Paperless Animation

These images and writings are from D.T. Nethery and taken from his blog: http://inklingstudio.typepad.com/my_weblog/

He’s talking about paperless animation using the Mirage software. I think the results are pretty amazing and a hopeful sign that hand drawn animation won’t go away or turn into Flash looking robotics. I don't know if I could ever give up the freedom of drawing on a disk, but I want to get my hand on something like this soon.
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Here's what else is on my computer right now : I'm having a ball learning to work with a program called Mirage, from Bauhaus Software. Mirage is a 2-D animation program that allows the animator to draw directly into the program, frame by frame, more or less replicating the traditional hand-drawn animation experience in a digital environment. The drawing tools are some of the best I've used. They can be customized to feel something like your favorite pencil or pen. It's not exactly the same as drawing on paper, but it's pretty darn close and not at all difficult to get used to.



I love that it allows me to draw naturally and not feel like my line is getting "digitized" or changed by the program. You can animate in full screen mode as shown in the first image, with ability to zoom in and out on the drawing (shown zoomed in here); you can access the toolbars when needed by a simple keystroke to toggle the toolbars on and off. (see next image showing the expanded toolbars) .



I like that Mirage allows the user to customize the pencil and pen tools to be anything from a very thin , fine black line for clean up , to something resembling a big ,soft Prismacolor for roughs :


I don't know how well the texture shows up in the posted images, but look at this close-up screen grab showing the "light blue prismacolor" pencil used for roughing-in drawings. Does this look like a computer line to you ?




The above images were all drawn at home , using my regular old Wacom Intous 2 tablet,but let me tell you, Mirage really takes off when used with a Wacom Cintiq tablet. I have a Cintiq at work and using it has totally sold me on wanting to buy one for my own use at home .

I'm just now starting to work with Mirage in earnest again . I started messing around with it when I purchased it last year, then other things got in the way and I didn't do much with it . Now I'm back at it and really excited by the possibilities. Mirage is a 2-D animation studio in a single software. Design, storyboard, animate, clean-up, color, paint backgrounds, composite all in Mirage.

Walter Stanchfield Notes

The internet is proving to be a great resource for animation information. Animation Meat has 65 handouts from a Disney class taught by Walter Stanchfield. This is just one page analyzing two drawings. All the other handouts are equally inspiring. Find it here: http://www.animationmeat.com/notes/waltstanchfield/waltstanchfield.html

Ward on Illusion of Life

Animator Colin Giles uploaded this video of Ward Kimball from the Disneyland TV show. Colin also has a great clip of legendary animator Marc Davis that you can watch here: http://cartooncolin.blogspot.com/2007/02/disneys-illusion-of-life-tv.html

Illusion of life3
Uploaded by cartooncolin

Adult Ward Kimball

I saw this film at Ward’s home in 1979. He showed it on his own 16mm projector for us. It typifies his humor and shows a more earthy side than the Disney work allowed. I remember seeing an original Herriman Krazy Kat framed on his living room wall hanging right next to an original Robert Crumb orgy scene that was very graphic. It told me a lot about Ward and his wife Betty. I hope to have as much fun out of life as he seemed too.

Mary Blair

I just found this on Youtube posted by crpeoplemover and want to share it. This shows Mary Blair talking about her work for Disney. I've loved Mary's work as a child and still do. It's also nice to see Unka Walt again too.

More Albert Hurter

Just when I thought no one was reading this stuff, I got a very nice comment from Henkus Schumacher in Holland wanting to see more from the long out of print book by the Disney inspirational artist Albert Hurter called He Drew as He Pleased. Henkus these are for you.

Click on image to enlarge.

Find more Hurter work here: http://www.animationarchive.org/2006/09/media-two-disney-concept-artists.html

More Ward Goodness

Most everyone knows two of the Disney Nine Old Men were Frank Thomas and Ward Kimball. Not everyone knows they also played in a band made up of other animators call The Firehouse Five. Here’s a sample and description from boberwig. Thanks!

Everybody loves my Baby Firehouse Five plus Two 1951
One of the American West Coast Dixieland Jazz Bands in the fifties was the Firehouse Five Plus Two. Here you see a filmclip from 1951 of Ward Kimball's very popular band. Ward on trombone, with Danny Alguirre on cornet, and Clarl Mallory on clarinet. In the rhythm group we see Frank Thomas piano, Harper Goff on banjo, Ed Penner on tuba and Monte Mountjoy on drums. They play "Everybody Loves my Baby"

Everybody loves My Baby
Uploaded by boberwig

Happy Birthday Ward Kimball

When i see an elephant fly
Uploaded by thadk

One of my favorite sites is Animation ID hosted by Thad Komorowski. He has a brilliant on going break down on what animators did what scenes. This is part of a tribute to Ward Kimball that he posted on Wards birthday March 4th. Please visit the site for more wonderful Kimball animation and other great stuff. You can find it here: http://classicanimation.blogspot.com/

Mad Doctor

A Mickey from 1933 when he was at the heights of stardom, this cartoon does what animation is supposed to. Beautifully done in everyway, it’s every bit as entertaining today as it was then. A perfect cartoon.

