"I, for one, welcome our new 48 fps overlords," said a friend from ASIFA.
This was shortly after the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which had select screenings projected in 48 frames per second. Like most animators trained traditionally, my knee-jerk reaction was of horror. So many drawings!
But I couldn't shake the topic. There was something about it that was tickling my brain. So I made an enormous spreadsheet comparing all sorts of frame rates. And after some hard thinking, I came to an Unexpected Conclusion.
I'm ashamed it took me so long to get around to writing an article about it, but I finally made the time. And it has just been published in Skwigly Animation Magazine: https://lnkd.in/g_KKAHa
I welcome any thoughts you may have on the topic but please leave your comments on the article itself rather than here. Thanks!
Monday, February 20, 2017
Friday, April 15, 2016
Animation talk radio
Have you ever wanted to meet your animation heroes and pick their brain? While I can't introduce you, I can point to the next best thing. In some of the podcasts below you can listen to interviews with some of the biggest names in animation and hear answers to questions you've been dying to know. In others, animation nerds just like you talk about ... (you guessed it!) ... animation:
[Originally posted May 13, 2011]
- Animation is Hard
http://www.mytuner.mobi/podcasts/animation-is-hard-mike-stamm-and-matthew-krick-1098728407 - Generation Animation
http://podbay.fm/show/271650837 - The Rotoscopers
http://www.therotoscopers.com/category/podcast/ - The Pixar Podcast
http://www.thepixarpodcast.com/ - The Skwigly Animation Podcast
http://www.skwigly.co.uk/animation-podcasts/ - Bancroft Brothers' Animation Podcast
http://podbay.fm/show/911802874 - iAnimate Podcast
http://www.ianimate.net/podcasts.html - Animation Conversation
http://www.animationconversation.com/
- Spline Doctors
Animators by day... teachers by night
http://splinedoctors.com/category/podcast/
- Animation Aficionados
http://podbay.fm/show/422268516 -
The Animation Guild Oral Histories
http://podbay.fm/show/426126665 - Animation Fascination
http://animationfascination.wordpress.com/ - The Animation Station
http://www.animationstation.info/
- Pinewood Dialogues
(Interviews with Chuck Jones, Tim Burton, Brad Bird, and other film professionals)
http://www.movingimagesource.us/dialogues/all - The Re-Animators
http://www.reanimators.net/
- Speaking of Animation
http://www.speakingofanimation.com/pods/ - Radio Monster
http://www.monstertheshortfilm.com - Cartoon Brew Podcasts
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/cartoon-brew-podcasts - Alt Animation
The alternative animation podcast (the "saltier" side of animation)
http://altanimation.podomatic.com
- Toon Radio
http://toonradio.net/ - The Animation Podcast
http://animationpodcast.com/ - Frenzer Foreman Animation Forum (podcast)
The "only comedy podcast about animation"
http://www.awn.com/blogs/ffaf
-
BYU Animation Podcast
http://podbay.fm/show/369720726 - Toon in... to the World of Animation
http://tooninanimation.net/wordpress/ - Frames per Second
http://www.fpsmagazine.com/podcast/index.php - Animation Mentor's What Inspires You? podcast series
http://www.animationmentor.com/resources/podcasts - Aardman Podcast
(Really a webcast)http://www.aardman.com/about-us/podcasts/ - A-HAA! Podcast
(ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive Podcast)
http://www.ahaapodcast.org
[Originally posted May 13, 2011]
Friday, March 8, 2013
Friday, February 24, 2012
Geometry in Animation
Some time ago, I was referencing pictures of dung beetles for a Character Design class. In my Animation class, I was just learning the four-legged walk cycle, which was giving me some trouble. One of my instructors walked by and spotted the photo, which depicted a beetle walking backwards with two feet propped up on a ball of dung. He said "Six-legged walk cycle, eh? That's gonna be a hell of a foot slip!"
This comment broke my brain. I was having enough trouble tracking four feet on a flat surface. The prospect of dealing with six legs was a bit much for me, and I had no idea how I would begin to track two of those feet on the surface of a circular object!
