Re-animating Shot 4

I've started re-animating the group shot that has been distressing me. I like it better so far - at least as far as the timing is concerned. I'm not ecstatic, but I guess that's just not my style anyway.

Shot 4 Pencil Test from Zakiya Mason on Vimeo.

Meh, Nothing special, but it's progress.

I'm Animating!

Essentially I have made this blog so that I can complain about my struggles as an aspiring animator. Currently, I'm working on my senior thesis, which is an experimental dance animation:

Thesis Progress 2009.11.17 from Zakiya Mason on Vimeo.

There are two or three storyboard panels missing and the cycles are not supposed to be repeated as much and the group section makes me want pretend I had nothing to do with this work. And that's just the surface of my issues with this animation thus far.

Now, the most important thing to know at this juncture is that I have about three weeks to finish animating this thing. That's right. Three absurdly short weeks. I don't actually expect to reach this goal, but I suppose it won't hurt to kill myself trying.

Right now, I'm working on redoing the group section with the five figures. Why? Because I can't animate the solo section afterward without setting the choreography for the first group section. At first I thought it was just the timing that was irking me, but I've realized that I actually can't stand what the figures are doing and the way they move while doing it. Plus, I'm not sure I want to cycle this section. But, that is why I have given up sleep this weekend in order to figure it out.

In any case, I doubt anyone will actually read this blog or follow any progress I make, but perhaps someone somewhere will find it useful in teaching them how to attempt to reach an impossible goal in a short amount of time. Also maybe someone will think I'm good at animating... Maybe : )