A Tip from the Pros

For the past few weeks, my animation has not been  progressing as much as I would like. I've been in a slump recently and I guess I just needed a break. Well, I've gotten back into the groove. One way to help stay in this groove is to take a tip from the pros.

If you've seen some of the featurettes from some of the animated movies, you've seen some of the ways the animators stay motivated. One way is for all the guys to let their beards grow until all the animation is complete. Well, that's what I plan to do.

I am currently working on three scenes for the short film project I'm working on. One scene is coming along nicely and making great progress. The other two are posing new challenges. They both involve a dog jumping around, which I have very little experience with animating a quadruped. So this is where most of my time will be involved.

So I will not shave until these three scenes are complete. However, I will keep it neat and trim. I do have to work with the public and can't let it get too out of control. My mentor/director Dana loves the idea. She said I could maybe get a big beard for Christmas. I hope I am finished with the scenes way before that time!!!

Well, I tried to find a clip on YouTube but I couldn't find one. I do remember seeing this done on the Bolt bluray featurette. I know I've also seen it done by the Pixar guys. So now I will give it a go. Anything to stay motivated, eh?

By the way, the last time I shaved was Monday, August 18, 2011. I'm hoping to complete the scenes in about four weeks. Because I know that this beard can get pretty long in a couple of weeks.