Animation Demo Reel (Feedback Appreciated)

[micalclark]

Hmm ... seems it was not bad enough to criticize and not good enough to compliment. :p

Anyway, I have since shortened it some and made it more of a generalist reel. The new quicktime is posted at the same link above. I added a YouTube version at the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fUhlzPmTu8

[KyleG]

Most of the animation feels really stiff and robotic, If your going for animation I would recommend taking advantage of the many free rigs you can find on the internet, you will be able to get much more expression of of them than with what you are using. I would also try and get more animations that show off weight and posing, there were alot of shots in the reel where I didn't fully understand what was even going on. You don't want the audience to be confused. Keep at it and keep animating!!

[micalclark]

Thanks Kyle,

Yeah, that's part of the reason I decided to change it from a strictly animation reel to more of a generalist reel. After watching a number of reels here in CGTalk and elsewhere, I realized my animating skills are maybe not as strong as I'd like them to be.

Unfortunately, I don't feel I'm really strong in any particular 3d area. By using all my own models and rigs I figure I could set myself apart from the many reels using Generi, PackageMan, Norman, etc. I've seen both good and bad reels done with them so not positive it would help but I am willing to give it a shot.

I think generalist is probably a better way for me to go as I agree my animation still needs some work and the rig itself may or may not help with my weaknesses in that area.

I took a look at your website. Nice work and thanks again for your suggestions.

Mike

[thehive]

i would also air on the side of useing downloaded rigs, if you want to jus do animation animator arnt expect to model an rig may at times.


as for the demo i would work on 3-4 highend peices fully rigged dont add stuff cause u have it you have to ask your self is this my best work then look at at other reels for insparation.
as for your animation needs a lot of work i would suggest reading the animator survial booki read it all the time not to metion theres new ebook from animation mentor also jeff lew has dvds on how to do animation, the key is deication an to keep at so start with the basics the ball for timing an spacing an u will see a world of differance in your work jus take your time oh forgot check out http://www.klangoanimation.com/ lots of great animation. an remmeber plan plan plan then animate



hope that helps

Cheers

[micalclark]

Thanks thehive,

I do have (and read) the Richard Williams book as well as a number of other books. It's one I definitely go back to on a regular basis. I'll have to check out the Animation Mentor book as I was not aware of it.

I probably will shorten up the reel some more. From your comments and KyleG's I have rewatched the reel several times and realize that some parts of it which are excerpts from films it may be difficult to distinguish what's happening. I tried to include them as they are the only work I had including dialog.

Thinking now that may be a good place to drop some content and instead do some short dialog pieces using other people's rigs. That way they will be more complete ideas.

Thanks again and all the best

[robcat2075]

I would agree... more weight and stronger poses. Those are tough things to get from a book however. Not that the book won't tell you right, but it's hard for the book to look at your work and tell you if you got it right and what you missed.

Before you work on more dialog pieces I'd say work on classic body mechanics pieces first. You know... lifting heavy objects, opening stuck doors, running, jumping, walking...

[micalclark]

Thanks for your input Robcat.

Never hurts to keep reworking the basics. I did download the Animation Mentor Book. It is a free ebook for anyone who's interested.

[micalclark]

Shortened this up big time. Still figure I need to work on a lot of things but that may not happen until the summer. I guess if it's not good enough to get me an internship at least I'll have a lot of time to work on refining my animation skills over the summer before going into working on my thesis next year. :)

Revised (roughly 30 sec.) versions of the Quicktime and youtube are at the new links below:
http://www.micalclark.com/DemoReel.mov
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fUhlzPmTu8

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