westernphilosopher

I'm setting out into professional life a bit and developing my own short film, so I think I need a fresh start. I'll still post stuff here periodically, but the professional stuff is going to go on a new profile. Anyone who likes can follow me there. 

See there? I made a word. Heheh.

my old buddy, challenged me to do some animation meme or other so I think I'll give it a shot. Can't let the animation skills get all rusty after all. So I plan to do each of these in stop motion using my iPad and istopmotion. I'll list them here for to check them off and hold myself accountable and stuff.

Hope you are all well! I'm still loving Laika.

xxx{================>

Level 1 Exercises
(Do not discount their simplicity! Here you have the principals of animation, which all other animation is built on. They are worth your time and effort.)

[x] Ball Bouncing in place, no decay (loop)
[x] Ball Bouncing across the screen
[ ] Brick falling from a shelf onto the ground
[ ] Simple character head turn
[ ] Character head turn with anticipation
[ ] Character blinking
[ ] Character thinking [tougher than it sounds!]
[ ] Flour Sack waving (loop)
[ ] Flour Sack jumping
[ ] Flour Sack falling (loop or hitting the ground)
[ ] Flour Sack kicking a ball

Level 2 Exercises
[ ] Change in Character emotion (happy to sad, sad to angry, etc.)
[ ] Character jumping over a gap
[ ] Standing up (from a chair)
[ ] Walk Cycle [oldie but goodie!]
[ ] Character on a pogo stick (loop)
[ ] Laughing
[ ] Sneezing
[ ] Reaching for an object on a shelf overhead
[ ] Quick motion smear/blur
[ ] Taking a deep breath [also tougher than it sounds!]
[ ] A tree falling
[ ] Character being hit by something simple (ball, brick, book)
[ ] Run Cycle

Level 3 Exercises
[ ] Close up of open hand closing into fist
[ ] Close up of hand picking up a small object
[ ] Character lifting a heavy object (with purpose!)
[ ] Overlapping action (puffy hair, floppy ears, tail)
[ ] Character painting
[ ] Hammering a nail
[ ] Stirring a soup pot and tasting from a spoon
[ ] Character blowing up a balloon
[ ] Character juggling (loop)
[ ] Scared character peering around a corner
[ ] Starting to say something but unsure of how
[ ] Zipping up a jacket
[ ] Licking and sealing an envelope
[ ] Standing up (from the ground)
[ ] Pressing an elevator button and waiting for it

Level 4 Exercises
[ ] Character eating a cupcake
[ ] Object falling into a body of water
[ ] Two characters playing tug-of-war
[ ] Character dealing a deck of cards out
[ ] The full process of brushing one's teeth
[ ] A single piece of paper dropping through the air
[ ] Run across screen with change in direction
[ ] Sleeping character startled by alarm then returning to sleepy state
[ ] Opening a cupboard and removing something inside
[ ] Putting on a pair of pants
[ ] Opening the "world's best gift" and reacting
[ ] Any of the above exercises using a very heavy character/object next to a very light character/object. Enhance the differences the weight change makes!

Wowee! I got a daily deviation! Awesomesauce.

I usually go and thank everyone for their faves but I don't think I have the time to go thank the vast number of people individually, so please accept the heartfelt THANK YOU here. Also, please remember that game art doesn't happen in a vacuum. The piece I got a daily deviation for, as well as all other game art has concept artists and art directors involved, as well as the awesome person that helped me with those mountains so I could pull them off without them sucking. (I think it took like six tries or something ridiculous. Happy little mountains are clearly not my strong suit.)

Anyway, you guys made my Friday. Which is saying a lot because I was already having a good week.

The new job is treating me well. I'm having a blast at Laika. I'm learning new things every day and got a compliment from the boss man today on doing a good job.

Also, they announced our film! It's called "The Boxtrolls," and every day I see a new bit that is awesomely beautiful. It'll be in theaters October 2014! Working on a feature film is exciting and all the people I've met are so much fun.

Anyway. Thanks again everyone and I hope you all have a lovely day.

So I got the job I was applying for...

It's at Laika.

They did ParaNorman.  It was just nominated for an Oscar.

I'mma go happy dance for an hour or so.



Also, it's freaking cool that three of the best animated feature film nominees are stop motion.

In 2012 I did some professional freelance work, animated over a minute of stuff for a nationally broadcasted tv special, and applied for a job at a studio that does feature film animation.  Good stuff.  The beginning of 2013 holds the outcome of that interview and many other awesome things.

New year's day always brings with it the remembrances of things past, and as much as I hate them, plans for betterment over the coming year.  I've been thinking a lot about my marriage lately.  I'm glad it's over and I'm glad I'm no longer the person I was then.  I had lots of times where I outright hated who I was, and over the past year, I've been proud to be me.  There are things I still don't like about myself of course, but they are something to be aware of and work on.

I think my overall goal this year is to be happy.  Happy with my life, who I am, and what I'm doing on this crazy ball of rock out in the middle of nowhere.  I refuse to feel guilty about playing and taking time for myself. I plan to get enough rest.  I plan to get healthier.  I plan to not get mad at people for petty things that don't matter.  I plan to remember that there are always extenuating circumstances.  I plan to  make other people feel as loved as they've made me feel.  I plan to cuddle my nephews as much as possible.  I plan to spend time with my friends whenever I can instead of getting lazy about driving out of Vancouver.  I plan to improve my animation skills.  I plan to finish that personal project I've meant to do for the last four years.  And I plan to start work on and finish another personal project that needs to happen.

Onward and upward, my friends!