I hadn't thought of that for months, and then I encountered this animated GIF (or one very similar to it):
Why of course! Everything became instantly clear to me. If the circumference of a circle is equal to the width of 3.14 of them standing side by side, then the unrolled circumference becomes the length of your footslip. And then you only need to divide the circle into the same number of pieces as your foot slip in order to make them track correctly.
Since I'm sure the above is clear as mud, I've included my own version of the diagram, geared to animators. The tick marks on the ground are color-coded to match the tick marks on the circle:
This may be painfully obvious to some of you. But it was quite the epiphany for me, so I thought I'd share. Happy animating!
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
This comment broke my brain. I was having enough trouble tracking four feet on a flat surface. The prospect of dealing with six legs was a bit much for me, and I had no idea how I would begin to track two of those feet on the surface of a circular object!
I hadn't thought of that for months, and then I encountered this animated GIF (or one very similar to it):
Why of course! Everything became instantly clear to me. If the circumference of a circle is equal to the width of 3.14 of them standing side by side, then the unrolled circumference becomes the length of your footslip. And then you only need to divide the circle into the same number of pieces as your foot slip in order to make them track correctly.
Since I'm sure the above is clear as mud, I've included my own version of the diagram, geared to animators. The tick marks on the ground are color-coded to match the tick marks on the circle:
This may be painfully obvious to some of you. But it was quite the epiphany for me, so I thought I'd share. Happy animating!
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Bill is Pymp!
Although the local ASIFA chapter informed me that Don Hertzfeldt would be visiting Colorado in December, I didn't read the e-mail until long after the event. While I did find some solice in the Alt Animation Podcast's Don Hertzfeldt interview (Part One and Part Two), I was still pretty upset. It was salt in the wound from missing Bill Plympton nine months prior. So, you can imagine, when I heard that Plympton was making another visit to Colorado, I was pretty psyched. And for good reason.
During Bill's presentation on Saturday, he showed a few of his films and talked about how they were made. Among them was the completed version of Guard Dog Global Jam, in which each scene was redone by a separate animator, in their own personal style. The "modernized" version of Winsor McCay's Flying House was also shown, fully restored, colorized, scored, and with dubbed voices replacing the inter-titles. He showed other films and told other stories, often accompanied by a drawing demonstration. Everything was enthralling, but two in particular stood out:
So, anyway, if you get a chance to see Bill present, don't pass up the opportunity!
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
During Bill's presentation on Saturday, he showed a few of his films and talked about how they were made. Among them was the completed version of Guard Dog Global Jam, in which each scene was redone by a separate animator, in their own personal style. The "modernized" version of Winsor McCay's Flying House was also shown, fully restored, colorized, scored, and with dubbed voices replacing the inter-titles. He showed other films and told other stories, often accompanied by a drawing demonstration. Everything was enthralling, but two in particular stood out:
- Plympton's Dogma (on making money from an independent film):
- Make it short (no more than 10 minutes)
- Make it cheap (which explains why he animates on 3s or 4s most of the time)
- Make it funny ('cause these are the ones that tend to sell)
- Sneak preview of Cheatin':
- We were treated to a part of Bill's current work in progress, Cheatin'. He admitted that it doesn't follow any of the criteria above, but that's not stopping him. Even as a raw pencil test, it was beautiful! He said, with any luck, it will be completed by the end of the year. Can't wait!
 |
| I also picked up a copy of his Idiots and Angels, which I hadn't had the opportunity to see. This is another film that doesn't follow his own dogma. At feature length, it's not short, which also means it was not cheap to produce. And, although it had it's comic moments, it's definitely darker than most of his work. Later, I noticed something strange in my copy of Timing for Animation, Second Edition. On page 77, there's a still from Idiots and Angels, but its caption attributes it to Kaze no Tani no Naushika (Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind). Hopefully that will be corrected in later printings. |  |
So, anyway, if you get a chance to see Bill present, don't pass up the opportunity!
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Baman Piderman: Season 2!
Baman and Piderman return! Need I say more?
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Embroidered animation
Have you seen this?! Aubrey Longley-Cook has made what is probably the first animation done with embroidery. Having done some embroidery myself, I have an idea how much work must have been involved in this. Amazing. I really like the reverse side, as it reminds me of Bill Plympton's work.
Thanks to the guys at the Alt Animation podcast for bringing this to my attention!
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
 |  |
Thanks to the guys at the Alt Animation podcast for bringing this to my attention!
