Mr Parfait Estil Parfait

After FX and flash combine to create cartoony animation with slick camera movers, layering and shadows. The way of the future me thinks.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

I certainly wouldn't go as far as saying it's the way of the future.

Personally I think that greater support and variety of techniques for using traditional styles of animation together with the mind-boggling capabilities of 3d software will really help push animation forward.

It's what I'm working with at the moment, my 3d scenes are usually loaded with 2d art and I try to make them fit together seamlessly although I'm still a long way off from perfecting the process.

Ian said...

What software are you using to combine your 2D and 3D elements?

Ian said...

Perhaps I should have said, way of the future for 2D animation.

Ian said...

Or maybe even just Vector Based animation (Flash stuff mainly).

Unknown said...

I just work with Blender, which I finally chose to specialise in since it's the one tool I keep coming back to.

The video sequencer it features is extremely useful for managing and merging all the scenes together, regardless of content.

Ian said...

Not widely used in industry though (at least not in Brisi). Is employability a concern for you or is it just for fun?

Unknown said...

Employability is a concern, but just because it's the tool I'm going to specialise in, doesn't mean I can't use other tools to satisfy the requirements of a companies pipeline.

I'm just going to try my luck while I can still take risks like this, it's a fairly powerful piece of software and I'm sure there'll be a greater demand for it in the future.

Ian said...

One potential mistake I often warn against is accrediting employers with too much imagination.

Often people expect an employer to say something like, "Well it might not be made with the tools we use and/or our product may not be exactly the same as that, but I can see talent there so we will give him/her a chance."

The problem with this is that there will be ten other applicants who have reels with work that is exactly what they would use in their products and made using the same software.

I'm afraid employers won't bother imagining what you might be able to do for them if they train you to use their software and work on the kind of stuff they make until they are forced to (i.e. if for some reason they were desperate for employees).

Its basic human nature, why put the effort into changing someone to work the way you want, and pretty much all commercial studios will have a preconceived idea of what they expect you to do, when you have an easier option. Someone who already did that work for them.

Another way to think about it is that while you are spending time working in Blender, the people you’re competing against are possibly honing their skills at using software that is industry relevant. The results are bound to be obvious in their reels

Once your in the industry you can play with other software till the cows come home, but in truth there are usually so many exiting new possibilities arising from the new stuff you are learning at work that you probably won’t even feel like it any more.

It all sounds a bit cut throat I guess, but the truth is that people don’t employ to do someone a favour, they do it because of a specific need they need addressing.

Unknown said...

Fair enough, like I said, I want to give it a go before I move out on my own, once that happens there'll be too many bills to pay for me to have that sort of freedom.

Ian said...

The balance between having fun and a focussed assault on the industry is something I grapple with all the time as a teacher.

With the benefit of hindsight I can see that the development time before entering the workforce is precious. I wish I could go back in time and give myself a slap in the face, “get serious and get some work done you slack ass!”

On the other hand people can be driven away by the intensity, I hear students say, “I think I’ll just be an illustrator”, even though suck a job hardly exists.

Don’t think there is a perfect balance, every student is different, they each interpret the things teachers say through their own unique perspective on the world. It sure keeps you on your toes :)

Ian said...

He he.... that should be "such" a job

Lisa said...

i agree...get a good solid (not expert, just solid) grip on an industry standard program, then once you are settled with that, learn others as a personal hobby/future endevour. gives you the most freedom in terms of either looking for employment up front or later, while still learning other things that you really want to learn. Better to be prepared and all that ...dob dob dib dib or whatever the scouts say.

frank said...

Just watched Mr. Parfait. I found the shadow effects overdone for my liking. Remined me of what Ian said about using a toon render in 3D. Subtle application is better.

I can see a place for it - shadow effects and the cartoon over the realistic background.

But it needs some refinement before it's swallowed up by the oozing lava brain of the animation collective and then the wider audience.

Always a new look. Always recycling retro. There are no limits. But fame is only fleeting. Down from "Every dog has his day" to Warhol's "15 minutes" to about "25 frames at 25 fps" these days, I reckon.

This post will even be gone (down the list) into the bowels of the blog before we look next.

Ian said...

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Lisa said...

deep