Animation has begun on my newest short film, The Pig Farmer. I am experimenting with a more delicate clean-up line on this film as well as hopefully a more fully animated and flowing style.
I remember reading quite a few things people had written on the internet about digital 2D animation, and Flash animation in particular. It was along the lines of "a film like Disney's Pinnochio can never be done using Flash". I took those comments to heart and believe they are 100% wrong. I think that is exactly the sort of animation that can be done in Flash and the look of that film can indeed be achieved using this program. I may not hit those heights this time around, but it's good to have a goal, and that is mine.
Anyway, here's one of the first scenes I've completed.
The Pig Farmer - Scene 2 from Nick Cross on Vimeo.
More to follow soon...by the way, if you like what you see and are feeling generous, why not click on the IndieGoGo link on the sidebar to donate a few bucks to help get this sucker finished ----->
Thanks!!
18 comments:
First off, fantastic animation test. Looking forward to what you have in the cooker for this film.
But I have to say a big THANK YOU for being a positive voice in the Flash animation community. There is no doubt in my mind that smooth hand-drawn animation can be created in Flash—you films alone are proof...and there are indeed many others striving for the same goal.
People argue (fairly, I suppose) that the program has been constructed on a model of stock libraries and mathematical tweens, but you can still key out one drawing after another to your heart's content. And I'd argue that Flash is a great app for inking and clean-up.
Anyway, no need convincing you of course. Thanks for sharing your progress, and good luck moving forward.
Nicelooking test, Nick! Can't wait to see the rest of it!
I also think you can create tradional looking animation by using digital materials. The cartoon we just finished was animated in Flash, we did cleanup and coloring in ToonBoom!
i'm always up and down about flash for inking, but i find myself using it more often than not, even for just finishing drawings.
the pencil tool irritates me a bit but the brush has a lot of great variation and is really versatile.
are you working with the brush tool mostly? looks great!!!
Right on, Nick! I hadn't done "traditional" animation in Flash until about a month ago but I came to a similar conclusion. I am about to begin production on a series of short films and will be doing my own personal work in Flash, drawing on a Cintiq, for the first time. I'm as convinced as you that the best quality draftsmanship and animation is as possible on a computer as on paper.
Thanks everybody!
Tom- I use the brush pen to cleanup. I've never used the pencil, it's kind of a pointless tool.
Tim- Right on! I can't wait to see your new stuff!
Woo hoo!!!! That's such great news!!
Yeah, I never got the POv that Flash bites. It's kind of like calling a pencil useless because you can only make a line with it. My friend Jake Bauming, you, and Ricardo Curtis' crew at House of Cool have been using Flash as a traditional tool for years. If factory television doesn't use it that way, it's their own fault.
wow, great lookin scn. This film is gonna rock!!
Flash is a great tool. With the right people behind the wheel, it has tonnes of potential!
btw, I used to work at mercury (still do once in a while) but
I'm at a new studio in Ottawa now called Wild Kratts.
so new, i dont think we have a website yet...O_O
Looks like a nother good one so far, Nick.
How true it is.. I think, like most things, the quality of any given animated film is down to the creativity of the creator. There are a hell of a lot of bad traditional 'paper' drawn animated films out there as well - the Norwich animation festival was proof of that..
Hey Nick, just curious. What are your brush settings in Flash for cleanup? Do you pump the smoothing at all?
Broke now but if I land this gig I'll toss you some coins. Keep it up!
Thanks again!
Chris: I have my smoothing set to 20. But I zoom in pretty close when I cleanup or else the lines get a little jagged.
real nice anim. nice colors in the BGs too. hats off to you for completing fully animated shorts by yourself. ( or mostly--i think you have some help right?)
ff
Hi Frank,
Thanks! Actually I don't get help on these...I do 'em all on my lonesome.
I am know here. But I like this piece. The pig is so cute. Maybe can put more time on this one make the character fit in a short story? ..
HI Darrine
Thanks. This is just one scene from a short film. The entire cartoon will be about 4 1/2 minutes.
Hi Nick,I have a petition could you upload a short video showing us how to set our brush to use perfectly our tablet and get better results on our cleanup? thanks and beautiful work.
Personally, i'd go crazy if i animated traditionally in Flash(It's meant for web pages)
But props to you if you can do it. That's "dedication". Good luck with Pig!
Cheers!
www.flickr.com/photos/ariville
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