What is animation?

I love posing this question to my class or even in a professional conversation.  What comes back with the grandest of intent is some sideways explanation of the "Illusion of Life" or "Acting through Movement".  The question confuses some at least those who think before they spew their twelve principles all over the floor. 

The reason any thinking artist is confused is that animation itself defines two aspects of the form, it is both the practical application and action of frame by frame artistic torture as well as the gestalt, the overarching whole potato of the medium, the animated film.  One can say "I am an animator", but animator's don't make up the entire process.  They are only the actors, they do not write the script, they do not score the music or mix the track, they don't paint the backgrounds.

What is animation?  Animation is the culmination of just about every art form there is, that is what animation is.

The Curse part two

You know you are creative when you are smacking keyboard buttons, pen slicing across your Wacom tablet with the frenzy of a rabid animal, and you briefly look outside and the day couldn't more perfect.  Sun shining glory.  And you don't care, it's all about the art in front of you.  Funny, Patty Cline is singing "Crazy" in my headphones at the moment.

Taking this Blog out of the BLOB state

Wow, it has been a while, and I am trying to get back into both posting a blogging as a part of my ultimate plan to destroy the world, or conquer it, or just make a splash.  So I would just like to briefly announce that this blog is back along with all the others I have started.  I am excited to share more animation ideas, stories and Gav animation in general.  Look for more posts coming soon.

Okay so I am not moving anymore

Well, this blog soon became a "blob", a inactive blog, and I haven't had much of a chance to write let alone, think.  I have spent the past year and a half, working nearly full time, and going to Graduate School at SCAD for my painting degree, started, way back when painting was dead.  Yes, declared dead and buried 1979 or 1981 (depending on who you consider).  I am getting back in the swing of things since my degree is months away, not years away.  So stay tuned, I am bound to post something soon.

Will be posting again soon

I am in the middle of a move and will be posting again soon.

Lesson # 7 K.I.S.S.

"Keep It Simple, Stupid" is a great adage in any profession, but can be particularly helpful in the crazy ass pursuit of 24 frames per second (30 video , of course). Keeping animation simple can allow for some valuable pocket change (under budget), it helps you focus the project, and it makes your project easier to cross the proverbial finish line of "done". "Keep It Simple Stupid" is not a limitation, it is an anchor, a parameter, a goal. It isn't a limit to creativity for all creatively has some limits, it just can keep your little tush grounded.

Is it always true? Hell no! Complexity in the right hands can be amazing eye candy and can break new animation ground but it takes an extraordinary effort and a fine tuned control to keep it from being a visual car crash. It is also a trap. I have come across many artists who believe that only through a massive maze of creative ideas and techniques can artistic nirvana can be achieved. Unfortunately for those who believe the only valuable artistic pursuit is the pursuit of the nearly impossible, they are still lacking and what they lack is simplicity. The directness of the punch in the face moment.

Keeping it simple embraces a broad audience and usually is not about visual fluff and butter, it is direct and clear. No matter what your experience level or talent, "Keeping It Simple Stupid" will keep you from failing, missing deadlines, pulling your hair out, long hours, and that overwhelming feeling of "Why the hell did I make this so complicated".

Lesson #6-Hugh Valentine

"You never remember how long it took, you only remember how good a job you did."-Hugh Valentine.

I have never come across a better way to conduct my artistic symphony than this bit of animation wisdom. Hugh Valentine was a great animation cameraman who carefully and methodically shot my first film, "Lazar" and when he uttered these words to me they burned in my brain like a hot brand on cow's ass.

The obvious point of this statement is that there is nothing worth doing unless it is done well and this is especially true in animation. Why spend weeks on a project that you "phone" in, there is just no point to wasting that much life without a payoff.