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Well, got the booth set-up and it seemed to attract many like-minded 2D fans and animators. I do think there is a mood swing going on - although it is very much a grass-roots 'indie' reaction. (The major studies making huge-budget blockbuster movies - most of them failures incidentally - that they haven't got a clue about what's going on under their own noses! 
I also went to the 'NIKO and the Sword of Light' talk yesterday and was really impressed with the team. They are a small band of individuals - located in Toronto, San Francisco, Mexico and the UK - who created a great motion comic that has been number 1 in the Apple store charts now for several weeks. Big studios are now trying to negotiate for the rights to make a TV series based on the idea. As I said the tide is turning a little - although many more of us have to do remarkable things too if its going to have a real impact. For my part 'Spirit of the Game' is something that I think will have a similar impact when its made - and thereby open up currently non-existed opportunities for talented young students who want to apprentice with master animators. Keep you fingers crossed! :) 
The 'NIKO' team talk!
Every CTN Expo begins with a certain amount of nervousness and more than a little amount of anticipation. But never are they disappointing! This year is no different of course… although we're particularly hoping that the great gods of 2D animation (are you listening Walt?) will be shining down on our booth B34 today and on our launch of the 2D Academy! :)
For years now I have told my students to keep their drawing skills - especially life drawing skills with a model - going, as it will profoundly help them with their animation activities. However, due mainly to pressure of work and circumstance I've never actually been able to practice what I preach myself! More recently however I've been teaching a 'Drawing for Motion' class at the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and consequently the opportunity of doing a few fast sketches arose. Although considerably rusty from too much drawing inactivity over the years, this is what I was ultimately able to come up with. I have to say I toally loved the experience. So no-doubt I will now feel more inclined to try much harder in future to get more of this delightful and totally therapeutic drawing time in! :)
 For some time now I've increasingly realized that if traditional hand-drawn animation is to survive then 2D animators have to think outside the box.
More recently the successful appearance of motion comics and animated graphic novels have begun to suggest that there really are the seeds of an entirley new career path for indie animators emerging. Consequently I began to develop a class on animating graphic novels for my young students which proved so encouraging that I've subsequently written an eBook for the iPad and/or iTunes on the subject. It is aptly entitled... 'Motion Comics ~ How to Animate Graphic Novels, Comic Books and Cartoons' - and explains all the processes and techniques involved. With the arrival of motion comics I really do believe the traditional animation world is reaching an exciting hew horizon, just as the music industry did a few years ago with the advent of digital technology. Now artists and animators can create, publish and distribute there own projects from their own home desktop, doing away with the more conventional animation studio environment entirely. I hope therefore that this book encourages all creative individuals - writers, illustrators, cartoonists and animators - along this bright new road, so that we may indeed find a true renascence of the hand-crafted, independent-minded, 2D artform! |
Tony WhiteWelcome to my world. Here I hope to share with you my passion for traditional 2D animation and my efforts to preserve, teach and evolve the most wonderful artform that has ever been! :) ArchivesTo visit the previous "Pencil Lines" blogstie archive, click HERE.
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