Wednesday October 14th 2009

[Dave]

Since we are very limited on time during the actual seminar, we will review all scenes by our animators and give detailed notes and critiques on Thursday.

We'll be starting the seminar at 4:00 PM sharp Arizona time. Please be sure to keep your questions in reference to Animation Technique only.

Once again, you may begin submitting your questions into this thread. In the meantime and Don will answer them in the order they come into the forum.

Don't forget to keep refreshing your Browser to see the current questions and answers.

Please keep all questions in reference to animation technique only.

Thanks

Dave

[lavallelee]

Hey Don, I worked on the wave. Questions;

1. Does the wave work?

2. I have been trying to figure out what to do after her wave. Maybe blink a few times, or rock back and forth on toes in a shy way? Or squirm uncomfortably because she's in front of the audience?

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=205

Your thoughts?

[Don Bluth]

Hey Don, I worked on the wave. Questions;

1. Does the wave work?

2. I have been trying to figure out what to do after her wave. Maybe blink a few times, or rock back and forth on toes in a shy way? Or squirm uncomfortably because she's in front of the audience?

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=205

Your thoughts?

Yes, the wave works! I suggest that you do not use any held drawings in your scene. The entire scene can be animated on 2's. The appeal of the rabbit will be in her facial expressions. You're on the right track; keep going.

END

[arif]

Hello Sir,

I have uploaded my sc 09?.i did sasha walk for the first part of the scene..lots of things need to be fixed?.didnot able to finish it completely?I know it has 254 frames?..but,my video does not show the real time what I did?..i will fix it later?but, therefore, I have uploaded it to see you that I am working my scene?..any suggestion will take me to complet my scene.

Here is the link..


http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=204

Regards,
Arif

[Don Bluth]

Hello Sir,

I have uploaded my sc 09?.i did sasha walk for the first part of the scene..lots of things need to be fixed?.didnot able to finish it completely?I know it has 254 frames?..but,my video does not show the real time what I did?..i will fix it later?but, therefore, I have uploaded it to see you that I am working my scene?..any suggestion will take me to complet my scene.

Here is the link..


http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=204

Regards,
Arif
Arif,
I'm very impressed with what you have done. Sasha's walk looks terrific. Be sure to have her take the wagon with her when she exits.
One suggestion: After Sasha comes to a stop and is looking around, you may want to add an anticipation on her before she resumes walking. In other words, she gets ready for the walk (anticipates) before she starts walking.

END

[madanimator]

Hi Don!
Since Sunday I worked just for fun on a dance sequence. I've got film material that I studied and observed the movements, and then I tried to animate it (it's all done straight ahead, the next dance I animate will be a combination of pose to pose and straight ahead I think).
It would be nice if you could have a look at the results (the last one is not finished yet)

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=207

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=208

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=209


And all clips together (but it's very small, I don't know why)
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=206

[lavallelee]

Yes, the wave works! I suggest that you do not use any held drawings in your scene. The entire scene can be animated on 2's. The appeal of the rabbit will be in her facial expressions. You're on the right track; keep going.

END

How about after she waves, what do you think the action should be to end the scene?

Maybe blink a few times, or rock back and forth on toes in a shy way? Or squirm uncomfortably because she's in front of the audience?

[jeremyhopkins]

The latest update for scene 5: http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=203
Just curious about your thoughts. Thanks!

[Don Bluth]

Hi Don!
Since Sunday I worked just for fun on a dance sequence. I've got film material that I studied and observed the movements, and then I tried to animate it (it's all done straight ahead, the next dance I animate will be a combination of pose to pose and straight ahead I think).
It would be nice if you could have a look at the results (the last one is not finished yet)

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=207

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=208

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=209


And all clips together (but it's very small, I don't know why)
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=206

Mad,
It is amazing to see how quickly you are able to observe and translate you're observations into animation language. The dance scenes are VERY good. I can make only one suggestion: You should employ a little more overlap in the heads of the characters. Working straight ahead seems to be a good method for you.

END

[OwenWelsh]

Hey Don,

I wanted to ask you about how to go about constructing a scene like this:

Basically the scene is a head on view of the character walking towards the camera. As the character is walking, the camera is trucking out, following the character. How do you get the characters feet to register with a background that moving away from the camera?

