by Andreas Hykade

2011-03-06T11:58:00.004+10:00

First year animator Jac and I were having a discussion in class the other day about animated video clips we had seen at festivals. I thought we were initially talking about the same film. We weren't.

The one Jac meant is posted on her blog; Ausschnitt by Maurice Hubner.

The clip below is the one I meant.

Interestingly they are both European based animation, and both by German animators.

Australian animators can be influenced quite strongly by mainstream United States style animation. But it is equally apparent that Japanese animation has a strong influence. If an animator has grown up watching the ABC, their influences, may be from the United Kingdom through imported BBC programs.

The excitement of being an animation student is to research and experience the wealth of the global animation experience. Sometimes finding the best animated film ever made (KJFG No.5).

Thanks to Trent Ellis from the Animators Alliance Australia, who hosted International Animation Day in 2010, for introducing me to this, I think, amazing film. It highlights what poets, playwrights and songstresses teach animators about finding a rhythm in our storytelling.

Shaun the Sheep Animatic

2011-03-05T23:02:00.001+10:00

2nd years are working through their storyboarding sessions toward producing an animatic for their major project narrative (and community project as a group). The animatic (above) was created for an episode of Shaun the Sheep.

Margarita by HAMPA Studio

2011-03-03T22:02:00.002+10:00

A 'making of' a traditional 2D animated film. It shows the planning including character designs, animatic, storyboard...

The Lost Thing based on a book by Shaun Tan

2011-02-28T12:23:00.001+10:00

This post originally went up in September 2010 and was re-posted in January 2011. In January the news was that "The Lost Thing" has been nominated for an Academy Award.

Well it won.

The achievement deserves a re-posting of this article among the other things like a gold statuette.

Artworks is a good place to point one's ears. Today they talked about Shaun Tan. He is an illustrator and story teller.

Shaun Tan, like Tim Minchin (who voices the film) and author Tim Winton, are from Perth, Western Australia. So am I. So my ears get particularly crinkled when the limestone dust and salt is stirred in my soul. Shaun now lives in Melbourne.

The Artworks program reminded me of an email that I had from Michelle earlier in the year with reports of Australian animation success at the 2010 Annecy Festival. Animators will note that Michelle talks about Passion Pictures in the UK on her blog. They develop the Gorrilaz music video clips. They also co-produced "The Lost Thing" with Screen Australia.

There is an interesting post and link to a video interview on the Ozanimate site about Shaun and the success at Annecy.

Which brings us back to Shaun Tan and the film "The Lost Thing" animated by Leo Baker

June 2010: Cristal Award for Best Short Film at the 34th Annecy International Animation Festival - the world's largest animation festival, in Annecy, France.
June 2010: Best short animated film at the 57th Sydney International Film Festival
August 2010: 'Best Short' (not best animated film!) award at the Melbourne International Film Festival
February 2011: Academy Award, Best Animated Short

I'll hand it over to you to research some more. Second years may find it interesting how Shaun presents himself online with the design of his web site. How many EAPS did you count in that animation trailer?

Pixar Animation Studios - NY Times video

2011-02-22T20:35:00.002+10:00

From Michelle B's 3 Strange Angel's blog. Thanks Michelle!

Pixar - Animated Logo - Animato

2011-02-21T08:30:00.000+10:00

Second year animators are working on the "Animato" project in their Create 3D Digital Animation subject.

The "Animato" project is where the animators form the word 'Animation' from letters modelled by 7 different studio teams for the Create 3D Digital Environments subject.

It will be a 5 to 15 second animated clip that can be used as a base design for an animated logo to attach to their animated work.

Some animators are struggling to find their animated logo. The minimum requirement is a bouncing ball and being able to clearly see the word "Animation".

The Pixar Studios animated logo lasts 13 seconds, has a bouncing character, displaying the animation principles, interacting with the letters in the environment. It should serve well as inspiration.

Glen Keane insights into character design

2011-02-20T10:43:00.005+10:00

Lady and the Tramp pencil test - Frank Thomas

2011-02-10T22:18:00.007+10:00

The pencil test is attributed to Frank Thomas. He did animate this sequence in the film. First years in particular should note that name.

Today we had a collaborative class where 1st and 2nd year animators worked together on the concept of ideas. We also looked at animation examples from the Lady and the Tramp (1955).

The first years looking at the film from a historical perspective, in particular taking notes on how the ideas for the story may have developed.

The second years, who will be developing storyboards, looked at how the story was pitched in the 1950's using storyboard panels pinned up on a wall. Taking note of the loose but communicative drawing style of the boards.