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Mary and Max
There aren't nearly enough stop-motion animated features out there. And, although Talk Like A Pirate Day is less than a week away, Aardman's The Pirates! Band of Misfits won't be out for another six months. But I'm temporarily satiated after stumbling upon Adam Elliot's Mary & Max, which I seemed to have missed two years ago. Although the themes are similar to those in the director's previous works ("Uncle", "Brother", & "Cousin"), this film is neither creepy nor depressing. It's a little bit quirky, and absolutely charming. Check out the trailer:
Instead of spoilers, I'd like to share one of my favorite little details from the film: The Noblets. It's an animated cartoon that both Mary and Max watch on television. I'm always fascinated to see animation depicted within animation. How do animators pull that off? When it's done right, an audience can distinguish between "real life", "live-action film", animation, and even fantasy sequences -- all within an animated world. It's amazing to see so many distinct styles gel together in a single piece. Mary & Max may only employ the two styles, but I think they pair very nicely.
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Instead of spoilers, I'd like to share one of my favorite little details from the film: The Noblets. It's an animated cartoon that both Mary and Max watch on television. I'm always fascinated to see animation depicted within animation. How do animators pull that off? When it's done right, an audience can distinguish between "real life", "live-action film", animation, and even fantasy sequences -- all within an animated world. It's amazing to see so many distinct styles gel together in a single piece. Mary & Max may only employ the two styles, but I think they pair very nicely.
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Full of Awesome
"There was a time when you were five years old, and you woke up full of awesome," blogs Melissa Wardy on Pigtail Pals.
You don't have to be a girl to appreciate the sentiment. No matter how hopeful, carefree, and energetic we may have been once upon a time, somewhere along the path to 'adulthood', most of us have lost touch with our inner awesome. But you can get it back. I did.
During a particularly rough week making my student film, I found myself drowning in doubts and fears. What was I thinking? What on earth had I gotten myself into? How was I ever going to get through it alive? And then I had an epiphany; It occurred to me:
"I'm in animation school... Fuck yeah!"
Thank you, Amelia, for reminded me of that feeling. It's one I'd like to remember more often. So I hereby declare: I'm full of awesome!
Are you full of awesome, too?
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
You don't have to be a girl to appreciate the sentiment. No matter how hopeful, carefree, and energetic we may have been once upon a time, somewhere along the path to 'adulthood', most of us have lost touch with our inner awesome. But you can get it back. I did.
During a particularly rough week making my student film, I found myself drowning in doubts and fears. What was I thinking? What on earth had I gotten myself into? How was I ever going to get through it alive? And then I had an epiphany; It occurred to me:
"I'm in animation school... Fuck yeah!"
Thank you, Amelia, for reminded me of that feeling. It's one I'd like to remember more often. So I hereby declare: I'm full of awesome!
Are you full of awesome, too?
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Draw on paper; capture digitally
As much as I love the idea of doing paperless animation with Wacom's Cintiq, there are a few problems. One, at $2000, I don't have it in my budget to purchase one right now. And two, I've not spent enough time on it to master the skill of drawing directly on a screen. There's just something about drawing on paper and flipping those drawings by hand that feels right. Three, it's not quite as portable an an animation disk.
Well, Wacom has just introduced a new technology that, with some modifications, could bridge that gap. The new Inkling is smaller than a cell phone, costs only $200, and allows you to make ink sketches on paper while capturing them digitally. Could the stylus be altered to use non-ink, such as graphite or Col-Erase? Could the receiver be modified to fit on a peg bar instead of clipping directly to the paper?
In any case, it's a fascinating advance of drawing technology. See for youself:
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Well, Wacom has just introduced a new technology that, with some modifications, could bridge that gap. The new Inkling is smaller than a cell phone, costs only $200, and allows you to make ink sketches on paper while capturing them digitally. Could the stylus be altered to use non-ink, such as graphite or Col-Erase? Could the receiver be modified to fit on a peg bar instead of clipping directly to the paper?
In any case, it's a fascinating advance of drawing technology. See for youself:
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Monday, August 29, 2011
What's "Up", Doc?
