Dave
12-30-2009, 10:55 AM
You may begin submitting your questions into this thread 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.
I'll start the ball rolling with some questions from the guys that can't make it today....
Thanks
"Hello Mr. Bluth,
I've had a real problem all my life with always feeling that my artwork is inadequate. I honestly have never drawn something that I felt satisfied with. I was wondering if in your years of drawing and animating have you ever felt this way? If so, how do you stay on the positive side?
Thanks so much for your time."
edit:
Here's links to the video seminar:
Part 1:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3610173
Part 2:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3610247
Part 3:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3610537
Part 4:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3610852
Owen finished transcribing this seminar a while ago and it's my fault it hasn't gone sooner. Huge thanks to Owen for making these notes:
Video seminar transcription 12/30
Drawing:
Why are rough drawings better looking than clean up drawings?
Rough Drawings always have more feeling in them than a clean up drawing. When you are doing a rough drawing your idea is coming from the sub conscience and your feelings and your thoughts are going right into the drawing. When you do a clean up drawing it's a conscious mental effort. Those same feelings are not being imbued into the pencil. The rough drawing will always outshine the clean up drawing.
Why do we need clean-up drawings?
Clean-up drawings are necessary because in order to color it because you need to close off the shapes / gaps in the lines of your drawings.
Animating:
I can draw, but then I start animating and then I quickly become lost. What can I do?
1. Spend time visualizing inside your head.
2. Ask yourself: What is the focus of your the scene?
Is it best to animate in complete silence?
You should do whatever inspires you. I like to listen to classical musical similar to Mozart or Beethoven.
How do I animate two or more characters on screen?
If you have two or more characters on screen, you can't focus on both of them at the same time. Keep your focus character active and your dialogue can be expressed with body language. The sub dominate characters should be kept slightly alive, moving very little.
In live action, for example, actors try to steal scenes from each other. If you put two actors on a screen together they are mischievous and what they will do is try and put extra movement in their performances so that it will take eyes off the actor in focus who is doing the dialogue. It makes it very frustrating for the actor who is supposed to be in focus.
How long does it take to learn animation?
Animation takes a little while to learn. I remember when I started -- just merely moving my drawings around was a challenge. It took about two and half to three years before I felt comfortable performing as an animator. And then suddenly little light bulbs went on saying, "Oh that's what I'm supposed to be doing." It does come to you, but you have to be persistent about learning the principles. Animation is like music, in that, the more you study music, the more you know what music is trying to do, that same feeling will spill over into your animation. Avoid cliche, find ways to entertain and remember you have to entertain yourself first.
When you were animating Banjo the Woodpile Cat, did you study the voice actor's facial expressions?
No, I think we were mugging. We just had our characters pulling funning faces. It would have been better to give facial expressions to the character that reveal something about his/her feelings. And thats something that's more difficult to do.
General:
Are you going to re-issue the Art Storyboarding?
It's not up to Don to re-issue the book but it might happen. Don wants to make a new book which he will retain all the publishing rights.
Are you interested in writing an autobiography?
Gary has expressed interest in chronicling our journey but my interest is in education.
What do you think about animation software?
Animation software is a tool. If you are into pencil drawing, stick with Digicel, its a good program. You can take your rough animation through cleanup, color and final production shooting and the software is priced affordable.
Cyber Garage Project:
What frame rate are we working on for the Cyber Garage Project?
24 frames per second. Not 30 frames per second, 29.97 or anything else.
Can we change the length of our scenes?
No. Do not add or remove frames from the marked footage. If you do, or plan to, please let us know. Because otherwise we can't use that scene as it is.
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.
I'll start the ball rolling with some questions from the guys that can't make it today....
Thanks
"Hello Mr. Bluth,
I've had a real problem all my life with always feeling that my artwork is inadequate. I honestly have never drawn something that I felt satisfied with. I was wondering if in your years of drawing and animating have you ever felt this way? If so, how do you stay on the positive side?
Thanks so much for your time."
edit:
Here's links to the video seminar:
Part 1:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3610173
Part 2:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3610247
Part 3:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3610537
Part 4:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3610852
Owen finished transcribing this seminar a while ago and it's my fault it hasn't gone sooner. Huge thanks to Owen for making these notes:
Video seminar transcription 12/30
Drawing:
Why are rough drawings better looking than clean up drawings?
Rough Drawings always have more feeling in them than a clean up drawing. When you are doing a rough drawing your idea is coming from the sub conscience and your feelings and your thoughts are going right into the drawing. When you do a clean up drawing it's a conscious mental effort. Those same feelings are not being imbued into the pencil. The rough drawing will always outshine the clean up drawing.
Why do we need clean-up drawings?
Clean-up drawings are necessary because in order to color it because you need to close off the shapes / gaps in the lines of your drawings.
Animating:
I can draw, but then I start animating and then I quickly become lost. What can I do?
1. Spend time visualizing inside your head.
2. Ask yourself: What is the focus of your the scene?
Is it best to animate in complete silence?
You should do whatever inspires you. I like to listen to classical musical similar to Mozart or Beethoven.
How do I animate two or more characters on screen?
If you have two or more characters on screen, you can't focus on both of them at the same time. Keep your focus character active and your dialogue can be expressed with body language. The sub dominate characters should be kept slightly alive, moving very little.
In live action, for example, actors try to steal scenes from each other. If you put two actors on a screen together they are mischievous and what they will do is try and put extra movement in their performances so that it will take eyes off the actor in focus who is doing the dialogue. It makes it very frustrating for the actor who is supposed to be in focus.
How long does it take to learn animation?
Animation takes a little while to learn. I remember when I started -- just merely moving my drawings around was a challenge. It took about two and half to three years before I felt comfortable performing as an animator. And then suddenly little light bulbs went on saying, "Oh that's what I'm supposed to be doing." It does come to you, but you have to be persistent about learning the principles. Animation is like music, in that, the more you study music, the more you know what music is trying to do, that same feeling will spill over into your animation. Avoid cliche, find ways to entertain and remember you have to entertain yourself first.
When you were animating Banjo the Woodpile Cat, did you study the voice actor's facial expressions?
No, I think we were mugging. We just had our characters pulling funning faces. It would have been better to give facial expressions to the character that reveal something about his/her feelings. And thats something that's more difficult to do.
General:
Are you going to re-issue the Art Storyboarding?
It's not up to Don to re-issue the book but it might happen. Don wants to make a new book which he will retain all the publishing rights.
Are you interested in writing an autobiography?
Gary has expressed interest in chronicling our journey but my interest is in education.
What do you think about animation software?
Animation software is a tool. If you are into pencil drawing, stick with Digicel, its a good program. You can take your rough animation through cleanup, color and final production shooting and the software is priced affordable.
Cyber Garage Project:
What frame rate are we working on for the Cyber Garage Project?
24 frames per second. Not 30 frames per second, 29.97 or anything else.
Can we change the length of our scenes?
No. Do not add or remove frames from the marked footage. If you do, or plan to, please let us know. Because otherwise we can't use that scene as it is.