Rodney

I know you said it won't have anything from the series itself but depending on the shots you have I'd recommend playing with those a bit. Zoom in... pan across... etc. You may want to choose the music first in order get a feel for where the images should be placed. At a minimum I'd say you should set the scene (even if hyped) and spend a little time showing the primary characters. What I like to do is place thumbnail sketches of what images and actions I want then replace those with animatics, and fully rendered shots. It might even be neat to exploit the fact that you are putting this together yourself by making a story with you and your characters progressing from simple ideas, scripts, and sketches to a few cool looking scenes. Make it fun and quick and it should read well.

What she said! This makes me want to watch an episode right now. Lookin' Good!

ddustin, For subtle effect you could try what I call the Emilio method (After Moscafilms!). He was the first person to show me the utility of using magnatude adjustment to gain subtle beveling effects automagically on a spline. I must confess I still don't understand but it's an easy thing to test. Instuctions for anyone that wants to try: -Create an object and use the comma to select your spline. -Adjust the magnitude slightly (bias handles if you prefer but typing in numbers works nicely) -Adjust to taste. In a realtime render you don't always see the bevel effect. However, it works pretty well in final render. -Rodney

Don't tell anyone but if you'll look back through the posts you'll notice that Steve disappeared about the same time I showed up. Shhh....

I was going to post earlier to say "Great Job" and the usually about your awesome efforts... but I figured it might be best to let you enjoy the moment with the rest of the membership. Can't resist any longer. I just want to complement you all on the excellent efforts put forth thus far and wish you prosperity in your future endeavors. Long live BAM! (or whatever you decide to call it) -Rodney

Bubblegum Crisis! Now you're talkin' Great stuff there! Looking at your stills makes me contemplate the pros and cons of detail in animation. It seems people work really hard to get 'perfect' images in stills that don't necessarily translate anything more to the moving animations. There is a catch-22 I guess as stills for any successful production will probably be desired if for no other reason that to promote the animation. What you've got thus far is awesome. I hope you can post some animated shots as well. Really looking forward to seeing your Rock Music video when it's fully complete!

We (collectively) try to get the word out on that as often as possible... but sometimes we forget too!

D, Looking much much better. Nice! Since my focus seems to be on the eyes I'll try to stay there for suggestions. At the top of the same page (Page 64 in TAOA:M) there is a really small write up on pupils. I'd suggest that when the eyes open fully you reduce the pupils just a little. With the eyes open so wide more light is entering the eye and the pupil should adjust to limit that. When the eyes close they'll need more light so the pupil gets bigger. You can try exaggeration and that might work best... but sometimes a subtle change can work better. In the case of your Keekat's movement he is moving only a little so the exaggeration shouldn't be too extreme. Keep working it as you find time. You are really getting the feel for his personality.

Or grab some of the other planes from the Free Models or FTP areas and have a dogfight!!! Actually... I should have said grab them off of the A:M CD... it looks like *most* of them are there... Helicopters too!

D, Nice improvement! You said: I love what you've got going thus far... great stuff. The first thing that caught my eye... what Keekat's eyes. They don't blink. Suggestion While 'listening' to your animation fully relax and note your own eye movement and where you might blink naturally... this isn't easy when you are first trying... but look at your animation... then try again... look at your animation... try again... Eventually I think you'll find a few nice places to put a blink or two. TAOA:M master has some basic information on Page 64 Pupils and Blinks Hope you don't mind if I link this WIP into the TAOA:M area! 'Tis good stuff!

The Grandmothers are gonna love that. Great job! Is the sequel in the works? I'm gonna have to invest in a good DV camera myself one of these days! -Rodney

Brandon, I especially like your 'replay' technique that reveals the steps you used to create the shot in successive passes. Nice! I really love behind-the-scenes stuff! As far a the Trickz part of your website.... Ouch! That's painfull just to watch you do all that jumping and flipping stuff. I am really getting old! I assume you must be contemplating some live action stunts in your future work. -Rodney

Pretty smooth. My brain said change some of the other balls/spheres on the ground to be half spheres just like Mr. Ball. Then the viewer would be compelled to think something similar had occurred before in that particular area. Not every day that Thom gets to play the role of the victimizer instead of the victim. Times they are a changin'!

For those looking in... here is where the poll stands at this moment in time. To me it's not the numbers but the ratio that seems to be most statistically significant. The numbers look pretty good too considering too much interest could actually be a bad thing in the short term. Currently, there is roughly twice as many people interested in apprenticing as are mentoring. That's a fine ratio for such a program. (Sleep is now required)

Simon, You've got at least two things working against you here. First, You've posted in the WIP section which is really going to limit the number of viewers that might otherwise respond. Second, there may not be too many people that have created facial pose sliders for the Eddie rig. I thought it came with some basic pose sliders... Didn't it? Yup! It does. Look for them under User Properties in the PWS in the Eddie model.