Wheren (a new word) animation students get their ideas:

In the shower
At the edge of sleep
Sugar rush
Mushroom risotto
After eating
Swimming
Walking
Camping
When ill with a fever (apparently if you catch swine flu you may think you are a planet)
On public transport
Music: listening or playing
Dreams (if you remember)
Being out in nature alone
Inspiration from other artists
Staring at something
Eavesdropping/ hearing something said
Brainstorming in a group

Superman Classic - Robb Pratt

2011-02-08T20:13:00.002+10:00

Watch Robb's "how to" clip at the end of the film. The second years will learn some storyboarding techniques taught to me by Robb. Robb is a Disney traditional 2D animator who moved into a career as a storyboard artist. It is a pathway that can be considered by animators who love drawing, or love film making and storytelling (via storyboards).

Brisbane Animator Wins 11sC - Damian Pin

2011-02-06T17:18:00.000+10:00

Heads up (student) animators. The winner of the December 11 Second Club animation competition is Damian Pin from Brisbane.

Local Characters - Ben Redlich

2011-02-01T21:43:00.006+10:00

Second years are developing their concepts for their major projects. Part of that is character design. Check out Ben Redlich's blog.

Sand Stop Motion - team of 4 animators

2011-01-24T14:13:00.002+10:00

Would it be crazy to do two things that you like at the same time? How about planning a day of stop motion animation at the beach.

The 2nd years are working with a client this year designing animation with a marine and coastal theme. Keep checking here for a 'making of' video.

This clip is “Lose This Child” by Yuval & Merav Nathan. Their other work should be recognisable straight away.

Cours Toujours (made for fun!)

2011-01-20T21:30:00.003+10:00

By Elise Garcette and Olivier Barré. The key thing is that they made it for fun! In a world where people strive to make art for money, sometimes they forget to make art for themselves and for fun. One of the awesome powers of an animation student is being able to make animation for fun rather than clients. (and I like the music)

The Deep - PES

2011-01-16T17:05:00.003+10:00

Animation Drawing - Try a soft-B pencil

2011-01-09T16:32:00.006+10:00

When we sat down around the studio table for our first animation class, our first ruff draw, I asked what do the new animators like to draw with?

As we draw I continue to talk. Animators go into the zone while drawing. That's an 'altered state of awareness', usually an alpha state. A place with no time, a place where cats spend most of their 9 lives.

I talk hoping that the animators are engrossed in their altered state and not consciously listening. So I can implant an idea in their brain - "Use a soft B pencil. 4B or 6B is good. Like Glen Keane." Work ruff and loose, tease your drawing out of the lines, the arcs of marks.

Animation drawing is a new way of "drawing" for many animation students. The best draftspeople, the people who 'can draw', seem to suffer the most. It's because animation is about observation and thinking, and then expression. Expressing movement and motion, energy and emotion through lines and paths. Animation drawing is about observing. Eventually the drawing gains energy and reality starts to look different the more you study animation.

6B or not 6B... or maybe 2B? That is the question.

The Art of Glen Keane Blog.

"Draw Clear Not Clean," Ollie Johnston

Addicted - The Old Man and the Sea - Bliss N Eso - Aleksandr Petrov

2010-11-26T10:24:00.005+10:00

Painting over artwork. It intrigues me. Crumpling up a ruff pencil scribble used to coax a pose from a piece paper I can reconcile and understand the power in it for an animator. But for a painter working in oils or spray to obliterate their work in pursuit of an animated moment is mind boggling.

I have been over at Elle's blog. She has been researching and sharing her discoveries in true tertiary education style. We had a debate in class about how AfterEffects can be used to create many animated effects such as progressive graffiti style animation. As animators we should seek to understand and deconstruct the 'magic' that appears on screen to inform our own animation.

Elle posted this 'making of' clip:

Elle's research and Zade's debating fired up my curiosity. I hope you all got to see Aleksandr Petrov's Oscar winning film "The Old Man and the Sea" in you animation research classes?

The idea of painting over 'finished' work has a parallel between Bliss N Eso, Blu and Petrov's work. So taking some research energy from Elle's work I was able to find this clip to post of Petrov talking about his animation process (and hopefully proving to Zade the film was not made in AfterEffects ;) ).

All animation consists of creation and destruction of the same picture. A bit more information from Petrov (in Russian with English subtitles) about the process he uses, starting with storyboarding, with which animators will start their 2nd year of study in the course for 2011 (so it's worth watching).

Muto by Blu

The Illusionist - Sylvain Chomet

2010-11-20T13:15:00.008+10:00

In November Brisbane animators were lucky enough to have Sylvain Chomet's The Illusionist screen at the Brisbane International Film Festival. "A small, hand-crafted masterpiece." (Xan Brooks, The Guardian UK - click the link - Is 2D hand-drawn animation a dying art?)

