The tip I would add to this ties in with #5. Get notes/feedback early. Watching this I realized that the more senior the team member, the earlier in their workflow they get feedback on it. It is a lot easier to incorporate changes when you are still planning and blocking than when you've already used up your time adding polish and are under pressure to move on to the next thing.
I really liked the point you had on testing rigs. Use your animation plan to figure out the most extreme poses and use those to test the rig! For a tip of my own, I watch previous versions of my animation to check if the newest version is still a significant improvement. It's a good way to check if I'm hitting diminishing returns on a part and should move on.
Hope these help! Here's part 2: th-cam.com/video/T1nSSjdNA5A/w-d-xo.html Need help with your animation? Sign up for my workshop! spungellaonline.blogspot.com/p/faq.html
Amazing video as always my friend. Btw your advice has been helping tremendously. I finally figured out the graph editor and working on my first short animation as we speak!
Great tips JD, loved the thumbnail of the video🤣! I love using the blocking method to be faster. Also music. If I can get the emotion and feeling of the shot across. Polish can come later.
My slow downs: Had to sculpt edit a pose of a sitting on the floor knees bent pose. Rig meant for humans was difficult on a wolf biped facial animation. Software glitch deleting and adding keyframes by itself I was force to do anything but animate for months. Sudden learning curve, 2 characters moving a long box, looked slippery and janky took forever to look half decent. I hit a submerged pothole and injured my arm biking MIA for 6 months now.
@@jeandenishaas I'm down to the odd twitch of pain from my tendonitis, I estimate a month tops till I can animate with that hand again. I did buy a new chair as you suggested, it has armrests that help. Soon, I'll get back to having fun animating and learning and telling fun stories that's lodged in my head.
Great video! I'm finding very useful to use basic scripting to automate time consuming tasks, or using locators to animate in a more predictable way if the rig doesn't provides the workflow I would like to use.
Thank you! That’s awesome that you can do scripting! And yes, locators are definitely useful! Will do a clip about that workflow as well in the future!
Great video! Do you have Any tips for animating with a tablet pen faster? I have a Wacom tablet that I like cause it gets rid of my wrist pain, but I am SO much slower with it so I end up switching back to a mouse and working through the pain :(
Thanks! And I’m not sure I do. I’ve been animating with a tablet for so long, to me it’s just what I do. Are you okay with other stuff and it’s not the animating part that’s slow for you while using the tablet?
Hi there! I love your videos and I like that you address methods of thinking and planning animation a lot! (Not just "move the conteoller to xyz) Question: do one need to set keys on all controllers or only the one's that you are using at that point in the shot? For example: Guy jumps from a wall to the ground. Obviously all the big parts will need keys (root, hips, arms, legs) But since I won't animate the face or hands till after getting the mechanics right, do I need to key everything? Thanks a lot in advance. ( Beginner Animator in Blender )
Thanks for the comment! And thanks for taking the time to watch my videos! Regarding your question it would be “cleaner” to only key the controllers you need. That being said, I often key the whole character so it’s not like I’m following my own advice 😂
That's an interesting question. I'd keep all the main windows on one monitor and extra windows you don't use too often on the other monitor. I'd avoid too much looking around with your neck.
Can't have a plan...in Indian industry...gotta rush in soon as i see the vague animatic... Nd get it done lol 10 to 12 hours of work throughout weeks hehe
I don’t work there so I can’t tell you sorry. My guess a few seconds? TV can have 20 seconds a week, one week blocking one week polish, which is a though schedule.
@@jeandenishaas thanks for the answer. Can you tell me how many seconds should an animator aim for in a week? For both average animations and good or awesome animations?
@@alizainsurani9287 That’s tough to say, all depends on your content. You can have 3-4 awesome seconds with one character, and pretty crappy 3-4 seconds with 6 characters in it.
This was a great reminder for myself. I personally have issues staying focused while working, especially when I'm supposed to just sit down and block out a shot or if it's something particularly difficult to do. I've been trying out a pomodoro timer app on my desktop and working in chunks of 25 mins with 5 mins breaks in between. So far, it's been really helpful!
Tween machine, after planning, is the biggest time saver, not because it does tweens and saves time, but because the way it works made me understand how to animate pose to pose correctly. I used to move frames for separate joints to adjust the timing, resulting in wishy-washy poses and ended up noodling before the story even took shape, tween machine made me understand the process of first and foremost putting the storytelling poses (beats) then the keyframes, then the breakdowns and then the in-betweens, but since the bigger chunks were already well posed, the polishing became something new and exciting, where I discover pushing the character and pushing the storytelling, and not having to noodle. Ever. Again.