Pete Docter, the director of Disney/Pixar's "Up," got his hands on some architectural drawings by Utah home builder, Blair Bangerter. The plans were for a full-size, functioning replica of the "Up" house. Rather than shoot the project down, he gave it two thumbs up.
The completed house is explicitly faithful to the original, down to the very last detail. Everything including the furniture, wall paper, coin jar, and paintings, were painstakingly replicated from the movie. Although it may not sit atop Paradise Falls, it could certainly be paradise for someone! Check it out:
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The completed house is explicitly faithful to the original, down to the very last detail. Everything including the furniture, wall paper, coin jar, and paintings, were painstakingly replicated from the movie. Although it may not sit atop Paradise Falls, it could certainly be paradise for someone! Check it out:
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Film festival: Kino sen limoj
As part of the program, my film, Ĉapeloj, had the prestigious honor of screening as a non-competing entry. This may be the first time my film has played for an entire auditorium of its intended audience. Although I'm always grateful to hear English speakers laugh at all the right places, it's feedback from the Esperanto-speaking audience that really makes me proud. I take no offense when the words "naughty" and "rude" are used to describe my film; it's nearly always meant as a compliment. But when I hear it praised as "witty" and "genius" time and time again, I know my audience appreciates my visual puns on an intellectual level, just as I trusted they would.
Julie venis monumenta momento en la historio de la Esperanta kino. La unua Esperanta kinofestivalo ravis spektantojn en San-Paŭlo, Brazilo per dekoj da filmoj kaj videoj. Kiel pironira entrepreno, Kino sen limoj estas rimarkinda. Malgraŭ la granda kvanto da literaturo, dramo, poezio, kaj muziko en nia kulturo, E-istoj sentas la mankon de kino en nia lingvo... ĝis nun. La apero de Kino sen limoj estas tre esperiga. Finfine komencas nova erao.
Mia filmo, Ĉapeloj, estis unu el la honoritaj (ne-konkursantaj) filmoj, kiujn oni prezentis en la programo. Eble temis pri la unua fojo kiam tuta kinejo da Esperantistoj spektis ĝin kune. Kvankam mi dankemas kiam krokodiloj ridas ĉe la ĝustaj momentoj, plej fierigas min respondoj de Esperantistaj spektantoj. Priskribante mian filmon, la vortoj "fia" kaj "maldeca" ne ofendas min. (Kutime temas pri komplimento.) Sed pli kaj pli mi aŭdas laŭdojn je "sprita" kaj "genia". Tiam mi scias ke mia spektantaro komprenas kaj estimas la videblajn vortludojn, tiel kiel mi fidis.
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Betty Boop ain't no brunette
A year ago today, Betty Boop celebrated her 80th birthday. And she remains as charming as she was in 1930. But despite her persisting popularity at the age of 81, few realize that Miss Boop isn't actually a brunette. All her modern depictions, and 89 of her 90 short films lead us to believe she has inky-black hair. But, in fact, she's a redhead.
During her whole career, Betty Boop starred in only one color film. Playing the role of Poor Cinderella, Betty's hair was neither black nor brown. It's fire-engine red:
Happy birthday, Betty! Don't let them take your Boop-Oop-A-Doop away!
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
During her whole career, Betty Boop starred in only one color film. Playing the role of Poor Cinderella, Betty's hair was neither black nor brown. It's fire-engine red:
Happy birthday, Betty! Don't let them take your Boop-Oop-A-Doop away!
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Mr. Peabody & Sherman
When I was still studying animation at Vancouver Film School, I watched a lot of animation. This proved to be less of a break from the drawing table, and more of a change of pace, because I was still studying the animation, critiquing the character designs, analyzing the camera angles, trying to spot what they'd done well, and what they'd done wrong.
At one point I made the mistake of revisiting one of my all-time favorite childhood cartoons, Rocky & Bullwinkle. As a student of animation, I was horrified. Much of the animation was bad: cycles of three keys with no inbetweens, bodies leveled off in such a way that only the legs moved in a walk, and so forth. But it wasn't just the animation. Everything was sloppy. Frames were out of focus, "cleaned-up" drawings looked smeared, background cels were scratched or panned in the wrong direction, hairs were trapped between levels, greasy fingerprints were left behind. It was filled with glaring problem after glaring problem. As one of my instructors put it, it looked like they got drunk and made a cartoon over the weekend.
