Beautiful Poses! Ken Fountain has a treasure trove of training videos dead cheap!

Just check these amazing captures from Ken Fountain's The Power of Pantomime series in his store store: https://splatfrog.com/shop

*shared for education purposes!❤️

Last minute gifts for animators 2018

So your SO or loved one works in the field of animation and you wonder what to buy for them, right?

You love animation too but have no clue what is trending, relevant or have no idea what gift says I care huh?

Sweat no more! Here is a list of relevant gifts that will make a big impression on the animator in your life.

How to Cheat in Maya 2017: Tools and Techniques for Character Animation

This is a great reference book for 3D/CG animators that work with Maya. Artists appreciate tips and workflows on how to get the job done quickly and efficiently, and this book delivers big on this kind of content. This is the latest edition available and most of the teachings can be applied to other software packages.

Animated Storytelling: Simple Steps For Creating Animation and Motion Graphics

This book offers countless ways to improve your storytelling when working with animated projects. I had the fortune to review an early copy of this book before its release and it really helped me to come up with original ideas for my shots. When people ask me how did you come up with such an idea, I pull out my copy from my backpack.

American Experience: The Circus DVD

This documentary might not be related to animation but is highly related to the entertainment business that animation happen to serve to. The story of the American circus enterprises is as interesting and fascinating as Walt Disney's story. I think there is a ton of information that can be translated into animated endeavors to let this DVD fly by, and some of the stuff you learn you can use it to make small talk. Give it a chance, you won't be disappointed.

The Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney's Great Animators

Andreas Deja, master animator of Scar from Lion King fame. Put together a great book about the second generation of master animators at the Walt Disney Studios on its beginnings. Full of stories and sketches from each of the productions they worked, it is a great source of inspiration and mental zen for animators that follow their teachings and put them to work day in and day out.

XP-PEN Artist15.6 15.6 Inch IPS Drawing Monitor Pen Display Graphics Digital Monitor with Battery-Free Passive Stylus (8192 Levels Pressure)

Animators draw a lot, it doesn't matter it is on a computer, on paper and this monitor brings both worlds together at a very affordable price. It has tons of good reviews and seems to be very reliable. If you want to get a WOW face, this is the one gift you should buy. Do your homework though, ask the person you want to gift this to tell you about his/her setup and ask them "why some animators draw directly on a screen?" and based on the response, make your final decision.

Artist Glove with Two Fingers 2 Pack,Free Size Prevents smudges for Light Box Graphic Tablet Pen Display iPad Pro Pencil Black Drawing Art Creation

This is more like a stocking stuffer or an extra for a gift bundle. This glove helps your hand slide easier when you are working with a screen, a tablet or piece of paper. It feels great and will keep dirt and such away from the surfaces you are working with.

Animated Performance: Bringing Imaginary Animal, Human and Fantasy Characters to Life (Required Reading Range)

This book helps animators with acting and animation performances. It is a great source to create shots with sincerity and uniqueness. I can assure that this book will give your loved one a new view on how to plan shots and get the best possible shot they can.

So this is all I can think of now. Should I find more gift ideas, I will post them by Wednesday.

Merry Christmas and the best of the holidays to you. Thank you very much for putting the time on reading my blog. I only hope this has helped you to make your Christmas shopping a little bit easier and less stressing.

Last minute tips for CTNX before you land

Hey there, I know there are quite a few lists and survival guides to CTNX available to you through Google. There are interviewing tips, tips for a killer reel, tips on how to get the most out of the convention and so many other lists that can make the whole pre-convention planning a bit overwhelming and stressing.

I just feel there are some gaps to fill and some things to say that will give you an extra edge and perspective about the convention that are worth mentioning, so here they are:

Get some antibacterial wipes and clean your device everytime before you hand it to a potential recruiter or pro giving you a critique. Remember they are active professionals and they shouldn't be missing work because they contracted a weird bug at CTNX. In a nutshell: Don't become patient zero!