You know, I’ve heard of tween machine a while back, forgot about it, then watched a Zach Parrish demo video a few months ago and he used it, and I really wanted to give it a shot. I do already manually (scrub between two keys, then key on a frame which has a pose or ease in/out I like, key that frame, then middle mouse drag that key to adjust the timing (delete extra key to get that pose). HAHAHA! I should just try it.
@@jeandenishaas I’m not sure if Tween Machine is for everyone. You’ve made your name in the industry without it, not gonna say ‘because’ of it, but consider that. This tool can be tempting and addictive, so tread carefully.
The tip I would add to this ties in with #5. Get notes/feedback early. Watching this I realized that the more senior the team member, the earlier in their workflow they get feedback on it. It is a lot easier to incorporate changes when you are still planning and blocking than when you've already used up your time adding polish and are under pressure to move on to the next thing.
Absolutely! Great point! Don’t wait too long for feedback!
It’s like your uploads are reading my mind! Can’t wait to sit down and watch this!
Ha nice! Hope it helps!!
I was thinking exactly that when I saw this
@@visionsanimation4690 😁
I really liked the point you had on testing rigs. Use your animation plan to figure out the most extreme poses and use those to test the rig!
For a tip of my own, I watch previous versions of my animation to check if the newest version is still a significant improvement. It's a good way to check if I'm hitting diminishing returns on a part and should move on.
Thanks!
And excellent point! Super important to compare your versions!
As always... Theeeee BESTT!!
THANKS A LOT!! 🙏
Thank YOU!! ☺️
Thank you for these tips.
Sure thing!
some awesome advice! thank you!
Glad it’s helpful! Thanks for watching!
@@jeandenishaas also noticed we have worked on a lot of the same movies haha :)
@@ukmonk Oooh nice!!
This is absolutely great, these are all tips I wish I knew in the past. Please make more!!!
Happy to help! And more is coming!
Hope these help! Here's part 2: th-cam.com/video/T1nSSjdNA5A/w-d-xo.html
Need help with your animation? Sign up for my workshop! spungellaonline.blogspot.com/p/faq.html
Amazing video as always my friend. Btw your advice has been helping tremendously. I finally figured out the graph editor and working on my first short animation as we speak!
Thank you and congratulations! That must be a relief and feel good to really be able to dive into your animation now!
@@jeandenishaas beyond relief, I'm less intimidated now and really enjoying the process.
@@Mrsmifff That’s awesome! Good for you!
@@jeandenishaas thanks man, your videos and sir wades have been the driving force behind my success lol
@@Mrsmifff Awesome!
Great tips JD, loved the thumbnail of the video🤣! I love using the blocking method to be faster. Also music. If I can get the emotion and feeling of the shot across. Polish can come later.
Thank you!!
You are the best!
☺️☺️☺️
I don't character animate at all, but I do edit for TV and I've got to say these are excellent transferable tips for post
That’s awesome to read! Thanks for watching!!
Great video as always Thanks JD!
Thanks!!
This is very helpful and inspirational. Thank you.
Thank YOU!
That thumbnail is amazing haha!
HAHAHA thanks! 😂
My slow downs: Had to sculpt edit a pose of a sitting on the floor knees bent pose. Rig meant for humans was difficult on a wolf biped facial animation. Software glitch deleting and adding keyframes by itself I was force to do anything but animate for months. Sudden learning curve, 2 characters moving a long box, looked slippery and janky took forever to look half decent. I hit a submerged pothole and injured my arm biking MIA for 6 months now.
That story took a dark turn! Sorry!
@@jeandenishaas I'm down to the odd twitch of pain from my tendonitis, I estimate a month tops till I can animate with that hand again. I did buy a new chair as you suggested, it has armrests that help. Soon, I'll get back to having fun animating and learning and telling fun stories that's lodged in my head.
@@dragonskunkstudio7582 Good luck!
Great video! I'm finding very useful to use basic scripting to automate time consuming tasks, or using locators to animate in a more predictable way if the rig doesn't provides the workflow I would like to use.
Thank you!
That’s awesome that you can do scripting! And yes, locators are definitely useful! Will do a clip about that workflow as well in the future!
@@jeandenishaas That would be awesome!!! Thank you!!!
@@maurobotero8646 Sure thing!
Hey JD, many thanks for the great video. I wonder what the book is that you are the pages of at the start of the video? Am I missing something?
You’re very welcome! And this is the book: th-cam.com/video/8F_kMPZWues/w-d-xo.html
@@jeandenishaas brilliant. I'm definitely going to order a copy!
@@JohnyByrne He has a new one out! Wait! You might prefer that one! Review is coming!
Great video! Do you have Any tips for animating with a tablet pen faster? I have a Wacom tablet that I like cause it gets rid of my wrist pain, but I am SO much slower with it so I end up switching back to a mouse and working through the pain :(
Thanks!