But the production value of the show was particularly tragic for one reason: the writing was brilliant. You could listen to the soundtrack without picture and still laugh. It had so much potential, but it was executed so hastily I wanted to weep.
It remains a great example of how to cut corners and, more importantly, what not to do. But I haven't dared watch it again for enjoyment. I've hoped that one day I can overcome my training and see it only for what it could have been. I do so miss Fractured Fairy Tales, Dudley Do-Right Of The Mounties, Aesop And Son, and Peabody's Improbable History.
But today I got a glimmer of hope. In a list of projects rumored to be in production at Dreamworks, there is mention of Mr. Peabody & Sherman.
After so many botched 3D adaptations of television cartoons, I'm usually cautious of such news. But after Sony surprised me with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, I'm a bit more willing to suspend my doubts. Mr. Peabody and Sherman on the big screen? If only I could find the keys to the WABAC machine! In the meantime, check out this concept art of Mr. Peabody.
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
At one point I made the mistake of revisiting one of my all-time favorite childhood cartoons, Rocky & Bullwinkle. As a student of animation, I was horrified. Much of the animation was bad: cycles of three keys with no inbetweens, bodies leveled off in such a way that only the legs moved in a walk, and so forth. But it wasn't just the animation. Everything was sloppy. Frames were out of focus, "cleaned-up" drawings looked smeared, background cels were scratched or panned in the wrong direction, hairs were trapped between levels, greasy fingerprints were left behind. It was filled with glaring problem after glaring problem. As one of my instructors put it, it looked like they got drunk and made a cartoon over the weekend.
But the production value of the show was particularly tragic for one reason: the writing was brilliant. You could listen to the soundtrack without picture and still laugh. It had so much potential, but it was executed so hastily I wanted to weep.
It remains a great example of how to cut corners and, more importantly, what not to do. But I haven't dared watch it again for enjoyment. I've hoped that one day I can overcome my training and see it only for what it could have been. I do so miss Fractured Fairy Tales, Dudley Do-Right Of The Mounties, Aesop And Son, and Peabody's Improbable History.
But today I got a glimmer of hope. In a list of projects rumored to be in production at Dreamworks, there is mention of Mr. Peabody & Sherman.
After so many botched 3D adaptations of television cartoons, I'm usually cautious of such news. But after Sony surprised me with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, I'm a bit more willing to suspend my doubts. Mr. Peabody and Sherman on the big screen? If only I could find the keys to the WABAC machine! In the meantime, check out this concept art of Mr. Peabody.
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Nikola Tesla: Rockstar Scientist
I like to think so.
As seen in Pete Oswald's artwork from Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Nikola Tesla is a rockstar scientist -- or perhaps the rockstar scientist.
I wish Sony Pictures Animation would get the hint, and make these posters available for purchase. Flint shouldn't be the only one allowed to hang it in his bedroom. Man, do I want one!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Crab * Krabo
A while back, I was looking for a short project to refamiliarize myself with Adobe Flash. Then my roommate brought home some beer from the local Crabtree Brewing Company. The little tree crab on their logo caught my eye:
Although there are a few glitches with the build, and the animation leaves room for improvement, I'm relatively pleased with the result, given the small investment of time. To view it, visit the Crabtree Brewing website. Comments, as always, are welcome.
Antaŭ iom da tempo, mi serĉis etan projekton por refreŝigi mian konon de la softvaro Adobe Flash. Mia kunloĝanto hejmen portis bieron de loka bierfabrikejo (Crabtree Brewing Company). La eta arbokrabo kaptis mian atenton:
Kvankam estas kelkaj eraretoj en ĝia konstruo, kaj pli bona animacio eblas, mi pli-malpli ŝatas la rezulton, konsiderante la malgrandan tempon elspezitan. Por spekti ĝin, vizitu la retejon de Crabtree Brewing. Komentoj, kiel ĉiam, estas bonvenaj.
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Although there are a few glitches with the build, and the animation leaves room for improvement, I'm relatively pleased with the result, given the small investment of time. To view it, visit the Crabtree Brewing website. Comments, as always, are welcome.
