2021 here we come!
- At January 07, 2021
- By Adam
- In animation
0
A belated but very heartfelt happy new year to each and every one of you.
2021 has some VERY exciting plans in the works for us, and that means we can really help you in more areas of animation, rigging and all those lovely little areas around it. We’ve been heavily experimenting with natural media effects in Toon Boom, so look out for more on that this year too (as you can see a taste of in the animation below!)
I hope your year has started well and that the news isn’t getting you down. If it is, I have a 3 step plan which I can guarantee works 99% of the time (it’s free too).
1) Place all the items you receive news on in a room together
2) Shut the door on the room. Avoid at all costs
3) Have a nice drink and stare out the window at the wonders of nature
😀
Adam
N.B: That little joke there isn’t meant to be insensitive, just my nod to the mental war we’re all waging on the disasters on our screens right now. It’s exhausting, I know! There is light though, so keep the faith 🙂
Happy Easter!
- At April 13, 2020
- By Adam
- In animation
- 0
Last Sunday I found myself in the unusual situation of enforced lockdown on a sunny day. We’d taken our dog, Wilson out for his walk already and had done the jobs that needed to be done, so it was a free afternoon. The sun was streaming in the living room window and the music was forming a comfy background to settle into. Alas, hand drawn animation became a THING for the day! I haven’t done hand drawn animation for FUN for many years, and it was ACE to come back to my animation gateway drug 🙂 It did make me realise how loooooong hand drawn stuff takes, but it was very relaxing and enjoyable to make anywho. Cheesy music courtesy of Apple iMovie. Animation made in Rough Animator for the iPad.
Who moved my Penguin?
- At February 16, 2019
- By Adam
- In animation, Updates
- 0
Here it is! The short film I made about basically being kind to one another, no matter where in the world you come from. It’s around 2 minutes long and you can watch below (note: this video is now playing from BoggleSox’s channel due to a streaming partnership with them).
Where does the story come from?
The story came about from watching all this news on refugees trying desperately to get away from their homeland, and the very mixed reception that people gave them. I didn’t want to make a film that was preachy or too political, as I feel like there’s enough depressing things out there already! My aim was to tell a lighter version which can be viewed by all, with a core message of kindness and empathy.
The picture pin board sequence works around the idea that circumstances affecting the movement of people are often out of their control. This is shown through the easy life of a young Westerner, with details of their affluent life scattered around the photos. The actual pictures are representative of the exotic holidays that rich tourists ‘take and tick off’ on their individual road to self affirmation. the only interaction with the world outside their bubble being a throw away, filtered photo or an ‘awareness’ post on social media. These are just fleeting moments to them, like the worldwide, disaster news they scroll through online everyday.
But I believe people are still fundamentally good! And so this is the end to the story. So be kind to one another people 🙂
One of the first sketches for the film
How was the film made?
The film was made in Toon Boom Harmony using Adobe Premier, After Effects, Audition & Photoshop for certain parts. I started the film as an exercise for rigging demos (a hand drawn character that is rigged up like a skeleton) but it evolved past that, probably because it took so long to finish! I actually believed that the Syrian refugee crisis would be ‘over’ by the time I finished and no longer in the news, but alas… The film was started in 2016 but often was put off due to work commitments and other projects. I finally came to the realisation that I needed to be brave and just finish it towards the end of 2018, when my girlfriend and I were robbed in Mauritius and I was also reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron…but that is story for a different post!
There’s an original score by Richard Hunter (it was great to work with him too..thanks Richard!) and assisting direction from Josie Cerise…saving me from moments of madness 😉
If you have any questions about the film or the process, just send them over from the contact page. I hope you enjoy it!
Beach life
- At February 15, 2019
- By Adam
- In animation
- 0
I’ve been working on this short film on and off for AGES now and finally took the time to focus and get it finished. I realised that I was procrastinating, swerving off to follow other shiny ideas and generally doing the artist thing of being afraid to put myself out there, creatively. The fact is, I really enjoy telling stories and animating, it’s just I’ve kind of censored myself over the past decade. I think this is due to a number of reasons, but the commercial side of appearing perfect to fit into the next studio role is one of them. It’s hammered into you as a student and seems to be the dominating factor when producing something that is very personal.
I definitely chose a more commercially viable route when I left university and picked projects. This is not to say I didn’t enjoy the work I found from this kind of pursuit, I did! But if you’re not careful, you forget what it is YOU actually like to draw/make/do. This project was part learning curve and part ‘break the rust off the gears’ and start telling stories again. Although at points I felt like quitting as I didn’t like the story, felt the animation wasn’t up to scratch, designs were rubbish, etc (insert endless list of self depreciating thoughts here!) I reached the finish line and feel GREAT that I stuck with it. Having a film festival submission as a deadline and working with a composer for original music were good tricks that helped keep the momentum and drive the finished touches over the line and this side of the decade 😉 It’s only a short film, but it’s amazing how these things can get put on a back burner for years and yet you always feel ‘busy’.
A little GIF snippet from the film, when all seems to be going swimmingly for one character.
I have to say a massive THANK YOU to my new fiancée (we are engaged as of 3 days ago!) for her continued support and guidance. She often saw clarity when I was considering my life choices and made some BRILLIANT creative calls when I just couldn’t choose. Thank you Josie x
The film will be out very soon! Just a couple of days 🙂
Buzzing Bee Garden
- At February 12, 2019
- By Adam
- In illustration, Sketchbook
- 0
Here’s a fun bit of watercolour sketchbook doodling that became the plan for a 2D animated multi-plane scene. I created an enhanced version for my new course one animating in Toon Boom Harmony, covering 3D space, 2D animation loops, cameras and special effects. I love English summertime and watching a bee hum through the rich garden scene is one of my favourite kind of moments 🙂 So I thought I’d have a go at re-creating something similar in the famed 2D animation software.
The watercolour was REALLY great fun to do…lots of just noodling about with shapes, composition and ideas from memories of my relatives’ gardens last summer. So here it is! I’ll post an update of the animated version when the course is underway at the end of February 😉
And a word on the Toon Boom Trainer courses. The first course for 2019: Animation in Toon Boom Harmony has completely sold out! I’m very happy to see every place filled and excited to train up all this potential bunch of Toon Boomers! There’s so much you can do in the software and it’s improving all the time. An awesome creative evolution is underway!
Black ink sketch with watercolour over the top. Some exaggerated colour choices 😀
Snow storm animation
- At February 03, 2019
- By Adam
- In animation
- 0
Here’s a sample of a snow storm animation I’ve put together in Toon Boom Harmony. I’m using particle effects so it’s all composited in the software. It’s a simple scene and there is A LOT you can do with the node library and effects modules. There’s many I’d like to explore to their full potential…see what they can do! Toon Boom is crying out for a special effects and compositing book or guide (hint hint watch this space). For now, enjoy the snow gif. It’s funny creating these when it is ACTUALLY snowing outside 😛