A number of animators had been posting about the film with associated video clips (Michelle, Will). Cassie organised a sketchcrawl to the screening where Zade, Jack, Rachel, Cassie and I settled in to a wonderful animation film experience.

It was great to see animators, who I have met and by whom I had been tutored, named in the film credits.

(Gobelins Summer School 2009: Dripha, Liane-Cho and some big scary guy)

After the film, Rachel pointed me to Lian-Cho's blog where he posted some of his pencil tests (below). Thanks Rachel.

Mary & Max - parts animated by Jason Lynch

2010-11-03T00:10:00.003+10:00

Jason was brilliant and shared some technical information support to the first year animators about compositing their films.

This is some of his work featured on Mary & Max. Don't forget to read Jason's comments under the film clip.

Putting Together Stop Motion Animation

2010-10-28T23:12:00.002+10:00

Running Out of Time? Animate the Eyes

2010-10-23T22:50:00.008+10:00

The second years are in the final weeks of animation production. Actually they should be in animation post production now. But there is always time for a bit more polish and then a re-render.

At the start of semester the class spent some time looking at eye animation as part of facial animation. We studied blinks and eye darts in relation to a character appearing alive and thinking. We discussed the importance of eye shapes and eye brow shapes as recognisable forms of expression.

Importantly we discussed that audiences look at the eyes of our characters. They look for subtext in the eye animation, emotional triggers in the eye and eyebrow shapes. Audiences look to where characters look, which is important for the animation principle of staging (yes, I had to sneak an animation principle in there).

There is a post over on Pete Emslie's The Cartoon Cave blog that talks about eye direction. It also links to John K's blog post about character design, if anyone is into exploring. I found it via Alonso's Monotreme Dreams blog.

Pete writes, As it happens, I've just lectured about the design and function in drawing eyes as part of my Character Design class at Sheridan this past week, so I'd like to offer my thoughts on that subject in regard to this particular still from the Disney film...

But all that is just 'lkhqgfwqrfgygyiggcgfgkvsd' during the CRUNCH!

Hopefully there is a little voice in the animator's zombified brains tweeting, "Running out of time? Animate the eyes!"

Animating Flight

2010-10-17T22:05:00.009+10:00

I was over on my animation teacher's blog, Speaking of Animation and saw that he had made a post about animating flight. Being a DreamWorks animator, Jacob relates his post to animators working on How to Train Your Dragon, but he links to a tutorial by Brendan Body a UK trained animator who worked on Legend of the Guardians. The tutorial by Brendan is an excellent resource for animation study.

Brendan, "I created many of the hero characters' flight cycles which were then used by the rest of the animation team."

Earlier this year I posted a short animating exercise that animators could attempt to see if they could fly. It would probably be worth comparing what you learned there to this latest information.

Enjoy flying with a feature film animator. How to make birds fly good (I love the title).

More Brendan Body tutorials (Cassie will see some clips she referred to in her research about the bouncing ball)

More Jacob Gardner tutorials including animating a dancing character and understanding body language to improve animation.

Cinematic Tension - Alfred Hitchcock

2010-10-09T21:46:00.002+10:00

I wonder if this may be applicable somehow to a 200 frame animation sequence?

Or, as Corey might advise us, "Show them the banana peel!"

Jacaranda sky paint and thunder storms

2010-10-06T17:52:00.005+10:00

Jacaranda bloom and thunder storms herald the "crunch". The time of year leading up to handing in the final, major project.

Movie Trailer - A Major Project Option

2010-09-23T21:30:00.001+10:00

This just in from Alice in 2nd year:

The second year animators have been planning and animating their major projects for at least 10 weeks. The learning curve is as steep as the Y spline in a ball bounce. Some ideas for grand narratives are trimming down in the quest for good quality animation.

Today the animators researched some of the productions from other animation students (the northern hemisphere students present their work mid year). The results were eye popping and have to be shared. It was an excellent research session.

The clips below come from research done by Al.

When a narrative project is trimmed to the bare essentials it can still make a very satisfying "movie trailer". A movie trailer has the same amount of animation as a standard animation demo reel but carries the extra zing of context. In a movie trailer a character has a reason to run, jump, yawn, laugh, push, kick.

Here are some clips from some French animators. They were students but left school to pusue their project their own way. At school they would have worked in teams to produce the clips that run for under a minute. Check out the links from the clips on Vimeo to the planning blogs and check out the artwork and planning done by each animator.

I wonder, if in 2011, we might make the major projects in teams? See this post on Cartoon Brew.

