Examine your animation work flow and improve your output. "Laser focus." Check out DJ Nicke's latest free tip from his Animation Salavation blog. DJ is based in Australia. It is important to note that 70% of your animating is done in the Foundation stages. But the final 30 % is what is going to drain your mental energy.There are three phases of 3D animation where you should turn off the Internet, turn off your mobile phone, switch off from the shenanigans going on around you in the studio, turn off the music (but leave your earphones in), they are the: blocking, second pass blocking, and polish stages.
This focus is what is often referred to as the "Zone". The "Zone" is the place where true inspiration and genius is born. Work done in the "Zone" is what will make your reel stand out to a company, or your shot reach out to an audience.
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5 comments:
The infamous DJ has an animation blog? Well, there you go. I would not have recognised him with that beard!
I've heard a rumour that he is particularly infamous for how he managed to get himself fired from Animal Logic :P
I have mixed feelings about posts on workflow. Every animator I know has their own, unique to them, its like a fingerprint. I think its natural for learners to be curious about how proffessional animators work, but how educational is it?
I supose you can pick bits and pieces from all the post on workflow to make your own. But reading through someones process from beginning to end is bound to influence how you think things should go together. Especially young impressionable folk.
As long as your animation demonstrates the principles then I say go forth and experiment. Produce produce produce. Find the way that suits you, the chances of you finding one written down that fits perfectly with the way you think are miniscule.
Hey Kristi did you see that Neverhooh was the mystery game on Goodgame this last week. You probably didn't see it, I hear its noses to the grind stone at AL at the moment.
Goodgame? Where's that?
Ah yes, the DJ at AL story... Not for repetition in a public forum, not by me anyway. I only ever heard the story 3rd-hand, and at that point it's just gossip. :D
Regarding the actual advice in the post: when you're talking about upping your production speed, then you are not aiming your advice at beginners. Even so, following someone's tips is a better option than sitting at the desk doodling aimlessly... at least you can find out whether their method works for you.
True :P
As long as its clear that it may not work for you and its more about getting a different perspective while on your way to discovering your own process :)
I think the advice that has most relevance is that:
An new animator needs to spend the time on the Foundation stages, the planning. As compared to racing into the software with their first idea.
The other part about focussing by making a conscious effort to avoid distractions is sound advice that is applicable across many animators' processes, I think.
As Ian and Kristi point out, for a beginner, take the bits that make sense and apply them. It is better than procrastinating, or ploughing ahead with no planning.
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