Animation

I love this question Cyrus Sales - animation, to me, is fascinating because it's almost like a team sport. It is all parts that equal a whole and I've always wondered HOW to keep things rolling on strict deadlines. Especially when you are at the mercy of digital animation, tools that are beyond your control, exporting times, etc. I'm curious to hear of others responses to your question here.

Amanda Toney is really is a team sport. I work with 5 animators and it's always fascinating watching them work together to create the different stages of the animation. I do agree and have learned there's so many things that are out of your control and you have to be quick on your feet and pivot. I'm looking forward to getting feedback as I'm truly interested in others experience.

You got to set a deadline obviously. Stuff that isn't paying you doesn't come first. I would also stop taking money when the project is completed and no sight of going anywhere.

Can't wait for this, Leonardo Ramirez! I'm getting my questions ready.

Same here Maurice Vaughan. I’m really looking forward to this!

Leonardo Ramirez I love Sci-fi, I know this is gonna be great - thank you for sharing!,

You're very welcome Cyrus Sales. It'll be a good one.

A short film told from the POV of Bonnie & Clyde’s death car is unique idea, Wyman Brent. I can see it working as an animated or live-action film.

Wyman Brent Just had a listen to the track on Bandcamp and as a veteran composer you rock! Welcome to Stage32 and happy hunting!

Maurice Vaughan, thank you. I am glad that you like the idea. In the film, Bonnie and Cyde are never fully seen. The men that kill them are never seen at all. The entire film focuses on the car from it rolling off the assembly line to ending up in a casino in Primm, Nevada. I have actually seen the real car in Primm. Eerie.

Pat Savage, thank you so very much. That is incredibly kind of you to say. I also wish you the very best.

You're welcome, Wyman Brent. I like that. Just focusing on the car. I'd definitely watch this.

Thanks, Phoebe Anasco. Here's the logline for Ghost Roach: After moving into their new house, a closed-minded dad tries to get rid of a ghost roach that haunts him and his teenage daughter.

Bob the Milkman sounds interesting from the title. Looking forward to hearing more about it!

Welcome Phoebe Anasco! I'm Cyrus, one of the animation mod team members, audio engineer and co-owner of a production company (animation, audio, Vfx). We are currently working on our first original web series. Would love to get connected, always looking to network and make connections with our creatives!

Hi, I'm in post-production on a short film that will be submitted to festivals, and I'm in early pre-production for an animated feature.

Hi Cyrus Sales, Id be glad to connect.

Did I stick that question in the wrong place? Happens all the time! What is a story strategist?

Well done! I admire the work you've put in and wish you the best of luck with this project. I agree that if you can get the job done yourself and faster, then you should go for it.

I stick to just the writing part myself as there is something exciting about collaborating with someone else for the animation that inspires my writing, makes the writing better. That said, it ain't easy trying to get someone interested in my story when, as animators, they likely have enough stories of their own!

Cheers!

Thanks Jody Solomon ! I waited almost 10 years so that's my limit. What types of stories do you write?

I personally don't mind utilizing AI for certain parts of my workflow to streamline it. While it typically is "Hey clean this email up," I have started using it to write my own personal scripts for my vlogs. I can have it create it and clean it up accordingly. I however do not use it on client projects or allow it to take away from the creative things I am capable of doing. Could I learn to write scripts and become a master? Sure. Do I want to? Not necessarily. I can make the time for it or I can have AI create the script and put the energy into storyboarding, shot list, production (the things I truly want to focus energy and time into).

Hey Cyrus Sales isn't possible for your clients to see the benefits to you deploying an AI solution for them, not the least of which is the quick turnarounds on the rough or even finished materials. I understand the urge to move beyond your capabilities. I'm finding there's a fine line between needing a tool, and tooling your mind. Acclimation to the new technological paradigm is a mess.

Terence Daniels I'm sure there is - it's more so personal preference. Keeping the creator in creative ya know? But I also understand clients want faster turn arounds, typically on the indie side budgets don't always allow for a full animation team. Pros and cons type situation. I know we have animators who will utilize AI for concepts but we do 2D so everything is done by hand by a human. Again, personal preference not necessarily the only way.

I like that idea, Thanh Trung Nguyen. I think an animated trailer could be an effective way to convey the tone and story. Check out Freepik (www.freepik.com/search?format=search&last_filter=query&last_value=animat...). It doesn't cost that much a month (www.freepik.com/pricing?origin=freepik_web).

And Pixabay is free, Thanh Trung Nguyen. https://pixabay.com/videos/search/animated/

What do you think of this picture? Does it match the scene you imagined for Hell Behind the Border? Let me know if you want to adjust anything — more emotion, more action, different angle — I can change it easily.

Thanh Trung Nguyen let me first start by saying how refreshing and exciting it is to see such a young creator utilizing resources and developing their craft. The saying "If I knew what I knew at your age..." or whatever us old folks be saying. On a different note, I think an animated trailer is a great idea and can be a useful way to convey tone. I will say from my own personal experience pre-production is going to be your best friend. Plan, plan, plan. Don't be afraid to toss it out and start over, really nail down what you are wanting to accomplish, keep the end in mind and most importantly... have fun. Enjoy the process of creating.

