The same old question..
.. I ask myself the same question on every project these days. "Am I putting too much work into this drawing/effect/scene/movie?"
Usually the answer is something like "yes you are, but a movie is immortal", so I press on. This week I finished one of the monster scenes in Waterlollies. It's a water effect that's on screen for all of 1 second (!) but the pencil mileage was excruciating. I don't want to show the finished effect, but here is the linework from about 12-15 frames (below). Incidentally, linework is about 20% of my water effects, the other 80% is reflections, refraction, highlights, etc.. this particular scene was incredibly time-consuming.
Water linework - click to see larger
It does hurt to work on something for so long, only to miss it if you sneeze or blink. However that's the nature of animation, especially effects. Bad effects animation is always distracting, whereas good effects animation passes by barely noticed (it's never the effects animator's job to upstage the characters, only add substance and realism to their world). All the same, it's certainly encouraging to know there are people out there who pause my movies to look at these tiny details that I've taken the time to include.
The graph!
OK so there's still a bit of work to do on part B, but I've started on part C. Nathan McCree has also begun to work on part B so I'm really looking forward to hearing what he does with it. Did I mention how amazed I am at his work on part A? Can't wait for you to see/hear it :)
Extra, extra!
I added a few extra scenes to part B (hence the little incomplete bit on the graph) and I imagine I'll be tweaking and adding bits to part C as I go. For this reason, the July 22 deadline is looking unlikely. Before you kill me though, just think.. if you kill me it'll never get done! Besides, you can't kill me.. I have a mouth to feed!
Just keep an eye on the blog and hopefully the updates will keep you interested until the movie's release.
Usually the answer is something like "yes you are, but a movie is immortal", so I press on. This week I finished one of the monster scenes in Waterlollies. It's a water effect that's on screen for all of 1 second (!) but the pencil mileage was excruciating. I don't want to show the finished effect, but here is the linework from about 12-15 frames (below). Incidentally, linework is about 20% of my water effects, the other 80% is reflections, refraction, highlights, etc.. this particular scene was incredibly time-consuming.
Water linework - click to see larger
It does hurt to work on something for so long, only to miss it if you sneeze or blink. However that's the nature of animation, especially effects. Bad effects animation is always distracting, whereas good effects animation passes by barely noticed (it's never the effects animator's job to upstage the characters, only add substance and realism to their world). All the same, it's certainly encouraging to know there are people out there who pause my movies to look at these tiny details that I've taken the time to include.
The graph!
OK so there's still a bit of work to do on part B, but I've started on part C. Nathan McCree has also begun to work on part B so I'm really looking forward to hearing what he does with it. Did I mention how amazed I am at his work on part A? Can't wait for you to see/hear it :)
Extra, extra!
I added a few extra scenes to part B (hence the little incomplete bit on the graph) and I imagine I'll be tweaking and adding bits to part C as I go. For this reason, the July 22 deadline is looking unlikely. Before you kill me though, just think.. if you kill me it'll never get done! Besides, you can't kill me.. I have a mouth to feed!
Just keep an eye on the blog and hopefully the updates will keep you interested until the movie's release.
38 Comments:
sounds absolutely amazing!
and your fans will be keeping eyes out for all your work every time they watch it so its never to waste ;)
and as you say....
cant wait!!
AGHHHHHHHHH
Well it looks like a beach, but what is that massive wall of circles?
WHy not release part A then?!
It's not a beach lol ...
It's prety much like in Prowlies at the River, when Bitey goes to the other side of the river, and then crosses over at an incredible speed, leaving a trace of smoke and grass...
I think this is a similar scene, of something going really fast over water! Can anyone say... BITEY!
Keep it up man!
The updates sure help us to wait!
Can't wait =)
I'm excited, can't wait. XD <3
I've noticed that the most amazing scenes throughout all of your animations involve water. Most of the time I just can't believe how stylish, yet realistic, your water effects are.
In many aspects of my life, I like to put the most effort into the little things that not many peopl notice. I'd say I do it to impress myself more than anyone else, but I won't hesitate to point it out. ;)
Good luck on the rest of Part C. I've waited this long. I'm sure I can wait a little longer.
Mr. Phillips
I am a student at the California Institute of the Arts Majoring in Character Animation. Having just completed my first year and my first film, i know what you mean when you talk about things like good effects animation and driving yourself mad with work. I have been a fan of yours for several years and i just wanted to say that your work shows your absolute commitment and love you have for the art. Yours is by far the best Flash work out there and i am looking forward to Waterlollies.
your fan
Joe Johnston
Don't worry about the deadline. Good projects always get delayed. Don't worry about people getting upset either, since you don't work for them - you shouldn't feel any guilt for pushing the deadline further.
Great job, I really look forward to this!
//An old forum member.
I can't wait, but I WILL!!!))
