Am I GOOD ENOUGH?

[stevenbhn]

Please could you leave comments

I want to get into the animation industry either in TV, Games, anything really.

I have a HONS degree in computer arts and need to know if what i have is good enough to go onto a showreel.

On the theatre page, thats all my animations i have.


http://www.stevenbhn.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/blueyondersite/test/index.htm

Please tell me what you think and how i could improve on producing a final reel.

Thanks

steven:o

[Phynius Gauge]

I think your animations are good, but I don't know what exactly it takes to be in the industry either so I can't help you there. What I can say is that you will probably be more likely to get a job if you have more skills than just animation, such as modelling texturing, etc. Good luck bro :) .

[eeek]

Hi Steven,

a little bio:

Currently im a character animator and rigger working in the games industry, previously i worked a Framestore doing production shots for tv.

- so im going to give you a crit of your work ok.

sneak:
very nice - feet look a little slippery,tips stuck to ground.

Run on 6's:
too quick - the motion isnt clear, not defined enough.

jaunty:
very nice- full of character,exellent.

Univercity work:
cant really see whats going on. Too dark.

Your walks,runs on the whole are very nice. A little sticky in places. In terms of showing this off as final work, this is what i expect to see from showreels at my company.

Walks
runs
Action based- jumps,attacks
Animals -quadrapeds(runs,walks,etc)
wieght and timing pieces.
short film
lip sync

Basically a good mixture, timing and wieght are a key requirement. Transitional animations eg walk to runs. Character pieces. Lip sync a bonus.

eek

[stevenbhn]

Thanks eek.

I did spend a few weeks in a computer games company called Vis Entertainment when i was at University. They where all extremly good and to be honest they have put me off sending out work untill i am at a good level.

do you think i should send out what i have or wait a few more months untill i get time to do more animation.

I am just a bit lost after finishing Uni.

steven:roll:

[eeek]

Hi Steven,

IMO, wait. For advice i would say is to animate like stink, get lots of walks,runs done. Do animal walks, runs, do animations of a character standing still(always hard to do).

A list:

1.walks,runs-characterful
2.animals, walks,runs- different types(gallop,rotary,trot)
3.quick simple personal pieces e.g a character reacts to something, character standing still,etc. 2 characters.

4.log on to 10 second club (www.10secondclub.com) and do there monthly lip sync challenge.

5. weight and timing pieces,(very important) eg. a character sitting on a ledge from standing. A character lifting up a heavy object.

6.short film if you have one, is always good. As it shows an employer you can work to a schedule.

Thats about it. I personally think your work is exellent so keep it up!. Also do send off your stuff now if you want, it doesnt hurt anyone to look at, also you get good feedback. Heck when i just started i sent mine to pixar! and they liked it!.

Remeber the more you do the better your'll get, so it doesnt hurt to wait. Just remeber to always look and get a bystander for constructive crit.

eek

[Bluder]

Phynius Gauge : acually,all the ppl (e.g. kyle baldar ,pixar) from the 3D industry that we have had here to talk about there stuff said that to make it u must specialize in a area.

ofcourse if u wanna do a movie by ur self or someting u must be good in all areas.

i'd say focus on animation if thats what u wanna do in the future.

[stevenbhn]

What do you suggest is the best way to present my work through CD. I can put all my animations into one file but then what. just stick it on a cd. what sort of format does most of the industry use.

steven

[eeek]

Its really up to you. If you wanna make a showreel, or put your stuff in folders. I have work in folders on a cd, for people to pick and chose, but i also have my univercity work and Framestore work on VHS.

The codecs to use: Mov, Avi
( i wouldnt use DivX, or too specific codec, just generic)

Tape format: Europe - PAL, USA - NTSC

eek

[ross_coe]

you're stuff seems cool :) and congrats on getting the degree.

I'm in 3rd year comp arts at abertay just now. how have you found the post-degree job hunt?

[stevenbhn]

Yeah i done my Hons Degree at Abertay. Still creating a showreel good enough for a job yet.

How you enjoying the course.

steven

[ross_coe]

yeah the course is cool....enjoyin it this yr coz theres a bit more in the way of 3d and animation :)
am trying to concentrate on character animation as well, so thats been givin me a sore head lately :p all good fun tho :D

[Ragnar]

I've still got the big jub hunt to look forward too..

I'm currently taking a year out before going back for my final year, trying to get as much done as possible in this year to a standard that I feel comfortable with for my portfolio. Aiming for a job in the games industry as a 3d modeller/Animator.

oh yeah.. I'm at teeside uni doing computer games design!

[CharleyBoy]

You seem to understand how to do different type of walk, that's good. But you should now try to do more acting animation. Take a sound and make your character talk, you'll learn to do facial animation and acting (thats a exemple). I think walks and runs are more easier than acting. OK, these are the base but I think you're ready to get on the next step....

Oh and about if you can get a job..... I saw many bad animator that work in the industry so, you CAN get a job...... ;)

Keep praticing!!!!! Tried different kind of animation..... and read a lot of animation book..... like The ANIMATOR SURVIVAL KIT by Richard Williams, the best reference (as for me)

[martimus]

Originally posted by CharleyBoy
Oh and about if you can get a job..... I saw many bad animator that work in the industry so, you CAN get a job...... ;)

LOL what a nice way to put it! :p