A Much Over Due Update!

Greetings all!



It's about time I got a new post up here. I have recently relocated to Sudbury, Ontario and just got internet setup last night where I am staying. For those who do not know, I am uphere for a brief 2 month contract with March Entertainment. Seems they are trying to gear their studio more towards the CG side of animation and myself, along with many other talented animators, are helping them get there. I don't think I am free to openly talk about the production much right now, but what I can say is that it is a good time so far, and the overall story is proving to be surprisingly entertaining. I cannot wait to see our work come together.

So as I said before, this is just a short 2 month contract that I am up here for. Since it is currently the summer, I am lucky enough to be able to take up residence at a local college dorm up here while the school year is out. This way I don't have to get locked into a year long lease up here if I do not stay with March after this contract. When I was first hired there was talk about a project coming up after this one, but we will see how that goes as I get closer to the end of this one, which should be around the beginning of August. So far my time with March has been great and they all seem like a fairly friendly bunch and the other new hires seem like a good group of people so far. I think we really need to organize some form of group mingling event though so we can really get to know one another. As it is right now, there are a few people I talk to on a regular basis, but that's only because they sit near me and are staying in the same dorm me. I would really like to get to know everyone else and really find out where they are all coming from in the industry.

As for the city of Sudbury, there's not much to say. It's definitely a less heavily populated area at first glance, and I am sure anyone who is more comfortable with Toronto city life, may have a minor heart attack when they come out here. It's open out here and there is a refreshing lack of constant commercial buildings everywhere. I am still unsure how I feel about the whole area, as I have only been up here for just over a week, but there could definitely be worst places to work. I am fine with it for now, and the company up here is great, so that will definitely make the experience more enjoyable. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect since I had never been up this way before, and everytime I told someone that I was going up here for work I got the same response, "Oh, really? Sudbury? Why?" Not very inspiring words, right? I t could be worst though, and I'll see how I feel in time.

The important thing is that I am animating professionally again and the project is kicking ass so far. It's nice to be looking forward to working again!

Thanks for stopping by to read this and please let me know what you think of it all. Ever been up this way before? If so, let me know what I should be doing during my off time!

Take it easy,

Daniel

Back to Animating

I am trying my hands at some more realistic looking pieces of animation now. This is just my first attempt, and I plan to get some more done soon. Until then, here's a taste. What do you think?

Custom Video Game Munnies!

So, I've been a long time fan of the Vinyl Figure culture. I've always wanted to take a crack at making my own using Kidrobot's Munny base. A couple years ago I made my first, and ever since I've been making one every year. I plan to pick up the pace more and get more than one down a year, but we will see how that goes. For now, here are some pictures of my current Munny collection:

NEW REEL!

FINALLY!

This is my new demo reel. I started working on it back in January, and finally finished it this month. Enjoy!

In Need of All Your Help...

Hello all,

Thank you for coming by. This post consists of all the shots I plan to use in my upcoming demo reel. As far as I can see, they seem fine to me, but I've also been staring at them for quite some time now. If I could get some fresh eyes to take a look at them, I think it would really help. Perhaps see someting I'm not picking up, or something that's not quite working. Just a few minutes is all I ask. I really need the feedback to make this demo reel a really strong display of my animation skills, and i would greatly appreciate it. Any feedback is welcomed, be it good or bad. I will take it all in and work on what needs working and leave what doesn't. I mean this, too. I want to be able to take all your criticism and grow as an animator, not just ignore it. : D

So please, have a look at the videos and let me know what you think. They are just playblasts now, so the animation is all that is really being on display here.

Thanks again for the help and take it easy,

Daniel


Tubbs Turns on Boom Box



Stan Showing Off



Tubbs Inspecting a Gun



Probe Looking for Someone



Stan Scared by Tubbs



Blocky Weight Lift



Tubbs Fleeing from Stan



Boris Girly Skip



Boris Zombie Walks



Stan Fleeing from Tubbs


(I plan to run the credits along the top of this shot, so that's why all actions are occurring along the bottom of the screen.)

This just in!

