Saturday, June 22, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Film Making
Making a film is like deciding to adopt an orphan from some war torn, strife ridden corner of the world. At first it seems like a great idea. There's a lot of energy and excitement of what's to come. Then after a while it starts waking you up screaming in the night, and freaking out in company.
Shitting all over your regular plans and costing you more than you expected.
Eventually you want to avoid it but you can't, because if you do it'll wither away and die and by now you feel some responsibility for it.
And people keep asking "How's the film? Is it doing well?".
So you stick with it, through the exhaustion and late nights and drama.
One day it grows up and it heads out on it's own and you've either grown to love it or you never want to see it again.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
40 Minutes
The Boxhead & Roundhead feature has been plodding on.
I've been crawling, exhausted towards this point for months, but finally I've tipped the 40 minute mark. Only another 28 or so to go (and a whole bunch of fiddly face animation that I'm hoping to foister onto students over the summer).
Friday, April 12, 2013
More Advice For Students
A note to all my students. This business with the redundancies at Disney is sure to be playing on your minds. I have this bit of blunt advice for you. It isn't going to effect your career path. In the years I've been teaching I can think of maybe 4 students with the potential to be doing the kind of high end animation that Disney requires in their features. Further to this, they've barely been making anything drawn anyway.
This doesn't make the situation any less miserable or frustrating but do know that you are a devilishly talented bunch and although it's not an easy path, there every reason for many of you to one day add your own names to a long list of greats.
And please, learn some 3D.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Magee
Go take a look at what Chris Magee is doing!
motion heads logo animation from Christopher Magee on Vimeo.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Monsters By Me and Hugo
Hugo (my two and a half year old) asked if we could draw some monster.
I took his direction: what colour, how many eyes, how many legs (always two), and the demeanor of the beastie.
Here are the results.
Jolly!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
Monday, January 07, 2013
Saturday, January 05, 2013
Saturday, December 01, 2012
Early Jolly Feedback
From the blog of Michael Sporn:
In the past week I saw a half-hour of Elliot Cowan’s fine film, the Boxhead and Roundhead feature. This is the feature length version of the short films he’s been doing for years. Graphically, those black and white shorts were brimming with exciting animation in vibrant black and white. The feature, of course, expands on what was done in the shorts and is graphically one of the most exciting animated films I’ve seen in ages. Elliot has about a hlaf hour done, and the film is well on its way. I can only speak high of it, but I’m reluctant to say much of anything for fear of giving away something I don’t have the right to say. If you’ve heard any chat about this movie, it’s true. This film is as good as anything I’ve recently seen. And I’ve seen it all - big budget and no budget.
Big thanks to Michael who's blog should be visited by all animation aficionados and lovers of drawing.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Saturday, September 08, 2012
Friday, September 07, 2012
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Friday, August 10, 2012
Say Hooray!
My lovely friends Uli and Matt and Jamie are putting together something exciting.
http://animated-st-trinians.blogspot.com/
I'll write more about my feelings on this at a later date but this is a jolly good start.
