cool flipbook to do simple animation.
http://www.fabrica.it/flipbook/index.php
Doug Bennett interview:
http://www.strutyourreel.com/forum/feature/
How to critique other people works in constructive way:
Who likes critiques? Critiques are part and parcel of our business. Without them we won’t get better in our craft, we don’t know how close we are to the director’s vision, we could be deceiving ourselves and thinking that we are hot when we’re not, and without the positive ones we could deceive ourselves into thinking we are no good. So critiques are obviously important, but why don’t we usually like them? Most likely because we feel a close affinity to our creation and when someone gives us a negative critique we feel they are actually critiquing us… ouch. In a way this is true… after all it was you who created that animation - so it is your fault (for better or worse)! Sigh…
So here are some of my thoughts about critiques:
Subjectivity/Objectivity - Well, you know, different people have different tastes. But trust me, there are basic underlying principles that we need to nail in order to pull off good character animation. Even though there is a subjective aspect to our craft there is still an objective basis to it. Is it believable motion? Acting is a bit more subjective, but we still know when someone is ‘faking’ it (bad acting) and we empathise with someone even if they are faking it (good acting). So we can’t just say that critiques are subjective and pick and choose the ones we like.
Now, some people are more adept at critiquing animation than others and it is those people that you need to seek out in order for them to give you feedback on your work. It doesn’t help you any if you ask your Mom to give you feedback on your animation when you know that all she will do is butter you up and tell you that you are the best (even if you are!), no matter how bad the animation.
Of course if you are working for a director and it’s his vision you have to capture - well who cares about anyone else’s subjective thoughts on the matter - just make sure you nail it for the director. That’s what you are getting paid for! ;o)
So first of all, make sure you find someone who will give you honest and good feedback. An ‘oh… that sucks’ won’t help you very much. A more detailed analysis as to why someone thinks it’s not up to snuff will be much more useful to you. Ideally it will be someone in the industry with more experience than you… a peer is good, but a peer that is better than you is even better. Especially if they know how to isolate the problem areas.
Ask them to make you cry - This is a tricky one. Some people are more sensitive than others when it comes to receiving feedback. The gotcha is that in this industry you can’t go around crying because someone didn’t like your choice of poses. At times you will get both barrels and you will be asked if you have ever animated before (after having animated for 5 years)… You need to grow a thick skin because in this industry it’s all about being critiqued. The reason you want them to make you cry, isn’t because you are a masochist, but because you want an honest critique (and often they can make you feel like crying). Trust me, you and I both NEED an honest critique. It will not improve your skills if you get false platitudes. Just take it like it is… it really is good for you (you know, like medicine).
Be Gentle - The flip side of the previous coin. If you are giving a critique - make it honest, but do it gently. How you say something is just as important as the content of what you say. So make sure you give them the truth, but don’t call ‘em an idiot for missing that anticipation or overlap… (even if it was totally stoopid, unless you know each other really well and you can both take it). Often when the one giving the critique uses a sharp tongue it often ‘brings down’ the one being critiqued in order to lift up the one giving the critique. Not good. That’s just arrogance.
Positive/Negative - If you are giving a critique, be sure to point out the good with the bad. Encouragement is a good thing. False platitiudes are bad.
Whether a seasoned character animator or just starting out in the field we all need feedback on our work. Sometimes it will be hard to take, but just think of it as another one of those stepping stones to getting better.
taken from Lost pencil. (used for educational purpose only)