Wednesday May 4th, 2011 Animation Seminar

[arif]

The seminar starts every Wednesday at 4pm Arizona time.

We start this thread early to give members a chance to upload any video (http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php) or images they want critiqued on the weekly video seminar. Throughout the week, Dave will try to incorporate as many images and video clips (http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php) as possible into the live seminar.

Image and Video Rules:
1. The best format for video clips is .MOV files, preferably MPEG-4. You can upload them here. (http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php)

2. Please clearly label all of your drawings in your images, example "a, b, c, d... etc" so that Don can easily refer to them.

3. Please clearly label all animation pencil tests with large drawing numbers so that Don can easily refer to them.

4. Please do no post images or videos from the current workshop as it is not fair for the other members. However you may post images or videos from workshops that have already ended.

The deadline for clips and images to be critiqued in the live seminar is 24hrs prior to the seminar date and time.

Please keep your questions concise so we have time to answer everyone. Only questions pertaining to animation technique will be addressed.

Thanks

Here is the 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 (http://www.donbluthanimation.com/member_home.php) to see the stream.

[Richard Willimot]

Hello Don and Dave! Don, I took your suggestion and studied the sheriff's walk from Robin Hood. I really like the life and enthusiasm he has in it. One thing I noticed is that the walk is on ones for the most part and switches to twos for a few frames. I believe this is to have that hang time at the top like in the bouncing ball,would my assumption be right? Also, i noted that at around frame 11 and 12 in the example I posted here http://donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=673 that the star on his blouse does a big jump in spacing. I think this is because the thigh is lifting the belly as he swings it through,but if the belly was that size would it jump like that? One last thing is that the background pans back and this seems to make the characters feet slip. Would the feet be plotted out in this type of a pan the same as in a side view?

[JoshSketchInMotion]

I made this drawing recently for a friend of her character. I did tweak a few things in the style and the way I drew this from what the character originally looks like. I was having fun trying out some new things with the way I color. Did I do a good silhouette and line of action in this drawing? Does the drawing and colors work together in bringing your attention to rainbow ball in the middle? Any suggestions on improvements for my future drawings?

http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx148/shardshadowfox13/RainbowMagic.png

I made this drawing recently after the last seminar was canceled. This is Sera pronounce Seer-ah and she didn't always have those wings, but acquired them because of events with the sword she is swinging. Was I able to make a good line of action? Does this work for silhouette since her wings get in the way just a bit? What are your thoughts on this drawing?

http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx148/shardshadowfox13/SeraAttacks.png

[andrew sharp]

Hello Don and Dave. A rough scene of a couple of barbarians in combat shot on 2's.
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=674
a barbarian
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc396/andrew_sharp1/big_ug0D73D129837C9D-3.jpg
a bike study
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc396/andrew_sharp1/bikestudy.jpg
I started to reread Walt STanchfeild's books and I am copying the drawings from his books. So much information in them and he mentioned when drawing always look for squash and stretch in a drawing. These are my life drawings from monday night. could you show me where the squash and stretch would be in a drawing and where and when to exagerate it thankyou
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc396/andrew_sharp1/LIFE-1.jpg

[OwenWelsh]

Going on a trip, will ask questions next seminar.

[AJartist]

ONe thing Marc Davis and Milt Kahl had in common was that they were both great animators. however, do you think they had different type of streahgnths? What skills do you think both had that made them different?

[bakne]

Hi Don, This is my first time requesting help and a crtique here is what i am uploading.

Here is an animation from a past project
http://vimeo.com/21655815

Character Designs from short film
More information@http://markseverywhere.blogspot.com/2011/04/astronomers-vision.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DD24NPyJ51s/Tb78z6MzK8I/AAAAAAAAAXc/gi9JwH3a5zY/s1600/smallcharacter.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghC2xX4WBKk/Tb786PAXydI/AAAAAAAAAXs/vgoSMpN20n8/s1600/oldman3.jpg

Other designs for critique

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mt4ilMCwHEw/TVQ7IwV_MwI/AAAAAAAAASI/YEYHVPuMczE/s1600/jimiposes.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-onElfyNaGZs/TVQ7SXNj-eI/AAAAAAAAASQ/rFOcMjO5qSw/s1600/jimiturn.jpg

[3ddrew]

Don,

Here is a painting (done on a skateboard I picked up from when I worked at the thrift store), two life drawings, and a reworking of the Kevin7 character turnaround (I puffed out his chest more and worked on his 3/4 view to give it a more appealing silhouette). Please let me know what you think. Also, if it isn't too much to ask, would you be willing to draw Kevin7? If not, I completely understand. I only ask as I would be interested in seeing how you would draw this character, and would love to learn from watching you draw it.

http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i423/3ddrew/skateboard.jpg

http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i423/3ddrew/ttankgrrrl1.jpg

http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i423/3ddrew/femaleNude.jpg

http://i1093.photobucket.com/albums/i423/3ddrew/kevin7Turnaround_004.jpg

Thank you so much!

[AJartist]

A well known character designer suggested an artist spend at least 2 weeks studying line rhythm alone. Which is what I have decided to do. Do these lines look rhythmic, if not, what can I do to fix that?"

2nd part of the question....in what ways would you reccomend studying "line rhythm?


http://donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=297&pictureid=1572

[joedorsey]

In the Secret Of Nimh, there were some quick cuts while Jeremy is trying to escape from his string when Dragon is approaching. Giving the audience a feeling of his predicament in a funny way. Also, When Mrs. Brisby is reading the book and discovers her Husband's demise, the scene is drawn out to show not only the struggle of her reading, but also the response to the news. There are times in films where a gag has gone too long or a dramatic section has been cut too short.

Do you have any rules on pacing dramatic and comic scenes?

[andrew sharp]

Hello Don and Dave I have a question about life drawing. A small group of artists are getting together one night a week for a couple of hours to do life drawing. Each person in the group has a say in the duration of the poses. Just wondering how long do you think the poses should be? Also is it good to draw poses for up to 15 minites?

[Gabriel-Carson]

Hi Don & Dave,

Don from time to time I hear about "the animation s curve" used as a break down to get good overlapp. could you please demonstrate the s curve breakdown? having a hard time getting my head around it... such as a chain swinging back & forth.

[Gabriel-Carson]

Don you told us that you almost made a film with michael Jackson, did you learn anything from him that helped or inspired you in animation film making?

[Richard Willimot]

Don, in your process for planning an acting shot with dialog would you reference what actors had done with the same type of scene?