Sketchbook Blog

I've been posting more drawings on this blog lately, mainly as a result of a new-found enthusiasm in drawing. It turns out my hand can actually hold a pencil as well as a mouse! Although this is all fine and dandy, I expect that my small readership (You! Thanks!) would prefer to keep this blog focused on animationy stuff, so I've decided to put my drawings on a separate blog.

If you'd like to check in on it now and again, then cool. At present there is nothing really new on it, but there will be.

Redvan Sketchbook

Ta!

Jamie Hewlett Interview

On YouTube here.

It's an interesting clip, talking about inspiration and film references.

I really like the style of his work, and it works well for short format commercial pieces. He seems to not like the US take on current feature animation which is unsurprising. Story is always a magic element that seems very hard to nail in this glut of inferior product.

I don't like the CG representations of his characters at all - their appeal being totally lost in translation, and I am surprised that they have been used as extensively as they have. The disparate animation style to the rest of the (2D) imagery also seems jarring to me. Maybe dirtying it up a bit with some two's, four's and longer held poses would have worked better than the normal computer spline motion? It could even have been retimed in 2D to get a more Anime feel out of it, so although not a mistake by any means, it just seems like that component of it is a missed opportunity. Am I being too picky? Maybe.

Hmmm... I wonder if there's a compilation DVD of the Gorillaz videos. That would be ace...

Constructing Gromit

About a year ago I think I mentioned that I wanted to get a Gromit rig, as close as possible to the one used in the film. Well, my mate Jason has done some amazing work and realised my favourite character in the truest possible way. We got the armatures from the JWMM, company that makes them for Aards, so when matched with J's skills in this field it really turned out spot on.

Head over to Jason's blog RIGHT NOW to have a look at the process. It took a loooong time to make.

A few other images can be found here.
I am rather excited.

Fox

Another one...

Starlet

Tablet PC sketch.

Pencilbox #5

"Rejected from Aardman" - Feathers McGraw Version 1

Irn Bru Snowman Advert

When I was young watching "The Snowman" was a Christmas tradition. This advert does a great job of preserving the feel of the film, and is pretty funny too...

I miss snowy Christmases in Britain!

"Cars" Screener

Just received the DVD in the mail. Thank you Mr. Lasseter and Co.!

Free stuff is ace!

Pencilbox #4

Totem Animal. A rather cool topic submitted by Mr. Schleif.