Animation Mentor is putting the student highlight back into the hands of the students. We let students create whatever they want – revealing themselves by sharing video, text, and anything else they feel is appropriate. If you are currently an Animation Mentor student and you’d like to participate, send an email to newsletter (at) animationmentor.com and we’ll do our best to fit you in!
My Animation Journey
My journey to animation started quite unexpectedly. I graduated as a lawyer, but after working for a few years I realized that it wasn't what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. All those conflicts and paperwork didn't inspire me, and the creative part of my essence demanded to be revealed, so I tried different professions before coming to animation. I always loved CG and was interested in it. I have also loved cartoons since childhood. I tried to do some simple Flash animation and realized that the magic of bringing characters and things to life captured me as nothing before had.
I decided to make a big turn in my life and switch to animation, and I had to learn to animate fast, because nobody wants to lose time doing what he doesn't like to do. There are no CG animation schools in Moscow so I had to look for an online animation program. What attracted me to Animation Mentor is that they teach animation as an art, independent of software. Attending an online animation school has had yet another advantage for me -- I can learn animation and work full-time at the same time. The 18-month program is optimal for me because it is a fast and solid way to become an animator.
Working at Animaccord
I currently work at a company in Moscow called Animaccord. The project we are working on now is an animated TV series called Masha and the Bear. It is based on the Russian tale about the girl who came into the house of three bears. But here it is taken to the modern world and there's only one bear, who is a retired circus artist, and a 5-year-old girl who plays jokes on him and makes fun. The project is in the beginning phase – there are only three shows completed and they have already aired. The studio is still building up a team – three more shows are in production now and they plan to produce one more show in a month. There are also plans for a DVD release in autumn 2009, so we're working really hard to meet the deadline. All animation is 100% handmade – no mocap or libraries used.
Here are two shots from Masha and the Bear:
This shot shows Masha stealing the Bear's can of worms (for fishing) and studying them. She says "Shevelyatsa." (approx. translation – "They're moving.")
The next shot follows right after and shows the Bear's reaction. He understands that Masha took his can and may release the worms, so he rushes to take the can from her. But surely he fails...
I like working at Animaccord because they have high quality requirements for their animation, especially regarding the acting, so I can really learn a lot. And working with a good team of professionals and nice creative people is the real pleasure.
Exciting Online Environment
When I first entered the student area of the site, I felt like Alice in Wonderland. There were so many exciting things to dive into! There were interesting lectures and tutorials, mentors who work on the titles in the industry that I like to watch, and students from all over the world united by the same passion – animation.
Art in general, and animation specifically, was very new to me so I had to work very hard to get the most of the program at first. Both the curriculum and technology of the school were very effective in helping me. The well-balanced mix of video lectures, live Question & Answer sessions with my mentors, and the practical assignments along with my mentor's eCritiques® helped me to understand the theory by supporting it with good practice.
You Never Stop Learning Animation
In my opinion, learning animation consists of three levels, and you start learning them one after another, but never stop learning them. I think it's very important that students spend plenty of time on basic foundations. Class 1 is basic physics: weight, overlap, squash and stretch, timing. Here you get the understanding of how any objects move. Class 2 is body mechanics and here you study how the body (not just the human body) moves. You animate walks, jumps and other physical activities. Class 3, and the most complicated so far, is acting and here you learn how to apply what you've learned in the previous two classes to express your character's thoughts, feelings and emotions through poses and movements. Acting is the hardest thing to get, because it's so subtle and there are so many ways to express. Each time when I think that my understanding increased, every new shot ruined my confidence and I had to start over! But I think this process is endless, and you learn while you live. Isn't it beautiful to have such opportunities for self-growth?
The effectiveness of Animation Mentor proved itself because with my Animation Mentor progress reel after Class 3 I was able to start my animation career in game development. Soon after, I shifted to the cartoon studio and am now working on one of the most interesting animation projects in Russia. But I'm not going to stop learning and developing myself until I get my ultimate dream animation job which is to animate for Pixar.
Animation Comes From the Heart
While learning animation is a very exciting process, it's hard work and requires a lot of self-discipline and time management to finish the assignments on time and with the appropriate quality. I couldn't do it without the support of my family and the ability to relax my mind. The best way to do that for me is to play music with my band Forest Stream. It helps my brain to rest from visual stimulation, but it also develops other aspects of my creativity, so it helps my animation in the end. Here is a track called Mired from our album titled The Crown of Winter.
The most important thing I've realized while learning 3D animation can be expressed by a simple statement: It's art and it's supposed to be fun! For me, this means that only when you are inspired can you do things that you like, and your ideas should come from the heart. Sometimes it's hard to stay inspired, and when that happens, it is better to switch to something pleasant or take a rest and 'recharge your animation batteries' as Shawn Kelly says.
