January 2011

colleagues

In January 2006, he went to eternity the master Rodolfo (Rufus) Saenz Valiente. Recalling that game I want to share one of his texts that when I started in this art many of my doubts cleared and redirected my concepts.
hope will be of help as much as it was for me.
My mentor, thank you wherever you go.

THE ENTERTAINER AND ART
By Rodolfo Sáenz Valiente

What are the elements animators working? What is the difference between moving and encouraging? Is it valid to consider animation as a film genre? "The movement is only the transition from externally to another?

As animators, we are ultimately working to show our work through a screen provided with a sound system. These are the elements that have to tell, to communicate a story. Then it becomes obvious that we must also have the need, to communicate something I feel.
We will communicate using only the form and tempo, because these are the tools we have. While a priori seem very simple, this apparent simplicity lies the strength of this medium and a paradox, but also their complexity.
If we place an object in front of a camera, shoot and then move, shoot, turn to move and shoot, if we repeat this several times, then to see the result, the object photographed frame by frame will move within the frame.
But make no mistake, surely will not be animated. Animate something means more than this is to give life to something inanimate. To make this dream become reality, it is necessary for the viewer to feel that this object is moving, not merely an optical illusion, but it is something that really is alive.
To achieve this, a condition is essential that the movement we do contain emotion, in addition to the action we manage to express a feeling. All our actions in real life have some degree of emotion. This content consistently and significantly changes the way you develop any movement.
As animators we then comes the big question: How and what to do to give life to something that is inanimate?
Above all we must understand how a body moves from the physical point of view, from how to represent it on the screen and from an emotional standpoint.
In principle we should be aware that all actions are subject to certain physical laws . Which we know and respect, if we want our characters look real, and thus allowing us to pass on their emotions. The second consideration is about representation within the frame of the phases together recompose the movement. This will be closely linked to the animation technique we are using, along with our ability to handle. For example, if we are working on cartoons, our only limitation would be the ability to draw the poses correctly. And finally we must add to these considerations it is necessary to recognize what action is being undertaken by the protagonist, his motives, intentions and show this as clearly as possible.
Any movement can be broken down into two main elements: the first is the sequence of different forms it takes the body as you do and the second is the time it takes to move from one form to the next.
This external form, which are the phases of movement is that it is registered in the frames of our movie. Any movement will be determined by a few key steps or keys.
The second element is the time interval which is given by the number of frames that elapse between a key position to the next. In other words the time it takes our animated character perform the proposed action, this is known as tempo and timing.
These are the only two variables with which the animator works. They are the only skills you can teach and learn within the animation. Its concept is very broad and its proper management is something that I do not get to cover ever. To achieve this we would need to have a mental file of all possible actions, each with its different variants also emotional, which is impossible given its magnitude.
As in any artistic discipline to become a good animator must have some innate qualities, but they certainly are not what you suppose. An animator must
feel almost absolute fascination for how things move . It is a fascination with the movement itself, must watch the movements in their environment, school and enjoy it.
A moderator should be a very good actor should be able to express feelings through action. This is independent of the technique that intends to use, whether it's drawings, clippings, graphic or dolls. This condition is essential to achieving our characters to life. First we feel within ourselves what we want to manifest, and then have the artistic skills necessary to express using the body and the voice of our characters.
Throughout the film work communicating ideas through actions and dialogue of the characters, ultimately we are using expressions. These actions will necessarily have a purpose and should always be triggered by emotion.
All artistic expression should cause excitement in the recipient. Hitchcock said, very wisely, that the important thing was to bring the thrill but know how to maintain it.
The ability to act as a facilitator is very different from an actor. This, while acting, facing the audience and get their response, which certainly will modify its performance. The animator needs not only act to an imaginary audience, but also must be able to shred their representation in the many activities involved, memorize them and have the skills to play them through the elements that are working, whether drawings , cuts or objects.
An animator needs to know to use your imagination. should enjoy the ongoing process of identifying problems and seeking solutions . Solutions for the style, design, construction drawings, framing, narrative, rhythm, to name some of the disadvantages, which are constantly present during the progress work.
When working in animation are solely responsible for including the film when it reaches the screen. All the elements contained therein, are there because at some point decided that it was. Also decided all he can miss it. In live theater is not the case, many elements are included in a haphazard and in the same way others are outside. In the animation everything is there because there was a previous election, is the result of creative thinking.
Thus, once the animated films are a great set of bright ideas, told in an outstanding way. This event ingenuity is what creates the pleasant disposition in the audience, both infant and adult. Because the animation is appealing directly to the intellect of the viewer.
A cheerleader must have a great deal of patience, perseverance and pride in what they are doing.
We've all seen the documentaries of the big studios where they show the almost infinite number of drawings which form a film. Disney said that for every picture that appeared in the film were ten who remained on the road, that is a huge amount of art that we need to multiply by ten and this only represents the work of the artists. To which you must add an immense amount of work the rest of the team.
The magnitude and quality of work behind a film is something Pharaonic and is unthinkable without a good dose of pride, patience, perseverance and satisfaction with what is being done . While these qualities seem innate, they are not, are colors of a personal nature. Require a lot of discipline, but you can buy or strengthened.
The animation then to bring all these disciplines, their teaching becomes difficult.
Apart from the qualities that you need to tell the host, it must master some beautiful art (drawing or sculpture, for example), you know film (not only technical but also on how to narrate that means), have knowledge of music, how and why things move (physical) and must deal with math (elementary, but calculations at the end) while its payroll gun shooting.
to all this we add that this person must also be someone creative, because it finally is developing an artistic discipline, then it makes us believe that in a single person can meet all these qualities, yet every day there are more people interested in animation. I
a quality more appropriate to add that I consider almost essential to be a good animator, you have to be a crazy, crazy cute .
As in any artistic discipline is also important to study what has been done, the work of the greats who came before us. We must see to exhaustion, crumbling and studying the classics, anime, cartoon network, any entertainment that interests us, diving for the ideas behind the stories.
Consider that is a medium that allows for both self-expression, making our own film, as well as integrated work in a team. Using video from a few years ago and today the computer, the technical potential for an animation are available to virtually everyone. This creates a fresh intrusion the average debut novel of young filmmakers, which use different materials, like clay, sand, cut, stuffed or seeds, to name a few.
I think the animation is considered in the final film because its support is seen on a screen, where it just all coincidence. Animation is an art, into another. The animation has different aspects, from painting, drawing and graphic arts is a powerful intrusion of new forms of visual expression. From the music, which has several common points - especially the fact of synthesis, to get into the smallest unit of time to adjust from there the whole, "adding to it a new visual dimension.
From films, opening the possibility of creating worlds or situations that do not exist in reality, totally in vogue in our days, thanks to the fantastic images that give us computers.
From the story, allowing the characters to life drawn.
Each of these aspects brings new opportunities and get rich together creating a form of expression that is being renewed day by day. The limit of the animation seems to be still far away, is marked only by the imagination of their makers. The possibility of living worlds exist, to visualize abstractions, or just have fun with crazy occurrences, is leading the animation now occupy the place it deserves. Is also building next to the network, the interaction and the little games, new fields of work for the animators. This has come to such an extent that in the U.S. the new generations of students choose it as a career, rather than more traditional options.
I think a good sign that most animators have lawyers, perhaps a better world, or at least more interesting, with more humor and more creativity.

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