Animation Project

Growing up, I always looked up to artists and admired the work they did, whether it be in animations, webcomics or video games. I was drawn to the stories their art told, to the worlds they’d immerse me in and the characters they brought to life. I found myself aspiring to be like the artists I looked up to and dedicated myself to learning how to draw in order to one day create something someone else would find joy and entertainment in.  The hope I had with this project was to learn about the process of animation and to challenge myself with something I was not used to doing. The guiding question that I had chosen was: What does the process of animation entail? How can I successfully create an animated short film that is visually pleasing and entertaining?

In doing this project I recognized the importance of planning and pacing. I also recognized the importance of references. Doing complicated movements takes time and knowledge so it helps to look up images of walk cycles or videos of what actions you want to portray. I was surprised at how long it took for me to animate this piece. It was challenging to be able to keep up with a workable pace and dedicate myself to drawing so many frames. A lot of it was tedious work but the payoff is definitely worth it. 

It is important to note that I am still in the process of learning how to animate well and that this was the first animation I have ever worked on to this extent. The only experiences I had in animation were at an animation class in an art camp I attended in the 7th grade and playing around on Flipnote Studios when I was little. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to work on this project and develop my skills more than ever before. Although I ended up having to rush to finish the project, I can still proudly say that I finished my first animated short.  It is my plan to continue to work and develop my skills in animation.