Music Video by Maik Hempel

2010-09-22T21:00:00.000+10:00

Australian Animation Director and Brisbanite Maik Hempel.

Usher - Ryan Spargo & International Animation Day 2010

2010-09-21T11:51:00.006+10:00

2009 Southbank Animation course graduate Ryan Spargo will have his student film featured on a DVD of international students' work. The DVD's are being shared across the planet and will be screened internationally to celebrate International Animation Day on October 30th.

Well done Ryan! And well done Stuart McNair, the sound designer who collaborated with Ryan on the film.

More 2009 graduate success stories: Jess and Dana

Feed the Kitty (1951)

2010-09-20T23:22:00.004+10:00

One of my all time favourites. Directed by Chuck Jones. Check out how they handled the smear frames. Look at the amazing character animation and interactions. This short film was referenced in a scene in Monster's Inc.

What happens next year? Paris or pizza?

2010-09-13T22:36:00.006+10:00

No matter where you plan to go or what you plan to do, keep animating, improving your skills, sketching your ideas and updating your reel.

Today in class some second years were outlining their plans for after they graduate.

The conversation took us down the path of further study. As compared to employment, work experience, or freeing your lance and chasing the festival circuit to build a reputation.

Be creative. Sometimes it takes some thinking. Consider getting a job as a pizza delivery person, as long as you are delivering pizza to the animators at the studio at which you wish to work. There is an animator, in our very building at SBIT, who tells the tale of applying for a parking attendant job at a studio and eventually animating on a feature film.

Two animators are currently in the articulation process to the Griffith University animation course. Four others are looking at a further year of study. One animator has done an interstate research trip and met some people. One student expressed a wish to study at Ringling College in the USA.

Last week a first year animator was mapping out their student path and we gathered some information about links to the Queensland University of Technology animation course. In that discussion animators were encouraged to research a 'summer school' somewhere, with my preference being, arguably the best animation school in the world, besides the Southbank Institute of Technology, Gobelins in Paris (from personal experience).

One of the second year animators expressed an interest at studying at Gobelins. My first bit of advice is to start learning French. If an animator can produce a good reel of student work, they may get accepted to attend the Gobelins summer school, which happens in our long mid-year break. Summer in Paris. It needs some planning and saving. The summer school may lead further to an invitation to apply for the Gobelins animation course.

Here is Eric Riewer, head of international relations at Gobelins, talking about what makes a good student film (and the Gobelins school demonstrate annually that they know about that) and how animators are selected for the school.

Simplicity

2010-09-12T00:00:00.013+10:00

The illustrations above are by Bryan Ballinger. Bryan has a university degree in illustration. He is also a professor of Digital Media Arts at Huntington University in Indiana USA. So the intro should actually read as Prof. Bryan Ballinger. Why is he drawing like that and what has it got to do with animation?

The more we study animation the more we understand that it takes a lot of work to make simplicity look good. Or does it?

It might just be a matter of practice. Well, yes, it is a matter of practice. A simple practise based in fun and free sketching. Simplicity, like animation, is learnt in the doing. Sometimes burdening a course of study with the term "hard work" too much, too often, sucks the fun out of things.

By setting our ruff feet firmly on a foundation of the 13 principles of animation, an animation student gets the secrets to making a simple character animate with Appeal (well, c'mon, if I'm going to be constantly juggling 13 Animation Principles, eventually I have to drop one... into a blog post).

The first years just handed in a 2D character animation. A few of them discovered the power of simplicity as an animation tool. The second years are wrestling with their major projects and some are learning that planning for simplicity in design may have allowed a bigger sleep budget in the production schedule.

The end result is that as animators we should get out our simplicity and exercise it.

Here is a blog post entitled "Exercising my Simplicity" on Breadwig that some of the drawing, sketching, illustrating animators may enjoy? (and the self assigned* non-drawers may find a spark of inspiration). Also check out bryanballinger.com .

I found Breadwig via Keith Lango's blog. The simplicity theme is inspired by Simon's Cat, Alexeev's Forest Trio, and Cameron Miyazaki's balls. *I believe everyone can draw.

Le Royaume - Gobelins

2010-09-11T22:12:00.002+10:00

The Gobelins Animation School in Paris has a new crop of student films to watch. Let's start with this one.

Simon's Cat - "The Box"

2010-09-11T21:51:00.003+10:00

I love these short films. He understands cats and that cat owners are fascinated by their cats.

Despicable Me - It's so Fluffy!

2010-09-09T22:33:00.004+10:00

Minions, after waiting for over a year, I loved Despicable Me.

(A link to this blog's February post about Despicable Me).

