On going Jedi Training

Another week another not quite a dollar. Our last assignment required to bounce two balls of various weights to contrast (ie. one heavy one light) so I thought I'd see what I could do to push the envelope on it by adding a symmetrical cantilevering device commonly known as a teeter-totter. This was a fun one but more challenging that I would have originally have imagined. There still needs to be a tiny bit of polishing on it but by and large for the most part, I'm happy with it. This was a really good lesson in timing and how important it is in the overall product; if not THE most important attribute. It will make or break a shot, acting wise or more generally making the shot read unclearly; this is also one of the continuing strengths of the school. The receival of continuous feedback if I put my work out there really helps as it is really difficult for me to know sometimes if my idea in my head is being understood by someone who's never seen it before in the way I want it to.

Also another fascinating things I'm learning and more importantly finally understanding are how there are rules of animation, but at the same time there are no rules. What rules need to be applied, what rules can be bent and even more crucibly when these rules can be broken. I very much didn't understand this concept in the past, it seemed so incredibly contradictory, but it's finally beginning to sink in. I think this comes from an intuitive understanding of the rules and foundations, because without that there is no way to know when to have the flexibilty of creative design within a shot and style of shot.

In other news, Siggraph is two weeks away! And I have to compile a new demo reel because I might as well. If I was to land a possibility of of an internship or the like with a big name company, Siggraph would be an excellent stepping stone for such an opportunity. Plus public awareness and social networking is key; and it's been about a year since I made my last demo reel anyways, a lot more new stuff to add; let's hope I can impress!

The first post of a new blog! I figured it would be a great idea to start a real blog as opposed to the one I have on my website www.franticrabbit.com; as I'm forever redesigning the layout of that. This way it'll be great to stay on top of how my week/work progresses as Animation Mentor, and this is the onset of my new and revamped Character Animator career. The 3D generalist angle was fun, but I know what I really want to do deep down inside; animation is such a wonderful industry, always changing and constantly fun! I'll post my first animation assignment of a regular bouncing ball which went over better than expected; it's just a bouncing ball, but even that can take quite a while to finesse. That was my real learning experience with this simplistic but perfectionist assignment; to help develop that eye and make those micro-changes that add appeal and believability to a shot. Likewise with the pose assignments which I will also post. A very exciting and appealing school, hands down, one of the best decisions I've made in the past couple years. I luv it when dreams are coming true!