Off to CTN Animation Expo 2012!

Hey Guys!!! Well it's time for this years CTN Animation Expo and I'm starting my trip out to Burbank in just a few hours. So excited for this years conference and the artists and studios attending! It'll be really nice to meet up with friends again, too :)

So as usual, just in time for the conference I put together a new demo reel with a few new shots and some adjustments. Check it out below!!!

But wait, there's more! I started this new shot just a week ago and unfortunately wasn't able to get it fully baked before heading out to CTN. So here is the latest that I have been working on, it's somewhere near a Spline/Polish pass right now with PLENTY more to do. Can't wait to get back and finish this one up ;)

So that's about all for now! Stay tuned for more updates and pics from the conference and take care everybody!

Updates!!!

Hey Everyone! Just posting an update since it's been a little while. Been working on a few things right now and tweaking a couple shots in preparation for CTN 2012!!!!! I'm so excited to go to the conference this year, tons of crazy awesome talks and demos on the schedule. Not to mention all the great studios and networking opportunities!

So first up is a walk cycle test I have been working on. Haven't worked with the Malcolm Rig before (from AnimSchool) but I know I'll use him in some future projects since it turned out to be such a fantastic rig:

Next is an update on the elephant shot! I took a little break from it for a bit, but I have been trying to wrap it up lately to put on my reel for CTN:

That's all for now guys, should have a brand new reel up in the next few weeks so stay tuned and take it easy!!

Elephant Shot Update #1

Hey Everyone! I know it's been a little while since my last update, but I've been pretty busy ;) I had an amazing time at the Animation Mentor Graduation and it was awesome to meet up with friends old and new! The extended vacation was great too and I loved exploring the West Coast!

I've also been working on this new shot starring.... AN ELEPHANT! Crazy right, it's an elephant. Things have been pretty complicated so far, but it's been a HUGE learning experience. Maybe because this is my first "real" quadruped? Maybe it's because I thought it was a good idea to do more than just a walk cycle? Or maybe it's just all the hours of elephant documentaries corrupting my brain, haha.

Regardless, here is the latest. Things are "splined" but since it requires a better understanding of the weight shifting over the feet I had to go into it earlier. I usually don't spline until I have tons of keys/breakdowns and I'm ready to polish, so it's tough to gauge how far along it is, probably blocking plus stage. Hope you like it and as always feedback it greatly appreciated!!!

Take it easy guys!

New Demo Reel & Graduation

**Well it looks like a new Demo Reel is up!**

And just in time for my trip out to San Francisco/Los Angeles for Animation Mentor Graduation!!! I'm soooo excited to finally travel out to California, see the AM Headquarters, maybe a couple studios and of course celebrate with the Animation Mentor family! There's so much to do and I don't even know where to start.... probably finish packing would be a good idea  :P

Can't wait to see everyone and hope you enjoy my new reel! Take it easy!  :)

"Forts Don't Have Carpet!" Spline

Hey Guys! Just an update for the week, the "Forts" shot is making it's way through splining and into the polish phase. Still a lot of details to work through, eye darts, fingers, some more tracking, etc. It'll be finished soon and on a new reel for my trip out to grad so stay tuned!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/738545/AM/Class%2007/Spline_v011.mov

Take it easy!
Zach

What's this.... a new post!?

Hey Guys! So it's been quite a while since my last post here. After finishing AM I haven't had the Sunday deadline reminder to post, but here's a little update. Since animation is a reflection of life, I've been trying to get outside more often, get a bit more sleep than usual and take the weekends "off" and visit the beach. It's been fun, but I can't shake the feeling that I'm not getting as much accomplished, haha.

Soooo onward to my latest shot! I realized many of my acting shots on my reel were more serious, dramatic and even darker in tone than I wanted. Time to try something that better reflects my own personality :)

or check this link:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/738545/AM/Class%2007/BlockingPlus_v018.mov

It's close to a blocking plus stage... needs work in some spots and I have a million things on my list- but you get the idea :P Hoping to have it wrapped up soon, I know this summer is gonna be a crazy one with conferences and graduation and the overall job hunt- but I'll try to keep the blog updated more often!

Take it easy everyone!

Spreading the Reels :)

Forgot to post this a few weeks ago :P

A very nice post that mentions some of my AM classmates as well as my reel! Thanks a bunch for the compliments Alonso! And keep up the amazing work you guys!

http://monotremedreams.blogspot.ca/2012/05/kind-of-depressing-to-find-strong-reels.html

Latest Demo Reel, Goodbye AM

Hey Everybody! I've finally gotten the time to put my latest reel together, rendered and all! Please take into consideration that I am by no means a professional lighter, but I do think it helps finalize and add a bit more appeal to the shots. Now on to bigger and better shots and with a little luck maybe I'll be able to jump start my animation career :)

I am really going to miss my time as a student at Animation Mentor but I will be back in just a couple more weeks as a Peer Buddy leaving feedback on everyone's assignments! I really appreciate the support and feedback from the AM community, you guys have been so awesome and I know I couldn't have improved or developed my skills as much without you. Thanks to the students, staff, mentors and of course founders for putting together such an amazing school. I wish you all the best in the future :)

Take it easy!

