Goodbye 2010, hello 2011!!!

Wow! It's 2011 already? It's always like that haha, how the year fly by. 2010 has been a hell of a year, both good and bad. In terms of my animation education however, it's been one of the most exciting and progressive years ever. I've finished my Animation Mentor course and have successfully overcame my uncertainty in my ability to animate acting. I also learnt how to polish my work to a feature worthy degree (I'm thinking it is close because I was actually contacted by Sony Imageworks to work on the Smurfs feature! was quite stunned for a few days). Finally I have moved on to a new level of tv animation since working at Oktobor Animation. The Penguins of Madagascar Series has allowed me to exercise all the knowledge I've learnt during my AM education, in a series with great writing, great characters and very well drawn storyboards.

2011 will be another year of this great opportunity to exercise all that I have learnt. And here I must list what allowed me to attain the level I am at (time might make things hazy, but I wont forget if I wrote them here).

Tip Number 1:
Follow the boards and play with the breakdowns and transitions.

Tip Number 2:
Dont be afraid to PUSH the pose. If it means bending the rig to an impossible state to achieve the perfect pose and express personality, it's worth it! Oh but make sure you block in spline, it has to transition properly.

Tip Number 3:
The personality is in the DETAILS. Adding in the expressive hand pose, subtle weight shifts, eye movements or body spine shapes, is what gives the animation the extra factor.

Tip Number 4:
Changes is good! Critique changes or feedback notes is an opportunity to make the animation better, do not half arse it! Always do exactly what the note is trying to change, for example when the director gives notes on how to change something to give the feeling he/she wants in the story, do the note to address the 'feeling of the story' not just the note.

Tip Number 5:
Body mechanics is the main thing to address when going from blocking to splining. Fix that, address the arcs and weight, then add in the details. My workflow is to
1. put in all the moving holds
2. add extra breakdown poses if needed. The more information you put in the better it will be
3. add in 'acting within the action' poses. Fully body keys here still
4. sweeten up all the body mechanics. Dont lose it here, the biggest problem is auto piloting and turning your animation to mush, only fix what is needed.
5. add in the final details as I said in Tip Number 3.
6. finish off! tidy the ears, tails and intersections

Tip Number 6:
Education is in critiques. The saying (or perhaps from the Tarzan song) 'In teaching you will learn', if you are able to spot problems in other people's work, you will also spot it in your own work and fix it. Also, other people's successes can inspire our own shots. Very very true.

Tip Number 7:
After 5 years in the industry, I finally worked out that having fun and taking breaks is essential to how you will perform. Stay inspired, active and motivated. If you're not feeling it, go play some nerfs or make some iced mocha with the others, that will fix it quick smart :)

2010 has been a really tough and progressive year and I believe 2011 should be a year I take the most advantage of what I've learnt in the hill climb of a year. Keep at it, and who knows, maybe I will get an opportunity to advance to the next level and direct something ;) For the moment, enjoy animation and enjoy life. Good luck!