I cannot remember a time before cartoons; among the first things I read were comics such as Garfield and Foxtrot. Their short lengths and simplistic languages made them easy to understand and over time, I was able to fully understand the depth of some of comics. From these beginnings, I expanded into similar styles such as Dilbert, Get Fuzzy, and Non Sequitur. After my family got the internet, I discovered the world of web comics. The fusion of comics and animation blew my mind, such as MS Paint Adventures. Soon, I discovered other sites such as XKCD, Questionable Content, and Order of the Stick that I still follow to this day.
Like any kid that grew up in the 1990s, I was exposed to a lot of Disney’s and Pixar’s films such as The Lion King and Toy Story. Those films had the ability to take me from my seat into a fantasy world were anything could happen. It was not until I was much older that I also realized that my ideal world was filled with adult related jokes that I could not capture as a child. This just made me appreciate and enjoy the films more.
I was also a kid that enjoyed Saturday morning cartoons. Such works as Doug, Hey Arnold, and Rocko’s Modern Life seemed to reflect my life and I imprinted myself on the shows. The older I got, the more mature shows I like, for example Family Guy and Futurama, but I still enjoy the older shows for a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the complexity of how they are made.
I was around two or three when I saw my first anime, Akira and I was immediately drawn to the unique style and continued to fall in love, especially with Hayao Miyazaki’s and Katsuhiro Otomo’s works. Because of anime, I was able to understand that there was more that one style of cartoons and animation. It helped me differentiate between similar looking works such as anything made by Disney and Fox’s Anastasia.
As I grew up, my relationship with cartoons changed. I learned how simplistic styles could make a work more universally appealing while being very mature at the same time. Cartoons and animation are now a huge part of my life and I enjoy seeing as many different variations as I can. From big budgets to student experimental pieces, I am captivated and try to learn something new, not just about animation as a process, but about life as a whole. I could not imagine a world where cartoons were not part of my existence.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Flipbook vs Digital Animation
So now I have created both a flipbook and made it into a short digital animation. Both projects were fun, but they felt very different. I did not prefer one project to the other. The flipbook and digital animation both offered different challenges and rewards in the world of animation. I noticed that while I was making the flipbook, I would focus on the individual picture I was working on and almost forget how it fit into the piece as a whole. However, as I was working on the digital animation, I would focus on the whole piece instead of the individual frames.
Even though I have never completed a flipbook from start to finish, as a child, I would draw stick figures preforming simple tasks, such as taking a step or sitting down. Later, I would have sword fights, though never in flipbook form. Still, while making the flipbook, it felt very familiar and almost like I was reviewing the basics of animation. I knew what I was doing and it was a fun first exercise for the class. On the other hand, I have never worked with digital animation, so it was a new experience. It was not as easy as the flipbook and more intimidating, however I felt like I had more freedom because I experimented more and learned a lot more form this experience than the flipbook experience.
Probably my biggest struggle was creating persistence of vision. Since I am a beginner, I am still learning how to make my animation come to life. For example, while making the flipbook, I tried to make the ball the same size on each page. What I have learned is I should have made it stretch and compress to not make it look lifelike, but it makes it look like an animation. Meanwhile, since the digital animation was a new experience, I felt like I was struggling a little bit the entire time. This was because I was learning new things and would realize something I did in ten steps I could have done in two. However, I know this is part of the learning process and only with practice and trial and error will I get better with the entire animation process.
Even though I have never completed a flipbook from start to finish, as a child, I would draw stick figures preforming simple tasks, such as taking a step or sitting down. Later, I would have sword fights, though never in flipbook form. Still, while making the flipbook, it felt very familiar and almost like I was reviewing the basics of animation. I knew what I was doing and it was a fun first exercise for the class. On the other hand, I have never worked with digital animation, so it was a new experience. It was not as easy as the flipbook and more intimidating, however I felt like I had more freedom because I experimented more and learned a lot more form this experience than the flipbook experience.
Probably my biggest struggle was creating persistence of vision. Since I am a beginner, I am still learning how to make my animation come to life. For example, while making the flipbook, I tried to make the ball the same size on each page. What I have learned is I should have made it stretch and compress to not make it look lifelike, but it makes it look like an animation. Meanwhile, since the digital animation was a new experience, I felt like I was struggling a little bit the entire time. This was because I was learning new things and would realize something I did in ten steps I could have done in two. However, I know this is part of the learning process and only with practice and trial and error will I get better with the entire animation process.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Wormhole to the End
Dear Future Me,
I’m not sure how long this wormhole will remain open, so I must be brief. How are you? You look stressed. Is something wrong?
