Second Interview Questions

Blog 6: Second Interview

1.      Do you believe 2D animation or 3D animation is preferred more in movies? On television shows? In video games?

2.      How is 3D animation like stop-motion?

3.      Is designing for games the same as designing for movies? If so, what’s the same? If not, what’s different?

4.      What is a freelance artist and what do they do?

5.      Have you worked with any famous companies in games or movies/television? If so, which ones? What did you do while working there?

Working Bibliography

9/6/2012	ARTL (Article)	Meir, Doron A. "Acting and Animation." Animation Arena Helping you break into the Animation, Video Game and Visual Effects industry with advice and interviews with professional Character Animators, Game Designers and more, Web. 6 Sept. 2012. <http://www.animationarena.com/acting-and-animation.html>	Talks of how an animator is not just an artist, but also an actor. Explains the importance of personality in animated characters to make them seem real and believable.  Says how the animator should be able to "feel" the character, like the character has their own consciousness. The character's body language plays a big role to the storyline.
9/6/2012	BLRB (Blurb)	"Drawing for Animation." Animation Arena Helping you break into the Animation, Video Game and Visual Effects industry with advice and interviews with professional Character Animators, Game Designers and more. Animation Arena.com,  Web. 6 Sept. 2012. <http://www.animationarena.com/drawing-for-animation.html>	States the importance of drawing for would-be animators. It explains the concept of "drawing what you see" and paying close attention to detail and perspective.  It gives several examples of drawing techniques tried by the writer of the article itself.
9/6/2012	ENCY (Encyclopedia)	Froehlich, Thomas J. "Animation Facts, information, pictures, Encyclopedia.com articles about Animation." Encyclopedia.com: Free Online Encyclopedia, Web. Sept. 2012. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Animation.aspx>	Very informative gives a brief explaination of what animation is, the methods/techniques of animation that exist and what they are used for, and the history of animation itself. It also mentions Disney's creation of the animated short Steamboat Willie, as well as MGM and their well-known cartoon, Tom & Jerry.
9/8/2012	ARTL (Article)	Roy, Kenny. "November 2011 Article - Non-Human Characters; The Spice of Your Demo Reel." KennyRoy.com, Web. 8 Sept. 2012. <http://www.kennyroy.com/public/November-2011-Article-NonHuman-Characters-The-Spice-of-Your-Demo-Reel.cfm?sd=53>	Talks about demo reels. Mentions the lack of non-human characters performing on them and how it would benefit the reel's owner if they had some. States the popularity  of how television, video games, and even commercials feature non-human charactes. Non-human characters are not necessarily animals; they can include germs, inanimate objects, demons, and even bubbles! It states that having some non-human characters on a demo reel could bee great practice for the real world, as there are many employers in the TV, game, and commercial industries that are likely to use these characters.
9/8/2012	ARTL (Article)	Science Daily. "Computer animation." Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology, Web. 8 Sept. 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/c/computer_animation.htm>	Gives a brief definition of animation. Reveals that computer generated animation (CG) can be used to create both 2D and 3D characters. It then explains how computer animated characters are created and animated.  Mentions the use of software such as 2D Flash and X3D (apparently used for game design and computer graphics).
9/8/2012	BLRB (Blurb)	"Animation School." Animation School net - Animation Schools and Video Game Design Schools. Animation School.net, Web. 8 Sept. 2012. <http://www.animationschool.net/animation-school.html>	Mentions how the popularity of 3D animation took off when the Pixar movie Toy Story was released, as apparently it increased the demand for 3D animators. Colleges began offering couses for those who wanted degrees in animation. It gives tips and information on picking a good animation school for those interested in the topic. It suggests animation schools that also offer drawing classes, since that is a major must if you plan on becoming an animator and is strongly encouraged by everyone working in the field. Talks about finding instructors that have worked in studios in the past and finding out how many students actually graduate from the school. Finally, it suggests online classes for those with no nearby schools they can reach.
9/17/2012	ARTL (Article)	Kennedy , Mark . "Principles of Animation." Animation Arena Helping you break into the Animation, Video Game and Visual Effects industry with advice and interviews with professional Character Animators, Game Designers and more. Animation Arena.com, Web. 17 Sept. 2012. <http://www.animationarena.com/principles-of-animation.html>	In this article, they have a picture of a scene (Tigger in a jumping pose) and talk about analyzing said scene until it becomes second nature. They give a list of principles that apply to the scene, such as pose, anatomy, mood, depth, straights and curves, etc. They then compare the first pose to a a second one (Tigger crouching, then jumping). The importance of the anatomy of the character is stressed. While the characters features or movements can be exaggerated, the anatomy should stay fairly the same. Talks about the effects of gravity on a character.
9/17/2012	ARTL (Article)	Bell, Ryan . "2D Animation: Dead, Dying or Just Napping? Part II: 3D Studio Maxim: Animation Magazine." Animation Magazine - The News, Business, Technology and Art of Animation. Animation Magazine Inc, 9 Sept. 2003. Web. 17 Sept. 2012. <http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/2d-animation-dead-dying-or-just-napping-part-ii-3d-studio-maxim/>	This article is rather old, from 2003, but it states concern over the fact that "traditional" 2D animation may be dying out. However,  it suggests that the current popularity in CGI is merely a fad.
9/17/2012	ARTL (Article)	Keslensky , J.P. "Between The Frames: The Future of 2D Hand-Drawn Animation." Between The Frames. Media Productions, TallGrassRadio Studios , 17 Aug. 2005. Web. 17 Sept. 2012. <http://tallgrassradiostudios.blogspot.com/2005/08/future-of-2d-hand-drawn-animation.html>	This article is also rather old, from 2005, but it states that it is unlikely that 2D animation is going to completely die off.  It instead suggests that 2D may evolve, but into what is still unknown.  It also says that the type of animation used does not make up for a poor storyline or static characters for a cartoon or feature film, which is the real determining factor in whether the movie/show was good or not.
9/24/2012	BK          (Book)	Muerer, Caleb. How to Animate SpongeBob Squarepants. 2003. Reprint. Laguna Hills, CA: Walter Foster Publishing, Inc., 2004. Print.	This is my favorite book on animation. I do not care that it is short. It goes over every detail of animation using the SpongeBob characters as examples. It explains the use of expressions, squash and stretch, and even states to the reader a few shortcuts that animators use. It even has part of a stoyboard from the SpongeBob episode: Just One Bitethat they use to explain the use of storyboarding.
9/24/2012	BK          (Book)	Johnston, Thomas , Frank Johnston, and Ollie Johnston. "Chapter 1: An Art Form is Born." The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation. New York City, New York: Abbeville Press, 1981. 13-28. Print	A relatively large book about animation in the early days. Chapter 1 started off talking about the earlist form of animation: cave art, then suddenly talks about how important emotion is in animation for at least half the chapter. Later talks about Walt Disney's early animation experience.
9/24/2012	BK          (Book)	Johnston, Thomas , Frank Johnston, and Ollie Johnston. "Chapter 2: The Early Days 1923-1933." The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation. New York City, New York: Abbeville Press, 1981. 29-46. Print	A relatively large book about animation in the early days. Chapter 2 talks more about Walt Disney's early work and later gets in to talking about different types of animation types and tricks used back then.

Project Reflection and Working EQ

1. I think the most positive thing to happen to me since I started my senior project was being able to observe at a real, live animation studio. Seeing the documentaries on television and actually stepping foot into the studio are two completely different sensations. I was lucky enough to see from up close every step the workers take when animating; starting from the initial rough sketch, going through clean-up artists, in-betweeners, and several scanners, then finally ending with a beautiful; computer rendered, fully animated feature.

2. I think the most useful piece of research I currently have is the article from the website Animation Arena.com. It states the importance of learning how to draw if you want to become an animator. This is actually the most basic piece of advice given to people who want to get into the animation business. The article recommends taking life or figure drawing classes to improve your skill set.

3. So far, the thing that has worked out most for my senior project was how I was able to find Duncan Studio and be able to interview their head animator.

4. Unfortunately, what has worked out for my senior project is also what may not work out. I was lucky to get into Duncan Studio in the first place, as they are a small studio in Pasadena and do not normally allow minors. In fact, many animation studios do not allow minors, only college students looking for an intern.

5. The biggest question I have regarding my topic is: how could I create and animate my own television series? Most animators simply draw and animate other people’s characters, but I have my own idea for my own show. How would I even get started?
    My goal at the end of senior project is to have a better understanding of animation (both 2D and 3D) and hopefully use what I have learned to get me into a good college so I may one day fulfill my dream of creating a cartoon series.
    I am to take CG animation classes very soon, so I plan on talking to the instructor of the class and see if I can learn everything about 3D animation. Though I am more fond of 2D animation, 3D animation is usd in video games, which is another branch I am interested in.

Working Bibliography

9/6/2012	ARTL (Article)	Meir, Doron A. "Acting and Animation." Animation Arena Helping you break into the Animation, Video Game and Visual Effects industry with advice and interviews with professional Character Animators, Game Designers and more, Web. 6 Sept. 2012. <http://www.animationarena.com/acting-and-animation.html>	Talks of how an animator is not just an artist, but also an actor. Explains the importance of personality in animated characters to make them seem real and believable.  Says how the animator should be able to "feel" the character, like the character has its own consciousness. The character's body language plays a big role to the storyline.
9/6/2012	BLRB (Blurb)	"Drawing for Animation." Animation Arena Helping you break into the Animation, Video Game and Visual Effects industry with advice and interviews with professional Character Animators, Game Designers and more. Animation Arena.com,  Web. 6 Sept. 2012. <http://www.animationarena.com/drawing-for-animation.html>	States the importance of drawing for would-be animators. It explains the concept of "drawing what you see" and paying close attention to detail and perspective.  It gives several examples of drawing techniques tried by the writer of the article itself.
9/6/2012	ENCY (Encyclopedia)	Froehlich, Thomas J. "Animation Facts, information, pictures, Encyclopedia.com articles about Animation." Encyclopedia.com: Free Online Encyclopedia, Web. Sept. 2012. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Animation.aspx>	Very informative gives a brief explanation of what animation is, the methods/techniques of animation that exist and what they are used for, and the history of animation itself. It also mentions Disney's creation of the animated short Steamboat Willie, as well as MGM and their well-known cartoon, Tom & Jerry.
9/8/2012	ARTL (Article)	Roy, Kenny. "November 2011 Article - Non-Human Characters; The Spice of Your Demo Reel." KennyRoy.com, Web. 8 Sept. 2012. <http://www.kennyroy.com/public/November-2011-Article-NonHuman-Characters-The-Spice-of-Your-Demo-Reel.cfm?sd=53>	Talks about demo reels. Mentions the lack of non-human characters performing on them and how it would benefit the reel's owner if they had some. States the popularity of television, video games, and even commercials featuring non-human characters. Non-human characters are not necessarily animals; they can include germs, inanimate objects, demons, and even bubbles! It states that having some non-human characters on a demo reel could be great practice for the real world, as there are many employers in the TV, game, and commercial industries that are likely to use these characters.
9/8/2012	ARTL (Article)	Science Daily. "Computer animation." Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology, Web. 8 Sept. 2012. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/c/computer_animation.htm>	Gives a brief definition of animation. Reveals that computer generated animation (CG) can be used to create both 2D and 3D characters. It then explains how computer animated characters are created and animated.  Mentions the use of software such as 2D Flash and X3D (apparently used for game design and computer graphics).
9/8/2012	BLRB (Blurb)	"Animation School." Animation School net - Animation Schools and Video Game Design Schools. Animation School.net, Web. 8 Sept. 2012. <http://www.animationschool.net/animation-school.html>	Mentions how the popularity of 3D animation took off when the Pixar movie Toy Story was released, as apparently it increased the demand for 3D animators. Colleges began offering courses for those who wanted degrees in animation. It gives tips and information on picking a good animation school for those interested in the topic. It suggests animation schools that also offer drawing classes, since that is a major must if you plan on becoming an animator and is strongly encouraged by everyone working in the field. Talks about finding instructors that have worked in studios in the past and finding out how many students actually graduate from the school. Finally, it suggests online classes for those with no nearby schools they can reach.
9/17/2012	ARTL (Article)	Kennedy, Mark. "Principles of Animation." Animation Arena Helping you break into the Animation, Video Game and Visual Effects industry with advice and interviews with professional Character Animators, Game Designers and more. Animation Arena.com, Web. 17 Sept. 2012. <http://www.animationarena.com/principles-of-animation.html>	In this article, they have a picture of a scene (Tiger in a jumping pose) and talk about analyzing said scene until it becomes second nature. They give a list of principles that apply to the scene, such as pose, anatomy, mood, depth, straights and curves, etc. They then compare the first pose to a second one (Tiger crouching, then jumping). The importance of the anatomy of the character is stressed. While the characters features or movements can be exaggerated, the anatomy should stay fairly the same. Talks about the effects of gravity on a character.
9/17/2012	ARTL (Article)	Bell, Ryan. "2D Animation: Dead, Dying or Just Napping? Part II: 3D Studio Maxim: Animation Magazine." Animation Magazine - The News, Business, Technology and Art of Animation. Animation Magazine Inc, 9 Sept. 2003. Web. 17 Sept. 2012. <http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/2d-animation-dead-dying-or-just-napping-part-ii-3d-studio-maxim/>	This article is rather old, from 2003, but it states concern over the fact that "traditional" 2D animation may be dying out. However, it suggests that the current popularity in CGI is merely a fad.
9/17/2012	ARTL (Article)	Keslensky, J.P. "Between The Frames: The Future of 2D Hand-Drawn Animation." Between The Frames. Media Productions, TallGrassRadio Studios, 17 Aug. 2005. Web. 17 Sept. 2012. <http://tallgrassradiostudios.blogspot.com/2005/08/future-of-2d-hand-drawn-animation.html>	This article is also rather old, from 2005, but it states that it is unlikely that 2D animation is going to completely die off.  It instead suggests that 2D may evolve, but into what is still unknown.  It also says that the type of animation used does not make up for a poor storyline or static characters for a cartoon or feature film, which is the real determining factor in whether the movie/show was good or not.

Blog A

Topic: Animation

Problem Statement #1:  Understanding the physical anatomy of subject that is to be animated by

                                        bounding said subject to a system of joints on a 3D mesh in a process called

                                        rigging, which can be a very intense and time consuming endeavor.

What I plan to do: I would work with computer software scientists to develop skeleton-like structures to

                               choose from which would include bone structure, joints, and muscle. This would

                               result in cutting the time of the rigging process in half so the animation process can

                               begin sooner. One day I want to create my own animated film or television series, or

                                even work with video game graphics.

                         

Problem Statement #2: Real life physics applied in animation (hair blowing, glass breaking, or an object

                                      colliding with another object), whether realistic or exaggerated, are difficult to

                                      capture with current technology in animation.

What I plan to do: I would recommend the animator to learn some basic physics to understand the

                              movement of their subject. This can apply to multiple forms of animation, including

                             2D. This will lead to making the subject move more life-like and interact with

                              inanimate objects in a more realistic manner.

Interview Preparation

1.       I plan on interviewing Delia Fance of Duncan Studio.  It was because of Delia Fance I even got to observe at the animation studio.  She works at Duncan Studio and showed me some projects they were working on such as an iPhone application and some scenes for upcoming movies. She also introduced me to some of the other workers, including Mr. Ken Duncan, creator of the studio. 

2.       Questions I plan to ask in addition to those provided include:

a.  Why did you decide to become an animator over other forms of digital media?

b.  What college did you attend to receive a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts?

c.  Do you believe it to be better than other art colleges?

d.  If not, which other art schools would you recommend?

e. Would you remain in the field even if the wages were not competitive?

Topic Choice (WB)

  My topic is on digital media, specifically animation. I am not yet sure if want to focus on 2D animation or CG (3D) animation. CG is great for animated movies in the theater, but I like the classic 2D cartoons still shown on television.  I actually want to make my own cartoon series, and I just see my characters as pencil drawn rather than three dimensional. However, 3D animation is universal in modern video game graphics, which is something I am also interested in.
  As a citizen of iPoly, I plan to engage my imagination and my creativity to perform at a higher standard than before. I believe this will make me more effective because I will assume responsibility for my own actions.
  As an effective communicator, I plan to identify needs or problems, make choices, consider all alternatives, and work collaboratively with my peers/others to become a better thinker and artist.
  As an effective learner, I plan to gain more confidence and expertise in my abilities. I want to become a better risk-taker, refining my strong points and strengthening my weaknesses as well.
  As an artist and user of technology, I plan to use computers to enhance my work, using programs such as Maya for 3D animation. This will make my work more efficient and allow me to create new art forms.

                                                           Working Bibliography

Date	Source ID	MLA	Summary
9/6	ARTL (Article)	Meir, Doron A. "Acting and Animation." Animation Arena Helping you break into the Animation, Video Game and Visual Effects industry with advice and interviews with professional Character Animators, Game Designers and more, Web. 6 Sept. 2012. <http://www.animationarena.com/acting-and-animation.html>	Talks of how an animator is not just an artist, but also an actor. Explains the importance of personality in animated characters to make them seem real and believable.  Says how the animator should be able to "feel" the character, as if the character had its own consciousness. The character's body language plays a big role to the storyline.
9/6	ARTL (Article)	"Drawing for Animation." Animation Arena Helping you break into the Animation, Video Game and Visual Effects industry with advice and interviews with professional Character Animators, Game Designers and more. Animation Arena.com,  Web. 6 Sept. 2012. <http://www.animationarena.com/drawing-for-animation.html>	States the importance of drawing for would-be animators. It explains the concept of "drawing what you see" and paying close attention to detail and perspective.  It gives several examples of drawing techniques tried by the writer of the article itself.
9/6	ENCY (Encyclopedia)	Froehlich, Thomas J. "Animation Facts, information, pictures, Encyclopedia.com articles about Animation." Encyclopedia.com: Free Online Encyclopedia, Web. Sept. 2012. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Animation.aspx>	Very informative gives a brief explanation of what animation is, the methods/techniques of animation that exist and what they are used for, and the history of animation itself. It also mentions Disney's creation of the animated short Steamboat Willie, as well as MGM and their well-known cartoon, Tom & Jerry.