Demo Reels

It's that time of year folks! I'm getting ready to crank out a new *gasp* demo reel. I know, I know, your all excited like but calm down folks its not here yet, think of this as the teaser trailer followed by the web site plug at Comic-con. Featuing some animation you have seen before and some all new content you can get ready for the launch late September-ish. I know you excited to know all about it so here we go.

What's on it;
going by the old adage of quality vs. quantity I cut down my work to six pieces

• Strut (3D)
  
• Feminine walk (3D)
  
• Jump exercise (3D)
• Pitch (3D)
• Hit by a truck (classical)
• Lip sync (classical)

This in by no means the final track order. I have yet to come up with that.

But wait there is more! Also included on the disk is life drawings, yes that's right the crude renderings of a feaverd brain! The whole thing comes warped in a custom case design that'll look a little something like this.
You excited yet? I know I am!

Links to the animation featured in this post:
Strut
Feminine walk (wip)
Pitch (wip)
Hit by a truck
Lip sync

Strut

I afraid to say this, pride being a sin and all, but dang, I feeling pretty proud about this 'lil walk of mine!

four or five-ish hours in XSI

Slippery Soap part 2

Animation in progress for the "Slippery Soap" vignette I'm working on. The big problem is that I can’t seem to get the 3d to have the same since of timing and weight that it 2d Lyca cousin does. (~_~)

XSI

Slippery Soap Lyca

Dang that's some slick soap. I could make a "don't drop the soap" joke here, but we at Maria's Stuff are far to classy for that. Anyway, quick 'lil lyca for a vignette I'm working on.
Flash CS3

Can we do it? Yes we can!

I'm Back Where I Began, and It Feels Good.

I've been off the map for quite a while eh? So what happened? It started a while ago; I don't know If it was school or if the real world finally caught up with me, but I started the slow inexorable spiral of self destruction. I started to feel depressed. It's happened before, it will most likely happen again, I ignored the little signs and eventually, the depression was in control. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to all those that felt hurt or betrayed by me in recent times. The person that lied or disappointed you was not me, it was the sadness talking. But this post is not meant to be doom and gloom; no, it is to be seen as a happy occasion! I announce my return. I have accepted help, and am excited to say that for the first time, in a long time, The love, drive and passion for animation is back. The need to create is back. I'm ready to get to work. I know it will be a long road to become myself again, I accept that there will be setbacks, but my goals are in sight, and I have the will to reach them. I again have a million ideas that I can't wait to animate, and show them to you. Please look forward to it!

Hope he rolls a 20 getting through them pearly gates.

Any time you play a MMRPOG - hell, ANY RPG - you have this guy to thank, be it for ill or good.

In his memory, the 5 reasons your kids should play Dungeons and Dragons.

Happy Hallowe'en!

Boo! Are you scared yet? What? Hallowe'en over? No one cares? Tell that to the Simpsons and there Treehouse of Horror in November!

I like Hallowe'en a little more than is socially acceptable. I blame it on my family, we have a tradition of going a little bit overboard on holidays, any excuse for a party! But I digress, I'm here to show you the trappings of my nerd-tastic Hallowe'en!

Pumpkins!

Since I live in a smaller apartment than most i have had to cut back on the number of Jack-o-lanterns I carve, so It's important to choose well. My plan recently has been one old favorite, one slightly scary, and one show piece.

Old favorite:







































Ever since I saw this on "The Screen Savers" a million years ago, I have always carved a Tuxkin.

Slightly Scary:


































This Art Nouveau inspired owl is as swanky as it is spooky!

Showpiece:







































Okay, so it's not much unlit, but I love my House-o-Lantren! He reminds me that it's never Lupus.

Enough with the seasonal squash, it's time for costumes! This year I was your hero and mine, Spiderpig!
Sorry for the wrinkles, it comes from rock and rolling all night a partying everyday. This along with a pink foam nose and pig ears compleated the look. I know your all jelous of the Hamtaro bedspread, but you can't have it, sorry.

Any way, I'm all ready excited for next year! Happy Hallowe'en everyone!

Mel Blanc on Latenight circa 1981

Sweet Georgia Brown, this is awesome!

Who are these people?

I cruzed by my DeviantArt and my page views are at 2,999! Who are all these people?

The 28th Sept noon is the DEADLINE for all projects. The last day of class is the 21st.

Good news, everyone!

Dateline San Diego Comic-Con

Futurama is back, and now we know in what form. The show will return on November 27th as a full-length high-def film sold on DVD. It will be followed by three additional films, and each film will be divided into four episodes each to be aired on Comedy Central. So, that's 4 DVD movies or 16 new episodes depending on how you look at it.

The panel featured the shows creator Matt Groening and the vocal cast. In the most highly entertaining Comic-Con panel to date, the cast read aloud a promotional comic book created for the convention. The experience was on the meta- side. The cast read the comic, which was projected on the screen. The comic satirized the Fox network's decision to cancel Futurama and the ultimate triumph of the nerds in the room whose mighty power brought it back. In the comic, the characters all go to a massive Delivery Services-Con in Space Diego.