[arif]

Arif,
I'm very impressed with what you have done. Sasha's walk looks terrific. Be sure to have her take the wagon with her when she exits.
One suggestion: After Sasha comes to a stop and is looking around, you may want to add an anticipation on her before she resumes walking. In other words, she gets ready for the walk (anticipates) before she starts walking.

END

wow..Thank you sir...Definitely, The wagon will go with her....i didnot get time to continue it..(hahhahahah)...i have a question.....will be sasha stay in the scene all 17 seconds long??..i mean, 245 frames plus 175 frames..or it is ok what i did now...then the fox Emerges...

Regards,
Arif

[madanimator]

Thank you, Don! Your feedback means a lot to me!

[Don Bluth]

How about after she waves, what do you think the action should be to end the scene?

Maybe blink a few times, or rock back and forth on toes in a shy way? Or squirm uncomfortably because she's in front of the audience?

You need to come up with these solutions yourself. I suggest the following: Set a timer for the length of your scene then you get up and act the scene out in front of a mirror. Study what you are doing. You will naturally do things that feel right for the acting assignment. Take notes and transfer them to your x-sheet. I think you will grow faster and gain more confidence if you are the creator of the acting.

END

[OwenWelsh]

Don,

Is "phrasing" the same thing as "texture" in reference to animation?

[Richard Willimot]

Hello Don,Should a change of expression be handled with slowouts and ins like a change in direction would be?

[jeremyhopkins]

I'm taking your advice and seeking out some early live action western movies for reference. Right now I have Cimarron and more recently Unforgiven. I'll pick up The Good, the bad and the ugly but for early westerns, there's so much choice that its difficult to sort out the stronger films. Which movies do you recommend?

[lavallelee]

You need to come up with these solutions yourself. I suggest the following: Set a timer for the length of your scene then you get up and act the scene out in front of a mirror. Study what you are doing. You will naturally do things that feel right for the acting assignment. Take notes and transfer them to your x-sheet. I think you will grow faster and gain more confidence if you are the creator of the acting.

END

Okay, will do! :)

[Don Bluth]

The latest update for scene 5: http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=203
Just curious about your thoughts. Thanks!

I like your scene a lot; it has good personality. It could be stronger if you eliminated any held drawings. At drawings 210 - 226, the rabbit loses the illusion of life. Some part of the character should still be moving to keep her alive. Correct this and we will cut your scene into the reel.

END

[johncbeggs]

Hello Don hope your weeks going great,sorry I missed last session!

I keep Re-trying my scene out and I get better each try I think!, If their was a video of you animating without cuts I belive it would help me out alot!

Heres an update on my scene/ Dont worry about the quality Ill fix that up :D
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=210

Thanks for having such a great site, I kinda feel bad for not contributing enough towards this CGP film But I promiss Im a fast learner and will contribute alot more when I can just lock on the basics :)

[jeremyhopkins]

Pietro Scalia
http://www.bafta.org/learning/webcasts/pietro-scalia,867,BA.html has an interesting bafta masterclass where he talks about some of the editing that he has done on various movies. One of the more interesting talks is his work on Good Will hunting where he mentions the need not to cut because the scene is about listening and the longer the unbroken scene, the more it forces the audience to listen. You've mentioned your problems with camera work and perhaps editing in some films today, is part of the problem that camera/editing choices aren't well thought out and therefore distracting?

[Don Bluth]

Hey Don,

I wanted to ask you about how to go about constructing a scene like this:

Basically the scene is a head on view of the character walking towards the camera. As the character is walking, the camera is trucking out, following the character. How do you get the characters feet to register with a background that moving away from the camera?

Most directors would cheat their way through this type of assignment. Basically, you would walk your character in-place with the feet slipping just as you did with your sasha character in SC 8. The character level would be shot over black and the truck-out on the background level would be shot seperatly and the two would be combined in a process we used to call a "Bi-Pak."
Nowadays, this can be done in the computers so easily by making male and female mattes of the character and experimenting with the truck out speed on the Background untill it feels natural with the characters footsteps when the two levels are combined.
END

[Don Bluth]

wow..Thank you sir...Definitely, The wagon will go with her....i didnot get time to continue it..(hahhahahah)...i have a question.....will be sasha stay in the scene all 17 seconds long??..i mean, 245 frames plus 175 frames..or it is ok what i did now...then the fox Emerges...

Regards,
Arif

No she will not stay in the scene but will exit instead just as the scene finishes.

