Animation Mentor Progress - Semester Number Three

Long time no see! Although not as long as usual, thankfully.

Right now I'm in my third semester at Animation Mentor, which is Advanced Body Mechanics. I... well, alright, I got myself stuck with something sort of problematic: I decided that I'd do sports themed animation sequences for my body mechanics theme. Now, apparently, as a beginner of sorts to animation (at least 3D animation) this was the wrong choice, since animating the minutiae of a sports move is incredibly difficult if you don't know the precise way an athlete moves. It's like actually going into the sport without any sort of professional training. ...unless you decide that your character is going to be purposely completely and hopelessly bad at what they're attempting to do.

So, yeah. That's the angle I took.

Here we've got the three basic steps of creating an animation (at least the steps I have to take in my classes to complete these animations): blocking, splining, and clean-up (not the final draft, as it says on the video... there wasn't a "polishing" option and I really, REALLY wanted to finish it). I want to go back and work on this some more, but for now here's my progress.

If you want to comment and let me know what you think of these, feel free to critique!

Also, in case you haven't noticed, my website is old and decrepit. It looks so ugly and disgusting and I can't even bear to look at it without cringing in agony. Right now I'm building a new website to make it look lovely and pristine, but if you'd like to take a look at my temporary graphic design and illustration portfolio, please! Yes! Feel free to do that! Tell people about it! Tell them how great I am! Maybe ask them if I can help out with a project they're working on! No pressure!

Animation Mentor

I started up Animation Mentor and have been posting up my progress reels on my Vimeo page. Check out the stuff I did for the Springboard session and for the last semester!

Animation Mentor Episode Two: First Semester Spectacular Fantabulousness from Maz Zolp on Vimeo.


Animation Mentor Episode One: Springboard Stuff from Maz Zolp on Vimeo.

Space Captain Diana and Maddy's Big Meltdown

 

So... I couldn't really talk about it for a while, but I figure now's finally the time to tell you guys what I've been up to! I've been working with Intuary for a while now and helped flesh out some nifty characters in two illustrated books for their incredibly awesome iPad app, Farfaria. Here are the covers, and later I'll post some of the illustrations I did for each one. They were so super fun to work on! You can click here to check out Space Captain Diana and here to check out Maddy's Big Meltdown (and make sure the download the app so you can read the full version of each!).

More fun stuff to come! I've been doing a LOT, phew.

Believe me, I am still alive. Also, I won things!

I've been away from Blogger so long that I typed "blooger.com" into the address bar to get here. That's depressing. There are many reasons why I haven't been updating lately, and I'd write all about them... except they all boil down to one single solitary thing: I am a very busy lady!

And I have some news! First off, I'll just briefly mention that, back in September, I was featured on the Team Fortress 2 blog after I made a cake based off of one of their in-game health packs in celebration of their 15th birthday. Being a huge Valve fan, I blushed many a flattered blush at the mention. I'm very happy that they liked it!

But here's where it gets even better: I made an animated video for USA.gov's Help Answer The Public's Questions Competition, where contestants had to create a 60 to 90 second short to help answer people's questions about different U.S. government benefits and services. Having valiantly accepted the challenge, I donned my magical animation hat and whipped up an informational video about tax returns. Not only was I included in the five winning entries, but I also got a thousand dollars out of the deal. Not too bad, huh?

You wish to see this video of mine, you say? Well, I've embedded it here for your viewing pleasure! Hopefully you'll be entertained, and maybe learn a thing or two while viewing it.


How To Check The Status of Your Tax Refund: An Animated Guide from Maz Zolp on Vimeo.


Otherwise, like I said, I've been whirling around in a tornado of busyness. I'm currently working on a bunch of top secret amazing projects, and when I'm able to, I'll tell you all about it here! In the meantime, I'll try to post up some more artwork and fun, super cool stuff. As always, stay tuned!

A delightful update post!

Sorry for the lack of posts here lately (again)! I've been doing a lot of stuff lately. One of the things I've been working on is beautifying my website. If you haven't been there lately, click here and take a look for yourself. I just hope that, in the end, the team of digital internet construction workers that I've hired to help build my website follow my detailed instructions to the letter:

Until next time!

My first animated short!

Well, here it finally is, in all of it's glory, on the internet: my first short. The Great Tea Party Robbery. 2011. Sound. Color. Old ladies killing helpless creatures. Helpless creatures retaliating against old ladies. The works. Hope you all enjoy it!

And now for an extra awesome announcement...

It's kind of a short announcement, but it's very exciting nevertheless!

I'm pleased to announce that my animated short, The Great Tea Party Robbery, will be showing at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago this Wednesday night at 6:30 PM. If you can't make it, don't sweat it: I'll be posting my pride and joy Thursday Friday night here through Vimeo.