The remainder of the panel featured the voice cast being generally endearing. John DiMaggio, the voice of Bender, explained that his voice is a combination of Slim Pickins in Blazing Saddles, a drunk and a college creation of his called Charlie, the sausage king. Billy West, the voice of Fry and half a dozen other characters on the show, shared his love of Yiddish and vaudeville performers and his friendship with Phil Hartman -- all of which influence his characters' voices.

Welcome back, Futurama.

C'est Fantastique!

Sleek and stylish animation, endearing plot, beautiful settings and food so pretty it made me crave French food for a week! Defiantly one of the best animated movies of all time. The voices where spot on and the accent accurate enough to make you feel that you where on the continent, it was also a treat to see two Pixar employees in the final voice cast, with art department veteran Lou Romano as Linguini, and animator Peter Sohn giving life to the instantly lovable Emile. The musical score was spot on setting the mood, classic French styling with a jazz twist, and some of the best squeeze box playing I have heard in a while. As an added treat, the inclusion of a lovely song "Le Festin" by one of Frances preeminent female vocalist, Camille, just adds to the atmosphere. Rich Parisian french and clever lyrics equating love to a sumptuous feast makes for a perfect love theme for the two human characters, and also for Remy's love of the lifestyle he has found in Paris. While not the visual knock out that "Cars" was at first glance, "Ratatouille" shows considerable visual shops on multiple viewings; subsurface scattering made me want to reach out and stroke Remy's little velvet ears, and the work on the rats fur was beautiful, with each rat having groomed it differently helping to show and not tell character. This also marks the first time I have ever seen curly hair (Linguini) on a 3D character. Make certain to watch the credits to catch Pixar's slightly snarky mention of animation over reliance on mo-cap
"Our Quality Assurance Guarantee:
100% Genuine Animation!
No motion capture or any other
performance shortcuts were used in
the production of this film."

A Whole Pile of Comics

Today I was reading my comic books before I came to school; this in itself is not an odd thing, although that which transpired is rather odd behavior for me. I decided to count them. Every trade paperback in the collection that I have in Kelowna with me, not the collections or graphic novels, just the trades.

Allow us start, here is my comic box, let's take a look inside. Pleases ignore the junk in the background.

Hmmm this is not too terribly impressive, wonder what they look like out of the box. Again please ignore the empty blizzard cup and other miscellany.


Whoa! That’s a little more on the big side! Note the pop can for comparison. (Yup, I drink diet cola, wanna fight about it?) I wonder what they would look like all spread out?


Holy smokes! They reach across the living room of my apartment with need for a second row! Granted it's a small apartment but still... It's kind of awe inspiring in a sad nerdy pasty faced way.


As I re-filed them I decide to see just how many I had, it came to 118. Not terribly many but then again this is only the trade paper backs that I brought with me, it's about 30% of my total collection when you take all of my other junk into consideration. I must have about 25 pounds of Casper and Richie Rich digests, plus a pile of collections, graphic novels and other miscellany or unfiled trades. This made me realize two things; one that it's pretty pathetic that the only reason I tidied my apartment up today was to spread comics on the floor, and two I love comics, not just as something to look at behind Mylar, but as a form of entertainment.

I also noticed that many of my comics are less than pristine. Even though I take care to read them carefully and keep them in Mylar, they still show sings of wear. I read my comics, unlike many collectors who seal them away for protection; I often take them out for a read. I believe that that is what there creators intended them for. They wanted there works to be read and enjoyed over and over again. So tonight I ask you my loving audience, all two of you, go and read a comic book! Unwrap it and read it, wear rubber gloves if you want, but please, enjoy comics the way that there creators intended them to be. Read loved and read again.

Doomed?

Am I or aren't I?

Squawk!!!

Shrieking horrors sporting razor sharp talons, and capable dropping out of the sky like a falcon to tear hapless adventurers to shreds, the comparison to certain ex-girlfriends seems, sadly, unavoidable. Perhaps a lack of communication, far too little of the precautionary medication, or even their sense of reality being more flexible than is healthy, has resulted in the Harpies' regrettable state of affairs. Pity them or not, they will still eat your momma.

Made this for a rotoscope of a 3D caracter I am working on. I love my fantasy!

The Graphic Truth Of My Life

Bitterness towards Family Guy

Time spent defending the continuous quality of the show

Likelihood of saying, "Come on guys, from The Simpsons?" after obscure quotes

Amount you appreciate Maggie

Average screen time given to your favorite character (known as the Cletus Conjecture)

Belief that learning the greater Simpsons vernacular is a cromulent activity that embiggens the mind

Amount that you "get" Comic Book Guy

Work Roster pt. 2

53 sec, keyed, timed, and captured, (no F-curves) for Friday.

New website!

Everyone should check out http://catoanimation.blogspot.com/ it's the schools cool new animation department blog thingy!