Antaŭ iom da tempo, mi serĉis etan projekton por refreŝigi mian konon de la softvaro Adobe Flash. Mia kunloĝanto hejmen portis bieron de loka bierfabrikejo (Crabtree Brewing Company). La eta arbokrabo kaptis mian atenton:
Kvankam estas kelkaj eraretoj en ĝia konstruo, kaj pli bona animacio eblas, mi pli-malpli ŝatas la rezulton, konsiderante la malgrandan tempon elspezitan. Por spekti ĝin, vizitu la retejon de Crabtree Brewing. Komentoj, kiel ĉiam, estas bonvenaj.
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Bill Plympton = badass
"IT WAS SO AWESOME! PSHHH! Bill Plympton is a bad ass. Just sayin'. Maybe you can join next time a bad ass animator comes to town."These were the kind words I received in consolation after missing Bill Plympton's visit to Broomfield a week ago. To avoid being shamed as I've been, don't miss Bill Plympton when he comes to your area:
- Portland, OR
- July 18 - POWELL'S BOOKS @ 7:30 PM
- July 19 - Dante's Cabaret from 6 – 10
- San Diego, CA
- July 21-24 - Comic Con
- Check below for additional details & tour dates:
- http://www.plymptoons.com/news/jun_july2010.html
- http://www.plymptoons.com/booktour.html
- http://scribblejunkies.blogspot.com/2010/07/summer-events-salem-comic-con-and-more.html
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
ToonBoom
Although my film, Ĉapeloj, was animated on paper, the schedule didn't allow time to finish everything traditionally. Once upon a time, one would have to redraw everything with pen and ink onto sheets of acetate, and then fill in those drawings using brushes and acrylic paint. Finally a cameraman would photograph these, stacked seven high, meticulously following paperwork showing which drawings would appear where. This film then had to be developed, edited, and so on and so forth.
Fortunately, a lot of this process is done in the computer nowadays. The pen, paintbrush, and cameraman are replaced by a scanner and software. The software we used at Vancouver Film School was ToonBoom Harmony.
Today I noticed Ĉapeloj is being showcased on the ToonBoom website under the Schools and Students category:
http://www.toonboom.com/showcase/
Kvankam mian filmon, Ĉapeloj, mi animaciis sur papero, la horaro ne permesis tute tradician produkton. Antaŭ multaj jarcentoj, kiam la mondo estis juna, kaj kiam estis drakoj en Eŭropo, kaj kiam estis gigantoj en Azio, oni devis redesegni ĉion per plumo kaj inko sur plastikaj folioj. Poste oni devis pentri inter la inko per broso kaj farbo. Fine kameraisto devis multfoje foti ĉiun desegnaĵon en sepetaĝa fasko, detale sekvante liston da ĉiu kunigaĵo. Sekve oni revelis la fotojn, kunmutis ĉiun scenon, kaj tiel plu, ktp.
Feliĉe, multe da tio estas ĉi-epoke farite per komputilo. La plumon, farbobroson, kameraiston, kaj muntilon anstataŭigas skanilo kaj softvaro. Nia softvaro ĉe la vankuvera filma stud-ejo (VFS) nomiĝas ToonBoom Harmony.
Hodiaŭ mi rimarkis ke Ĉapeloj prezentiĝas ĉe la retejo de ToonBoom sub la kategorio Schools and Students (Lernejoj kaj Studentoj). Por vidi tion, bonvolu klaki sur la supra marko.
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Fortunately, a lot of this process is done in the computer nowadays. The pen, paintbrush, and cameraman are replaced by a scanner and software. The software we used at Vancouver Film School was ToonBoom Harmony.
Today I noticed Ĉapeloj is being showcased on the ToonBoom website under the Schools and Students category:
http://www.toonboom.com/showcase/
Kvankam mian filmon, Ĉapeloj, mi animaciis sur papero, la horaro ne permesis tute tradician produkton. Antaŭ multaj jarcentoj, kiam la mondo estis juna, kaj kiam estis drakoj en Eŭropo, kaj kiam estis gigantoj en Azio, oni devis redesegni ĉion per plumo kaj inko sur plastikaj folioj. Poste oni devis pentri inter la inko per broso kaj farbo. Fine kameraisto devis multfoje foti ĉiun desegnaĵon en sepetaĝa fasko, detale sekvante liston da ĉiu kunigaĵo. Sekve oni revelis la fotojn, kunmutis ĉiun scenon, kaj tiel plu, ktp.