End

[arif]

Recently, when i get time, i am trying to draw with more multiple characters..and it means so fun to me..here are some attempts....
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=605
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=119&pictureid=614
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=119&pictureid=616

Regards,
Arif:)

[Don Bluth]

Don,

Is "phrasing" the same thing as "texture" in reference to animation?

Phrasing in animation is similar to commas and periods in literature. Texture is a word that defines contrasting ideas placed next to each other to inspire delight and remove boredom. In food, we talk of rough, smooth, runny, solid, sweet, sour, spicy, bland, etc. In clothing, it's the same. In animation, it is fast versus slow, ugly versus sweet, peaceful versus disturbing. Those same qualities can be applied to character actions.

[Don Bluth]

Hello Don,Should a change of expression be handled with slowouts and ins like a change in direction would be?

Absolutely! Whoever told you that thank him/her, and move on.

END

[Don Bluth]

I'm taking your advice and seeking out some early live action western movies for reference. Right now I have Cimarron and more recently Unforgiven. I'll pick up The Good, the bad and the ugly but for early westerns, there's so much choice that its difficult to sort out the stronger films. Which movies do you recommend?

Those films you have mentioned have excellent action so you're on the right track. I find a great exercise is studying the action of football highlights. The players bodies are constantly changing directions and reacting to the impacts of their opponents. This is a great study for understanding weight and the influence of gravity and velocity on a given mass. I think this would be more useful than even the western films.

END

[Don Bluth]

Hello Don hope your weeks going great,sorry I missed last session!

I keep Re-trying my scene out and I get better each try I think!, If their was a video of you animating without cuts I belive it would help me out alot!

Heres an update on my scene/ Dont worry about the quality Ill fix that up :D
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=210

Thanks for having such a great site, I kinda feel bad for not contributing enough towards this CGP film But I promiss Im a fast learner and will contribute alot more when I can just lock on the basics :)

I like what you've done so far. Your strength lies in your ability to draw appealing poses. Do not use any held drawings in your 3 feet 2 frames scene. Keep you character alive and animate on 2's.
We're currently making some videos where I will let the camera run while I animate a scene. This may be helpful to you.

END

[arif]

The next project will be an approach to storyboarding but I would like very much that those students interested in animation continue to practice their skills and achieve goals.

Great to hear that you Would like very much that Students who are interested in Animation continue to practice their skill and achieve goals....my thought is that it is wonderful to see some new project will come along..sounds like exiting....but, i want to continue with my scene(i dont know that i will be able to finish it in the proper time or not)..i am very new in animation and dont want to lose any opportunity from learning you directly...my goal is not only participate this unique project....my goal is to learn animation with handling scene....it would be great if i get chance to take scene one after one or practice some animation with my own and get the chance to Show you for critics(after finish the dead line)....every critics will take me near of my dreams.......

Kindly Regards,
Arif

[OwenWelsh]

Hey Don,

I have just posted my pose test for Scene 38. What do you think?

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=211

[Don Bluth]

Pietro Scalia
http://www.bafta.org/learning/webcasts/pietro-scalia,867,BA.html has an interesting bafta masterclass where he talks about some of the editing that he has done on various movies. One of the more interesting talks is his work on Good Will hunting where he mentions the need not to cut because the scene is about listening and the longer the unbroken scene, the more it forces the audience to listen. You've mentioned your problems with camera work and perhaps editing in some films today, is part of the problem that camera/editing choices aren't well thought out and therefore distracting?

If the scene is about listening then perhaps it would be best to lock down the camera position and let the actor talk. Movies, however, should try to communicate with as few words as possible. Plays are about words. Movies are about actions, be they violent or subtle.
In the movie, Bambi, the total word count on the dialog track is just under one thousand. For my money, mime and music are much stronger than words. I really like Fantasia; it makes me think.

END

[Don Bluth]

Recently, when i get time, i am trying to draw with more multiple characters..and it means so fun to me..here are some attempts....
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=112&pictureid=605
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=119&pictureid=614
http://www.donbluthanimation.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=119&pictureid=616

Regards,
Arif:)

I like the loose style of your drawing but more importantly, I like the way you try to capture an emotion in the facial expressions. Keep up the good work.
END

[arif]

Those films you have mentioned have excellent action so you're on the right track. I find a great exercise is studying the action of football highlights. The players bodies are constantly changing directions and reacting to the impacts of their opponents. This is a great study for understanding weight and the influence of gravity and velocity on a given mass. I think this would be more useful than even the western films.