All the better in seeing the film with a sketchcrawl of animation students on a field trip. I have mentioned before, on a comment on Luke's blog, that the appreciation of a film experience is a lot to do with whom you enjoyed a film, the comfort of the cinema in which it was shown, the quality of the coffee being sipped in the previews and the buzz of the chatter in the denouement.

Well that fieldtrip was 'once through for entertainment'. Now we'll have to watch it for animation study (I love being an animation student).

Keith Lango posted a review in July but I had to wait to read it until after we saw the film on its release in September.

Today I am an Animation Student

2010-09-08T14:49:00.005+10:00

Today is my first day at school. I am an animation student (again). I love being an animation student. So now, by day I am an animation teacher. By night I fight crime ... er um ... I am an animation student.

My teacher for first semester is Jacob Gardner. He is a Dreamworks animator... Monsters Vs Aliens, Shrek Forever After, and Megamind. He is also co-founder of the animation website SpeakingOfAnimation.com...

Here is a film I find appealing that Jacob collaborated on before he became an employed animator (below). This is Jacob's film. I am just basking in his animation goodness.

The Brothers McLeod

2010-09-07T11:40:00.000+10:00

Ideas for stop mo' animation styles.

Stream-of-consciousness sketch by Greg McLeod

Balance and Yellow

2010-09-02T09:49:00.013+10:00

Balance in a key pose is important. It is important for the visual communication of believability between the animator and the viewer through the character. Otherwise the viewer will sense that something aint quite right and not find appeal in the animation. Yep, the animation principle of Appeal.

Balance, Line of Action, Psychological Gestures, Meaningful Symbolism all form a part of posing. Posing can be thought of within the animation principle of Solid Drawing. But it also features, by name, in the principle of Animation Type, when talking about Pose-to-Pose animation.

Balance is influenced by gravity. Gravity does not automatically exist on a piece of paper or in animation software. So an animator has to practice with gravity some other way to work out how to show it in animation. One way is to "Act It Out".

The other way is to pose a character who is influenced by gravity. Introducing "Yellow". (I think the pose below is the pose Jess - 2nd Yr - created).

If the computer screen has fraznicked your thinking, spend some refresh time posing "Yellow". He resides inside the digital camera box.

Yellow appears on some second year blogs already: Sarah P (the first one to achieve balance on one leg) and Cassie V.

Workplace health and safety warning notice: 1 leg poses should only be attempted by 2nd years. Do not attempt to act out poses found on these blogs at home without clearance from your physiotherapist.

Don't Ask Me Why - Just Vote

2010-08-15T23:18:00.002+10:00

Note that Mr.Pipik is green but not necessarily Green.

Act It Out - Animation Preproduction Planning

2010-08-01T22:33:00.012+10:00

In 2009 I made a post about "Acting It Out"! That post features a video clip of the great Ian Lacey passionately delivering a message to animation students. The message is still relevant (even though we have phones these days that drive your car and make morning coffee).

Actually I have a blog post label over on the side there called "planning". There is also one screaming "Act it Out". There is some interesting information under those links. Just for the 'hey' of it I'll say it again, planning. Hey!

Animators are a good looking bunch of bananas.

Animators act out an animation sequence to get ideas on timing (an animation principle), posing and a variety of acting choices.

But there is another reason why animation students should act it out. Have you ever seen an animator's brain explode? Sometimes it can be messy. Really messy. All that pressure builds up and BOUMPLATHFF! Hopefully just a little puff of steam comes out of the ears and the head bumps noisily on the desk. Sometimes it's a volcanic Vesuvius of ideas vomit. Not pretty. It happens to animators who think that animation is created at a computer.

Acting it out gets the animation out of the brain and into the body. Acting it out gets it out of the migraine and onto video reference tape. It gets it out of the brain where it is a swirling fog and into ruff marks on paper.

Stay pretty. Act it out.

This post is brought to you by the animation student who... 3 weeks into semester, 3 weeks into a new animation project, where we are: working through brainstorming; thumbnailing ideas; storyboarding; acting it out and collecting video reference; ruffing out sketches; recreating, critiquing and improving key, story telling, golden poses... after one of my lectures about animation being created in the planning, while looking longingly at a computer, asked, "Are we going to do some animation today?"

People, we are animating every day. I guess the beauty is that some of us don't realise it.

The clip below is an exercise in finding key poses from Acting It Out and taking video reference. The first years are animating some dialogue of Jack Black from the film "School of Rock". There are some ripper poses in this example. The animators have been AfterEffected to protect their identities from the paparazzi. With a bit of exaggeration (an animation principle), there is potential for some rockin' animation!

