Monday, March 26, 2007

Cut Outs



Here are some examples of cut out characters. I draw a version of the original cartoon with the moving parts seperated. Then In ToonBoom Studio the parts are reassembled into a digital marianette. This technique (or a variation) is used in many modern animations such as Blue's Clues, Little Bill, and South Park to save time.

More Show and Tell Roughs




Here are yet more roughs for show and tell. Also featured is a cut out version of the rapper. Using this technique I can move the arms and legs without re-drawing them for every frame. For much of the show and tell I plan to combine cut outs and frame by frame drawings.

Friday, March 23, 2007

Show and Tell - Dancing










Here are some roughs of the show and tell characters in motion. These are the extremes of the motions. Our star strust across the stage past his dancers. For this project I am learning to time animation to music. I have never done this before, but it is an animation tool that I must learn. It is one of animations oldest conventions. Unfortunately, this concept has almost dissapeared from modern cartoons. Learning this has been difficult since I have no musical background. I have found some great resources to help me.

The ASIFA-Animation Archive has a great article on the subject.

I have read some blogs of other animators figuring out the same problem, Here are Goober Sleave's fist article, Goober's second article, Nick Cross's article, Mark Mayerson's article, and a great resource from Hans Perk.

With these great resources and the free GiveMeTac Metronome software I am confident I can learn these techniques.

Keep an eye out for the Boogieman dancing.

Friday, March 9, 2007

Show and Tell (not the strip club)


I will be doing some art and animation for show and tell. Show and Tell is some a live musical for children. I will make animations for the web site (or something like that). www.showntellthemusical.com is the web site. You can check it out for yourself.

This is the boogie man. He is my personal favorite.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Predicting the FUTURE through the power of cartoons.

First friday is a monthly cultural even in Philly when old city's art galleries unveil their new collections. This attracts all kinds of artsy people and local artist selling their work on the street. This is the location for my act. This month was the first of what I hope will be many more nights of drawing cartoons on the street for money.
For only one dollar I will predict and draw your future. Somebody brave enough will step up. I will ask them some questions about who they are and what they like and then just draw them as a caveman or genie or many other random characters. The cartoons are no great works of art. I draw as fast as humanly possible because the more I draw the more money I can make.
It is alot of fun but more importantly I get real world experience of being funny and working a crowd. It's much more about the entertainment than the art. I learned that the key to making it work is drawing a crowd. If people see somebody do it and laugh then they will do it to. Drawing a crowd is fun and nothing works like yelling like a mad man about the future. Then I have to stay in this goofy character, taking myself and my supposed powers so seriously that nobody could possibly take me seriosly. Sort of like Lesslie Neilson in Naked Gun.
I feel practice like this is necessary to becoming a well rounded cartoonsist. My hours of practicing drawing cartoons will be for nothing if I don't master these skills I can practice on the street. The point of cartoons is to be funny, entertaining, and to 'work a crowd'. I also get to see first hand what people think is funny and what isn't. Plus I make enough money to get good and drunk that night.

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Introduction - Why I have a blog


So, What is the purpose of this blog? I can't say I am entirely sure myself. I am thinking its a quick fix until I set up a website. Until then it is a place where I can post cartoons, keep people up to date on project, muse about what makes for good cartoons and animations. Now, the real question is 'will anybody read it'