END

Is it Rugby or Soccer ??....in our zone, we know Football as a soccer game...

[johncbeggs]

I like what you've done so far. Your strength lies in your ability to draw appealing poses. Do not use any held drawings in your 3 feet 2 frames scene. Keep you character alive and animate on 2's.
We're currently making some videos where I will let the camera run while I animate a scene. This may be helpful to you.

END

Thankyou Don, I just noticed frame 7- his lips went back up when they should have stayed down-that created the wobbly motion - will fix that up

and yes the video will be extremely helpfull, Im more of a visual learner, Seeing something being demmonstrated Is alot more helpfull to me!

I am ussually a fast drawer and can create smooth looking lines but I realize now by animating drawing abillity must be re-learned :laughing:

and thanks again for the reply!

What may also be the problem is that I have been using a mechanical pencil,would this interfere with the quality?

[Don Bluth]

The next project will be an approach to storyboarding but I would like very much that those students interested in animation continue to practice their skills and achieve goals.

Great to hear that you Would like very much that Students who are interested in Animation continue to practice their skill and achieve goals....my thought is that it is wonderful to see some new project will come along..sounds like exiting....but, i want to continue with my scene(i dont know that i will be able to finish it in the proper time or not)..i am very new in animation and dont want to lose any opportunity from learning you directly...my goal is not only participate this unique project....my goal is to learn animation with handling scene....it would be great if i get chance to take scene one after one or practice some animation with my own and get the chance to Show you for critics(after finish the dead line)....every critics will take me near of my dreams.......

Kindly Regards,
Arif
If you want to continue to work on your scene after the deadline, we will always be here to give you a critique on your work.

END

[Don Bluth]

Hey Don,

I have just posted my pose test for Scene 38. What do you think?

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=211

Owen,
thanks for putting up the pose test. Give me a little time to digest what you have done and I'll contact you tomorrow.

END

[Don Bluth]

Is it Rugby or Soccer ??....in our zone, we know Football as a soccer game...

American Football...

[arif]

If you want to continue to work on your scene after the deadline, we will always be here to give you a critique on your work.

END

WOW.!! GREAT:laughing::laughing::laughing:...

[OwenWelsh]

Owen,
thanks for putting up the pose test. Give me a little time to digest what you have done and I'll contact you tomorrow.

END

Alrighty. Thanks for your feedback this morning as well. By the way, my focus is only on Mama fox right now as you suggested.. The reactions from the other characters will be put in later.

[Don Bluth]

Thankyou Don, I just noticed frame 7- his lips went back up when they should have stayed down-that created the wobbly motion - will fix that up

and yes the video will be extremely helpfull, Im more of a visual learner, Seeing something being demmonstrated Is alot more helpfull to me!

I am ussually a fast drawer and can create smooth looking lines but I realize now by animating drawing abillity must be re-learned :laughing:

and thanks again for the reply!

What may also be the problem is that I have been using a mechanical pencil,would this interfere with the quality?

Personally, I prefer to use a traditional pencil although they are a little pricey. The type I like is A.W. Faber, Castell 2B but every artist has his/her favorite.

End

[Don Bluth]

Thanks for a great seminar. Talk to you tomorrow.

Don.

[arif]

I like the loose style of your drawing but more importantly, I like the way you try to capture an emotion in the facial expressions. Keep up the good work.
END


Thank you sir..your comments really meant to me....this club really changing my way and opened my eyes...

Kindly Regards,

Arif:)

[Richard Willimot]

Thanks Don.

[johncbeggs]

thank you for answering all my questions, and have a great week!

[lavallelee]

thanks don! see you next week :D

[jeremyhopkins]

Thanks guys!

[Don Bluth]

Hey Don,

I have just posted my pose test for Scene 38. What do you think?

http://www.donbluthanimation.com/videos.php?showvideo=211

Owen
I believe that the "phrasing" of your action is good so I'm going to say OK to animate. You're character design on the Mama Fox feels a bit Mushy; try to incorporate some straights against the curves, especially in her spine.
One other caution... As you animate from pose to pose, be aware of the arcs; that will make it more fluid.
The focal point should be on Mama Fox's face and her expressions; that will tell us what she's thinking.

END