It has been 2 years since surgery for cancer, and a recent checkup confirmed that I'm fit as a fiddle. So I'm working on my next Animan video. I realize I could probably make the videos faster if I was sloppier with the drawing, and didn't care about dialogue, etc. But if I did that, people would get tired of watching them again and again. Every animator's dream is to make a film that people will want to watch over and over again.
When I started making these Animan movies, I used a tried-and-true technique called the old classic "hand-drawn" or "frame-by-frame" style, meaning that the animator draws thousands of pictures by hand, to create the illusion of movement on film or video.
In the animation industry, ever since computers have been available, they have been using a different style, something which used to be called "Flash" animation, and is now also known as "Cutout puppet animation".
In essence, a character is broken down, and each of its movable parts are drawn onto separate layers. It is animated by using "keyframes" which tell the computer that this is a pose. Keyframes can be scattered along the timeline, and the computer moves the body parts from pose to pose. It can look mechanical, but there are tools to reduce that.
I found a short tutorial showing how this is done. I use software called "Harmony Premium", and the latest version allows for characters' arms and legs to bend like rubber hoses. The old Mickey Mouse cartoons from the 1930's had rubber-hose-animation, in an attempt to make the action look smoother. Personally, I don't like it--I'd rather have my characters bend at their joints.
So, I am now doing my videos with cutout puppet animation. I spend less time drawing, and more time tweaking the keyframes over and over, until it looks right. As you'll see in the tutorial below, that tweaking can be an endless process.
The animator featured is Turkish, and at times his English is a little difficult to follow. But he more than makes up for it with enthusiasm!
When I started making these Animan movies, I used a tried-and-true technique called the old classic "hand-drawn" or "frame-by-frame" style, meaning that the animator draws thousands of pictures by hand, to create the illusion of movement on film or video.
In the animation industry, ever since computers have been available, they have been using a different style, something which used to be called "Flash" animation, and is now also known as "Cutout puppet animation".
In essence, a character is broken down, and each of its movable parts are drawn onto separate layers. It is animated by using "keyframes" which tell the computer that this is a pose. Keyframes can be scattered along the timeline, and the computer moves the body parts from pose to pose. It can look mechanical, but there are tools to reduce that.
I found a short tutorial showing how this is done. I use software called "Harmony Premium", and the latest version allows for characters' arms and legs to bend like rubber hoses. The old Mickey Mouse cartoons from the 1930's had rubber-hose-animation, in an attempt to make the action look smoother. Personally, I don't like it--I'd rather have my characters bend at their joints.
So, I am now doing my videos with cutout puppet animation. I spend less time drawing, and more time tweaking the keyframes over and over, until it looks right. As you'll see in the tutorial below, that tweaking can be an endless process.
The animator featured is Turkish, and at times his English is a little difficult to follow. But he more than makes up for it with enthusiasm!
Interesting tutorial. Way beyond me, but looking forward to your using anything that assists you in your work. I await your next work with tenterhooks. Thanks for keeping us advised.
ReplyDeleteI just put this tutorial here so everyone can see the type of animation I'm doing now. Watching someone draw each frame in animation can be fun, but watching someone do cutout puppet animation (as in this tutorial) can be a drag, because it's nothing more than the animator shuffling body parts around.
DeleteI made a silent screen recording of myself doing it in a scene, and was going to add the narration afterward. But I didn't know what to say--it didn't make any sense when I watched it!
As my new video approaches completion I hope to be posting some screen grabs. Not for a bit, yet though.
Always nice to see an update from you, Animan. I'm not at all worried about whatever new system or style you're going to use for your next videos. I trust your abilities, and even noticed a considerable improvement in your work over ever since you started. If this is indeed the next step, then I'm looking forward to it all the same. Of course, this means I start wondering what the video could possibly be about... You've done the wild west, the 20's, superheroes, big cities, suburbs, WWII, brought mythology to life and made us all hot for your teachers! Where could you think to take us next? Not to ever push you, of course. The fact that you stress such an artistic quality is truly worthy of respect. Also, I couldn't be happier for you covering two years cancer-free! I've never had cancer, but I do have loved ones who survived it; so I know the value of those annual milestones. Congratulations, and here's to many more years!
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Hi Sam. Sorry to be gone for such a stretch. Sometimes I get stretched out rather thin, between my two blogs. Since I put my more "extreme" pictures on Tumblr, I try to keep the pictures on this blog only slightly revealing, and less problematic, because blogs at times, get in a censoring mood. And that's why I tend to use this blog to talk about how I make animation, and post non-Animan art which I want to share.
DeleteFor my upcoming video, I have gone back again to the suburbs. Not just any house, but the house I lived in, where we had a swimming pool. And my parents' bedroom was the area where guests changed into their swimsuits, and I had a lot of fantasies about that! In fact, the main character in the upcoming video is based on me when I was a year out of high school, and just turning 19. What I would have done had the opportunity presented itself comprises the bulk of the new video. So, it's sort of an "autobiographical-wishful-thinking" type of situation. Fans have been clamoring for more swearwords in my videos, and this one will have plenty! Lots more fun for everyone.
Thank you for your kind words about cancer and well-being. I always appreciate that.
xoxo
I miss you. Plz comeback!
ReplyDeleteAnxious for new videos <3
We love u
Thank you, Dear Friend! I'm sorry to always be away for so long. You may recall that I am using a different animation technique, and it's very time-consuming. So I try to limit my time sitting at the computer--and I'm afraid that my blogs suffer as a result. I'll try harder.
DeleteAs for the new video, that is what I am doing now. I promised to have it finished by the end of March, but I don't know if I will. I have to do a little more before I'm sure. But there IS a new video cumming!
Love from Animan
Splendid! I hope you continue to enjoy good health. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThanks, very very much, Jim!!
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