It is really good that your trying to improve Waterlolies. I will shoot you if you give up on Brackenwood. Just one thing. Prowlies at the River has allways been my favorate Brackenwood movie. To me... it's like a Classic. And when you mention in the blog that you ask the same question over and over again "am i puting too much work into..." i suppose yes you are. Prowiles detail and design if absolutly perfect, the style, the graphics... they are perfect. On other movies you pushed your drawings into more realism. I'm not saying your work is crap or anything. It is brilliant, there isn't an animator that I know that animates better then you. What i'm saying is that you should animate more like you did on Prowlies at the River.
Now I cannot wait (but I will) to see Waterlillies, that water linework looks F*ckin amazing, I'm not that fermilliar with the storyline. Do us a favor Adam and dont send us any more screenshots or previews cuz I dont wanna spoil a thing (Just send us the progress bar once a week) and even though that deadline is unlikely... dont rush to meet deadlines.
Take your time and good luck :)
-Lawrence Cameron
I'm sooooooo excited!! :DDD
Poop to the deadline, as long as you get it done - we can wait.
Do you do all your effects in black and white, or was that just inverted to show up the detail of the effects easier?
Either way, it looks amazing and frustratingly complicated.
~ Amanda.
Dear Lord! Your water effects in lineart form put 99% of the Newgrounds media to shame. I can only imagine that in their complete form the finished product will rival many feature films in quality and impressiveness. With each passing movie, you are proving to us - your audience and the world at large - that your ability to tell a dramatic, thrilling, fun, or simply entertaining story is equal to your astounding talent for animation. I, for one, cannot wait to see the final product.
Actually, beautiful backgrounds do a lot to improve my enjoyment of a film. It might be an underappreciated art in Western animation (in some other places, not so much). A believable and beautiful environment adds something to a film that mere words cannot express. That drawing looks absolutely stunning. It transports me - as if I'm standing behind a waterfall and can hear the drops falling.
I'm very glad that you're taking the time to do this, Adam.
cmon, nobody is going to be displeased, because nobody can really pick out a single piece of your work where in there wasnt something to oogle at for a few extra seconds/minutes/etc. we can all wait, and you can take as long as you need, because we are good fans
thanks for all the support and comments so far everyone.. these pages are a constant source of motivation and encouragement.
I love you guys :D
but that makes the difference between an outstanding movie and just a movie.
And you can always post that scene for everyone to see it on the blog later. :P
Good luck with your work!
Gah! I can't wait for it to be finished, but please don't rush to meet the deadline, keep up the amazing quality of work!!!
Best wishes,
Sketch
God I'm so excited! You're a freaking genius. I am so in love with your water work, every tiny detail is appreciated (and swooned over)!
I'm glad you're taking your time and aiming to publish this in its entirety. Your work is absolutely stunning.
Crazy Adam, does it again. :)
This stuff is really amazing. I've been showing your site to friends since I first saw your work on Newgrounds. Please don't cut down on the effects! Its what makes your art 50 times better than anything eles out there.
- Sylvia
from Olympia, Washington US
This doesn't really relate, but what does bitey look like without fur, I wonder...
Awesome as always! Is that the onionskinning?
keep up the great work, Adam! Can't wait to see the finished product!
-evan
Adam! Have fun animating!
keep up the good work Adam! cant wait for it to come out. Are you doing what you did with littlefoot and putting hidden messages throughout? it'll be great regardless.
Hey Adam, can we see the graph now plz??
GIANT FISHIES
Don't worry, your works are really awe inspiring!
Many times I've look just at 15-30 frames of "The Yuyu" over and over just to see precisely how it works.
You have amazing talent and you make great use of it, I've seen many people waste their talent because they were too lazy.
So.. well, a lot of people are counting on you, relying on you and cheering, you're an inspiration for lots of people.
Good job and Good luck!
http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/07/19/277491.aspx
Totally reminds me of this little graphic. Maybe this pic will be a little inspiration! Keep it up budday.
That is a stunning photograph, fantastic find chickadee, thanks! Any dedicated effects animator would be drooling at that shot.. I've been staring at it for 10 minutes at least, I only wish I could download a hi-res version of it :)
wow, mr. adam phillips spoke directly to me, i just e-creamed my pants. ;)
I wish i could edit my comment, but oh well, I think if you try incorporating that muddy kind of color in the dark spots it would pep up what you might be trying to accomplish, just a thought!
I'm going to commit a cardinal sin-triple posting, whatever, flame me if ya want, but i found another good water pic you could find inspiring
http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/06/22/233489.aspx
yeah I went through those photos today.. Ultra slow-motion water footage and nice photos like these are always inspiring and keep me mesmerised for hours.
("e-creamed" lol)
Hey adam, can you update the graph for us plz? Seeing your movies is all I live for!!!
...no not rly, i'm not that sad. but still let's see that graph.
Yeah Adam, are you going to give us any updates, considering it wasn't done for the due date?
I'd just love to know what the new due date is, so I don't see at the computer for 12 hours everyday waiting, haha.
Yes, I'd love to see another graph.
Don't worry about us getting angry at you, I'm just here for the "story" of your progress. ;) I don't particularly care when it gets finished (as long as you feel it was worth it), but I do like to read the updates. I'll bet that goes for many people.
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