While taking a very brief break in between animating, I put together a more professional looking website with the help of http://www.webs.com/ . I will continue using this blog to log my progression through various artistic pieces of work, but now I also have a clean and tidy site to display my professional info and work.

You can view the new website at:

http://www.danielman-animator.webs.com/

Please feel free to stop by there and let me know what you think of it!

Take it easy,
Daniel

About time...

Here's a long overdue new piece of animation. I kinda burnt out for a bit and it took me a little more time than usual to get this one done. There's been some business going on around me too, so I've been away fro mthe computer somedays. Regardless, here it is:

Stan Getting Scared by Tubbs (Make sure your speakers are not too loud...)


I think it's looking good so far...but there's something missing...or perhaps I've just been staring at it for too long. Let me know what you think and what you would change/keep the same.

I now plan to go back to my last post's piece and do some fixes based on some suggestions from Mike. Thanks again for stopping by buddy. I always appreciate it!

Take it easy,
Daniel

More Tubbs...

This time I have Tubbs flicking on a old style boombox. It's a simple clip, but one I'm planning to use to start up my demo reel, while my info is being displayed at the beginning. I don't think it's quite right yet, and the hop down to the floor might need some more work. But until I take another pass at it, here it is. Enjoy!

Take it easy,
Daniel

Tubbs - "Turning on Boombox"

Continued work...

Still working through the paces towards a new demo reel. Things are going well so far, and I must say that I am having a rather good time working on these personal pieces. From what I can see, I think they are turning out much better than my last batch, but we'll see in the end...

This post just consists of fixes to the "Showing Off" clip, as well as my newest piece, "Gun Inspection." The fixes of course, came from various animation forums where I posted for feedback, since no one seems to visit this blog anymore. Oh, and of course, my good friends, Mike and Brandon, who always have time to take a look at my work. Thanks a lot guys.

Until next time,

Take it easy

Daniel

Spaceman Stan - Showing Off - Fixes

Tubbs - Gun Inspection

Check this out...

So I've started working on things I plan to use in a new demo reel. I'm still in the early stages of production, but I pretty much have everything planned out, as far as content wise. Here's the first shot, but not the last, containing a character easily found on the web: Spaceman Stan. Overall, he's a pretty basic rig, and far from perfect, but I enjoyed working with him. He also one of the few free rigs out there that has some decent character and design to him. This is just a brief clip of him playing with his little blaster. Let me know what you think!

Take it easy,
Daniel

Spaceman Stan - "Showing Off"

New Month, Same Fun!

February is here! And what better way to celebrate the month of "love", than with a couple new pieces staring a lovely.......Goblin! Yay!





So, I came across this little fellow on the Internet a few days back and just couldn't resist animating him. Just two simple cycles for starters, but I'm sure it won't be the last time we see him. In fact, I'll make sure of it.

Anyways, just a quick post. Next week, "Intermediate Tutorials" with Jason Ryan!

Take it easy,
Daniel

Back on Track, PLUS a January Overview

Sooo....looks like my Internet problems should be over and done with now. It also seems that I will be working around Blogger's video posting, and from now on will be using YouTube to show my work with. Hopefully, this will allow less crashes and "Unavailable Footage" messages.

But most importantly, let me get back to the work! January has come and gone, faster than I could have ever imagined. I decided to get back into learning as much as I could about animation this year, and January was the first big push. Granted, most of the tutorials I worked on during that month were relatively simple and basic, but I wanted to make sure there was a strong foundation here before I went onto the more complex stuff. So you may find this work boring or overly simple, but I firmly believe it is a necessary step.

Speaking of the tutorials, I must say that I am enjoying this batch greatly. Mr. Jason Ryan is a very talented animator indeed. Luckily, he is also a very understandable and easy to follow teacher. When offering up any form of teaching, think both of these traits are necessary. Sadly, I find that in more cases than not, only one is usually present. Anyways though, his tutorials are definitely proving to be a great help, and an awesome source of inspiration for my work! Heck, he's even got my playing with 2D animation. Mind you, it's nothing special and it's a bit sore on the eyes, but for me, it helps me plan out some shots prior to jumping into Maya, and that can save some serious tweaking time. all in all, I am very happy to have found Jason as a digital teacher, and I cannot wait to get right back into his tutorials next week!

