I have created two new blogs on the site. With the start of the Animation Mentor program I am going to be neck deep in the world of animation. Or at least that is what I am planning on. Immersing myself to eat, sleep and breath animation. So this blog is to talk about all things animation.  I plan on posting reviews, sketches, stories, and yes animation samples from class. The more I talk about something, the more I start to understand it. Thus the blog is more for me. However I am pleased to have anyone stop by and read.  All posts about a classes will also be posted into the other new blog. The AM Blog. Since a lot of my class posts will also contain notes it seems better to sort them out on there own pages for easy access.  Once Mr. Babaloo is complete the production blog will go on hiatus. Since I will post sketches in here more than likely the sketchblog will go on hiatus as well.

Today marks the start of my Journey with Animation Mentor! Starting now through September is a 12-week workshop consisting of 6 weeks of how-to training using Animation Mentor's online campus and 6 weeks of training on how to use Maya(R) most effectively as an animator.

Expect some minor changes to the site as I gear up for updates that will relate to the coarses! 

I have been accepted into the AnimationMentor Program .  An amazing online school taught by animators in the industry. I am very excited to be attending this school! This will ultimately put a lot of upcoming projects on hold for roughly 2 years.  That part of it was a hard decision to make. However, after extensive research about the school and the character animation program it was an easy decision to make. It will open far more doors attending the school than not.  Although animation is a passion for me, the school is accelerated learning and will have it's challenges along the way.  Sometime soon I will probably create a special Blog for projects and random thoughts dedicated to the coarse.  Below is the description that can explain it far better than I could....

"Animation Mentor is a one-of-a-kind online school that teaches character animation to students worldwide. A place of learning for the new digital age, Animation Mentor moves the best of educational tradition in the arts—professional mentors, creative community and group critiques--into an Internet environment that is individualized, rigorous and fun.
Animation Mentor was the inspiration of senior animator and educator Bobby Beck, who founded the school with his colleagues Shawn Kelly and Carlos Baena. Together, the trios’ combined credits include more than 15 motion picture hits such as CARS, THE INCREDIBLES, FINDING NEMO, STAR WARS: EPISODE 3-REVENGE OF THE SITH and WAR OF THE WORLDS."

www.animationmentor.com 

I want to introduce a new section on my website called "The Dream Out Loud Animation Festival". These are a collection of animated shorts from various animators/studios that I have scrounged from the web and put onto one page. As a big fan of animation I often come across various animated shorts that I find humorous, emotional or just plain cool.  So I decided to make my own animation festival page with a small collection of shorts to share. Check back each month as new shorts will rotate into the program as I find them.

Well I did good on my word.  While I was keeping real busy with graphic work somehow or another I found time to work on animation. I think I completed roughly 5 or 6 seconds. I will probably go back and smooth over some parts still. Anyway that will be an update in the production journal for another day. I found some time to play with my new camera (Canon IS5 ) and take some pics of my studio office. I will post those when I get all the labeling and notes done.

 All text and no art is a shame. Since I don't have anything to share personally I will leave you with

Gerald McBoing-Boing the 1950 Academy Award winner for best animated short. A great cartoon modern style that represents the era. Enjoy.