Animation Mentor Showreel 2010...

So, I posted a while back all of the Animation Mentor Student Showcase Reels, except for the latest one....



There's some amazing work here! Great job to everyone who made it.

Happy Fall to You All!

I saw this posted on a friend's Facebook page and thought it was amazing and that I had to share it. It's Disney's new game that's coming out Epic Mickey. This video talks about keeping the old style there, but in a 3D environment! The animation looks truly amazing and it's so inspiring to watch. Seeing what goes into these types of games is why I chose to get into animation and inspires me to keep going forward.... I love it!

Wii Games - E3 2011 - Disney Epic Mickey

In other news. I'm sending out reels like crazy and am finishing up my first freelance project. I heard the Director is putting together his next movie and is looking for Animators... let's see if I get picked up! I have two animation shots in the 'hopper' and am excited to start planning them out.... so stay tuned.

On a personal level, we're due in 4 days and my wife is definitely a trooper. She's been really uncomfortable for the past four weeks, not to mention in a lot of pain. Having contractions everyday, but at least they're getting stronger now (not sure if that's a good thing or not). She is AMAZING! But tiny Xander is a stubborn little dude. Either way he'll be here by next Monday (November 1st) and I'm getting excited to meet him and so is Maddon. If you haven't been to my new website CLICK HERE. Till next time......

Animation is Awesome!!

DreamWorks and Nickelodeon released the first five minutes of DreamWorks third motion picture release for 2010, Megamind. I know a few people that worked on the film and I must admit, I'm super excited after seeing this!! Also, in other news, How to Train Your Dragon came out on DVD today, so if you haven't seen it yet. Pick it up and you won't be let down! Full of action and adventure and an overall awesome story and the animation was superb!

2 New Demo Reels Complete.

I was contemplating only doing one reel again, but after seeing what studios are looking for and hearing the advice over and over again to customize your reel depending on who you're sending it to. I figured the two studios that I send my reel to, are game studios and production houses. So I decided to do a Character Reel with more acting and some body mechanics and a Game Reel with more body mechanics and some 3D models that I built and textured. They're posted below and you can find them on my new website HERE.

My Character Reel:


My Game Reel:

DVDs are upon us!!

I must say that I'm excited for the upcoming animated features c... I was cruising around Amazon to see if there's a Toy Story Trilogy ultimate super collector edition coming out.... and look what I found, a 10 DVD set!! I've seen Toy Story 3 twice now and it was so much better the second time around, I can't wait to watch it again. I found this "Toy Box" for $65 CLICK HERE, also HTTYD is coming out this weekend... I really loved that one too. It may be my new favorite DreamWorks film to date. I'll know after watching it a second time. Also later this year I'm anticipating Shrek 4 and Despicable Me, both I haven't seen yet. Luckily Maddon is finally getting to the age where we can take him to the movies I love in the theaters so I don't have to wait for their release on DVD....

In other news. I'm finishing up my new demo reel in the next couple nights, if I can stay awake long enough. Just a couple of shots that need some minor tweaks, then render and re-render and then post on the interwebs! Looking forward to being able to start applying at studios again, it feels like it's been for forever, I've been waiting to get my reel finished before I'm confident enough to put my work out there....

NEW WEBSITE.... finally!

Finally...... finally, I have taken the plunge and put together a professional looking website to showcase my phenomenal animation skills ;-)! No, but seriously. I was procrastinating for the longest time putting a real website together, and I finally did. I figured since I'm about to have a new version of my reel up I mine as well do it right. And for 5 bucks a month to host and pay for a domain name, it's worth the professional look it has (compared to my old website).

CLICK HERE to check it out.

Other than that, lately I've been scrambling to put together, not one, but two demo reels. I'm also doing a gaming demo reel that will show more body mechanics and some models that I've built over the years. Geared a little more towards the gaming industry. So we'll see what that does for me. also I've shortened up my current reel and added four new shots to it. Getting excited to see what the new reel and website holds for my career as a Character Animator.....

On a more personal note, my wife is about to POP! We're due in a month from today and are getting excited to have another little dude running around controlling our lives! Maddon is also getting excited to play with little Xander and all of his toys. I can't imagine yet what it's going to be like having another son, but I'm super excited about it. We had an awesome summer (except for being pregnant and uncomfortable), lots of camping, I climbed four 14ers, did a lot of biking and have been working three jobs! All in all, life is awesome and can't wait for the snow to get here so I can dust off my snowboard and hit the slopes!! Till next time.

Here's an animation that someone did for Valve with the TF2 cast dancing their hearts out... some awesome animation!!

Time for some inspiration....

Here are a compilation of Animation Mentors Student Showcases over the years.... such amazing work!!

2006:


2007:




2008:


2009:


Animation Mentor just released their 2010 showcase:
CLICK HERE