Goodbye Old Friend-

1. Why did you take this class?

Mainly why I took this class is because, I love art and I want to get into the art field, to do something I enjoy. Iv'e always been in awe of animated movies but I never really thought about the process that goes into making them. So, when I heard about BOCES having an animated based class. I wanted to learn and here I am.

2. In general, what did you like most about this class?

I loved the atmosphere of the class (also the projects!) but, with this atmosphere, I became more creative and I got to meet some great people who are artistic like myself. I developed as an artist.  

3. In general, what did you like least about this class?

To be honest, nothing really. Here and there, I thought about how bad of an artist I was because of how wonderful everyone was but that's just mainly myself. Low confidence to the max with this one.

4. What was your most favorite project and why?

I really loved the 11 Second Club. Lip Syncing is something I actually really enjoy doing, it's tedious but well worth it when you mouth moves correctly.

5. What was your least favorite project and why?

My 3D Short, not really the project but just my own idea and concept. I should have gone more simpler with my idea. The model just really pissed me off. But again, my own fault. I love Maya but, practice makes perfect I guess.

And rotoscoping is just, no

6. Discuss the overall effectiveness of the instructor (for example: preparation, availability, interest, content knowledge, expectations, etc.).

Ms. Licata was a wonderful instructor. Her personality and connection with the class was a huge plus for me. A relation/connection with the teacher is a great thing to have. Our lessons in class were also educational and I learned a lot, more than what I thought I would. She peaked my interest about the animation field and truly, made me want to learn more and more about the field of animation/video production.
One of the best teachers/instructors I have ever had. She has helped me some much along the way and I appreciate it immensely.

7. What are the most valuable things you learned in the class?

Critique and Time Management.
I was never great at people critiquing my work and with this class, I learned that I'm gonna have to get used to it and I have gotten better with it. Time Management is something I learned the hard way, by staying up all night trying to finish projects and all of the above.

8. Do you feel that this class will help you achieve your future academic or career goals? How or why (or why not)?

Oh definitely, my taking this class, I learned so much about art and animation that I didn't even think or know about. This class did help me figure out what I wanted to do with my life by giving me the boast of information I needed to lift me off. I'm even looking at colleges right now.

9. How could this class be improved?

I would have to say, by getting that TARDIS sound-booth we need. That would help a whole lot.

10. Additional comments:

I'm gonna miss my classmates and this class. It was a lot of fun this year and I can't wait to see old and new ones again next year. 

 

Anyways, goodbye old friends

Lot's o' Digital Practice ( Blog # 55)

Hey guys, another week is gone and the end is almost near ( quite sad to say so ) but, it's gotta happen.

This week has been okay, I had my AP English final so hopefully, I passed (/crosses fingers) I didn't learn that much this week in Animation but for Digital Art, Iv'e been working with Photoshop for my lineart/colouring and it's pretty interesting. So, I'll be learning more of that in the future.

I really want to learn some good techniques for smoother lines in both animation and digital art, but also I really want to learn some good character design techniques

I'm pretty happy about how everything is going, I've noticed how my art has improved throughout the years and I can actually make art that is NOT fanart, which iv'e always worried about.

Some samples, Still in WIP:





Though, Iv'e been stressing out a tiny bit because I'm thinking of taking some driving lessons in the summer and well, being half blind is not fun so, on the road, it's gonna be bad. (I was already bad at driving arcade games.

Summing it Up:

DO YA THING (Video # 23)

The video for this week is Gorillaz related but it's really cool. It's the maiing of the "DoYaThing" video feat. Andre 3000

RIGHT HERE YO


It's a really sweet video and it's awesome to see all the Gorillaz band members in 3D. It's funny, the music is catchy and you get to learn a quick thing or two about bringing real life and 3D together.

UGH, Cliches (Blog# 54)

Here's Information

. Uusally in  short films, oddly clowns are shoved into the film probably just for the scare for those with the phobia

. Black and White is a cool thing but it's used so much that it has become a total cliche

. Really bad and cheesy soundtracks. It could be very annoying in a film

Opinions

. Cannibalism is listed but, I really enjoy stories about cannibalism since it's an interesting a creepy subject, as well as black and white films

. Silence, I wouldn't  consider a cliche. It adds to the moment and if it's for the whole film, there would be a reason

Cliche or Not?

. Anymore cliche's that could be added to the list, mine would have to be the liar revealed cliche in films

Pixar's New Idea (Blog# 53)

Pixar's new idea about a 2D like image, against a 3D character is rather interesting and stylized.

Throwing the Fact at You

. Different overlays and processes were used to give the effect of a 2D image on a 3D scene. Hatching gives a nice effect of shadows and movement, while outlining bold's the lines out. The use of water color gives of light in the scene, as well as color.

. The input animation of keyframing-in-betweening. Is relatively simple, with simple colors and little to no detail. Keyframing, the artist puts details into the important frames, leaving the face and eyes out in different places. After this, a synthesis result is created,  the character moving smoothly in that stylized art at half speed until a full output version is created.

. The final result of the stylized render, is a composite

My Opinions

. I really like the style that Pixar is going for, bring 2D back into animation, though in a new light. Personally, I like the water color effect, it looking like a painting. I would love to see an animation like that. MAKE IT HAPPEN

. Even if, some of it was confusing, I understand the idea. Though, it needs to be done certain ways and in certain things.

A Little Q & A

. Your opinion on Pixar's stylized idea?
.

Back in Action! (Blog # 52)

Helloooo Nurse!

Back to the blogs and it's pretty cool, getting to express my feels to my classmates once more.  Anyways, this week has been pretty tough, work being thrown at me (cough cough English) Finished The Great Gatsby and watched the movie and it was amazing. I'm glad I read it.

Something I'd really like to learn is how to make more appealing bakgrounds in my animations. They are bland in my opinion.

I was really happy that I entered my first contest, being the only animated entry! I wish luck to everyone and the two other people from the AM class. I also got my hair done today, it's so beautiful (/hair flows in the wind)

Something that made me mad?
Well, my animation almost went to crap. It was extremely weird and I'm just so glad that Ms Licata helped me out (THANK YOU, AHHH)

Summing it Up:

Roger Rabbit (Video # 22)

With the recent passing of Bob Hoskins (we'll miss you Eddie) I wanted to post something relating to Roger Rabbit, one of my favorite movies.
This video shows the before and after effects that were put into the movie during the Toon Town scene. It's really amazing how they did this

I really would like to see movies like this more but, that won't happen.