Layout

1 week ago I got introduced to a new super interesting domain in animation : the Layout. It consists in elaborating from a storyboard the background in which the characters are evolving. It has to take in consideration the length of the shot, the camera movement, the design of the animation and also the acting of the characters.

First assignment was to create the layout from a storyboard previously got where a queen got executed. Then we had to do the same exercice but this time from a Batman storyboard frame.

Then we had to do the same exercice but this time from a Batman storyboard frame and we had to describe the camera movement (red rectangles).

Our final assignment was combining layout and camera movement through a composition on After Effects. This time we had to depict the ambush in which Bonnie and Clyde fell in. 

Dialogue Animation

Color Class

Some times ago we came back to analog technics with acrylic painting in order to understand the coloring process. New terms appeared in our artistic lexicon such as warm/cold, complementary colors, local colors/light color... Here are some of the exercices we went through : trying out different gradients and coloured combinaisons, copying a piece of art to understand the values/colors/lightning process... Again it was amazing to be taught by Lawrence Marvit and look at colors with a total new sight. Here is also posted our last assignment where we had to come up with a picture illustrating The Little Red Riding Hood. I am still not satisfied with mine and will try to work on a new composition.

  

down by the lake with my dear roomates*

"Mid Year Test" med Pink Panther

Half way through my first year at the Animation Workshop we had to pass a mid year exam as well as writing a reflexion about our experience in the school until now. This reflexion and the test went pretty well for me even though I got a little stressed by the short time we had to achieve it. We had to produce a small animation starring our dear Pink Panther catching a baseball and falling straight on the ground. I am joining to my animation the few preparation sketches I made before animating. 

good old TDA days*

Dance Animation with Mike Nguyen

Lately at the Animation Workshop, I have been taught by a grand man : Mike Nguyen. Mike was, among others, lead animator for the famous movie The Iron Giant. He also achieves lots of wonderful work as an animator in the industry since he graduated from CalARTS. I never had a teacher has good as him and not only thanks to his exciting career. Mike breaths happiness and his words carry harmony, emotions, life, peace, quietness... All of these reminders made me much closer to my true self. He taught me how to follow my emotions in my animation and across this new approach I reached another level of expression I've never attained before. Here is the dance animation I came with during the last week with Mike. It is still rough but I am extremely happy about the result. Something organic, almost real to my eyes, appeared to me. I was very productive during this last week so I post here some pages from my sketchbook.

Thank you Mike*