Wednesday, August 18 2010

[Dave]

We are starting this thread early to give members a chance to upload any video or images they want critiqued in Aug 18th seminar. The best format for video clips is .MOV files (MPEG-4 Quicktime videos).
Throughout the week, Dave will try to incorporate as many images and video clips as possible into the live seminar.

The deadline for clips and images to be critiqued in the live seminar is Tuesday Aug 17th, 2010 @ 5:00 PM sharp AZ time.

Thanks


Here is the New Link to watch the live Seminar.
http://donbluthanimation.com/_Don_Bluth_Animation_live_seminar.html
You must be logged into your Don's Club account to see the stream.

Please post ALL questions in this thread.

[Richard Willimot]

Hello Don and Dave: I've been working on the turn around for my frog character as you suggested. I'm having a difficult time with the front view. After getting some good advice on the forums, it does look better but the face is still not right I feel. Could you please offer some advice on how I could improve it?
http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy147/pengy300/frogturn_full.jpg

[samuelvictorjones]

1: Here's the progress I've made on my Jake video.

I've been trying to take on board what Don said about him doing a take with anticipation before the fall. I've had a lot of trouble drawing this convincingly, as I've never tried a take before. I've added the extreme key poses to the end of the video with a repeat so don can see them clearer. Does Don feel I have the extremes about right to animate further or could he give me tips to improve them? Many thanks

http://donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=447

[samuelvictorjones]

2: Here's the background for my Jake animation (attached jpg), with a rough line showing Jake's planned flight path at the beginning of the video. He will start on the far right branch, then fly to the left branch with a swoop to watch the tv, with the camera panning to follow.

Does Don feel this line of flight is about right to go ahead thumbnailing it, or is it too extreme?

Also does Don like the background layout design. Any tips or insights very useful, thanks! :)

[jeremyhopkins]

Hi Don,
I had a chance to listen to Raul's interview and it sounds like you had a good time together. One of the issues you discussed was how switching from animator to director might limit your potential as a great animation artist. I'm curious what you believe your personal weaknesses are in animation and how do you go about addressing the problems? I'm always grateful for the insight you provide and it always helps me solve my own art related struggles. Thanks!

[samuelvictorjones]

Another question as there don't seem to be many other questions from others so far :)

3: I was reading through the old Cyber Garage posts with much interest. I really like the animatic with Don's storyboard & voice over. The "Flopsy Mopsy Cottontail & Peter" part made me smile as I grew up around Beatrix Potter, originally living in Gloucester, England, where several of the books are set.

3a) Those posts happenned long before I joined the site, but I couldn't see an updated animatic with everyone's finished animations. Does this mean there are some sections un-animated, as I'd dearly love to give them a go?

3b) Are there any plans to do another similar project on the site - perhaps the end section of the Cyber Garage story after Sasha pulls Mama Wolf's nose, or a section from the Happy Prince?

[Rich-E]

frank workin out the rust...:laughing:


http://donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=449

[NateHorsfall]

Hey Don, finally had some time to do more character drawings, and I took what you said a few weeks ago about varying the shapes, and decided to play with it.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs181.ash2/44469_145642405457147_100000341659575_313102_88370 0_n.jpg

This was kind of the most extreme versions. really exaggerating certain shapes, trying straights against curves, and so on. What i found the most interesting was that it didn't really look like I drew it at all. Looked more like someone else. So I continued toying with it.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs181.ash2/44469_145642412123813_100000341659575_313103_64407 29_n.jpg

Second result after some more playing around. These, i steered back towards my style.. and yet they are still exaggerated beyond my normal drawing. It's been a pretty interesting exercise so far, and for reasons I can't put my finger on, they seem more dynamic and alive than my usual. Would you agree with that? and do you have some suggestions to work them even further?

Another question for you:
I especially run into this problem all the time with my drawings of Fox (the dragon). You may notice that I left the wings off of many of these. Unless the drawing requires it.. I rarely plan out where the wings should go until I've drawn in the entire pose. This is a problem obviously because then i usually either have nowhere to put them, or worse.. they obscure the pose itself. I generally end up cursing out the wings and forcing them into a drawing. But hardly ever do they feel part of the overall pose. So how would you suggest managing extra limbs and details like that? Anything that obscures the pose tends to be problematic. wings especially, but I'd imagine a coat, tail feathers on a bird in some cases, and many other things- depending on the creature, could be a problem.
This is especially evident on the drawing i made of Fox pointing up in shock. nowhere to put the wings! Help is appreciated. This is one of my biggest common problems.

[Sung1]

Hi Don,

Can you talk more about straights vs curves? You say that we should use this in order to make appealing drawings. But it isn't always clear when to use a straight vs a curve. For example, I know that when there is a tension, one should use a straight where as the pinch should be a curve. I know that bones should be straight where as muscles are rounder. Sometimes, it's hard to use theory when we draw around the form and keep our volumes in tact. If you're willing to demo that would be wonderful too. Thank you.

-Sung

[feliceworkshop]

Hi Dave, I am once again unable to access the live streaming video....all I get is a blank page with the following quote:
Join Don's Club
.....but I have already, also logged in the forum with my user name. I'm able to access all the video tutorials, so that means that technically I'm signed in as a member of Don's club... could you please look into it?
Best,
Felice.

[Rodney]

Hello Don!
(apologies for the last minute posting)

On numerous occasions you've mentioned the theater/stage and I know you've been involved in stagecraft a lot over the years. I confess I've only seen a handful of theater productions/plays but I distinctly remember being captivated. The puppet plays I've seen were mesmerizing...

I'm most interested in how the principles of the stage translate to hand drawn animation but the entire idea of stagecraft production fascinates me.

In twenty five words or less... joking(!)... How has your hands on experience in stage theater over the years augmented your production planning?

When you are working for the stage do you normally sketch out any drawings or layout to help facilitate the actors on the stage? Do you tend to assume a different role and let others work out all those details? How involved do you tend to be in the refinement of these visual elements?

As I understand it, Dave has spend time building stage sets as well so he may be able to provide some insight into common elements between the stage and film in laying out and building sets.

Also...(and with apologies if this has consumed too much time or is unclear)

Are you familar with the methods Donald Graham suggested for building scenes from a Plan View? I understand this to be quite effective for the stage and for restaging scenes. If relevant I'll try to post some reference images from Mr. Graham's book next week)

Thanks Don and have a great week!

[arif]

Hi Don,

Can you talk more about straights vs curves? You say that we should use this in order to make appealing drawings. But it isn't always clear when to use a straight vs a curve. For example, I know that when there is a tension, one should use a straight where as the pinch should be a curve. I know that bones should be straight where as muscles are rounder. Sometimes, it's hard to use theory when we draw around the form and keep our volumes in tact. If you're willing to demo that would be wonderful too. Thank you.

-Sung

i am echoing with Sung1....really curious to see a demonstration by Don.

Regards,
Arif.

[joedorsey]

This week I discovered a great little website that has some UPA inspired cartoons. It's called Dikkers Cartoon Company. The stories have so much heart and are almost devoid of modern scenicism. This has so much appeal to me.

Can you give us some thoughts on writing with heart?

[madanimator]

Hi Don!
What is the most important thing to think about when the character plays an instrument?

[Richard Willimot]

When a character anticipates should it be fairly quick or could it be broad?