The Art of Animation Business... and Freedom

Value?

What was that worth? The animated film you just watched.

Value for money.

Value and money. Do they mix?

Thinking and feeling are often erased by dollars and nonsense.

Beancounters, shareholders, alleged 'creative' teams, investors, committees and risk managers; all assigned to tuck the expression of creativity neatly under the bulge of the bell curve. The combination of aversions and blinkers grinds deep furrows, ruts, for artists to stumble toward the mediocre.

Nelson Boles.

How did you do?

What did you invest? "flash and AE and love"

Then to present such a beautiful creation for free on the Internet.

How will you live?

Free...

Ahh, you're a student. Your work markets the animator, not the other way round.

There is a wonderfilled freedom in being an animation student that is sometimes only noticed in the rearview mirror.

A return to study for skilled animators can yield a lost sense of freedom satisfaction that money can't buy.

It is personally why I think the Gobelins "student" films are so good and why many of us will always be animation students. Even if it's for free using the Internet.

COME AND RIDE MY CACTUS HORSE

Thanks to Alice from 1st Year who pointed me to this wonderful entry into the recent Doritos "Australian Commercial Competition". Entrants had to design a 30-second TVC, with the winner receiving $20,000. I'm a little stunned that this didn't win.

Titled Come and Ride My Cactus Horse, it's by Maik Hempel, Brisbane animator and former QCA student, who also collaborates with former SBIT boy Adam Leigh on the "so-bizarre-it-makes-Gefiltefish-look-normal" Rashman series.

And while I'm chatting, check out the lovely blog of Adele Thomas, freelance animator, Flash guru and Maik's partner.

I love Adele's bold, expressive character work. Adele is a great example of a talented animator who isn't afraid to sell herself and to work really, really, really hard. Oh, and if you ever see her, tell her she looks like Lara Croft. She LOVES that!

Eat Dog Cat Mouse

This short film is testimony to the fact that 3D dose not have to look like Toy Story (or a copy there of). I don't quite understand why the man had to eat the dog through his belly, but apart from that this is indeed a fine little film.

Bric a Brac

A stunning film from France.

9

This is beautiful! Timing, attitude, emotion, art direction..... I love it! It was made by a guy called Shane Acker (check out his web site here) and there's a rumour going round that Tim Burton liked this short so much that he wants to turn it into a feature film.

Dynamo

A stunning little 3D film, the movement to the rhythm and character design I particularly enjoyed.

Jojo in the Stars

Trust the good people at Studio AKA to show us that you don't need complicated characters to tell a good story. Gota love their work.