Feliĉe, multe da tio estas ĉi-epoke farite per komputilo. La plumon, farbobroson, kameraiston, kaj muntilon anstataŭigas skanilo kaj softvaro. Nia softvaro ĉe la vankuvera filma stud-ejo (VFS) nomiĝas ToonBoom Harmony.
Hodiaŭ mi rimarkis ke Ĉapeloj prezentiĝas ĉe la retejo de ToonBoom sub la kategorio Schools and Students (Lernejoj kaj Studentoj). Por vidi tion, bonvolu klaki sur la supra marko.
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Varsovia Vento
I was recently interviewed by a radio program broadcast out of Warsaw, Polland. We talked about a lot of things including my film, Ĉapeloj, and other projects I plan to tackle in the future. I was nervous at first, but I got over that the more we talked. Although the internet makes it possible to use Esperanto daily, I hadn't actually spoken it aloud in nearly four months. It felt so good.
http://www.podkasto.net/2011/05/05/la-70a-elsendo
Min lastatempe intervjuis Varsovia Vento. Ni parolis pri multaj temoj, inkluzive mian filmon, Ĉapeloj, kaj aliajn projektojn, kiujn mi klopodos realigi. Mi komence sentis min malkomforta, sed trankviliĝis post pli da babilado. Kvankam mi uzas E-on ĉiutage per la interreto, ĝis la intervjuo mi ne voĉe parolis la lingvon dum preskaŭ kvar monatoj. Kia sento!
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Min lastatempe intervjuis Varsovia Vento. Ni parolis pri multaj temoj, inkluzive mian filmon, Ĉapeloj, kaj aliajn projektojn, kiujn mi klopodos realigi. Mi komence sentis min malkomforta, sed trankviliĝis post pli da babilado. Kvankam mi uzas E-on ĉiutage per la interreto, ĝis la intervjuo mi ne voĉe parolis la lingvon dum preskaŭ kvar monatoj. Kia sento!
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Plagiarized Portfolio
Recently I met a guy seeking traditional animators. He gave me his card and asked that I send him my demo reel. I rejoiced. It was just the opportunity I was waiting for! Or was it?
Fortunately, I did what every applicant should do before sending a resume and portfolio. I researched the company I was applying for. While exploring the website, I watched his demo reel to get a feel for what I should include in my own. In it I recognized some of the work. At first I was excited. This was clearly a seasoned animator who I could learn a lot from.
But my spidey sense began to tingle. Soon I found myself looking where I first saw the piece of animation I recognized. To my shock and disappointment I found a different animator's name attached to it. So I continued my research. An instructor was able to identify another piece from the reel and gave me the name of the studio. Within an hour of sending an inquiry, the Executive Producer of the studio wrote back to confirm the clip in question (and a dozen others in the reel) did not belong to the artist claiming ownership. Later that day, a handful of scathing comments appeared on the video telling the artist not to steal other people's work. By the next day, the video had been removed.
While I'm disappointed not to be involved in a project that sounded very interesting, I am quite happy not to be working for someone who thinks it's okay to take credit for another artist's work. Good thing I did my research.
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Fortunately, I did what every applicant should do before sending a resume and portfolio. I researched the company I was applying for. While exploring the website, I watched his demo reel to get a feel for what I should include in my own. In it I recognized some of the work. At first I was excited. This was clearly a seasoned animator who I could learn a lot from.
But my spidey sense began to tingle. Soon I found myself looking where I first saw the piece of animation I recognized. To my shock and disappointment I found a different animator's name attached to it. So I continued my research. An instructor was able to identify another piece from the reel and gave me the name of the studio. Within an hour of sending an inquiry, the Executive Producer of the studio wrote back to confirm the clip in question (and a dozen others in the reel) did not belong to the artist claiming ownership. Later that day, a handful of scathing comments appeared on the video telling the artist not to steal other people's work. By the next day, the video had been removed.
While I'm disappointed not to be involved in a project that sounded very interesting, I am quite happy not to be working for someone who thinks it's okay to take credit for another artist's work. Good thing I did my research.
Simmon Keith Barney is an animator living in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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