I've got comics on my mind

Heya freaks and farts!

It's been awhile but I've been busy finishing up the Axeman music video for Amebix, more on that closer to it's release.

For the now however, the autobiographical comic for my course is finished, HOORAY! Boy, who'da thunk drawin thems prudy pictures was gunna be so hard? Apart form people with half a brain, ME! but it's done and it's turned out quite well.

The story is basically about me and my decision to stop being a victim of living and do something I want to do, not what others feel I should do. So, kinda obtuse right? You'd be right to say so, but I went with a stylistic choice of telling the story like a fairy tale, condensing it down and minimising details and even adding fantastical elements to an otherwise reality based story.

On the technical side, i feel it's too fast at the start. I did try and cram a lot of info into one page. The flow of the text and even the panels could have been enhanced and lets face it, i'm shite with photoshop. But that's O.K., it's all part of the learning curve.

So, my final judgement is that I have a long way to go before I match up to my heroes like Drew Hayes, or Neil Gaiman, but who the hell does?

Anyway, as usual enjoy and feel free to comment.

Instant Infatuation

Hey there, it's me and it's time for a rant.

As an aninmation student at SBIT I check in fairly reguarly with the blog kept by one of my teachers. He posts a few rants, links to animated clips and some helpful sites. Recently though he linked to this clip;

http://www.videology-tv.com/viewclip.php?id=100 (be warned, it may take some time to load)
Tais-Toi Mon Coeur. It is simply beautiful.

I am in awe of this music video, the whole thing makes me feel all warm and tingly inside. To me it's a sure sign that even contemporary 3D productions dont have to be the disney/pixar cartoony style to be incredibly awesome. Ian (the teacher who runs the blog) has often said that 3d doesnt have to have a certain preset 'look' and I agree.

The way that the animators have imitated stop motion for this clip is amazing. Everything that I have ever liked in a film is packed in here; meaningfull camera work, backgrounds aiding in the storytelling, A STORY (that's right, music vids dont have to be bikini girls gyrating to the latest pop hit!) and incredibily effiecint and effective character designs as well as superb acting and use of timing.

The only thing I can fault is the pacing. The clip starts gorgeously, by the first chorus the film is moving quite swiftly. After that though, it does slow down a tad too much. When the chorus rocks around again though, its back to full swing. I think if the director had found a better way to depict the transformation of the male character, ie; faster pacing, less of the 'lingering' shots ( one or two is more than enough and decreasing the amount may even increase the potency of such shots), the peice could have been as close to perfect as I would ever admit.

Overall, I have found an example of 3D animation that is inspiring to me, seeing it makes me want to get up and scream 'HELL YES, 3D KICKS ARSE!'. So now back I go to my major project for this year, a 3d peice that I will strive to make as worthy a rival that of 'Tais-toi mon coeur' (be silent my heart, in english) as I can.

Thank you and good night.