Hehe Good thing that isn't longer or looped... It'd be mesmerizing.

Perhaps it doesn't like your extension. You could compress it in a zip file I guess. That might make it less attractive to potential viewers though. If you have any means of procuring some webspace (which it looks like you have) you can link to the movie via the URL tag in a post.

That was fun! You've got a lot of things going on in there. For my part the two parts that I really liked were the dino running (where the guy runs along side and vaults onto the dinosaur) and the walk cycle with the guy and the gun. You didn't really ask for critiques... so I'll just say I liked those two areas because they had a polished look to them. Tell me you are doing a story with them! -Rodney P.S. The direct link didn't work for me.

I lied about staying out of this ;o) What!!! How can I? Frank Silas... the gaming guy??? Where is that signup sheet?

Huh? Did someone say something... (In other words... the only change in status quo that I forsee is there might be a few more A:M users that feel confident to contribute to the forum. That's a worst case scenario I think. Looks like a win-win situation to me.) Note: I'm going to try to back down a bit on my support for this idea (if I can) to let more rational minds prevail. I think everyone can see my position on the matter. I'll plug from inside the New Users Forum... and try to leave everyone alone here. I'll just say... This one is a winner... and leave it at that.

Hey Hey now... no one is changing the forum! As far as how difficult it'll be... don't blink... you're likely to miss out!

Jason (and all), Some good points raised here. As has been suggested, what you describe definitely is already going on in the community Both professionally and for fun. The A:M Community is always ready and willing to share the knowledge they have. This step to organize and move the practice toward the goal of producing animation (as David originally suggested) seems to be right on track. Hopefully every sees that David is already moving to the next phase. Check out this topic for more information: Apprentice Program Details

On this, I'll salute smartly and move out upon orders. Currently, it is my understanding that the first (and best) step toward entering into the Apprentice Program is completing all 19 exercises in The Art of Animation:Master. By completing all the exercises the Mentor will know that the Apprentice has a basic understanding from which they can build from. This also shows that the individual is serious about what they are doing. As in most things I expect there will eventually be a way to waiver the requirements for those that can 'demonstrate' the principles outlined in The Art of Animation:Master. I'm already working that angle to present on everyones behalf. If you have work already demonstrating you've mastered the skill sets demonstrated in each of the exercises the easiest way to move forward would be to post an example of each in The Art of Animation:Master area. Any waiver authority would appear to be at the disgression of the Mentor within the boundaries of the Apprentice Program. I don't have an authority beyond what they collectively give me. -Rodney

This discussion is movin' right along aint it! While I'd like to think the forum does what you indicate... from my perspective it doesn't quite meet the concept of apprenticeship. I think that is one of the reasons this is such a good idea. With the forum you get a lot of help, in some case tremendous help, and I'm sure friendships and mentor/apprentice-like relationships do develop from time to time. I mean no disrespect when I say this but one thing that the A:M Forum as it exists right now lacks is the 'formal commitment' that seems required to support an apprenticeship. The A:M Forum is more like a group of (usually self appointed) representatives that champion the causes of the membership from time to time. This is a really good realationship. It works well. An Apprenticeship goes one step further. It is a mutually beneficial relationship between two (or more) people that is based on a 'formal' commitment. Not a marriage mind you, as the Apprentice is expected to eventually move on into the world on their own with tools and knowledge to champion new causes... (and to slay dragons I'd guess ). It does resemble the medieval model. How can it not? There is generally a price that must be paid to enter into any Apprenticeship. If David Rogers (and others) are able to do this based on a barter system and not a monetary one... they will have really proved their worth! If time is the biggest asset of the Apprentice that can be worth a lot. I'd like to stay out of the whole discussion more but this idea is really that great and the A:M Community seems perfectly suited to it. Personally, I think a fee based system might work best. Money is generally the way people show their commitment these days. Once the money is paid... people usually stick around to get something out of their investment. This is why I'm watching where these Masters go with this idea very intently. If they manage to fit this idea into the Hash Inc/A:M educational model they will have more than demonstrated their worth and wisdom and they will have set a new standard within the animation industry. It's that big a deal. -Rodney

Time is indeed a precious commodity. However, I don't think you'll see less of the help you currently see in the A:M Forum. Quite the contrary, the program seems guaranteed to increase the feedback and support you get from the Fellows. Keep in mind also that the pool of Fellows tends to grow a little more each month. It may be a bad example... but let's say I was a Fellow/Mentor (which I am in no danger of becoming BTW). I would still hang out here in the forum. I think others would likely do the same. There is much that has yet to be determined... Discussion certainly would seem to be a good thing. So... say on!