Be aware of your surroundings! Step aside in hallways and common areas while checking your phone or taliking to somebody as you are not the only one on a mission at CTNX. There will be people jumping all over the place and many of them with their beloved portfolios and tech in hand and you don't wanna be remembered as the guy that stepped, trumpled or ruined somebody's time at the expo.

Be kind to the volunteers as they have nothing to do with whatever goes wrong at the conference. Yes, some of them may take their job way too seriously and lack the training to manage conflict and can be a little douchebaggy, but they are not the bulk of the group let me tell you. I personally know many of them and all they want is to be part of the whole experience. So please don't take your frustration out on them. Take it to the organizers and best of luck to you because that's another league I won't talk about.

Prepare for the worse and hope for the best:

Print receipts of everything! From add ons, to badges, to invitations, lotteries and whatever is proof of something you bought or acquired from CTNX. Cell connectivity comes to its knees during the convention, sometimes back to the age of CDMA.

Have all your dgital content downloaded to at least two devices (if you have the fortune to own more than one device). Also bring extra batteries, battery banks, solar panel or mini nuclear reactor as the people to available electrical outlets ratio is like 40 to 1 if not higher.

For the bold and brave out there, create a bit.ly link to your online content that is unique, easy to type and remember as typing a Vimeo link with a number can be a hassle. I'm talking about somebody trying to access to your content from their device. On the same department, never ask can you tell me your email address to send you a link? Because you'll get the cringe of death or a well educated no.

Have fun, meet people and be kind! Don't discount, deride or give the cold shoulder to anybody as you never know who will make it big despite of what you percieve as a below average portfolio,  a shy personallity or whatever prejudice that labels an human being as a "loser" or something worse.  Even better, you never know if you'll see them again at a studio or place you want to work at. Everybody's chance to success is the same despite of current or past cirmcunstances. And finally, don't throw business cards away for the same aforementioned reason!

May the odds be ever in your favor and godspeed to you. I shall see you again later on!

That's all folks!

How to use an animated / video texture in Maya 2016 | Animation Tutorial

How to use an animated / video texture in Maya 2016 | Animation Tutorial, a cool way to add life to animation props and ambients within Maya.

An Analysis of the Character Animation in Disney’s Tangled

An Analysis of the Character Animation in #Disney’s Tangled: Learn what makes #Tangled the great animation film it is by reading this great article from Senses of Cinema

7 Hand Gestures You Should Be Using (in your shots :) )

7 Hand Gestures You Should Be Using (in your shots :) ): Use those hands to convey your message without using words.

5 challenges to awaken your creativity

5 challenges to awaken your creativity by creativebloq.com "If you feel stuck in a rut and it seems like ideas took a vacation away from your brain, THIS is the post for you.5

Pointers for jobs in animation

Pointers for jobs in animation, The animation guild put up a nice article of what to have in mind when looking and landing jobs in the animation Industry.

It basically explains how some efficient networking can keep you busy as long as you want.

Check them up HERE

Finding work in the most unusual places

Finding work in the most unusual places by Creativebloq.com "Sometimes the chance to get your big break in design can come from a surprising direction; learn how some top designers found work in an unexpected way."

Personally I have to say that the best jobs that I had weren't the ones I applied for. So get out and meet people. you never know what door will open for you.

Quick Tip - Render Faster using the Windows Command Line with Maya

Quick Tip - Render Faster using the Windows Command Line with Maya by cgtuts.com "In this Quick Tip tutorial, you will learn how to batch render Maya scenes faster using the Windows command line, and in this way, maximize the amount of processing power you can get from your computer."

All the goodies HERE

Seven Habits Of Memorable People

Seven Habits Of Memorable People by Fastcompany.com"Improving your memory is a hot topic, but what if you want to influence someone else’s memory—especially when it comes to how (or if) they will remember you? It's an important thing to consider since being forgettable can be toxic when it comes to success, says cognitive scientist Carmen Simon, author of Impossible to Ignore: Creating Memorable Content to Influence Decisions."

