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I realized in college that I didn't want to end up at some boring desk job pushing papers just to earn a living. I wanted to do something that I really enjoyed, that I would go to work for even if I didn't get paid for it. So I became a film major, and by chance happened to take a few animation classes. I was hooked!

AnimationMentor.com student Lluis Llobera is hardly a novice to the field of CG animation. Although only 27 years of age, his resume reads like that of a seasoned veteran. He's taught Maya courses at his Barcelona Alma Mater, the IDEP School of Video-Film-Television. He's worked on numerous commercials, television shows and short films of which have garnered him recognition and various festival awards.

For a normal person at the end of a normal work week, realizing it?s a Friday should bring happiness, joy, and maybe even relief that the weekend is just hours away. For me, Fridays are a way of looking back and thinking, "Where did all the time go???"

When I was a little kid, my brother and I made animated flipbooks of stick-figures in action. Usually the scenes involved fistfights and/or gunplay, and occasionally the characters would swing into the scene on vines. I loved the fact that I could record a little story in motion, even a simple one, and watch it repeatedly.

"DahhHH Nnahh NahhHHH... DAH DAH Dahhhhhh," bellows from my small desktop speakers at my desk, while getting inspired and killing some time before the start of the day and dailies. With a smile and a, "Goodmornin' 'Tozzi!" I look up as both Rick and Jay pass by on the way to their desks.

Okay, so last month I was going on and on about how important it is to spend time planning your scene before you sit down in front of your computer, your animation disc, or your stop-motion set. But HOW do you do that? What's the best way to plan a scene?
Well, the first thing you absolutely have to do is OBSERVE.