Wait, what? Its only April 2012? That’s only a few months from now. What is causing you to be so stressed? Oh. School. Life? Everything.
Well, dude, you should have known to expect this. School is something that has always stressed us out towards the end of a semester, but now is the time when you have to work your hardest. Tell me, which is the worst class?
Animation?! Seriously? Yeah, I know it will need the most attention this semester, but it seems like a fun class. Is Simon not cooperating? That’s who he is. Remember, he doesn’t take shit and wants you to discover your true potential for yourself.
Think back to where I come from, January from earlier this year. Things are fine right now. Yes, there is already a lot of work to be done, but for once, I feel like I’m actually learning something, and I hope you can display that I have. School has always offered many challenges throughout the semester and over the years; nevertheless, we have made it this far and are so close to graduation and moving on with our lives. Before you know it, it will be over and you will be able to look back on school as if it was part of a dream.
Appreciate what you have experienced. You have acquired tools and knowledge that not only will help you in the real world, but that some “professionals” do not have control over. Remain optimistic and keep to The Plan, even if it has changed over the months. And think about what you have accomplished. If it’s April, you should be mostly done with classes. You should have created ten animation exercises and be completing your last project. I am still on the flipbook and still have the entire semester to go through. And not just animation, but all the work you have done in your other classes. You should be proud of yourself and excited that you had the opportunity to be able to contribute in all the classes you have had.
At the same time, I know that we are not Superman. I am not going to lie; I know life can get overwhelming. Unfortunately, we cannot stop time to focus our full attention on everything. It’s ok to take short breaks, or a walk, or call a friend. Just keep it concise and quickly get back to work. No one understands you better than me. So trust me when I say I know we will succeed and all will get better.
Well, man, you know me. I like being short and getting right to the point. And just in time too; I think the wormhole is closing. It was good having this conversation with me. Anything else you would like to quickly address? No? Well remember, the most important thing…
…keep at it…
…going now…
…bye.
I’m not sure how long this wormhole will remain open, so I must be brief. How are you? You look stressed. Is something wrong?
Wait, what? Its only April 2012? That’s only a few months from now. What is causing you to be so stressed? Oh. School. Life? Everything.
Well, dude, you should have known to expect this. School is something that has always stressed us out towards the end of a semester, but now is the time when you have to work your hardest. Tell me, which is the worst class?
Animation?! Seriously? Yeah, I know it will need the most attention this semester, but it seems like a fun class. Is Simon not cooperating? That’s who he is. Remember, he doesn’t take shit and wants you to discover your true potential for yourself.
Think back to where I come from, January from earlier this year. Things are fine right now. Yes, there is already a lot of work to be done, but for once, I feel like I’m actually learning something, and I hope you can display that I have. School has always offered many challenges throughout the semester and over the years; nevertheless, we have made it this far and are so close to graduation and moving on with our lives. Before you know it, it will be over and you will be able to look back on school as if it was part of a dream.
Appreciate what you have experienced. You have acquired tools and knowledge that not only will help you in the real world, but that some “professionals” do not have control over. Remain optimistic and keep to The Plan, even if it has changed over the months. And think about what you have accomplished. If it’s April, you should be mostly done with classes. You should have created ten animation exercises and be completing your last project. I am still on the flipbook and still have the entire semester to go through. And not just animation, but all the work you have done in your other classes. You should be proud of yourself and excited that you had the opportunity to be able to contribute in all the classes you have had.
At the same time, I know that we are not Superman. I am not going to lie; I know life can get overwhelming. Unfortunately, we cannot stop time to focus our full attention on everything. It’s ok to take short breaks, or a walk, or call a friend. Just keep it concise and quickly get back to work. No one understands you better than me. So trust me when I say I know we will succeed and all will get better.
Well, man, you know me. I like being short and getting right to the point. And just in time too; I think the wormhole is closing. It was good having this conversation with me. Anything else you would like to quickly address? No? Well remember, the most important thing…
…keep at it…
…going now…
…bye.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)