Raising the Bar

Thank you all for coming!  I hope this experience is as rewarding for you as it was time-consuming for me.  Rather than ruining this experience for you any further, let's just get right to it.

The following is a project that took me about three months to complete.  It could probably still use a bit more polish and shine, but... you know.  You may recognize the giraffe as the famous Geoffrey the Giraffe from Toys 'R Us.  I'm not sure how trademarks and copyrights work but I figure I should mention that the general design of this character is not my doing.  Maybe if I took off the stars it wouldn't have been a problem.  

For best viewing, click on the 720 HD option on the bottom right if it's not already.  Crank up the sound.  And give it the ol' full screen treatment.  If the high def is too slow you can reduce the resolution or just give it some time to prep.

And now for the moment no one's been waiting for...

If you happened to miss the premiere showing, there will be a series of encore showings from now until the end of the internet.
Thanks again for coming.  Don't forget to sign the guest registry.

Sneak Peek

Almost done.  Here are a few clips that may or may not be in my near-completed cartoon. Technically these are scraps anyway, because i accidentally converted the images from 4:3 aspect ratio to 16:9 (widescreen).  That's why he looks a little stubby.

If all goes according to plan I should have it done by Monday or Tuesday.

Wish me luck.

Shrub-a-dub dub...

Let me introduce you to Shrub.  You may have seen him lurking around my blog here and there.  Incidentally, he's been posing as my profile pic for quite some time.  I'm not quite sure why he never got a formal introduction.  I created him for a character design class last summer. He's a nomad in search of answers.

Maybe in some distant future he'll get some screen time.  But for now, he's staying with me until the weather gets better.

Let the Games Begin!

A few screenshots of the short cartoon I'm working on.

he needs a name

Character design for an animation class.  He's a music conductor.  He's nimble, passionate, and dashingly husky.

He probably has an accent as well.

IT'S ALIVE!! (cue lightning)

When I found so astonishing a power placed within my hands, I hesitated a long time concerning the manner in which I should employ it. Although I possessed the capacity of bestowing animation, yet to prepare a frame for the reception of it, with all its intricacies of fibres, muscles, and veins, still remained a work of inconceivable difficulty and labour. I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself, or one of simpler organisation; but my imagination was too much exalted by my first success to permit me to doubt of my ability to give life to an animal as complex and wonderful as man. The materials at present within my command hardly appeared adequate to so arduous an undertaking; but I doubted not that I should ultimately succeed. I prepared myself for a multitude of reverses; my operations might be incessantly baffled, and at last my work be imperfect: yet, when I considered the improvement which every day takes place in science and mechanics, I was encouraged to hope my present attempts would at least lay the foundations of future success. Nor could I consider the magnitude and complexity of my plan as any argument of its impracticability. It was with these feelings that I began the creation of a human being. As the minuteness of the parts formed a great hinderance to my speed, I resolved, contrary to my first intention, to make the being of a gigantic stature; that is to say, about eight feet in height, and proportionably large. After having formed this determination, and having spent some months in successfully collecting and arranging my materials, I began.


- Dr. Frankenstein

Little Jack Horner

Little Jack Horner
Sat in the corner,
Eating a Christmas pie;
He put in his thumb,
And pulled out a plum,
And said 'What a good boy am I!'





Can anyone tell me why he puts his thumb in the pie?  I'm sure he has a good reason.  And why does this make him a good boy?  Is it because of his hand-eye coordination?

This was an assignment for school.  I was trying to figure this problem out before I started, but I couldn't understand why he does it.  What is his motivation?  What does he gain from butchering the pie?  Is Jack some sort of sadist?  I should like to think not.  Any input?

more tripping

this happened to me once.

nice recovery

This was an assignment for my animation class.  It's an exercise in weight.
He was just supposed to step up on the box and then step off to show that we could understand weight distribution and balance.  That sounded too boring, so I spiced it up a bit.

Next, I'll be using this as a template for a 3D animation.  Stay Tuned...




It's on a cycle, so if you can figure out a way to make the video player loop then it works just nicely.

Geoffrey

First, you buy two identical stuffed animals.

Check.

Second, you slaughter one of them with a stitch ripper.
(Don't be ashamed if you enjoy this part.  I did.)

Check.

Third, open up your computer and put all the pieces inside, thus digitizing your stuffed animal.  (If you're having difficulty during this step, just watch TRON.  I'm pretty sure it's the same process.)

Check.

Fourth, assemble the pieces into a 3-d model using your undefiled stuff animal as a reference model.

Check.

Fifth, attach the digitized pieces to your model with digital epoxy.

And there you have it.  

Easy, right?!