Don Bluth's Seminar Status and Questions

[OwenWelsh]

Hey All,

Today Don's Seminar was canceled due to the declining attendance. I actually missed the previous one so I'm guilty of this too. I plan on being at the next one!

I'm not sure how many of you are members and attend the Don Bluth seminars but they are a golden opportunity for you to ask the man all the questions you've been saving up over the years and to get advice from him directly right here, on the forums! This opportunity could disappear so take advantage of it before it goes away. Is 6 dollars not worth a lifetime of animation history and knowledge? :)

And to all the current Don's Club Members out there, lets come up with some questions for next week.

Post your questions here in case you forget or are unable to attend next weeks seminar and perhaps Dave can grab them during next week's seminar to start the Q&A.

[lavallelee]

I make sure I don't miss any, and am very sad today's was canceled. :(

[dartzy]

I make sure I don't miss any, and am very sad today's was canceled. :(

I have been ill and have been unable to attend. Will try again next week.

Kelley

[fanimation]

I have been very busy lately getting my house ready to move, and have not been around much lately. I was going to try to make it for today's and was surprised it was canceled. I will really try to make it next week. I really do appreciate all that Don does here, but have just not had the time lately to contribute like I would like to. I WILL see you all next week though!!

John J.

[OwenWelsh]

I'll start us off. I just thought of a question while driving home from work:

Don,

When animating a character:
After you visualize an idea in your head and thumbnail out a plan...

Do you ever advise artists to animate a stick figure first instead of rushing to drawing and worrying about volumes and shapes? I saw someone advocating this approach once.

[LMR70]

I have lots of questions!
I'm working when the seminar happens but here's mine.

I would like to know about his learning experience with Walt Stanchfield.
Don also says he draw's 3 to 4 hours a day– is it for work or pleasure both perhaps?

Also did Don design Dirk and Dexter? Has Don designed most of the character in his movies? I remember reading somewhere that John Pomeroy
would create the final model sheets. After watching Don draw I can't imagine someone with better drafting skills. However I have heard the Mr Pomeroy is an incredible draftsman.

I know Don animated a fight scene at the end of the Secret of NIMH. I was wonder what other scenes he animated. Especially in the games: Dragons Lair and Space Ace.

[arif]

i didn` t miss any of them i get.....i was so afraid to ask questions...but, i always keep asking from my lots of question .....
All my Friends of this club......wake up.....let us keep alive the seminar with our affective questions.....

Arif

[johncbeggs]

I am soo sorry Don for not making any posts or showing up to the seminars, ill be on alot more!. Ill be home in two weeks and ill get alot more work and animation done.

I havent given up on the site at all its just that Im not even aware of what day it is. I am very sorry for this and would like to apologize!

you have helped me alot and ill be back and more anxious than ever to start work.

all I ask is for you to not forget about me becuase of my absense and to know that when I am back at my house and not at a library or at a cousins friends house.

[TimothyB]

I've missed all of them. As I go to work at 3 p.m., so I have no chance. Not sure what questions I have, but I always look forward to reading all the questions and answers on my lunch break or when I get home.

So while I don't attend, I really enjoy catching the results when I get home, sort of like TIVOing the seminar for later. I thank all those that ask the questions that lead to some great insight from Don Bluth. And even if it's a few that attend it, a lot more may use their membership to read the results later when they can, And probably don't even notice that it could be a lot of the same people that are doing the questions

[johncbeggs]

Well I forgot to ask my question, How long do I have to finnish my animated walkcycle. I just cant wait to get home and start working on this again!

I hope im not out!!!

[zanekohler]

Unfortunately I have been at a busy period at work which has kept me from attending. However after all of them I have gone in and read to catch up. I feel as if I have been to all of them. Good Idea tho to have a place to post questions here! I do think of a few during the week. I would hate to see this not continue considering what an amazing opportunity it is.

[lavallelee]

I have been spreading the word to a few friends who have an art side to them, we all should tell our friends who are beginning animators and artists to join up.

:)

[SpiralEFX]

This Opportunity to learn Mr. Bluth has been a great experience. I cant thank you enough for this website. i missed only one seminar since joining on May 1st .. IM amazed at getting the access to his knowledge in a weekly seminar of one my Animation heros. I plan being with the site as long as Mr. Bluth keep it going. I will be there , Count me in!

[Moneyguns]

I just haven't had really any more question's ask.

[Don Bluth]

I'll start us off. I just thought of a question while driving home from work:

Don,

When animating a character:
After you visualize an idea in your head and thumbnail out a plan...

Do you ever advise artists to animate a stick figure first instead of rushing to drawing and worrying about volumes and shapes? I saw someone advocating this approach once.

No... I firmly believe in visualizing the drawing in your head before committing to paper. What you're trying to say about character, emotions and about staging cannot be done with a stick figure armature. It's so much easier to learn the language of drawing and express yourself eloquently than to stutter graphically.

[Don Bluth]

I have lots of questions!
I'm working when the seminar happens but here's mine.

I would like to know about his learning experience with Walt Stanchfield.
Don also says he draw's 3 to 4 hours a day– is it for work or pleasure both perhaps?

Also did Don design Dirk and Dexter? Has Don designed most of the character in his movies? I remember reading somewhere that John Pomeroy
would create the final model sheets. After watching Don draw I can't imagine someone with better drafting skills. However I have heard the Mr Pomeroy is an incredible draftsman.

I know Don animated a fight scene at the end of the Secret of NIMH. I was wonder what other scenes he animated. Especially in the games: Dragons Lair and Space Ace.

Walt Stanchfield is an amazing and knowledgeable instructor. He knows the language of drawing very well. Many of the drawing tricks that I currently use, I learned from Walt. Furthermore, I try to draw at least an hour every day to keep in practice and maybe sometimes, just for fun.

I have designed all of the characters in all 12 movies and the three games with the exception of one production. The character designs for the movie Thumbelina were designed by Owen Wilson. What you heard about John is true. He is an incredible draftsman but more importantly, he's a fantastic animator. He makes the characters he animates seem alive.

I animated none of the scenes in the three games. I was too busy trying to figure out how the games would play while scratching my head with the dilemma of how to direct animation for a video game.

[Don Bluth]

Well I forgot to ask my question, How long do I have to finnish my animated walkcycle. I just cant wait to get home and start working on this again!

I hope im not out!!!

There is no deadline on finishing the walk cycle. The quicker you finish, though, the quicker we can give you a scene.

[LMR70]

Don, thanks so much for answering our questions!

I have 2 questions:
What can you tell us about Sea Beast?
Wasn't that supposed to be your 4th game?
I remember seeing a title card or something but very little
is known. Can you share any character designs, or art from it?

When you worked at Disney did you know Milt Kahl
very well. You have said he was a big influence–how so?
I can see some influence in your character designs (Dirk / Kay from Sword and the Stone, no?).

On a side note I'm really enjoying the blu-ray of Dragon's Lair II.
You directed some really amazing set pieces!
I'm also loving Space Ace on my iphone, i hope the other
games will be released as well.