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.

Remembering that this was the first full length animated feature from Disney or anyone else at the time.  Also it must be remembered that it was received with rave reviews and cause a stir similar to Star Wars. The first thing I saw was a history of the Disney and that particular film as it was re-released over the years.  That in itself was worth the extra disk.  But also contained were many scenes shown with their story board at the same time for comparison.  WOW is all that I can say.  I can't say how excited I am to find this gem that was in my collection all this time.  What a teaching tool.  This will be the selection for Movie Monday this coming week.


Oh we will still show the seven dwarfs but the week after....

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

The last one is a classic, with many examples of movements etc.

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.  

1. 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.
2. Second we will look at the history of animation and the types of animation.
3. 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..."
4. Fourth, time will be spent on understanding "animation concepts" like
1. Flexibility
2. Weight
3. Anticipation
4. Takes and Accents
5. Timing
6. etc.
5. Finally, everything will be built around the eight stages of animation:
1. Screenplay
2. Storyboard
3. Sound development
4. Storyreels/animatics
5. Modeling
6. Scene creation
7. Film Editing
8. Final Production and Distribution

I have a lot of work to do so I better get busy........Anyone know a good textbook????

The voting is over

The new name is Jolly Roger, or Jolly Roger Productions.

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

Crossing the boundaries

One of the new things we are trying this year is to cross curriculum boudaries.  The Animation Problems and Solutions class will be working on a year long project using TSPS guidelines.  That project will be a animated feature-ette.  The difference this year, from past year projects, is that we have asked the Creative Writing class to be our writers and the Theater class to be our voice overs. 

Already we have discovered some organizational issues that need to be addressed in the future: 

1. First and foremost is to meet, prior to the start of school, with the creative writing teacher to establish guidelines and goals.
2. Get the preliminary story by first six weeks progress reports and screenplay before the end of the first six weeks.
3. Cover the process in more detail with the Animation Students insuring that all roles (specific) be addressed.

There probably will be more items to be aware of as we go.

By any other name.....

For many years we jokingly referred to the animation courses at Wylie as Oz studios.  Mainly due to my personal love of the movie Wizard of Oz.  But with the new programs its was felt that it also is time for a change.

We are currently looking at three different names Corsair Productions, Pirate Animation, and Jolly Roger Animation.  I will show the logos as they are developed.