The Stalking Animation Director

So here we go, a test frame of what my short might end up looking like. Here we see a typical animation director on his way to brief one of his animators, currently busy with brain-relaxation exercises.
I've done the rough layout for the entire scene, and am now busy fine-tuning the animation. As you can see, the whole thing consists of silhouettes moving against a simple, Tim Burton-style background.

GTA is doing well, too. I'm now in the third city. However, I've been spending more time on my short...so: GTA: 4, Shortfilm: 1.

Shortfilm discontinued

Okay, I've been thinking about this, and I've decided to halt work on my shortfilm project for an indefinite period. My reasoning: I've been too ambitious and it's become too much work for one person. So I've started cutting down on the characters, and the remaining ones now all use the same rig, I've shortened the story, etc...but in the end I've had to make too many compromises just to get it done. As a result I've lost interest in working on something that will be but a shadow of what I originally intended it to be. Better to call off the whole thing now. I will be posting the few shots I did get done, though.

On the bright side, I have started on a new, much smaller project that I've been wanting to do. It's a cynical, lighthearted explanation of the animation progress for commercials, from conception to flighting. It'll be a new style for me, and most importantly: I can break it down into little bite-size episodes.

So: Old Shortfilm: Dead, New Shortfilm: 0, GTA: 4

'Nother quick update

Wow, this blog's been up less than a week and already I'm being spammed with comments making generic statements ('really like your blog'), and then pointing me to other sites along the lines of 'What the world really needs, right now, is inflatable dartboards. Buy ours today! Discount on bulk orders!'
Thanks to the one real person who commented so far.

Shortfilm: 1, GTA: 3. On to the second island, did some missions for a hormonal hurricane, now I'm taking a break from the missions and just cruising around, checking out the views on the new island. My shortfilm's project folder is collecting a lot of dust.

Thought for the day: "You start animating, I'll go find out what they want."

Monday 11:34

Another week, another disaster waiting to happen.
However, our Twinsavers commercial did win a Guest Orchid Award in one of the weekend newspapers. The article will be available on WickedPixels.com soon. This week we'll finish the 40" version, which won't be aired, but will probably also be available from the studio's site.

Making good progress in GTA:SA. Started buying houses and have taken over 4 territories so far. Did no work on my shortfilm. Shortfilm: 1, GTA: 2

More about me

Okay, it's time to own up.

I spend my days clicking a mouse-button in an animation studio called Wicked Pixels. I've been clicking that mouse-button for over 3 years now. I'm told my clicking occasionally produce stuff that gets shown on television, even cinema, but I'll deny it if anyone asks. The studio is doing well, getting more and more work from overseas, but go check the website for more on that.

In my spare time I get up to all sorts of stuff, but my computer keeps reminding me that I'm actually supposed to be working on my shortfilm. I seem to be making up more and more excuses to stall the project, though. The latest excuse is that GTA San Andreas is much more interesting. Ah well.

I'm in the process of digging up dirt to show here, I promise.

Twinsavers - 'Deadpan'

How would a couple of fish react if two rolls of super-absorbant Twinsaver towels (with designer encapsuloc pattern) fell into their world and started draining their pond?

Here's a still from one the studio's latest commercials. I modelled and animated the two main characters and did all the character compositing. Head over to WickedPixels.com to see more and a mpeg of the 30" version. Comments, harsh criticism and death-threats welcome.

Characters designed by the amazing Hennie Blaauw (go check his website, now!)

Hey there!

Okay, I've decided it's time to take a stab at this. My first blog. Up now. Running. For the whole world..to....see........hmm......Maybe I should rethink this....

Anyway....there ain't a whole lot to see here right now...but that'll hopefully change soon. I'll start showing some of my work soon, maybe even WiP of my current shortfilm...who knows?