Wednesday September 21st 2011 Animation Seminar

[OwenWelsh]

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, the Web Master 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. Please limit your images and /or videos to to five (5) for each seminar.

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 limit the number of images and/or video clips for the seminar to 5 total

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.

[dentitov]

Hi, Don :)

It's seems to me, that something is wrong with her pose. Any of your tips would be helpful. Thanks in advance

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/301/girlsit600500.jpg

[MoonLightRose]

This is the complete animation project that I have been working on. For the second part of the film I worked intensely for 1 week as to get it ready for the contest that it will enter. Originally the contest was supposed to be in November but they switched it to 22nd of September. Hope you like it! And I hope that the story is a bit more clear now.
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=797

[MoonLightRose]

Hi Don!
This is a character concept I did while I was in the park. The inspiration for it was a little girl that had a skirt that reminded me of a pin cushion. Also, seeing as children tend to rip their clothes, I thought that a little sewing fairy would be perfect to solve the problem of ripped clothing. This way mothers will be happy that they don't have to buy new clothes too often
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n637/MoonLightRose17/portfolio028.jpg
I'm sorry for the fact that I forgot to number the drawings...........

[MoonLightRose]

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n637/MoonLightRose17/Expresionsandbodymovement_small.jpg
These are some expressions for my mermaid character Cristal. I personally like the 2nd drawing.

[MoonLightRose]

Some more drawings from my sketchbook.
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n637/MoonLightRose17/portfolio026.jpg
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n637/MoonLightRose17/portfolio027.jpg
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n637/MoonLightRose17/sketches001don.jpg
My cat absolutely hates it when I hold her like this
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n637/MoonLightRose17/sketchesdon.jpg

[andrew sharp]

Hello Don and Dave. I drew this wolf creature because lately I have been on an animal drawing phase. I also did an animated run cycle for a wolf crits and comments would be greatly appreciated thankyou.

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=798

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc396/andrew_sharp1/wolf-1.jpg

I have been studying anatomy and wondered what your thoughts are on this warrior if the anatomy works in the pose?
Thankyou for both your time Don and Dave.
http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc396/andrew_sharp1/warrior-1.jpg

[OwenWelsh]

Hi Don,

I was wondering if you could critique my run on 8s. I've added the secondary actions and details. Please let me know how the secondary action looks. I also put color on the test to get a better sense of the speed. I'm actually happy how this animation turned out. Thanks for encouraging me to continue animating.

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=799

[OwenWelsh]

Hi Don,

Traditional animation is thriving in Japan. Studio Ghibli's latest film from Miyazaki's son titled "From Up On Poppy Hill" is taking a more realistic/live action approach to animation. When I look at some of the drawings I see so much symmetry and parallel lines in the designs of their characters and the facial expressions are very subtle with zero emphasis on lip sync. The animation is not caricatured. I'm wondering what your thoughts are to this approach to animation and animation drawing. It seems to go against much of what we have learned here from you. I was never aware of these ideas before I began learning on this website, but now I am.

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=800

[aidanani09]

Hi don and Dave!
Here is a shot I have animated in cg. I know this site is for traditional animation but haven?t really done anything in a while so I thought I would make use of this time and show it to you.
An animator for PIXAR has said that they will look at it, so I though I might as well get two professional opinions on it.
What do you think of it? And is there anything that really stands out?

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=801

[aidanani09]

Hi don and Dave!
I uploaded these sketches a couple of weeks ago on my thread.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidan_griffiths/6115207665/" title="drawing 5 by Aidan Griffiths, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6205/6115207665_328226b28b_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="drawing 5"></a>

Sorry I did this one some time ago so it’s not labelled.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidan_griffiths/6115752684/" title="drawing 6 by Aidan Griffiths, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6206/6115752684_b42bf93346_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="drawing 6"></a>

What are your thoughts on them?

[joedorsey]

Here's a little study I did of Zazu from Lion King. It's taken directly from the film. I feel his dread in the pose. What do you think?

I've seen animators make faces in a mirror to get a feeling to their drawings. Have you ever done this?

http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii56/dorseytunes/Zazu1001.jpg

[OwenWelsh]

Hi Don,

What tips do you have for animators to help relieve stress when animating? I have met animators who create thinking distortions, wanting their work to be perfect or discounting their achievements. What would you say to them?

[OwenWelsh]

Hi Don,

Would you consider doing a Storyboarding workshop at some point? I like many artists have your book, but I find I always learn more in your workshops. Storyboarding is one of your greatest strengths and it would be great if we could get some of your ideas on how to translate a script to pictures in a focused and interesting way.

[Josh Lokan]

Good afternoon sir,

I've got a couple things to show today.

1.) The first is a pecil test I did with a pillow. This was a test to work on twisting a character and applying it in motion. The scene is about a charismatic pillow who is a little down, noticing something that gets him excited, and causes him to become his normal fun loving self.

http://donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=802

2.) Second would be some drawings and paintings I did at my last figure class. Do I look like I'm loosening up at all? Have any advice?

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/jlokan9/painting2.jpg

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/jlokan9/painting1.jpg

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/jlokan9/drawing2.jpg

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/jlokan9/drawing1.jpg

[Josh Lokan]

3.) Last is a sculpture I'm starting on. His name is Collin. The scene taking place has him jumping in, with his blaster at the ready, to save his playground school friends. This is my first attempt with clay. Kind of exciting! :)

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/jlokan9/DSCF6477.jpg

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j431/jlokan9/armaturerightside.jpg

So that's all I've got for now.

Very best to all,

Josh L.

[Richard Willimot]

Hello Don and Dave. Don, I have a question about storyboarding. It was always my understanding at least in live action films that the director and/or the cinematographer was responsible for the camera shots. So I was quite surprised when I found out the same wasn't true for animation films. Does the director in animated films have any input into which shots are planned? And, if not on the films you directed but didn't board how difficult was it for you to let go of this control?

[lavallelee]

Hope I'm not too late to post this, I just got the Animate DVD #3 today! Here is your character Bosco, how did I do any pointers?

http://4mchan.org/Forum/gallery/2_21_09_11_4_18_56.jpeg

[lavallelee]

Hey Don,

I want to know more about drawing animal paws and feet. How different is it compared to drawing human hands? Wondering if you could give any tips.

Do most humanized cartoon animals have 4 fingers on each hand?

[lavallelee]

Are you going to the CTN this November?

[AJartist]

what advice would you have when animating a walk in perspective???

[JoshSketchInMotion]

Kangi using his invention wrongly and his friend Sera about to pound him for being naughty!

http://i750.photobucket.com/albums/xx148/shardshadowfox13/Don%20Bluth%20sketch%20a%20day/X-RayUh-Oh.jpg

[AJartist]

Fan Question. I was surprised to see that the Lion King has the no.1 spot in the box office now. What do you think this will do for the future of 2d??

[AJartist]

I know Milt kahl, always had an opinion when it came to character designs. But do you remember him having opinions about the story lines. And did the story change as a result?

[AJartist]

I've been drawing for 12 years, and I still feel like a begginer. At what point in your career did you feel like things came together in regards to your art??