Free web page graphic and photoshop tutorials.

by Kelly Richardson
Animation School Review Columnist

Guinness, Rush Hour 3, and the Hungarian government recently received a jolt from a group of talented technical artists. These projects underscore the dynamic applications of digital design courses in every aspect of global culture.

Every digital designer aspires to create a work that has a lasting impact on the industry. And while that million-dollar project may seem a stretch at first, the skills and creativity nurtured in digital design classes serve as the first big step. Here are a few contemporary projects that have transformed the careers of the designers involved.

Digital Design Leads To…

• Futuristic Commercial. A combination of hand animation and visual effects separate the latest Guinness beer commercial from the rest. Digital designers used choreographed sequences and computer editing to complete the spot.
• The Big Screen. Rush Hour 3, with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, features several digitally designed sequences created in Los Angeles and Vancouver.
• Government Suite. Digital designers used architectural software to put a new face on Hungarian government buildings for an international design competition.

Digital Design Courses

Of course, these projects represent thousands of hours of work by gifted artists with experience and training. But the designers all began by completing a digital design course and building on that formal education.

Digital design is a unique fusion of technology and artistry. This course can be taken as an elective to augment a graphic design degree, or as a concentration in itself. Students appreciate the opportunity to work with cutting-edge software in the context of advertising, entertainment, and architecture.

You can take a digital design course at colleges and universities, at local technical or business schools, or online through various distance-learning institutions.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Source(s)

Cut & Run’s
Zoic Vancouver

When you sit down to author a game or create aweb site, you have two basic software choices: Flash and Shockwave. Both provide comprehensive tools to do the job, but which one is right for your project? Here’s a side-by-side comparison of these two animation giants.

Flash Web Animation

Flash and Shockwave are perhaps the most well known web animation software tools on the market. They both provide designers with an intuitive desktop that offers one-button functioning and several production methods. But when you examine them closely, you’ll find that each has its own nuances.

• Download. Flash files download much faster than Shockwave, making this the ideal format for basic web sites looking to add just a little bit of flair.
• Universality. More than 90% of web users access Flash animation applications at some point. The plug-in is one of the most downloaded on the Web.
• Price. Flash animation is cheaper to use. Shockwave Director runs around $1,000 on the market, while Flash Creator starts at around $400.

Shockwave Web Animation

Shockwave is an entirely different ball game. Built for detail and resolution, web animators find that Shockwave is indispensable for the next generation projects that Flash just can’t handle.

• Capability. Shockwave is the natural choice for intricate graphics, hard-core gaming systems, and a deeper level of interactivity for the user.
• Functionality. With Shockwave, you have a greater selection of files that can be loaded into the system. Flash works in Shockwave, but not vice versa.

Both of these web animation programs provide you with a rich environment to create web pages and gaming platforms. Which one you choose comes down to purpose and preference.

About the author Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

by Kelly Richardson
Animation School Review Columnist

When TV viewers start discussing computer animation, The Simpsons invariably come up. But as you’ll soon discover, one of the brains behind the show’s success began with almost no animation knowledge whatsoever. Here’s his story.

With sitcom writing credits such as Everybody Loves Raymond, The Pitts, and Complete Savages, Mike Scully earned the reputation as a comedic artist. But after joining the creative team for The Simpsons, Mike was forced through a crash course in computer animation. Scully arrived on the scene in 1993 during the height of the show’s success. His goal? Not to screw things up.

Animation Professional Mike Scully

Recently Scully sat down with Animation Views and revealed some interesting tidbits about his computer animation career.

• Humble Beginnings. Mike got his start in entertainment writing jokes for international comedian Yakov Smirnov.
• SimpsonsContributions. Scully is credited with writing twelve episodes of The Simpsons during his tenure, sometimes to widely mixed reviews.
• Awards. Scully has received 6 Emmy Awards for his work as well as 3 other nominations.

One thing Mike seems to appreciate most about writing for the computer animation niche is the teamwork involved. Writers, animators, producers, and editors work together to create the most entertaining show possible for the viewer.

Varied Positions in Animation

The moral of the story is that there are a variety of creative positions within the computer animation genre, and many don’t require masterful drawing skills or expertise with animation software. If you’re looking to get into the industry, use the talents you have to segue into more technical positions.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Source(s)

IMDb
MSN Encarta

by Kelly Richardson
Animation School Review Columnist

Many students earn an animation degree and then stumble wide-eyed into the industry. They want to create and they want their projects to be seen. Here are the three best ways to get your animation work out to the masses, and maybe land yourself a job.

An animation degree represents years of hard work, studying, and stress. But unfortunately, earning the credential doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll start out as a full-fledged animator. Most entertainment sources are looking for a mix of formal training and creative experience that must be built up over time. Can’t wait that long? Roll the dice and use these media to get your work seen by the masses. If you’re good, they’ll let you know it. And if you’re not, you’ll know that, too.

Animation Career Segues

• The Internet. YouTube is just one of several Internet portals that allow newbie animation professionals to show off their skills.
• Animation Festivals. The Sundance Film Festival is an excellent example of the starting point for many famous animation careers.
• TV Networks. Create an animation sequence and pitch it to TV program directors. They’re always looking for the next big phenomenon.

Keep in mind that for every ‘no’ you hear, you’re just one step closer to your goal. Trust what you learned from your animation degree and don’t be afraid to be rejected. Most of the great animators in the business were rejected at some point.

Make Your Entry Count

If you’re going to go to the trouble of submitting your work, give yourself the best possible chance. Be focused in your submission by presenting a clearly planned project. Present your idea in conjunction with a recent trend or news item and you have a much greater chance of success.

About the author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

by Kelly Richardson
Animation School Review Columnist

Nothing brings more life and character to a great animation feature than a celebrity voiceover. Animation voiceovers not only entertain audiences, but also sell products and services. Here’s the scoop on celebrity voice actors in the studio.

The influence a voice has over the message is absolutely immeasurable—not just on the animation front, but in advertising as well. Commercial and animated voiceovers differ in some important ways, however. UW News reports that in advertisements, unfamiliar voices are much more effective than those recognized. In animation, by contrast, familiar voices matched with computer-generated faces are all the rage.

Voiceovers in Animation

A recent Animation World Magazine report took up the issue of celebrity voice actors in the animation studio. Here’s what it found.

• Competition. The trend of casting well-known actors in newly released animations is reducing demand for career voiceover actors.
• Qualifications? Career voice actors maintain that their specific training in mike techniques and vocal acting make them more qualified than their immensely famous counterparts.
• Commitment. Many animation fans criticize big name actors for not putting the same effort into their performance as they would in a ‘real life’ movie.

Blockbuster in Point

The Transformers movie release has animation fans holding their breath for the insane action sequences and celebrity voice actors. Pop culture news network EMI reports that Peter Cullen, Hugo Weaving, and Mark Ryan are just some of the acclaimed actors adding their voice talents to the jaw-dropping animation sequences.

No matter how good the animation is, voice actors play a critical role. The quality of the voiceover is as critical to the final product as storyboarding and image effects.

About the Author

Kelly Richardson covers the local education and technology scenes in major cities across the country. His articles appear in educational journals, periodicals, and e-zines.

Source(s)

Animation World Magazine
ENI