Animators Anonymous: The Beginning.

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(May 9th, 2011)

Hey All!

                With the end of our school year rapidy approaching, the real beginning of Animators Anonymous draws closer and closer.  We've got a tentative schedule in place now for the rest of the year.  Starting in June, we'll have themes for every month up to the month of December, when we'll announce new schedules that'll hopefully be community generated.                  We put together a good mix of acting and body mechanics themes so that we can start off this whole thing with a nice balance.  You'll also notice that its starting out pretty broad so that we can just start loose and fun and not have to worry about stressing over something too complicated, since I know a large pecent of the first wave of you guys will be ending the semester soon and might be fried.
                We will be collecting reference material for everyone to use and share, we're working of a way for users to submit reference, as well as an archiving system for it all.  For now, though, we will just use different Admin created topics on this weebly.  So far we have at least two people interested in helping us on the tech side, Steve and Ashley, but if you want to help out or recommend something be sure to let us know!
                So without further-to-do, lol, here is the list of the upcoming monthly themes you can look forward to!

Tentative Schedule

June- Cycles (Walk/Run/Dance/Anything)                            Body Mechanics
                Create cycles which demonstarate BOTH body-language/mechanics and understanding of animation software.  Practicle uses of  cycle should also be explored, how to use cycles within a scene seamlessly.    

July- Flirts                                                                                            Acting
                Character interactionbetween two charcters.  Body language should carry all story points, it plays off of the iteraction and internal motivations.  Focus should be on controlled character acting instead of broad overacting.subtle

August- Freerunning/Parkour                                                    Body Mechancis
                Ultimate use of the body. Create movements that make it feel s though the character in overcoming any obstacle with a visual flair unique to parkour and free running

September- Sense of Character I (AA created characters) Acting
                Animators will be given a character package with a rig, notes, reference images, and animation tests for a specific character that the animator will animate.  This is to simulate a studio setting in which the animator will not develop a character, yet instill the established persona of a character through actions.
               
November- Obstacle Course I                                                    Body Mechanics
                Putting body mechanics to the test.  Move a charcter rig through a course filled with several obstacles.  A certain path will be given to allow the animator to show his knowledge of how the body works, as well as how to fully utilize a character rig.  Build off of free running month.

December- Tragedy                                                                        Acting
                Get the strongest visiible emotions to portay some of the saddest characters we've ever seen.  Create a negative emotion strong enough to make the audience empathize with your character.

Check back June for when our reference goes live, as well as whatever everyoe feels like contributing!

~Jake
(AA Admin)



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Animators Anonymous: The Beginning.Hello everyone! 

Justin and I are getting some pretty exciting things planned for the site!  While we work on that, however, we are setting up this area for the community to be born and grow.  While we will have a lot more than you see on this weebly,  This will contain the basics of what we are trying to accomplish.  

Animators Anonymous is a place for growth, support, and community.  We here focus on animation, both CG or Hand-drawn, and how we can develop our own technique and personal style, while still being able to become a character.  At times when work or school take up all of your creative power just to stay afloat, let alone come up with your own practices at home.  One of the driving themes of Animators Anonymous will be to supply animators with monthly themes to practice.  These themes will range any where from a specific Martial Art, focusing on body mechanics and realism, all the way to becoming an Animators Anonymous original characters, being able to use your personality yet letting the character truely shine through acting.  With each month and new topic we, both the admins of this site and its community, will develop a free catalog of reference for the entire community to share.  We will visit organizations that relate to the monthly topic, as well as some home-brewed reference footage.  However, there wont be any any specific excericse in mind, it is up to the animator to interpret.  This is meant as inspiration, guidance, and a starting point.  Not an assignment.While we will have a focus on animation, we will not forget all everything else that makes animation possible and the beautiful art-form that it is.  We will have a sub-section available for modeling, rendering, rigging, texturing, etc.  If it contributes towards animation then it can have a home here!

~Jake