today update is a few key frames from the second pass of the scene im still animating on.
hand comes from off screen
contact frame
last frame
productionart
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todays update is a continuation of the last two updates. its the scene im currently working on. its a updated animatic version, it has some updated animation but still a ways from being final.
as i’ve mention previously, this version of the film is closer to the original animatic and boards, it was not the route i was taking but i recently starting questioning if i was happy with the direction i had settled on months ago. i will animate the scenes and play around with the editing but i wont know which way it will go until the very end.
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tonights update is some old color study thumbnails from about 2 year ago. some ideas for colors for FRANKS apartment. these designs have change and so have the colors, but i enjoy looking at them because the 1st draft of anything is usually the closest most honest depiction of whats in your head.
FRANKS apartment color studies and pots
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tonights update is a few drawings of some plants and pots, FRANKS room has a variety of plants. over the years i have drawn a few plants but mostly sunflowers and roses. deep down i think FRANK is more of a cactus man. i will be doing some more experimenting with plant designs once i have finished all my animation clean up, which is going really well, i have made much progress over the past few weeks and with this corona virus lockdown happening right around this time im sure i will find my self behind my desk animating for longer periods.
cactus plants
variety of plants
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the revealing shot of franks apartment, at first i was going to cut between the two, but i have decided to use a pan east move. this background has been in the works for a long time, i have a hard time making the call for a final version on backgrounds. i love exploring its space. the evolution of a scene is quite fascinating. the birth of a project is a wonderful thing, i love the process. i specialize in animation production haha (inside joke)
FRANK production blog 11
Below are some screen shots of my work space. I use TV Paint 11. Its a very easy software to learn. Its specialize for 2D animation and works amazing. Frank will be my third animated cartoon using the program. It come from France and has been around for a while now.
I used the standard Adobe Flash when I was in art school and for some freelance projects after graduation. I didn’t like it so much, there are a few reasons why but i honestly think I am just bais towards it.
I been using TV PAINT for a while now and just keep loving it more and more. Im not very fluent with all that the programs offers, I have my methods and I stick to them however old school they may be.
There are two versions of the program, the student version and the professional version. https://www.tvpaint.com/ check the site out for all the details
Still from FRANK
Still from FRANK
The process of backgrounds
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, animation is a long process! There is something to be said about the character of those who willingly choose to embark on these roads. It’s pay off is something that only the sweetest of fruits can compare to. You start with and Idea and through sheer will you give that idea life, you bring it into the world, you will it into existence, that is something very few can do and even fewer enjoy doing it over and over. So animators are of a special breed of artist, not everyone is cut out to be an animator but everyone can enjoy animation.
Above is a page from my updated storyboards for my current project FRANK. This was the 2nd pass of storyboards. It was the final pass for this scene. I was very happy with the action and the framing and so I did not feel the need to reboard it more a 3rd time. The action is pretty clear, Frank our main character is smelling his flowers by his window.
Above is one of the 1st drafts I did for the background, Like I previously stated I was pretty happy with the framing and original design idea, and so it was pretty easy to draw something and approve it. Below is the 1st draft I did on paper, I used animation size paper with and HD field guide, while I was happy with the outcome I ended up not using it, It felt to stiff and not exactly what I wanted. I remember I did all the backgrounds on paper thinking I would scan them and use them as finals but I ended up going with digital finals instead.
Next came the color versions of the background. Now I will be the 1st to admit that while I love color I am pretty terrible at it. I tend to select colors I love but don’t have much of a understanding on how to balance them. Maybe I just need to experiment more.
I done a few different variations on the brick wall, not completely sure on which one I want for the final design. That being said Im not completely sure on what the final vision for the film should be, when it come to style. While I have completed much there is equally if not more work that needs completion, so I will continue to cultivate that will and give life to this beautiful art form, for there is no grater feeling then seeing something complete from start to finish.