Until then, he's the overview of, what I think are, my most successful pieces for the month January:

















So that pretty much wraps up everything I liked in the "Basic Tutorials" I worked on. This next batch of pieces are things I did after being inspired by the tutorials. I didn't want to strictly work on just tutorials after all.

Post Tutorial Fun:








That's pretty much it. Hope you enjoyed some of it, and PLEASE let me know what you thought of it all. GOOD or Bad. I welcome it all!

Until next time, take it easy,
Daniel

Interweb Issues...

I seem to be having internet issues on my end, so it might be awhile before another post. I am still working away on animation pieces however, so this just means that there will a big update when everything gets working again. As for the uploaded video issue, it seems like things are still touch and go. Sometimes they will play and sometimes the will say that they are currently unavailable. Hopefully thiswill all be sorted out by the time I return. I just wanted to let who ever still visits this blog, to know of the situation and to know that I will be back soon.

Take care,
Daniel

Zoom! Continued...

Aaaand here's the 3D version of the run from yesterday. Hopefully, the videos are actually viewable now, as Blogger seems to be having some diffculty with them over the last few days...

If you can see them, then please enjoy and let me know what you think!

3D Run in Maya

Zoom!

A cocky strut and a planned out run. That is what's on today's menu. We have a 3D version of yesterday's walk and a 2D version of an upcoming run. I had some free time after working in FlipBook, so I added some minor details. Enjoy!

3D Walk in Maya


2D Run in FlipBook

Strut your stuff!

Here's today's post:

Just a simple walk cycle in 2D, but with a little character/attitude for good measure. This guy has a bit more value compared to the stick people I've been using lately, and it was a lot tougher to keep a consist value throughout the cycle. I'm not great, but I'm getting better. I'm finding this 2D pre-planning very helpful for 3D, as well as learning more about animation in general. A 3D version of this will definitely be up here by tomorrow...

2D Walk Cycle in FlipBook


2D Walk Along Screen in FlipBook

Aaaaaaand We're Back!

Alrighty, I'm done with my brief time back at IMAX and more importantly, back to doing some animating. Today I'm posting the 3D version of the Jump I did in FlipBook and put up on here last time. I also had some time to make some adjustments to the Skip based on the comments I received. (Thanks to Salty and Mike!) Hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think!

Jump in 3D with Maya


Skip in 3D with Maya - Revised

Jump little man, jump!

EDIT: So, looks like I'm on at IMAX until friday now. Just a few more days, but the cash is surely welcomed! :D Oh, and thanks for commenting, Mike. I'm actually now thinking about doing something with the hands when he reaches the peak of his jump... :)

Well, here is today's post. It's a bit late, but better late than never. Unfortunately, I might not be able to get to the 3D version of this one for a while. Looks like there's been some new shots brought up at IMAX and I've been asked back to help pump them out over a week's time. So, it might be a bit before another update, but I'm sure the time will just fly by. Until then, Take it Easy!

2D Jump in Flipbook

Skipping into the Third Dimension...

Just a 3D version of the Skip I showed in my last post, along with a new character rig I'll be using. So far, so good, I think...but please let mek now what you think! (This one is a bit lower in quality since I had to use a playblast instead of a render, so that the curve I used for the rope would show up.)

3D Skip in Maya

Skip to my Lou...

Quick post today, just a FlipBook render. Hopefully the 3D version will follow tomorrow...

2D Skip in FlipBook

A Quick Test...

Just a quick look at the good ol' bouncing ball test. The 3D version seems a bit too snappy to me as of now, but I think it's fine for a quick pass.

Enjoy!

2D Bouncing Ball in FlipBook


3D Bouncing Ball in Maya

Moving along...

Thanks to Salty and Mack for taking the time to stop by and take a look at the last post. It's nice to know that at least someone stops by here! :D

Here's some further work, this time playing with a bipedal character. Again, this is nothing special, just me trying out some new pre-production planning with FlipBook, and seeing how it transfers to 3D. Take a look, and let me know what you think!

2D Sneak in Flipbook


3D Sneak in Maya


Thanks again for stopping by, and take it easy!