Some crit

[imdeerman]

Hey guys. I wanna be an animator real bad. I work extremely hard at it like 10 hours a day. I have no clue where I stand. Ive been doing it for about 3 yrs. But only learned about the princples of animation and all that jazz about 2 yrs ago. I dabbled in 3d for a bit. Its not really for me. I like the raw feeling of classical 2d. Ive locked myself in my room for 3 years now. I think I have a good understand of the concepts of animation. I still have yet to get good at them

So this is the stuff I've done this week. What ever your thoughts are I'd like to hear em. Ill probably just keep posting my stuff in this thread. You can even just say hi if you want to. These clips are really weird because they play once all slow and then normal speed every time after that. I have no clue why flash is doing that. Its never done that till this week. Even a swf file anything it plays it slow first then speed up. Even if I put it a the worst quality possible. Whats up with that?

Wow so Im writing a lot sorry. Sitting in a room by myself practicing I've made no animation friends. So I have no clue what the job market is like or how to even get one. Can I even be a 2d animator? How hard is it? Is the competition that fierce? I dont even know where to send a demo reel to? Who makes 2d animation? Can I make a living at this? Im very confused with my life right now. Well thanks for reading this and if you respond thanks for that too. Oh ya real quick I forgot. How rough do you guys work. Like do you always draw on model even in the beginning stages.



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http://www.vimeo.com/4573406
http://www.vimeo.com/3555910
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBFjPZCfzTU

[clym]

You work for 10 hours without any real goal or destination or route that you want your animation to go?? wow.
I like some of the tests, they are nice and show some of the principles.
In terms of locking yourself in a room, i'm not sure how literal you mean but animation isn't just something you plug away and try and reach some conclusion by hoping that your brain will somehow 'twig' how to do it.

first things first, learn about posing - do some life drawing classes if you dont already...dont need to be good at drawing just do stick figures to keep a record of poses...
Secondly, check out inspiration look at animation on the web (google; animationmentor, gobelins) and also in films (animated films) broaden your animation knowledge of films, what ones do you like and don't like? develop your own opinion. Also study live action, and see the difference between live action and a animated film...are the poses stretched? are the expressions true to life? constantly ask yourself questions as you go along
When you animate...dont just think...ok bounce here...stretch here...think WHY is there a stretch there? "oh yeah cos its falling and it adds dynamism* always ask questions...why have the hips switched weight? "oh cos the leg moved up" etc..

But also dude, go experience life! take up martial arts, musical instrument, football, writing stories - anything that involves lessons! because as you learn new skills you can apply the "how" of learning something into your animation. Scrap computer games..they're a waste of time and get boring after a while with samey graphics and gameplay...go into the park and notice how a group of guys react to each other...some are trying to be cool to the 'leader' and the leader is trying to keep his respect..notice these things and ask WHY?

finally on that bombshell i'll leave you with a book to check out and buy if possible (its like $35 or so for two great great books)
http://www.amazon.com/Drawn-Life-Classes-Stanchfield-Lectures/dp/0240810961
http://www.amazon.com/Drawn-Life-Classes-Stanchfield-Lectures/dp/0240811070/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

good luck!

[artfan217]

i really agreet with you .life need fantanstic and colourful ,so everyone shoule go out to go through something diffilent ,make more experience .going shopping ,going for a picnic, going abroad ,singing ,dancing ,drawing a oil picture . and so on .

[imdeerman]

Well I wanted to update this thing at least once a week. I did not drop the ball though. My scanner broke the instant I started using. So I got a new one and this is what I worked on. So whatever feedback I get I appreciate.

http://boxstr.com/files/6094711_db4gg/ninja%20color3.mov

http://boxstr.com/files/6095965_4b63m/sneeze%20%20color.mov

http://boxstr.com/files/6116725_yyrks/girl%20walk%20color.mov

[trevissg]

on model is ideal in animation. if you want a real job in animation then drawing on model is not an option. but the industry is not in the US (some in NY and CA), unless you do independent, some jobs are coming back but most are overseas. i say you should draw as often as possible, and do something artistic everyday.

but honestly you have to have more accomplished after two years of studying. maybe going to school for animation is the right path for you. self study is not for everyone.

remember that animation is the illusion of motion. stills put together to make the viewer think the motion is real. when you look at real life and you see motion, you want to mimic that in consecutive still images, thats it. play with it, exaggerate it, change the timing and spacing of it, copy those who do it best frame by frame (gotta love DVDs. the more you do this the more you will learn and understanding motion is the most important piece to creating it convincingly.

[ezromation]

Nice work.
I like the animation on the little girl walking but I prefer the duck character.

Its good to see you presenting some cleaned up work, I think the first set of animations you put up might be better quality than your recent post but it's hard to tell because the drawings are so faint.

Keep at it though you've got talent, I know what you mean about locking your self away for hours. I used to be the same at college. I recommend studying at college, it helps a lot to have others around going through the same things you are, you can learn a lot from your fellow students, and the network is useful for getting work when you finished studying. You can get this even from a short intensive course.

I work 3d in games, I trained 2d, I was taught to start out very rough to get the animation right then worry about clean up.

In terms of jobs I can usually get work as a 3d animator for games. It is a pain to transition from 2d, took me about 3 months and I hated it to start with, but I'm not usually out of work for long.

[cout<mecha]

Your stuff is really good. Better than at least half the stuff around the internet that goes for "character tests" and "trying this outs" 3D or 2D. It could draw laughs with some backstory.

There are some issues with it though.
1) Try to start out thinking in volumes, mostly all spheres, ovals on vectors.
2) Always move the center of gravity first, mostly always the hips
3)Make sure your spacing the drawings according to the actions you really want.

Contrary to what anyone says, always develop a character, and don't believe all of the rumors about pipelines, and people if you are in your room right now. Draw a character, hell...steal a character. In all likely hood, the person who drew it, will NEVER animate it...

:lifedrawing: