animate a short film

the adventure begins

the spartans are now beinning recruted

Today, I got to talking to my computer animator coworker about how the beginning steps for 2D and 3D animation are very similar. Anyhow, after blabbing for a bit, I got excited about working on an animation again. When I first created this goal, I was working on a dream animation. It was to be loosely based on a dream I had a long time ago about riding a train. I had the dream while I was working on a series of dream drawings, so I drew the image above. But I’ve always thought it would be cool to have it complete with movement and sound. I began storyboarding it while I was taking a audio editing and I needed something to do for the final. I figured if I chose the animation’s sound for the final, it would push me to work extra fast on the storyboarding. Didn’t happen. Instead, I ended up with a crazy, dream-like audio track and no storyboard :( Bummer.

Now I’m debating whether to (a) scrap that project and start with a fresh idea, (b) work ass-backward and draw the storyboard based on the audio track, or© complete the storyboard and redo the audio.

I’m going to start working on this on Saturday, so I’ll make up my mind before then.

Alright, I’ve started. I’ve set myself four goal to get done today, and I’ve gotten them done.
Step One: Music Selection. I went to the library yesterday and got a music selection of orchestra songs. I went through them today and chose one. I forget it’s name, but I’m sure I’ll know it by heart by the end of this.
Step Two: Storyboard. I printed out a single piece of paper with nine boxes. I’m just starting the first 30 seconds, and once that’s done, I’ll go from there… Getting ahead of myself. What I have looks pretty good. It’s a big brother type scenario. You know, the world domination type.
Step Three: Work Layout. I’m using Flash MX (Yes, the old kind). But don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not going to make this some cookie-cutter short. I’m putting a lot into this (hopefully, I can get a lot out as well).
Step Four: Sign Up Here: Yeah, that’s right. It was a step. But a goal is a goal. And it contributes to my animation. How? I don’t know. Support, inspiration. It doesn’t matter. Now, all that’s left to do… is animate. Right…

I want to get back to this so badly, but I don’t have the time! I’m on the fence regarding whether or not to sign up for school this summer. If I skip it, I may have some time to work on this, but there’s no way on top of school. What was I thinking when I signed up for this??

I’m planning on animating a dream. I’ve mostly completed the audio track, although I’m hoping to replace one section of it. Next, I need to draw the storyboard.

There’s an annual high school film fest coming up, and with my limited drawing skills and my basic understanding of Corel Animator I’m going to put together a 1 min animation, either something graphically intense (harder to do) or something comedic (easier to do).

I have to have it all over and done with by late February, so here it goes!

I’ve been working on a traditional (hand-drawn) animated short film for a couple of years now, off and on, but have yet to work on it much this year. Animation requires concentration and large blocks of uninterrupted time. I hope to pick it up again at the start of the new year when my schedule frees up a little.

http://www.froghatstudios.com/art/froghatstudios_superman.mov

hooray. it was most very much fun…

I’ve actually done this a few times now, from script to screen. It’s a lot of work for one person especially if you have to do sound too. A bad sound track can ruin an entire film project.