I was backing up my computer last night when I came across three more animation clips. I'm not sure when I did these. I think I was trying out some new wire armature designs that were unsuccessful. In the clip with the character looking at his hands, the armature was my most sophisticated design yet. It was based on a design from a stop motion book I was reading. I spent a long time building it and everything seemed to work just fine until I tried to have him walk. He walks off the screen so fast in this clip because his feet break after his first step. The rest of his body works fine, but with broken feet, he was pretty much useless. If I can ever figure out how to make his feet stronger, I would love to do a short film with that guy.

In the clip with the character sitting down, I ran into more problems. It was based on my old, wire and bamboo armature design except this time I tried to flesh him out with clay. Though I tried to use it sparingly, the clay proved to be too heavy for the little guy, so I had to try and do something with him sitting down. Since I had no way of archoring him down, he kept sliding around everytime I touched him. I got frustrated and had him put his head down and then I had some fun with clay instead. The last shot is more fun with clay.

Lost and Found  

Armature Test	Head Scratch	Fun with Clay
Size:5.7M	Size:12.6M	Size:23.6M
Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No

Posted by Danny Southard at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I had some spare time today (trying to relax before my life becomes insanely busy with school) and I took all my old animations that I only had on VHS and digitized them into my computer. Most of them are from the my first term in the animation program. In fact, the first one in the top row, is my first attempt at animation. It was crude, poorly animated and the recording is unbelievable bad, but I still remember laughing uncontrollably and realized that animation is so accessible. I had avoided trying animation until that day because I was afraid that I couldn't do it. Later I would watch lectures from professional animators where they'd show their visually stunning films and then tell us that the set was made of painted cardboard and the characters where nothing more than wire and toilet paper.

I still kick myself everytime I think of it. I should have started sooner.

Anywho, I may get more of a kick out of these clips that you, because its cool to see how bad I was. I'm not saying that I am any good now, but I'm not as bad as I used to be. I apologize for the ones that are too long, too short, and poorly animated, which is pretty much all of them. So if you are bored out of your mind and have exhausted every possible option for fun things to do, watch a clip.

Introduction To Animation: 3D Media  (FTV66A)

Feed Me!	Abstract	Dancin'	Who Am I?	Kick It	Headache
Size:11.0M	Size:36.1M	Size:13.9M	Size:34.9M	Size:3.0M	Size:4.4M
Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No

Principles of Animation: 2D Media  (FTV69)

Floursack	Candle	He Made It!	Z-axis Walk	Hammer-Time	Z-axis Billiards
Size:3.1M	Size:4.7M	Size:6.5M	Size:4.2M	Size:3.2M	Size:3.9M
Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No

This and That

Ninjas!	Squirrel Hop
Size:35.7M	Size:2.6M
Sound: No	Sound: No

Posted by Danny Southard at 8:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I just found out a few minutes ago that I have been accepted in to the Animation Mentor Program! I'm really excited! Its an online school (I know, I was skeptical at first) that focuses on character animation. It was established last year by a couple of lead animators at Pixar and a lead at ILM. The instructors (mentors) are some of the best professional animators in the biz. The way the school works is that about 10 students are assigned a mentor. Each week the mentor records a lecture which is available online for viewing whenever its convenient for me. Then we complete an assignment, turn it in and the mentor records his critique of your work. At some point during the week, the class meets online for a Q&A session also. After 12 weeks of this, you're done with course #1. Then its on to course #2 and a new mentor. There are 6 courses total and it takes 1.5 years to finish the whole program. After that, you get a neat diploma that you can put away in a drawer somewhere 'cause it ain't gonna get you a job. Instead the skills that you learned in those 18 months with help you create a kick-ass demo reel that will get you a job. Its all about the demo reel. No certificate, diploma, etc will ever be a substitute for a "damn-I-just-soiled-myself" demo reel (and you can quote me on the quote unquote)

Anywho, the only problem is coming up with the money and the time. It ain't cheap, so I gots to keep my current 40 hour/week job and trying to find another 20+ hours on top of that to animate will be a challenge. I hope my friends won't hate me and more importantly, I hope my girl doesn't leave me.

Sweet mother of pearl, I'm excited! Its a good thing my shirt's loose, 'cause it would be pretty awkward right now. "What are you looking at, buddy!? Its cold in here, ok!?"

Posted by Danny Southard at 8:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This month's short comes from an animator at Blue Sky (Ice Age, Robots). This one is definitely my favorite of all the shorts I have selected so far. The characters have incredible expression despite the fact that they are basically teardrops with legs. Its wonderfully animated and overall really well done.

Bert, by Moonsung Lee

Posted by Danny Southard at 1:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (37) | TrackBacks (0)

Every Month I try to find a short that gives me the giggles. Below are links to past shorts of the month. Enjoy

March, 2006  

The Two Minute Itch, by Eric Favela

February, 2006  

Super Monks, by Kast, Lan12, Qwib

January, 2006  

Robot Ate My Homework, by Mark Shirra

December, 2005  
The Fallen, by Nick Fredin

November, 2005  

Droid Fight, by Tommie Löfqvist

October, 2005  

Kauboy, by Carsten Seller

Posted by Danny Southard at 12:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Good morning. I just wanted to try out a new feature. Supposedly, when I create a new post, this website will email all the people on a list I created to tell them that I have a new post. Pretty cool, eh? Well if you don't want to be on the list, email me and let me know.

Update:
If you would like to receive an email whenever I add a new post, you can sign up on my main page. On the lower right side of my main page there is a spot where you can enter your email. Click add and an email will be sent to your inbox with instructions on how to complete email verification. Its really simple, actually. All you need to do is click on the link provided in the email and your done.

Tootles!
Danny

Questions? Comments? Gifts?
Email Me

Posted by Danny Southard at 10:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This one I did just for kicks. Its a classic double bounce walk. Give me some of that sweet, sweet pep!

Posted by Danny Southard at 6:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Until I figure out how to redesign this blog, I wanted to provide links to all of my past animations. Enjoy.

Advanced Character Animation  (FTV81Y)

The Defiant Lift	Side Step	Present Opening V1.1
Size:20.2M	Size:2.5M	Size:12.8M
Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No

Advanced 3D Computer Animation  (FTV84C)

Fun With Dead Bodies	Liftin' Weights	Present Opening V1.0
Size:7.4M	Size:4.5M	Size:6.2M
Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No

Intermediate 3D Computer Animation  (FTV84B)

The Solar System	Goofy March	Kickball	Jumpin' Blob	Ball Bully
Size:14.7M	Size:0.9M	Size:4.3M	Size:2.6M	Size:3.4M
Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No

Intro to 2D Computer Animation: Flash  (FTV83A)

Birds	Jumpin'	Walkin'	The Highway
Size:5k	Size:5k	Size:10k	Size:4.5M
Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: Yes

Intro to Animation: 3D Media  (FTV66A)

The Hat	Heavy Rock	What The..?	Art and Crafts
Size:6.7M	Size:2.2M	Size:11.8M	Size:5.8M
Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No	Sound: No

Posted by Danny Southard at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Danny Southard at 3:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Hey Folks,

I changed my site once again. This site is much more sophisticated and at the moment I have no idea how to use it. It took a long time to figure out how to install it, but here it is. Its a blog, so I can post my annoying thoughts whenever I want. It will also make it easier to post my animations!

Posted by Danny Southard at 2:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)