"But It Was Real" Final

Hey there everybody! Week #11 and this is my last assignment turn in for Animation Mentor! Finished up my new shot and complied my Demo Reel (no renders until later). Next week will just be minor tweaks and an upload of my progress reel to AM. Time at AM has really flown by but I am thankful to everyone who has made this such an awesome experience! Congrats to all those in Class 23 - I wish you all great success in the future!!!!

"But It Was Real" Week 10

Well here we are again! Week 10 and getting one step closer to finishing my shot- just some polish stuff left on it and maybe a couple little adjustments! Also worked on my DVD case, insert and disc this week as well as a new temp demo reel. It's using my current nearly final version of the latest shot and all playblasted (non-rendered) versions of the others. I plan on rendering all of them the week after AM is finished and having the reel totally finished then. Until next week, take it easy!

"But It Was Real" Week 9

Well here we are ladies and gents- Week 9! Only 2.5 left to final this shot and move on to life after AM... scary right?! Anyways, here is the latest on my shot- tried to make as much progress as possible on things and overall  I think things are working much better. Still need to add the good ol' polishy details on the face and some finger stuff, but that's for next week :) Until next time...

Take it easy!

"But It Was Real" Refining

Hey Hey Everyone!!!! Week 8 (holy cow!!!) and here's the latest- fixed a bunch of body mechanics issues with this shot and refined a few other areas. I included a no texture/ no facial version too, so it's a bit easier to focus on the body mech adjustments. The lip sync and expressions still need work and then it needs a coat or two of polish but it's getting there ;) Only 3 (maybe 4) more weeks!!!

Take it easy!

"But It Was Real" Spline

Hey Everyone!!! Here is the latest version of my shot, just got it into spline this week and am making sure everything translates well from my blocking. Things are super challenging with this shot, but I think I am learning a lot. You know what they say, "if you're not falling, your not trying". Next week will be 1st pass polish and then this bad boy will be all wrapped up in a few more weeks!!! Also is just the last minor changes from the "looking for hope" shot.

Take it easy!!!
Zach

"But It Was Real" Blocking Plus

Well here we are again guys! It's week 6 with only 6 left in my final class at AM. Time sure does fly.... So this week I brought my shot to the blocking plus stage- nearly ready for splinning. Some of the details like hand shakes and the lip sync of course will need to worked out more once I get out of stepped. Looking forward to making things shine next week! I've also got a couple last minute adjustments to some of the older shots and an updated demo reel (on the demo reel page and of course on my website!) The pantomime shot needs some polish attention, but I'll get to that in the next few weeks since this new shot it priority right now :)

Take it easy everyone!

New Shot Blocking & Some Polish

Hey Hey Guys!!! Just an update of of my new shot and some more polish this week! The new shot is in the blocking stage right now, making sure everything is really working before adding a bunch more keys next week.  As for the other shots they should be about final now, with only 1 more "old" shot to polish up in the next few weeks :)

Take it easy everyone!

New Shot Layout and Reference

Hey Guys and Gals! So this week I polished up and finaled a few of my older shots and started a new one! For the new shot (named for now: "but it was real") I was able to get a bunch of reference shot this weekend as well as put together a rough layout pass. For more planning (x sheets, dialogue breakdowns, and character descriptions) hit the link below:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/738545/AM/Class%2006/Planning.zip

That's all for now, take it east guys :)

Dialogue Shot Polish and Planning

Hey Guys!!! This week I was able to put the final notes from my critique and a couple more polish notes on my 2 dialogue shots. Should be able to move on to polishing a few spots on my AnimJam and Pantomime next :)

Also I have a few rough animatics/pencil tests trying to play with ideas for my next shot. So far I like the audio for #1 the best, but find it a little harder to work the bigger, broad movements and mechanics in that Sean (my mentor) wants to see. For a little bit more description of each shot I have included the idea breakdown. 

Take it easy!

Polish Updates

Hey Guys! Long time no post ;)  This week I spent a lot of time looking for new audio clips for my new shot (I'll post them up next week) and polishing up a couple of my previous shots. Hopefully my mentor will have some great notes so that I can truly final these bad boys and get started on the new shot next week!

Take it easy!