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LucentDreams
11-21-2003, 05:18 AM
Just got it today, watched the whole first section without a glance away, just starting the second section later in the evening now.

I really recommend this to everyone, its not software specific though he does everything in animation master (some really nice things in that app I'm going to have to bring up in beta testing I think)

Anyways, for the more experienced users, the first section is mainly review of concepts and 3D in general though aimed towards animation, but his explanations and incites are very interesting, some of his explanations I think I"m going to have to keep for future introduction to 3d classes, but still they are very good to review, the second and third section are really where its at for advanced users, definitely made for newbs and experienced alike, great stuff so far as I can see.

For the begnners, man is this guy good at laymans terms, a few sections might lose you the fiurst time through, but for any new person wanting to get into character animation, this is a must have DVD imo, you'll learn more in this 4 or so hour DVD then I learned in my first year or two of 3D, and in really understandable means too.

Covers the 3D world, FK versus IK, gimbal lock, three different rotation systems, Autokey versus manual key, Straight ahead versus pose to pose (as a classical animator I would have a little debating over his overall explanation of this, but its definitely understandable and a good way of thinking) SO yes I"d really recommend it, there are no example files, but thats because its not software specific.
pit
11-21-2003, 06:23 AM
Thanks for the mini review, Kaiskai - now I really look forward to my copy. Should be here in a couple of days.
Btw you can get the green and yellow dude used on the dvd from his site.
www.jefflew.com
squidinc
11-21-2003, 08:13 AM
yup, I think I'll be getting this eventually :)
fxgogo
11-21-2003, 09:13 AM
Originally posted by Kaiskai
though he does everything in animation master (some really nice things in that app I'm going to have to bring up in beta testing I think)

I had Animation Master before I got C4D, and that app for me, still has some of the best CA tools around. Rigging your characters was so much simpler, helped in part by the fact that you are using patches. The constraint systems and rotation systems are top notch. I have not used the newer versions, but it has some great new stuff. If they opened the package up to import/export easily and made it a little bit less quirky, I think it would be awesome.
CosmicBear
11-21-2003, 10:25 AM
Originally posted by Kaiskai
he does everything in animation master (some really nice things in that app I'm going to have to bring up in beta testing I think)

can i send you a wishlist?

same as fxgogo. i originally started with a:m, but due to employment-reasons i got stuck with cinema. i really miss some a:m-features in cinema. there's always a workaround, but it would make life so much easier if they would be there...
mimo8
11-21-2003, 02:13 PM
I also got the Jeff Lew DVD and I just can go along with what kaiskai said ... it is a must hav.
Everything is explained so transparent that it all seems like "I allready knew that" but when you are through you see that he didnīt leave out a bit and made things much more clear. this guy has a lot of experience and doesnīt get lost with fancy tricks. that makes out this DVD and Jeff Lews quality. He points out the important things.

After I looked at it I had to reanimate a hole scene for my demo reel because he just showed me how to squash and strech right. this is the point. I always thought how all this works, but never studies it in detail, this DVD shows the cornerstones of animation clear and solid.

another thing:
selling a Cinema4D - charater 01 DVD
( CG-Artist )
Character DVD @ ebay (http://cgi.ebay.at/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3639576352&category=25987&rd=1)
hope noone minds this ad : )
AdamT
11-21-2003, 03:06 PM
I second Kai's review too, and I've also only viewed the first section. I only wish he didn't pronounce "animation" as "animeeshun". Bugs me. :)
tjnyc
11-21-2003, 03:19 PM
The last part is golden. You learn alot from watching him work, wish there was more of that in the DVD, because I felt some more advance workflow and tips and tricks of the trade stuff should have been thrown in. Maybe Jeff will follow-up with an advance animation DVD.
bobzilla
11-21-2003, 04:27 PM
Adam: YES!"animeeshun" I thought that it was just me. And the occasional "holding back a burp" head movements, too.

All kidding aside, really good stuff though.
Manwich
11-21-2003, 06:34 PM
Yeah ordered mine as i found out it was available hopefully it should be informative to give me an idea about how to animate.

Should be here in a couple of days providing US post can ship to me in the UK.

Sweet

Manwich
LucentDreams
11-22-2003, 12:14 AM
Originally posted by bobzilla
Adam: YES!"animeeshun" I thought that it was just me. And the occasional "holding back a burp" head movements, too.

All kidding aside, really good stuff though.

ahh good so I wasn't crazy, was waiting for him to keel over ;) yeah tht was a bit of a distraction unfortunately. but always good for a laugh.
Zendorf
11-22-2003, 03:32 AM
I have also just received and watched the DVD and overall I am quite impressed :thumbsup: It is perfect for an introduction to CA , but as others have stated it would be great fro Jeff to do a more advanced followup (or two or three..) and considering his success with this disc, it seems quite likely...just check out the forums on his site to see how popular the guy is!

It is very cool especially to see the last section of the video and to peer over his shoulder to see a master at work...though I am not really into animating martial arts moves and would prefer to see him work on more subtle "acting"..of course flying side kicks have more universal appeal.

My only issue with the video is his explanation of his hybrid approach, which seems to me as more of a modified straight ahead...ie keying every 3 or 4 frames as opposed to every 1 or 2(as in cel animation). As I had devoured the Richard Williams classic "The Animators Survival Kit"(highly recommended) well before this vid, I prefer his definition of a hybrid approach, which is to map out your anim pose to pose and then add breakdowns and do straight ahead passes in between. But hey , Jeff did do a lot of the hurly burly scene in Matrix 2 , so he can call his apporach whatever he wants....it certainly works!!!!

Like fxgogo and Cosmicbear, I also started on Animation Master, yet I still use it (as well as Cinema of course)...as everyone says, it has the nicest CA workflow out there. If Maxon really wants to have a CA workflow that is worldclass...then just get in there and totally ripoff the ideas in AM..it couldn't be too hard could it :D
chikega
11-22-2003, 03:55 AM
Jeff Lew inspired me so much ... I upgraded my outdated Animation Master to the latest 2004 for $99. The latest version is pretty snazzy and much more stable from what I remember a long time ago.

I agree this is a great DVD for laying the foundation for CA ... I rank it up there with LostPencil. I have both C4d and LW and even a lot of his LW specific tutorials are applicable to most 3d packages.

He really does some nice subtle animations with the Facial Expression and Body Language CD. Paul really knows his stuff ... :buttrock:

http://www.lostpencil.com
squidinc
11-23-2003, 12:01 AM
this may interest those of you that don't want to wait for shipping

http://www.divx.com/jefflew/?src=dxhome
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