STUDENTS' WORK
I always value greatly sharing what knowledge I have with each new generation of aspiring animators. It must be said though that the finest way of learning animation is through a studio apprenticeship. However, in the absence of these in this day and age I hope my books and my classes will help somewhat in spreading the word on the core principles of movement and how animation can be executed to a professional standard. This page is dedicated to showcasing just some of the wide and varied work I have enabled students to create (thus far) in my capacity as a teacher and/or mentor.
(Note: Student wanting to self-study with me online are advised to visit my first Udemy course - "Mastering 2D Animation 01". This is a complete intro to traditional animation using both pencil drawn techniques and rigged ToonBoom Studio characters. Topics covered include 'keys & inbetweening', 'bouncing ball', 'generic walks' and 'hand-drawn versus digital techniques' - indeed, everything you need to get you started as a traditional animator (or even a CG one if you want to build your animation on a proven foundation of classical knowledge!)
Seattle 'Skills Center' showreel ~ 2015
I am very proud to present the work created at my AIE-Skills Center high school students. The Skills Center is held for two and a half hours, five days a week during school term time, so that high school students can gain a taste of animation, games, film and programming in exchange for high school credits prior to graduation. In this way students are better prepared for applying to a college of further learning - or even entry into the industry, if their skills are developed enough. This showreel represents the range of work we cover in the program... including 'drawing', tradigital 2D animation, CG modeling & animation, games design & programming. Students who are over 16 years of age and attending school in the Seattle Public School District should call 206 252 0730 to find out more, or enroll. (But hurry if you want to enroll because classes were fully subscribed very early in 2014!)
Animated ads featuring my current students' work ~ 2014
This animated ad was created by my Cornish College of Art students. As part of a group independent study project, each animated a short personal sequence to go into the ad that promotes traditional 2D animation for the 2DLIB.com initiative. Bravo team!
This ad uses the same format as above, featuring a compilation of mainly my AIE-Seattle/Skills Center high school students - who study with me in exchange for school graduation credits. They study other things too of course - such as 'CG modeling & animation', 'Game Design', 'Animated Graphic Novels' and 'Programming' - but the foundation of the 2-year course is 'Traditional art & animation' of course. Great learners! Bravo one and all!
2D Vector Animation Class using ToonBoom Studio
Here are the top 3 films created by students at my ToonBoom Studio-based 2D Vector Animation course in Seattle, 2013. Students are first introduced to ToonBoom Studio, working with my own rigged character, then shown how to create a generic walk cycle. Students are next asked to design their own character and environment. Then they are required to ink, color, rig and animate their character walking through their own environment design, created on multiple levels to suggest depth and perspective. In all, students had 30 hours in the studio to accomplish all this. None had vector animation or ToonBoom Studio experience before.
Note: Return students, plus other newcomers will next be studying at my 'Animated Graphic Novel' course using the same tools, starting on July 8th, 2013.
Note: Return students, plus other newcomers will next be studying at my 'Animated Graphic Novel' course using the same tools, starting on July 8th, 2013.
AIE-Seattle /Skills Center classes:
My AIE-Seattle/Skills Center classes enable students from any high school in the Seattle region to study animation with me and earn graduation credits at their various schools. The first 20-week semester introduces them to traditional hand-drawn animation, vector-based ToonBoom Studio animation and a final combined team film project. The second 20-week semester allows the CG-driven students to study the basics of Maya modeling and animation, whereas more art driven students can study with me and produce their own drawn and 2D-animated graphic novel. The overall class is a mixture of promising artists, non-drawers and even students with learning difficulties.
What follows are three example of the final 2D-animated film projects I set students at the end of their first semester - allowing them about 40 classroom hours to complete it. I find it personally inspiring to see what talented and imaginative young people can create, if provided with the right knowledge, environment and encouragement to do so. So 'bravo' to the Seattle Skill Center class of 2013 for producing some fine work in challenging circumstances!
What follows are three example of the final 2D-animated film projects I set students at the end of their first semester - allowing them about 40 classroom hours to complete it. I find it personally inspiring to see what talented and imaginative young people can create, if provided with the right knowledge, environment and encouragement to do so. So 'bravo' to the Seattle Skill Center class of 2013 for producing some fine work in challenging circumstances!
Team 'Pegasus Nuke':
Team 'PNuts':
Team 'Jingle & Hiemer':
AIE/SEATTLE SKILL CENTER WALKS
Now here are six of the ToonBoom Studio-created walks that were produced during the same AIE-Seattle/Skill Center class....
AIE-SEATTLE: 4 first-year student walks
A core part of the foundational work within the AIE 'Advanced Diploma' program is learning the core principles of movement through hand-drawn and vector-based 2D teachniques. Here are 4 of the various ToonBoom Studio walks my students designed and created before they moved on to CG/Maya instruction...
BRITTANY:
TYLER:
NATHAN:
TINA:
PRE-AIE STUDENT WORK....
MEDIEVAL WALK
A 2D walk assignment by Saille Schumacher
PERSONALITY WALK
An amusing walk cycle by Jacob Hinds.
FLIK-FLAK
Example of physicality animation by Susan Jimenez.
QUADRUPED
Dog walking by Bryanna Lindsey.
ACTION KICK
Another physicality exercise by Wonjin Kim.
HIP DANCE
Active dance sequence based on video reference.
CLEAN SWEEP
A short individual film by Sergey Naygel.
BUBBLE'S GREAT ESCAPE
A short individual film by David Bolton.
FLIGHT OF THE BIPOSAUR
A short individual film by Eric Wiley.
UMBRELLA
Opening title sequence of senior team project.
Some beauty shots from the same project.
LIGHTHOUSE GIRL
Short 2D film by Jenna Smith and Ryan Miller.
TREE
An experimental film cycle by Cody Flynn and Mike Smith - expressing the recurring seasons affecting a tree, in the style of a moving impressionist painting through the use of CG particles. (Mute.)
REEL WORTH
Short trailer for a senior film team project.
BREACHED
Short film, senior team project.