Jolly Roger Animation
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Shut'er down Clancy....
We will be shutting this down as it has been replaced by the district new web presence. You can join me there at this starting point.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Will the Minnesota weather please go back north...
Weather closing school for fours days in a row, then the next Wednesday closing it again. Unheard of... Well the second week took me to the Texas Computer Educators Association conference. I was able to attend the Google Academy, and then the Technology Applications Teacher Network pre-conference and then the Conference itself. Overall a pretty productive for days. There was a cloud over everything as people were greatly concerned about the Texas budget shortfall and its impact on them and their classes.
Nothing really astounding in new technology from my viewpoint. Did get to play with a Wacom Cintiq...very nice. I also looked at cheaper versions of something similar and I am sorry but they were poor by comparison. and that is being kind. My presentation on the animation process was well recieved, with a lot of questions in the hall after the presentation.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Re-found Treasure
This week has flown passed in a blur. 3D students have elected to focus on 2D this semester. I think they believe it will be easier — well yes and no is the answer to that. We will see.
Several years ago I purchased Disney's Snow White for the grand children to see. I brought it to school the other day because I wanted to show the seven dwarfs walking. I felt it would be an excellent example of the walk cycle showing personality. I had bought the collector's edition so there was an extra DVD with extra material on it. Last Friday was the first time I actually went through that material. What a goldmine.
Oh we will still show the seven dwarfs but the week after....
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Whew.....
Well the changes continue.
Its been a busy time what with the ending of a semester, start of planing for scheduling for next year, getting a student teacher, well the list goes on. It was so much simpler when I just taught math. :-)
The basics of simple walking for two legged characters and a start on the subject of timing were given. The lesson showed how the legs move and how the arms and body react as the movement occurs.It also included the shifting of weight and how to give the impression of weight to the characters. In addition, the "acting" of the character to show emotion. It is amazing how we don't think like that until its pointed out then WOW its obvious. The lesson only took a short time and already I am seeing the difference in some of the students work.
The next step will be to introduce the importance of the timing and "line of action"
The resources I am using have been around a long time. The two primary ones at this time are
"Character Animation: 2D Skills for Better 3D, Second Edition (Focal Press Visual Effects and Animation)" by Steve Roberts, and
" Animation 1: Learn to Animate Cartoons Step by Step (Cartooning, Book 1" by Preston J. Blair
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Cha Cha Changes......
Well it has been a while since I've written here. With that passage of time there has come many changes. First of all the realization that what I have been teaching you is all wrong. Yup I've said all wrong.
We have been teaching you the software and the focus has been that alone. Wrong wrong wrong.....
The software is secondary, just a tool. I have in the past taught Flash, and then Animation Master, and now we have added Lightwave. More and more sophisticated tools. Realizing that all four courses have animation in the title: Digital graphics and Intro to Animation, Animation, Animation Production, Animation Problems and Solutions, and yet I have teaching primarily software not animation. This realization has been dawning on me over the last couple of months, and its time for a change.
Lets look at the changes that will slowly be incorporated starting now and hopefully will all be in place with he start of next year.
We have been teaching you the software and the focus has been that alone. Wrong wrong wrong.....
The software is secondary, just a tool. I have in the past taught Flash, and then Animation Master, and now we have added Lightwave. More and more sophisticated tools. Realizing that all four courses have animation in the title: Digital graphics and Intro to Animation, Animation, Animation Production, Animation Problems and Solutions, and yet I have teaching primarily software not animation. This realization has been dawning on me over the last couple of months, and its time for a change.
Lets look at the changes that will slowly be incorporated starting now and hopefully will all be in place with he start of next year.
- First of all I will be adding more software in the form of Maya, Blender, Pencil, Anime Studio, plus any others I can find for free or find the funds to buy. The tools the students use should be left up to them, and after some basic introductions will be.
- Second we will look at the history of animation and the types of animation.
- Third we will always remember we are creating a film, telling a story now matter how short. As Milt Kahl (early Disney animator) said "...just concentrate on giving the performance - that's what's important..."
- Fourth, time will be spent on understanding "animation concepts" like
- Flexibility
- Weight
- Anticipation
- Takes and Accents
- Timing
- etc.
- Finally, everything will be built around the eight stages of animation:
- Screenplay
- Storyboard
- Sound development
- Storyreels/animatics
- Modeling
- Scene creation
- Film Editing
- Final Production and Distribution
I have a lot of work to do so I better get busy........Anyone know a good textbook????
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Let the contest begin
The finalist are all here. As mentioned earlier we have had Oz Studios as a name for our animation class's output productions for several years. The students have mentioned that we need a change. After many suggestions we have three choices to choose from:
Cosair Productions
Pirate Animation,or
Jolly Roger Productions
The corresponding logos are also show with each choice.
You will vote with your email. Just email me your choice. The voting will be open until Friday October 22
Cosair Productions
Pirate Animation,or
Jolly Roger Productions
The corresponding logos are also show with each choice.
You will vote with your email. Just email me your choice. The voting will be open until Friday October 22
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