The teacher character's dialogue in this clip is anathema to the actual teaching of animation going on in class. It's text! We see through the skin of text to the core of subtext. It's an animator's superpower - animator's eyes! Narrative x-ray vision!

Create Every Day - Pascal Campion

2010-07-28T03:00:00.001+10:00

Sarah M in 2nd year is attempting to post on her student blog as much as possible. Sketches, observations, comments, ruff animation tests. I'd like to think her blog posts, and any other animator attempting to improve by getting their work up, would be peppered with comments and constructive critiques from our animation course community.

I was watching this clip (below) and thought, "Gee, it would be great if all my students watched and listened to this inspirational artist."

Eyes ~ Derriman - "Pop!" ~ Annecy

2010-07-27T21:10:00.012+10:00

Look at the eyes. Look at the eye-eees! Up there by Bernard Derriman^ , down there by spaghetti mixed with western*. "It's all in the eyes" (a link to an educational animation lecture... no, it is not one of mine... so go there and check it out!)

If eye darts could kill, that clip would be regarded as one of the biggest on-screen massacres in film making history!

Oh, and an animated music clip that brings together some themes bubbling through the animation studios recently.

Field trip to Annecy 2011 anyone?

*If the First Year Stop Mo' Crew are feeling left out, here is a special Spaghetti Western for you.

^(Thanks Michelle for your email trail to this clip)

Blake Rig - How to drive the hands

2010-07-25T15:53:00.003+10:00

Animator's Question:

I am unable to animate Blake's hands intuitively using the mouse and instead am forced to use the attribute editor to get his fingers to move. It won't let me select his digits with the mouse.

Is it something to do with a mode he is put it? I think the modes are called "FK - IK" however I can't find a way to switch them or any reference to them in "How to Cheat in Maya".

Do you know how to change these modes and if it will achieve the desired effect?

Artur De Pins - Cinema patrons

2010-07-18T13:07:00.006+10:00

The first year animators have been set the task of designing a 2D character for animation. The client brief asks for a "cinema patron". The animators are not limited to designing a human character.

Below is an image by Artur De Pins (One of Terry's favourite artists), which, in one image, shows quite a few different interactions between characters in a cinema.

A further challenge for the first years will be to animate their character. Interaction with surrounding characters will be strongly encouraged as it will require team work and communication between animators. As we always remind students, "Animation is a collaborative process."

Have you been to the cinema lately? Were there particular people/ characters in the cinema that caught your attention?

Tim Burton Exhibition

2010-07-17T19:43:00.005+10:00

Link to Tim Burton Clip

Dragonboy The Movie

2010-07-16T22:31:00.009+10:00

This 2010 masters thesis project/ short film is produced in association with the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. The film web site: http://www.dragonboythemovie.com/

Of particular interest to second years would be to research the individual animators' web sites and how they present themselves to the industry. You can easily tell, as can potential employers, that these animators are strongly presenting themselves. Two of them use professional looking blogs (as we discussed in class this week).

Film found over on Avner Engel's online workbook. He is an Australian animator currently studying at AnimationMentor.

It is our first week back at animation school and the second years have been looking more closely at some eye animation. Check out the blinks and eye darts in this film. Note how they enhance the character interaction and the energy and emotion in the film.

Remember when watching any animation: "Once for entertainment, once for thinking, once for critiquing*, then start studying the detail." (*transfer thoughts to written words)

Animating to Music

2010-07-16T17:33:00.003+10:00

Appealing character design. Appealing movement in cycles (because music is cyclic). Then hit those beats with some groovy poses. That is animating to music.

Undisputed best animation ever

22 minutes worth watching

2010-07-14T22:55:00.003+10:00

I found this clip (and Vimeo channel) via an animation forum post at the 11 Second Club. It has information about getting into the animation industry.

Small Bird Flying Cycle - Don Bluth

2010-07-08T19:59:00.003+10:00

I like this clip because Don talks about the animation principle of "Slow-In and Slow-Out", or as we may say in the studio, "Ease-In and Ease Out". He is talking about the spacing of the animation of the wings.

How about trying this 4 drawing cycle (on twos) and test it out with a line test or three?

Xray Vision - Annika Bergström

2010-07-07T20:04:00.008+10:00

This is an interview with Annika Bergström, the Swedish animator who also wrote and performed the song*. Annika animated in Flash but had a mixed media approach that blended quite nicely (I thought) to create this narrative/music video.

Second years are working on their major project narratives and will have a music video assignment to work on in Jane's classes as well. I hope this clip may provide some inspiration.

Check out all the quiet moments that rely on 'camera movement' and 'idle' animation or FX cycles.

