Warning

Just to warn you guys, my school has spirit week next week... so... uh... be prepared

Food for Thought

Have you ever tried looking up really hard to try and spin your eyes backwards to look at your brain?

Weekly Comments

  We have learned how to animate balls with the best of them! I can't wait till I can make a skit I recently came up with! What's frustrating is the slowing ball bounce, everyone had trouble with it, it was not fun. I really enjoyed making the creep on my pendulum, seeing a figure of your imagination swinging on a big ol' ball, it's invigorating! Like beating a boss in Dark Souls! Come to think of it, Dark Souls and animating have a lot in common... But here's a video of simple style but good animation that will probably make you laugh -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrzIykdka4s and this, that has no value to Digital Media, but is easily the funniest thing on Earth -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrzIykdka4s

Boxtrolls and Puppet Animation

  Boxtrolls is an upcoming stop-motion movie created by the studio Laika. It's dragonhead, Travis Knight, is president, CEO, and head animator, which is to say he has to really like what he does. Laika is unique, not just in stop-motion, but in most animation studios in general. Rather than getting a team of animators for a project, they keep the group they have, which allows for learning from past projects, as well as each bringing their own unique style to the table. This keeps each film getting more precise, while keeping the same charms of the animators. I've dabbled in stop-motion in the past, while it is a repetitive pain in the neck, I feel it's simultaneously the easiest and hardest form of animation. The objects are physically there so you never have to worry about proportions, however, making a mistake in one frame can make you have to do an entire scene from the beginning. I really like there overall style of what I've seen of the film from trailers, commercials, and the like. Puppet animation has a unique atmosphere that nothing else has, live action or animation. It's hard to tell precisely what it is however, I think that it's the backgrounds and characters are physically there, made of cardboard and the like. It reminds me of when I made little cities out of my old toys and cut up boxes, and it makes me want to do it again. There's just a special charm in stop-motion that can never by replicated by any other media.

Democracy is Truth.  Communism is a Lie

6 Principles of Animation

  I'll start by saying that when you write down animation principles in a movie, don't just write down the first thing for each you found in the first half hour in order to eat, otherwise looking for 6 can be a chore. Without further adieu, the first principle to mention is arcs. Arcs are easily used the most in every piece of organic motion, although they're easy to spot, analysis is a bit tricky. You can see that virtually all character movement, from arm gestures to acrobatics is based on a basic curve that the movement follows. Movement without arcs is more awkward than wearing a shoe on the wrong foot. Now for secondary action! Secondary action is used really effectively right at the beginning, with Flint's dad's eyebrow raising at the experiments. While basic, it does reveal traits of his personality, which is the whole purpose of secondary action. Squash and stretch is almost as common as arc, it wasn't until after I learned about it that I realized how common it is in 3D animation. While there are some obvious examples of it, like Flint being manhandled by the cop, or dragged behind a rocket, it can be seen in most motion throughout the film. Follow through and overlapping action, easy to spot, simple to explain. Perfect. Overlapping action can be seen in Flint's lap coat and most characters hair. You can see a LOT of effort was put into designing, lighting, and animating the hair to make it life-like, while this seems tedious and redundant, I've seen 3D animations without such work put in the hair. It looks like clay. The packet's description of timing is kinda confusing, but I think I get the idea of it. I could only pick up on the most obvious example, when it goes slow-mo as Flint rockets past his dad, showing his concern with trying to impress him with constant failures. Exaggeration, good golly is exaggeration prevalent in this movie. While I could babble about intense reactions, facial expressions, or Flint inability to look his dad in the eyes, I'll take a different path. There was an example of exaggeration that was simple yet sophisticated and reminds me of Ed, Edd, and Eddy honestly. It's Flint's attempts to take of the spray-on shoes, teeth, power-tools, a crate, simple but effective.

2D animation's coming back baby!

  This article describes the intents of a movie in the making: Hullabaloo. This is a 2D animated steampunk movie about a woman trying to find her father who recently dispensary. The filmmakers' biggest intention with the movie goes beyond a good picture, but to try and spark a Renaissance in 2D animation, as well as incorporating steampunk and female protagonists into mainstream animated films.

  Words can scarce describe how pumped I am to get to see a 2D animated movie from America at long last! I really hope the this movie is astounding and even  more I hope it does kickstart a rebirth in hand drawn animation. 3D animation is good and does have it's place, but holy crap, give it a break and cut down on the extra dimension! There are certain stylistic changes that can be made to characters and environments that add so much to the atmosphere of 2D animation, that if tried in 3D look really weird or even gross. It doesn't help that most 3D animated projects look so stinking similar, and similar art style is why I can't stand to watch anime. All that aside the combination of cartoon and steampunk will be GLORIOUS! While steampunk has been growing a lot in popularity, that is not by any means unwanted, I could get a steampunk link for the rest of the year and still love it!

