Digital Content

module 6 - COURSE WRAP-UP

As everyone is wrapping up their Module 5 Narrative Projects and completing the Re-Work Project, I wanted to post a few videos, articles and animations that are either new releases or are animations / artists / ideas that I think are interesting and relevant to the field of animation, but I have not been able to fully integrate into the course content yet.

Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman’s Apprentice directed by zacharius kunuk

Animation + COVID-19

Select at least one of the items below covering Covid-19 and animation to review.

Animator Pinot W. Ichwandardi

Ichwandardi creates animations that utilize combinations of old and new techniques, and old and new technology. In approaching animation from this standpoint, I believe he is able to redefine expectations of a specific technique and technology - especially in his use of older digital tools and programs. As we have discussed multiple times in this course, animation is a field that is inherently linked to its own production technologies, which can sometimes result in works being limited by technological benchmarks.

For example (especially when I am working under a deadline) if I don’t think I can “do” something in After Effects, when I am conceptualizing an animation these assumed limits are a part of that initial development and shape the final result. Ichwandardi pushes the boundaries of old programs and hardware, along with 2D animation definitions, by thinking beyond those perceived limitations. The resulting animations are compelling and inspiring, and challenge me to think past what I think I know the most recent version of After Effects, Animate, ToonBoom, or DragonFrame can or cannot “do” when I am first planning out my animations.

I believe his 2D animations - which also seem to be mostly non-commercial, family endeavors - are pushing the limits of what we expect to be possible with animation in general, and especially “2D Animation”

…and to go full circle: check out the animation created by Pinot Ichwandardi and family based on the NYC web-slinging-sequence. Another animator working with hybrid techniques to stretch the limits and expectations of “2D Animation”.

Lisa Hanawalt

Hanawalt’s story about taking Bojack Horseman from a small comic-zine to a successful Netflix series is an interesting viewpoint and experience to consider for those who are interested in working more independently.

Always back-up your files

This is an older story, but still very relevant - the lesson here is: always, always, double back up your files, and never delete a project file until you have triple checked it is archived somewhere else.