Hi, Laurie Ashbourne. Your post and the videos remind me of my spec scripts and how even after I've outlined them and finished the final draft, things can change. Scenes, dialogue, theme, etc. I wrote a feature script a while back and realized months later I needed to change the opening scene. I got more script requests after changing the scene.

I watched The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie yesterday, and the opening sticks the landing. The movie is fun and funny!

Maurice Vaughan You can never go wrong with Porky and Daffy!

You're right, Laurie Ashbourne. I'm excited to see Coyote vs. Acme!

Laurie Ashbourne thank you for sharing. As I get further into animation and developing original IP it's always fascinating to see the process and refinement of what I would consider the all time greats for animation. I often think the process should be linear and straight forward but often times, if not the majority of the times it's not that simple and straight-forward. It's a lot of trial and errors, going back to the drawing board and like Disney you think huh this isn't gonna be the one and it turns out to be the big hitter.

Ashley Renee Smith Thank you for you kind words.

i mostly use 3DsMax and Vray togather to create the environment but there is lot more that goes into it. i make base mesh in 3ds max, then sculpt some details in Zbrush, then comes the most dreaded part - Unwrapping, most 3d artist hate this part. then we do the textures in Substance Painter and Bring everything back in Max and create materials in Vray, then lighting and atmospheric elements and then finally render. it take a long time to render one frame so this is the part where we relax. then some post production in nuke or davinci to add realism to render.

i use 3DSMAX, Zbrush, Substance Painter, RizomUv, V-Ray, Marvelous Designer, Speed tree, Gaea, Unreal engine 5.

i am not a pro at all.of them but I have been using them.for last 10years, some of them have come into industry only few years ago but I can use them.

i believe someday I will have to do my own shots so it's better to keep practicing.

also I am learning Game Environment art, it's same as CGi but lot of more Optimization goes into it,

Sorry making the post long,

Cyrus Sales I am glad you like it. there were more projects I did back in the day when cloud storage was not a thing, so I lost lot of my work, I am still growing as an artist, so I am not perfect. i am working on this small cinematic shot which will take around 8 weeks to complete. i will make a post when it's done. it's going to be something really atmospheric.

i would be happy to be part of you 3D Artist Network.

Welcome and thanks for sharing!

Rahul Sonawane I hate when that happens, I've lost a fair share of older projects unfortunately. Look forward to seeing what you create, yep we are connected!

Cyrus Sales it's a terrible feeling when you lose something you were working on for months.

I am glad we are connected. let me know when you need environment done.

Cyrus Sales, I was in Texas for a while. I was busy dodging tumbleweeds and Texas Rangers, not necessarily in that order. As for your comedy, I would really like to hear about your comedy plans. The last time I started from scratch was after an encounter with poison ivy. I could also tell you about my animation ideas if you are interested. Plus, I might have some music you could use. I have written more than 200 songs.

Where in Texas, I'm from Houston?

You definitely have to be careful with those tumbleweeds...and the Rangers lol. Let's get connected in a chat would love to see what we can make happen. Terence Daniels I'm a little ways north of Dallas.

Welcome to the madness!

Bob Harper, thank you. Sanity is highly overrated.

Hey Bob Harper - I'm reading through this article as I type and wanted to say thank you for sharing! Getting a lot of value with understanding the importance of IP and owning your IP. Funny enough Russ (a rap/hip-hop artist) mentioned the same concept of having "1,000 True Fans," I think people get caught up in having millions of millions of followers, viewers, etc they forget the value and power in having 1,000 true fans/followers and what that can do for you.

Thanks for sharing the article, Bob Harper. It's a must-read!

Pietro Schito said, "Projects like The Amazing Digital Circus, MechWest, and Flow are proving that you don’t have to wait for permission to tell your story." My focus is pitching my projects, but I've been thinking about turning some of them into audio dramas, short stories, and graphic novels. I have this one feature Animation idea that might take a big budget to make, but it'd cost a lot less to turn the idea into an audio drama, short story, or graphic novel.

Such a valuable article to share, Bob Harper, thank you! As someone who grew up loving animation, it’s been so inspiring to watch how independent creators are finding new avenues to bring their visions to life outside the traditional studio model.

The flexibility of today’s tools, combined with platforms like Stage 32 where creators can collaborate globally, is really empowering artists to reclaim their voice and ownership. I hope everyone reading takes a moment to consider how they might carve out their own path too.

Great read! Thanks for sharing this here.

Ashley Renee Smith Mission: Impossible, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Fast and the Furious.

Ashley Renee Smith Funny enough I've never watched a full episode of Doctor Who, might add that onto my list of things to check out. It's cool how they are experimenting with animation for this to reach the younger generation.

Doctor Who, the one available in Disney +?