"It's just a little story describing one of life's lonely moments. There's a girl walking through an empty town, I think she's sort of isolated in her world. To her the real world just shines through in fast glimpses sometimes. There's not really a correct interpretation of it, it's a simple story."

* The second years are lucky they have music and audio students to work with.

Stop mOtion/ Time LApse Music Video

2010-07-06T17:38:00.004+10:00

One of the first things students animate is 'the flight of a bumble bee'. The flight of the bumble bee is also a piece of orchestral music by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1899).

I have noted with curiosity some 2nd years attempting musical composition on the eukalali. Music is a close relative to animation, with beats, timing, spacing, narrative and arcs.

It might be blurring the borders a bit here but I found this time lapse / stop mo' music clip quite interesting to watch as it also gives an insight into the film/music maker's process.

Listen carefully for the performer's motivation in the final part of the clip.

11 Second Club meets Gobelins Graduate - Liane-Cho Han

2010-07-01T15:12:00.009+10:00

The featured clip (above) won the 11 Second Club competition in September 2009. The animator's name caught my eye and I realised that it was Liane-Cho, one of the animators who was a tutor in the workshop time I had at the Gobelins summer school in 2009. He had just finished working on the 2D feature film The Illusionist. Will posted about that film on his student blog.

It was great to read a bit more about Liane-Cho in the interview by Eric Scheur.

His work is critiqued by Animation Mentor Dana Broadway.

The work below is from his blog. Warning: Strong language use.

After Michelle's comment (Thanks Michelle!), I have also embedded Liane-Cho's student showreel from Gobelins - pretty much all pencil tests (some 3D).

Toy Story 3 - Mid-year Animation Field Trip

2010-06-22T13:03:00.003+10:00

To whet the taste buds for our animation field trip planned for Thursday...

I like the way Pixar include an animated short film with the feature film.

A comment about the feature film in the comments. Check it out after you see the film.

Michel Gagne

2010-06-21T18:04:00.003+10:00

I've been practicing animating in Flash with abstract shapes. Some research on silhouette style animation helped me discover the clip above.

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is an independent game being produced by Fuelcell Games and artist Michel Gagné.

Michel Gagne talks about how fluid his hand drawn animation looks when he works at 30fps (games animation frame rate). I thought that may interest games animator's and traditional animators alike.

If you dig a little bit more you can also find the work Gagne did for Brad Bird and Pixar's Ratatouille.

Lino - Stop Mo' Surfari

2010-06-13T17:24:00.002+10:00

Two of my favourite things: surfing and animation.

Sometimes I listen to Jack Johnson and look for animation inspiration in 1970's surf movies.

Inspire - How does your showreel compare?

2010-06-07T20:37:00.003+10:00

I was at 2nd year Cassie's blog watching Joker and Batman dolls in some awesome stop mo' breakdance battles. Then I saw Bruce Lee fighting Ironman. So I researched the director/animator Patrick Boivin and found his Vimeo channel and 2009 showreel.

Getting a Flash AVI

2010-05-31T23:12:00.003+10:00

When animating in Flash it can be sometimes frustrating, sometimes challenging, always interesting to try and export a good quality AVI (video clip).

Exporting an image sequence and then recombining the frames in post production software (VirtualDub, to build the AVI; Premiere or AfterEffects, to add the audio and editing) will produce the best result.

This animation tip may be handy for the second years animating in Flash.

Sometimes AVIs exported from Flash have unwanted junk pixels appear in the render. Exporting an image sequence is a way to beat this problem.

Dragon Lessons are Animation Lessons

2010-05-30T17:32:00.010+10:00

Many a time student animators set their aim on the stars to discover the weight of the sky crushes dreams.

In other words, when an animation teacher suggests planning a short animation as a step toward greatness, it is done with concern for the student's well being. That is why in-class exercises are short 60, 120 to 200 frame animation sequences (usually of the bouncing ball variation).

Then when an animator is set loose on their major project in second year, they can have a full appreciation of why the teacher keeps suggesting to keep the story to 1 minute, or less. This hurts, especially for animators who dream of animating a 4 minute music clip*.

"But what kind of story can you animate in less than a minute!?", is the outcry.

DreamWorks made an excellent film this year that we explored on an animation field trip. Here are some animation lessons, disguised as dragon training lessons. They're all less than a minute long. Actually they are only about 30 seconds long including titles and fades.

*The trick for animating a 4 minute music clip is study the song and animate for the verses (same beats) and chorus (repeated over and over). Then loop and edit the 30 seconds of animation together in interesting ways.

Student work from Hollywood USA

2010-05-05T17:01:00.007+10:00

Recently I posted some work from students in the United Kingdom, a film by a CalArts 3rd year animator, and a film by 4th year graduates from a French animation school. This post is linked to Californian student work in visual design, which includes animation.