Most of what you find on THIS article is applicable to life. So why not giving it a try for a change?

Maya for Beginners - Learn Maya fast in 1 hour

Maya for Beginners - Learn Maya fast in 1 hour "Today I will teach you Maya basics in one hour. No nonsense, just simple point to point teaching of all the generic tools common in many 3d applications."

Goodies, insights and comments HERE

Lip Sync for animation in 3D games

Lip Sync for animation in 3D games, a quick rundown of how to do Lip Sync that looks good and gets the point across. It is also a great intro for doing a rough lip sync pass.

 

From Maya To Blender: The Road Less Traveled

From Maya To Blender: The Road Less Traveled By Nick Adams "Since I was about 13 years old, I’ve used Autodesk products. Among these was Maya, before it was a product of Autodesk. If ever there was someone you would ask whether or not they liked Blender, it was most certainly not me. I remember once giving Blender a go maybe 5 or 6 years ago, and immediately didn’t like it, as the perspective camera didn’t look right. Everything was super wide, as if looking through a fish eye lens. To be fair, I never really gave Blender much of a chance. I looked at it once, then wrote it off in favor of 3D Studio Max. Much like O’Neill, I always thought, “Well, we’ll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.” Well, I’m finally at that bridge, and I have to say, I was quite surprised." Lots of insights on making the jump to Blender ENJOY!

Basic Character Animation from start to end

Basic Character Animation from start to end "In this tutorial I'll go through the basics of character animation. We will be using our rig to create readable and appealing animation for the audience. A great starter video for those wanting to do some virtual acting. Be patient, animation is a subtle art. 20 seconds will take you approximately 20 hours."

Check for rigs, info and tons of goodies on the Youtube's page HERE

Your Last Two Weeks: How to Leave Your Job Gracefully

Your Last Two Weeks: How to Leave Your Job Gracefully by Lifehacker.com "It’s the final stretch: You’ve quit your job, and now all that stands between you and a different life are those two weeks of notice. Use this time to tie up loose ends and take care of the little details that will make it easier to leave your old job behind and focus on your new one." So get it done right and move on! (CLICK HERE!) P.S. My only notes on this are: if they ask you to stay after completing all what you have to do in your two weeks notice, just politely decline and walk away :D (Trust me!), also everything collapsed under its own weight, so you don't have to "push" for anything to happen by leaving any thoughts on your exit interview (Trust me again, seen it way too many times).

Misconceptions of animation "writers"

Misconceptions of animation "writers" bt JohnK "The responsible way to write for animation is to keep the average amount of characters down to 2 per scene. Especially in TV animation. More characters per scene equals less time to animate each character. This results in cheaper faster crappier animation and no personality animation at all." One of the masters of modern animation gives you a ton of useful advice in a handful of paragraphs HERE

Creating Strong Character Poses

Creating Strong Character Poses: Solid and appealing character poses don't come easy. Enjoy some great advice from Mark Pullybank and get to it.

 

20 Best Acting Performances of The Last 5 Years

20 Best Acting Performances of The Last 5 Years By screenrant.com "Many people would have you believe that movies aren’t as good as they used to be. In addition to dismissing all the great films that have come out in the past few decades, that attitude discounts some of the most intense, bizarre and captivating performances audiences have ever been privileged enough to watch. No method has been untried by both older actors really discovering themselves and newer talents capable of shaking up everything we expect from a performance." All the goodies right HERE

The importance of imagination by the creator of the Twilight Zone

The importance of imagination by the creator of the Twilight Zone, Rod Serling not only delivered some quality TV back in the days, but he was responsible for dropping the killing twist on Planet of the Apes (The one from the 70's , It was Earth all along!).

On the following video he provides some great insights on the wonders of imagination and how it has helped humanity to progress and to move forward.

This content was graciously created by the guys from PBS, don't forget to do some of your shopping @ shop.pbs.org to support such a great channel, which produces tons of quality content to inspire and educate the young minds out there.