And I’m not sure I do. I’ve been animating with a tablet for so long, to me it’s just what I do. Are you okay with other stuff and it’s not the animating part that’s slow for you while using the tablet?
@@jeandenishaas yeah, I just need to practice a lot more I guess! 😄
@@annafaryniarz1233 Maybe? Tough to say, but good luck!
Hi there! I love your videos and I like that you address methods of thinking and planning animation a lot! (Not just "move the conteoller to xyz)
Question: do one need to set keys on all controllers or only the one's that you are using at that point in the shot?
For example: Guy jumps from a wall to the ground.
Obviously all the big parts will need keys (root, hips, arms, legs)
But since I won't animate the face or hands till after getting the mechanics right, do I need to key everything?
Thanks a lot in advance.
( Beginner Animator in Blender )
Thanks for the comment! And thanks for taking the time to watch my videos!
Regarding your question it would be “cleaner” to only key the controllers you need.
That being said, I often key the whole character so it’s not like I’m following my own advice 😂
Hahaha, I know what you mean!
Thanks!
@@RenierBoshoff 😂
Can you share some tips on how to use a dual monitor setup for animating faster and efficient?
That's an interesting question. I'd keep all the main windows on one monitor and extra windows you don't use too often on the other monitor. I'd avoid too much looking around with your neck.
Hi can I ask you do plan on 3d design tips if possible
I'm still learning 3d animation
@@FriedFrogLegsAnimations 3D design is not what I do, sorry, just 3D animation.
Can't have a plan...in Indian industry...gotta rush in soon as i see the vague animatic... Nd get it done lol 10 to 12 hours of work throughout weeks hehe
Yeah it’s of course tricky when the schedule is that crazy. Sorry!
@@jeandenishaas btw your videos provide a lot of value thank you keep up the good work ☺️
@@tuhinsensarma3337 That’s very kind of you to say! Thank you!
Since we are talking about speed Just wanted to know. How many seconds do big studio like pixar or disney and other studio wants in a week?
I don’t work there so I can’t tell you sorry. My guess a few seconds? TV can have 20 seconds a week, one week blocking one week polish, which is a though schedule.
@@jeandenishaas thanks for the answer. Can you tell me how many seconds should an animator aim for in a week? For both average animations and good or awesome animations?
@@alizainsurani9287 That’s tough to say, all depends on your content. You can have 3-4 awesome seconds with one character, and pretty crappy 3-4 seconds with 6 characters in it.
0:19 Keep clicking on a this time every 1 sec to hear a Rap
HAHAHAHAHAH OMG when you only loop that section!!! You crazy genius!
@@jeandenishaas 😂😅❤
This was a great reminder for myself. I personally have issues staying focused while working, especially when I'm supposed to just sit down and block out a shot or if it's something particularly difficult to do. I've been trying out a pomodoro timer app on my desktop and working in chunks of 25 mins with 5 mins breaks in between. So far, it's been really helpful!
Ah right! I’ve heard of that before! Glad you found a method that works for you!
Tween machine, after planning, is the biggest time saver, not because it does tweens and saves time, but because the way it works made me understand how to animate pose to pose correctly. I used to move frames for separate joints to adjust the timing, resulting in wishy-washy poses and ended up noodling before the story even took shape, tween machine made me understand the process of first and foremost putting the storytelling poses (beats) then the keyframes, then the breakdowns and then the in-betweens, but since the bigger chunks were already well posed, the polishing became something new and exciting, where I discover pushing the character and pushing the storytelling, and not having to noodle. Ever. Again.
You know, I’ve heard of tween machine a while back, forgot about it, then watched a Zach Parrish demo video a few months ago and he used it, and I really wanted to give it a shot. I do already manually (scrub between two keys, then key on a frame which has a pose or ease in/out I like, key that frame, then middle mouse drag that key to adjust the timing (delete extra key to get that pose). HAHAHA! I should just try it.
@@jeandenishaas I’m not sure if Tween Machine is for everyone. You’ve made your name in the industry without it, not gonna say ‘because’ of it, but consider that. This tool can be tempting and addictive, so tread carefully.
@@Flandelacasa Hahaha I like that pitch! Will definitely try it!
@@jeandenishaas fine, just don’t go around saying I ruined your art.
@@Flandelacasa 😂
That was a great pitchy pitch.
HAHAHA 😂
The ninth tip... stop procrastinating and get onto sketching!
Yeah! Procrastinating is a good one!
You are now a Warner Bruh!
Yep
Thanks very useful tips 🌹🖤
You’re very welcome!
working in chucks is the shit man!!
Agreed!
Right on time! Great video!
Sweet! Thank you!