  I will say that while more traditional animation will never be unwelcome, it is not at the brink of extinction, with all the cartoons airing in America as well as in Japan and Europe (France especially), it's not dying on our watch. It does still restore faith in humanity when people are vocal in their mission to strengthen hand drawn animation. As far as female protagonists, while I strongly support inclusivity, female protagonists are quite common in animated films in recent years. The female protagonist crusade is most focused on video games for now, and considering gaming is undergoing an inclusive Renaissance, the focus should be on live-action movies and TV, where the a strong female protagonist has to be in a team of mostly men. While we're at this why aren't people demanding more transgender or crossdressing protagonists?

  I really appreciate hearing others thoughts and opinions, so please comment what you think of my philosophies up above.

Weekly Comments

- I learned the importance exaggeration

- I hope to learn how to work with audio

- I'm frustrated with being sick Friday and today

- I'm happy that the style of my character was complemented

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofV_iFBw2YE Something to brighten your day

Michael Moore Film Tips

An article containing an unlucky number of tips for documentaries. This was full of good tips to make a documentary interesting, and maybe, just maybe, entertaining. His tips were to be humorous, don't regurgitate the same bunk everyone already knows, leave the audience to do some work, something about over-priced popcorn, the "left" needs to be funnier, name the real villains, make it personal, look at the media's response, Americans love non-fiction, only people who disagree, create the film from the audience's point of view, treat the audience like they have brains, and that sound is more telling than the picture. Basically you should involve the audience as smart passengers in the documentary. The film shouldn't be boring, and it shouldn't be pretentious. This is a really good set of tips for aspiring documentary makers, it can help them avoid making a boring, condescending lecture with the maker's opinion shoved down your throat. While I personally will probably never use this, it is a good kick in the rear for rookies to actually put some effort into creating an enjoyable experience.

Blog on the Video Game Cinematography link

   A video game developer was explaining aspirations for PS4 exclusive game The Order: 1886. The link briefly described video games rising as a excepted form of art. It then got to the main point about the strive of the developers to create a memorable experience through the use of filming techniques to improve the game's experience. Some subtle camera angles allow for the avatars to look humble, sad, scared, angry, and powerful. They went the extra mile in cinematography by adding effects as if seen through a camera, like the lens curve and dirt.

   I am very interested in gaming, so this article grabbed my interest fairly well. I think that the use of imperfection and other subtle devises can really help with the immersion levels of a game. I agree that many more subtle devises can make a very interesting gaming experience intensifying the tension and emotion of the game. My curiosity lies with if the cinematic strategies will carry in to gameplay, and what other games are trying this out. This applies to Digital media in both film and animation using filming techniques in an animated world. I doubt any article we get will match the class as perfect as this. But for the record this feels like an Order: 1886 advertisement, nice try Mrs. Licata! I'd rather have Sunset Overdrive on the X-box, cause it has a more relatable personality! And COLOR!

Here's my blog for the 6 tips from recruiters thingy.

   The link described the best ways to get a job for animation. It said that first impressions are important, only put in your best stuff, and not to waste the person's time. Unique things are the best for they cut from the same generic junk recruiters have to sit through, and have strong acting and characters for those are most wanted in the industry. It said that one should know the audience and try to make something that would fit well with them, while remaining unique and not offensive, and also to make sure everything is convenient for them.

   I learned some key things that can improve chances when sending in a compilation of works when applying for a job. I think that these are good things to keep in mind when job hunting. I agree that these tips can make or break a person's chances at a job. I feel it was direct enough where I have no related questions. This link is good for Digital Media students who aren't ambitious enough to start a company in their garage and need to get a job they might actually enjoy.

Weekly Comments! (Patrick)

- I learned about the greed of companies with copyright claims this week
- I want to learn how to mix gradient with solid colors
- I was frustrated with all the dang quizzes!
- I'm happy to be drawing at last
- Check it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-JzVvoqo4I&list=UUYh4SJwo9vWkfZwc0w4b4ng It's short but regardless a flawless example that humanity has a glowing bastion of hope that art truly can define us as a glorious race.

You can take the Pepsi away from the man, but you can't take the man away from the Pepsi.