That's Why...

Gabe Strine, creator of the comic strip Brinkerhoff, tells me how the name came about:

“The name for the Brinkerhoff comic came from the name of my elementary school in Mansfield Ohio. I’ve always thought it was a unique name and I’m glad to be able to use it.”

That’s pretty cool. So Gabe is originally from the Buckeye state. Buckeyes are a kind of nut. I’m originally from Indiana but I still don’t know what a Hoosier is. Thanks Gabe, keep up the good work. Click on image to enlarge.

Why Brinkerhoff?

My buddy Robin sent me this link to a web-strip by Gabe Strine: http://www.brinkcomic.com/

click on image to enlarge.

I wonder why the bunny is named Brinkerhoff?

Pencil Tests

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdwByOaft3o

Raul Andres has a blog called The Art of Glenn Keane. It’s got pencil tests and other cool stuff to check out. This is one of many you can find here: http://theartofglenkeane.blogspot.com/

Fleischer Setback Process

YouTube user, ‘matbergman’, has taken the time to cut together scenes with the setback process used by the Max Fleischer studio. He has a good description of it and gives us the original name here: The rotograph, patent #2054414, was invented by animator Max Fleischer in 1936. Essentially an enormous, revolving, circular miniature set built in forced perspective, it enabled a fantastic sense of depth and parallax in cartoons produced by the Fleischer Studio in the 1930's.

I’ve included the video and some stills showing Max looking through a camera and setback scene, and a line art diagram that kind of explains the process yet again. These really give a striking effect and I’ve often wonder why they weren’t used on Fleischer’s feature works like Gulliver’s Travels and Mr. Bug Goes to Town?



 UPDATE: Here is a great scene form a Popeye cartoon. Watch the cages as they turn showing all sides.

https://www.facebook.com/joel.brinkerhoff.9/videos/1314691704956/

Popeye 3D background
Scenes with 3D models for backgrounds like these would completely baffle me as a kid.
Posted by Joel Brinkerhoff on Friday, December 18, 2009

Handy Models

I can’t get a model so I’m drawing my hand. Click on image to enlarge.

Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie

I’ve been trying to keep with my daily drawing. I like using the Wacom tablet because it forces me to sketch less, like using a pen instead of pencil. Here’s a visiting dog named Coco. Click on image to enlarge

Albert Hurter

Hurter was the first Inspirational Artist in animation. His job was to draw anything unfettered by subject or schedule. Of course this could only happen at Disney. Albert Hurters book, “He Drew as He Pleased” has long been out of print and hard to find. I’ve spent years looking for it and could have paid a small fortune to own a copy. Then I found it through my local library and scanned the entire book. These images are a mere sample of this book’s delights. Click on images to enlarge.

Inspirational Artists

I spoke of knowing some excellent artist friends who draw like mad everyday for fun and profit. One that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with is Robin Ator. His range of styles and great sensibilities has made him a strong contributor to the old Will Vinton, now Laika Studios. Check out his great site here: http://www.glowinthedarkpictures.com/

Drawing by Robin Ator. Click on image to enlarge

2007

Here it is: 2007. I’m proud to have friends who are incredible draftsmen. They are truly gifted in drawing, painting, and sculpture and amazingly prolific. One thing I’ve noticed about these guys is they draw all the time, not only professionally but in their off hours too. I’ve made a resolution to draw everyday. I did some life drawings the other day and was appalled at how much ground I lost. It’s not like riding a bike or other things you can jump back into. You need to practice, practice, and practice. It’s easier for single people who have more personal time, but that is no excuse and I’ve got to devote time for this. These very rough drawings were done on my Wacom tablet. It’s a bit like Etch-a-Sketch for me right now but I hope to get better at it. Click on image to enlarge

Merry Christmas

Cards have never been my forte. Happy Holidays anyway.

What's My Line?

Some guys can work really clean and it’s amazing to me. I’m always comforted by seeing the rough work from the great animators. Here’s a cool piece by the legendary
Fred Moore. It gives me hope to know these guys did a lot of searching for the right line.