YouTube Cartooning and You

• YouTube gives the everyday animator a chance to prove their worth. When a good idea is a good idea, but a big time network believes otherwise, an animator can still put it up on the internet  for the world to see. And who knows, maybe it will be a multimillion view hit?
• "Niche cartoons can remain niche and not cause problems for executives, as there is no competition over time slots. For larger networks like Frederator, that peaceful coexistence all but eliminates the challenges of visibility." I think this pretty much speaks for itself
• The internet gives cartoonists almost complete freedom. Length, content, style, etc. Sure, if a video is more adult oriented, it will get less advertisement from YouTube, but if it is good, someone will still find it and are likely to tell two friends who each tell two friends, etc.

Thanks Ms. Licata

• This article is pretty encouraging for me, since myself and a group of friends were (hopefully) going to post our own little series on YouTube.
•  A lot of it is common knowledge (but that isn't a bad thing. It's still encouraging). Sometimes we need to be reminded of things we already knew

Question
What should one keep in mind before booting up a YouTube series? Any tips or advise for people just starting out?

It's Been a While

Wow... it's certainly been a while, hasn't it?

• Learned

 I can't say I've really learned anything lately. Unless you consider "learning what it's like to go out on competition" to fit in this category, that is. Other than that, I haven't really done much learning recently.

• Want to learn

 I guess I'd like to learn how to effectively divide up the work of an animation (which will not only be useful for future competitions, but also for a group of young animators who want to form an animation studio over the summer).

• Frustrated you

 Changing the audio compression from MP3 to ADCPM (or whatever it is). I changed all of my audio files to ADCPM individually and also in my publish settings, but I know there is at least one more left for me to change (that I fear I might miss).

Also I fear that I might be clashing with those closest to me. Our different opinions and comfort zones aren't mixing well and I don't know what to do about it. My sense of humor is different but I don't want that to hurt our friendship. I've been trying to grit my teeth and keep my mouth shut, but that doesn't always help and it can't last forever...

• Made you happy

 Going to competition was a blast! I loved the whole experience! I was terrified and so stressed out I wanted to rip my hair out, but I loved every second of it. I sincerely hope that I will get to participate in many other animation competitions in the future (and other competitions in similar areas).

•  https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_239531&feature=iv&index=1&list=PL84DB158CAABE4E07&src_vid=8Q2P4LjuVA8&v=zs_4NI7wjno

This is a behind the scenes for a hilarious video called "The Glitch".  The video was well put together and it was pretty informative (through showing rather than telling). It's mostly just for giggles but it could also be a decent reference point for anyone who wants to make a little video like The Glitch.

Pixar Developing a New Way to Animate

• Pixar is developing a new way to help add more "texture" to the textures of their animated characters by putting a layer of paint over-top of the animation. This helps to convey the lighting and the roughness of skin and cloth. It makes it look a bit more realistic.
• Temporal coherence is apparently the fluidness of images from frame to frame. Would have been nice to know before watching the video a million times and not understanding every little detail.
• It is uncertain if this is a step forward or backwards. On one hand, it is still 3D animating (modern) but it is also hand drawn which is time consuming and "outdated". It really depends on who is being asked.

•  I thought this article was very confusing. I didn't understand a lot of what was going on. I noticed that it was turning 3D into a pseudo-2D style that is nostalgic and pleasing to the eye, but that's about it.
• I think this new style is a step forward. It's paying homage to traditional animation while still utilizing modern modes of animation. Personally, I like it.

 Can someone simplify what was being said in the video? I understand that it is explaining the right and wrong ways of using this new technique, but it was so complicated that I didn't understand it.

Film Clichés

• Post-Apocalyptic short films are horrifyingly overdone. It has gotten to the point where this terrifying theme becomes laughable. Please, stop spamming a ruined landscape overrun by the zombie horde.
• Dysfunctional-families are a cruel fact of life. No matter how many times they are used, it never becomes a cliché because it happens so often in reality. The actual problem is that it is not used effectively. If it doesn't have a purpose or meaning, then it shouldn't be added to the film.
• When did short films get so long? When a film is 40-45 minutes long, I don't consider that to be much shorter than a regular film which may only last about 20 minutes longer. I agree that a short film to be considered a true short film, it shouldn't be much longer than 30 minutes (preferably 10 minutes or so).

•  I don't think this list was entirely clear on what makes these "clichés" clichés. Yes, by definition a cliché is something that has been used beyond effectiveness, but an example of some sort might be nice.
• How is cannibalism a cliché? I have never once seen a short film about cannibalism. And why would anyone want to make a film about that?

 How can these clichés be made fresh again? What steps can one take to possibly avoid these over-used ideas?

Untitled

• Learned

 Sometimes, some people will be better than you. I can't be jealous, because it won't do me any good. All I can do is my best.

• Want to learn

 How to draw human beings more effectively.

• Frustrated you

 As deadlines approach I can't help but feel a sense of dread.

That and I've been fighting with some close friends of mine :(

• Made you happy

 My boyfriend
Borderlands 2 for the PC

• Link of interest

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M9ONL6BcbU

 You're going to die

Dark Sauce (Dark Souls)

A funny parody. I've kind of been into Dark Souls recently. This video has lip syncing and stuff. It's pretty funny too. Check it out and beware, we wouldn't want you to go hollow.

Inexpensive Garage Studio Tricks

Fast Facts:

• Protect your external hard drives. They are your best friends. Invest in fireproof safes to keep them safe from harm.
• Use ankle weights to keep your stuff in place. This is a pretty creative and useful idea actually.
• Utilize the thrift store for cords. Search for cords that can be used such as bendable or right angle end cords

Cool bits:

• Useful. Cost effective. Makes the most use out of every asset.
•  Great for anyone starting out or anyone who wants to keep their space small

 Question:

• Where does one come up with these tricks? Is it something one learns from experience?

Another Tips Blog

yay...

Fast facts:

• Break down your rigs to make them easier to work with. Dividing each leg or appendage into separate colors can be used to make animating much easier.
• Show off your goods while they are still works in progress. Don't let your pride get the best of you. And besides, if there is a major error, it will be easier to catch and correct in its earlier stages that near completion.
• Animators are only actors with pencils. Go out and live life so that you can take that life and shove it into an animation to make it feel more real. So basically, live life for your character.

Cool Bits:

• Another tip blog. Not that they aren't useful, but they're getting a little repetitive...
• Useful tips that I hadn't really thought of before. Color coding is genius

Question:

•  I think tip number 8 is a little unclear. What does "block" mean in this situation?