The research stemmed from listening to a radio program about design where it struck me that starting in an animation course opened up so many potential pathways for an animator who considers themselves a "visual designer". (If you are impatient, want to "cherry pick", scrub to 20m:43s, or 25m:28s (about the importance of drawing in design) using the time slider on the audio player that pops up in the link)

The length of course time varies between courses as do the costs.

A key motivator is to ask: How does your work compare, if you were applying for the same jobs?

Below is a reel by one of the students above. I thought it would be interesting for students to see what Max for Maya gets up to in the USA.

Demo reel as a "3d generalist".

What could you do with a 3rd Year?

2010-05-03T15:41:00.007+10:00

3rd year Calarts film.

Currently Southbank animators have to create their own 3rd year. A tiny number conquer the requirements of the bridging course and articulate into third year at Griffith University, Bachelor of Animation.

Animation schools in France, like Supinfocom, in a society where animation has cultural significance over and above entertainment business beancounting, have extended their animation courses. There seems to be the thinking that like fine wine, an animator needs time to mature.

Should the Southbank Institute of Technology animation course be 3 years?

Sixty40 Proto Ninja Award 2010

2010-04-21T11:15:00.005+10:00

Animation teams and individual animators, There is no rest for the AWESOME! (and there is no penalty for crazyness). Animate!

Theme: "Underdog"

Entries close August 6th 2010. Australian animation competition associated with the Sydney International Animation Festival. Use the music provided by the competition.

2009 Graduate Wins @ local Film Festival

2010-04-18T09:48:00.008+10:00

An email just in. Jess, who graduated from the SBIT Animation course in 2009, is an animator who has taken a different path from many of her classmates.

Initially in preparation for graduating and seeking employment, Jess sought funds for art projects relating to an associated interest in CosPlay and photography. She was successful, culminating with an exhibition of the work.

Further to that Jess has also taken the opportunity for paid animation teaching work at the 'Out of the Box' children's cultural festival hosted by the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

The latest news is that Jess has not let her 2009 student film gather dust and has just won a prize (cash?) at a local Brisbane Film Festival: "Mash It Up 2010". Congratulations Jess!

From each of these experiences Jess is gaining motivation, reward, contacts and skills required in pursuing a career as an artist. It takes some determination and persistence to travel the path Jess is on but I hope she is a glowing inspiration for the animators who follow.

2009 Graduate is "Artist of the Month"

2010-04-18T09:00:00.001+10:00

"An innovative display of Disney style cartoons and 2D animation on both the wall space and the television at Strathpine Library"

Dana is an SBIT Aimation course 2009 graduate who is also exploring a career as a creative artist. Since graduating Dana successfully applied to participate in a regional art awards, has had her student film featured on the ARC blog, is a featured artist with an exhibition of art work, and has been producing character designs and a narrative for an ebroidery company project that show off animation influenced character posing skills. Dana has also gathered work on personal commissions by exhibiting her work.

Well done Banana!

Posing, Sketching, Planning

2010-04-11T09:23:00.010+10:00

I came by Rad Sechrist's "How to" blog via 2nd year Michelle's blog as she posted about working on the storyboarding assignment. I'd recommend students have a look through Rad's (and Michelle's) blogs for some excellent animation cogitation and tips. Thanks Michelle.

There is no penalty for nerdiness

2010-04-09T13:20:00.017+10:00

Nerdiness, when examined closely, is akin to crazyness (yes, spelt with a 'y').

Crazyness is a form of curiosity that manifests when an animator experiments with ideas*.

You may have heard me mutter in class, usually in regards to assessment, "There is no penalty for crazyness." It would seem that the same could apply to nerdiness, if either word actually existed in the English language.

Memories of the section in Jennifer Hager's showreel from 2007 ( from about 1:44 to 2:33) were re-kindled while I watched "How to Train Your Dragon". The character interaction and timing in particular were strongly reminiscent. You will note that Jennifer's hero is a girl.

With a bit more research I find she is animating at Disney. Again, great timing; to pursue traditional 2D animation skills as a student and then land a job when Disney needed 2D animators.

Animation is in the timing, Chuck Jones was correct.

It may be pleasing to note, by looking at Jennifer's blog, that she is a self-professed animation nerd (check out her cats' names).

The full "Sky Bound" student film can be seen here (as well as many other CalArts student work).

*That does not mean misunderstanding animation principles. Students have to demonstrate they understand and can apply the animation principles. In saying that, pursuing proper animation delivery should not be a constraint to an animator's imagination. And, hopefully, somewhere in the animation testing things were taken too far before returning to required perfection.