[toenexx]

Hello everyone. I am a freshman in college and I just finished my first After-Effects animation with my roommate for our drawing II and advanced computer apps finals. Here is the link:

http://www.alvarezdesigns.net/

Just click on the rotating tv.

The whole animation was done with vine charcoal. Different animation techniques were used as well: 2d hand drawn and digital animation.

Anyways, any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

brian
alvarezdesigns.net

p.s. sorry for the loading time of the movie =(

[Sheff]

Get a better codec. Try divx or something. It wasn't worth the wait. 339 Megs is way too much. If that is your 'low' res version, you need to learn to optimize badly. I got up and left before it completely downloaded. Most clients don't have time to wait for massive downloads. On top of that, if the wait wasn't worth it they would be more pissed.

Not everyone has the bandwidth to look at this thing.

As far as the quality of the piece, I thought it was okay. For college freshmen, it's pretty ambitious. I think it could have been a better piece if the story was more compelling and the drawing was better.

In terms of drawing, you have 2 camera angles. You are looking at the figures at the same eye level and sometimes directly from above. If you're drawing something, your are free to place the camera anywhere. Don't limit your cinematography.

If the drawing is going to be simple and childlike, have a good reason for it. Don't let your lack of drawing mileage detract from your work. On the other hand, if you know your drawing isn't your strength, then come up with a story that uses your current drawing level to your advantage.

I think the thing I liked the most about it was the music and the foley sounds.

I'm not trying to be harsh, I'm trying to be honest. If you want to see a good synthesis of drawing skill/style and animation, look at Bill Plympton.

Good Luck.
_________________
Sheff
www.sheff.com

[toenexx]

Thanls I appreciate the criticism, really I do =)

Would rather recieve negative comments then positive comments, that way I know what to improve on.

And also with the codec thing, wut program could I use to convert it to divx? I been trying to make it so its plays like on quicktime trailers and streaming but Ive had no luck in trying to do either of those. Anyways thanks.

brian
http://www.alvarezdesigns.net

p.s. The "sketchy" style of the animation was intentional. Helps create the downbeat mood the television brings. Also my professors commented it should be longer, which I'll work on later

[Sheff]

Try divx.com. There should be a quicktime plugin for it.

If you want to create the idea of 'downbeat' do it with value rather than with line. The sooner you become proficient in communicating using shape and value rather than just lines the better off you will be and you'll be ahead of your other students.

I am also an instructor and I tell my students that. The ones who 'get it' are far ahead of their peers who either don't believe, or disagree with what I'm telling them.

When you're working with value, you can manipulate your viewers eye. Contrast can draw their attention and composition can move them around the frame.

You can use perspective to place a vanishing point where you want the viewers attention to go. You can make things close in value to communicate subtle ideas. Giving your work a sense of light will help bring it to a higher level.

I'm not sure if this piece needs to be longer. Anyone who watches it will understand the story. Once you've achieved that, it's time to move on. Really, how much more can you add to this and improve the idea of it?

Your next project should be technically better and have a better story. As far as the length of it, I'm a big believer in editing down to only what's necessary rather than adding unnecessary fluff.

Good Luck.
_________________
Sheff
www.sheff.com

[toenexx]

okay, i dropped the movie size 1/3 of what it was originally, sorry about that =P

[Max_Dark]

I waited about 15 mins on my 10MBit line before clicking ye old red X. At that size, your movie should be around 1 hour for it to take up this much space.