More Sketchy Book

Winter Man Animation

Still Frame

The sequence below is pretty quick but it still represents the most involve "vector art" animation I have ever attempted. Sorry it is a bit hard to read in this web video.

Some Recent Sketchbook Stuff

Pushing the Envelope

We seem to be in a creative period where "pushing the envelope" is only about how far we can stretch the borders of good taste. I wonder if good taste even exists anymore with all the train-wreck reality shows, the deceit in our society, and our acceptance of it all. I do remember when "Pushing the Envelope" meant trying to create a new style, animation technique, or even an inventive gag. It was about trying to inspire, and create something that "raised the bar" of animation, comedy, and art. IT was about being clever. Not that "being wrong" can't be funny, it surely can, but what happened to inspiration? Is that just too corny? Am I sounding like some Bible Belt Republican? Am I uncool if I don't believe we need another character made of shit? I remember a story that the guys from South Park and John K were fighting over their characters of excrement. Something about who created the first "shit" character, and when. I can't remember many of the details, thankfully. But I think arguing over "shit" characters is probably not what we should be doing as animators and artists. Just know what is good and what is cheap, that's all I am asking.

Dr. Tutti Bango

Another design, another day.

Just a Turtle Design

Unfortunately

Well it looks like Deratany lost in spite of the ad we produced. As well, it has been erroneously reported by outlets, GetFave.com and PRNews that Jib Jab produced the ad. It is of course, a Horrendous Fiasco.

Why Vote Deratany?

RPM Advertising asked us to do a Jib Jab style commercial for their client Jay Paul Deratany. As you will see we had a good time with it and I credit a great agency to work for, a gutsy creative director, Larry Bessler, and a brave client too. It is rare that animators are given a lot of creative freedom, and when it happens, I think animators will bend over backwards for the client and for the job. I know I did. Worked my butt off and as most of you know it is a rather large butt. I had some great help from a freelancer here in Tucson, Sean Coleman, a young animation stud type. And of course the track was done by, my man, Jim May of Mini-No-Place. He is great. This is a pretty darn good example of what can be pulled together in a couple of weeks, in this new wacky computer age. I can't imagine how long it would have taken traditionally. This is the type of 2d innovation I am always blathering about, it's fun, quicker than traditional methods, and has more options. Sure it's not great animation but who cares...it's a style and it works. This project was done in After Effects and although it can be a pain to animate in it has advantages in terms of output and camera movement. Blah blah blah....Enjoy.

WINTER MAN

Here is one of the most involved images I have ever animated. All the frames were created in vector art and had more layers than I can remember. I will post the final animation when I get it from the agency. This frame is just a mock-up.

Is 2D dead?

No, it's just starting over. It's a whole new animation world out there. The days of inking and painting cels are gone, and that is not a horrible thing. Cels were extremely difficult to work with, organize, and keep clean. I was lucky to have some remarkable people working for me over the years, thank you, oh powerful universe. Knock Knock could produce some very innovative styles even with the limitations of an acetate world. Todd Myers and David Fedan were master inkers, Bev Chiara, one hell of a cel painter. All those talents are still valuable, but there are thousands of styles to be explored now due to that digital thing that seems to be happening everywhere. The digital age that gave birth to 3D animation, that has changed photography forever, and that has now changed 2D production as well. 3D had to innovate since it's inception and now it is 2D's turn. Programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, After Effects are all getting more sophisticated. It would have been impossible to create the image above in cel work. Well, maybe not impossible but would have been a huge pain in the ass. It probably would have taken most of the day instead of ten minutes. As 2D artists, we must continue to innovate, create new images and styles , we are at the beginning of a whole new art form and even though old production techniques still have some value, we now have the tools to finish without limitation.