New Animation Test!

Hey all!

I've created a 2D animation test of my character! Oh yeah, and now my entire film is going to be 2D. Oops. That happened!



Funny story, I was just rigging the eyelid the other week, and I said to myself, "Y'know what, Ilana? You're not really enjoying the artistic process. It feels more like...struggle bus. Or just...painful and full of endless frustrations. Spinning my tires." It was enough, and it was time to face the music: I LOVE 2D ANIMATION and it is simply what I do. It's the entire reason I'm in RIT's animation program to begin with. I am not too fond of trying to rig an advanced character on my first time really rigging something. It would also be nice to enjoy the process on a daily basis and be a happier person in the long term, instead of hoping the film looks good as a payoff for all my technical frustrations!

My rigging TD ended up going on with the 3D rigging of my firefly character and it can be viewed here. It's a dynamic hair rig or something....I don't quite get it. If you showed me his Outliner or Expression Editor, I'd probably have a heart attack trying to understand the code/connections. Unfortunately, we are no longer working together, but I wish him the best of luck in all of his rigging endeavors. 

Rig below was created by and belongs to Chris Vranos.




I am now creating this film in 2D, and I feel limitless as an artist. I'm completely in control of the entire look of the film just by hand-drawing it. I don't need to rely on fancy rendering techniques that I do not even understand yet. I'm still a 3D beginner, and I still plan on learning all of these things, but I just don't think it is the right time for me. I'm primarily a 3D animator...so I plan on concentrating on that. I might end up using this rig for my credits sequence or something.

And I'm completely happy with my decision. Gotta thank those who have encouraged me that way!
I'll be posting some background art soon, as well as more tests. Gonna start cranking now, since I bought myself a used Cintiq 12WX and a copy of TVPaint.

Thanks for taking the time to read. Hope you enjoy the tests!
Ilana