Ref / Inspiration

This is a somewhat unusual post for me, but I thought I'd spare the time to share one of my recent favourite pieces of animation.

It's the advertising campaign for Nike when they sponsored the Brazil World Cup for 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy1rumvo9

Honestly, football really isn't my thing. I just about manage to watch a couple of England games every 4 years. But I absolutely, categorically LOVE this animation.

I guess it just goes to show that although FIFA is an abominable organisation (so I'm told), and Nike are a soulless, aggressive corporate machine, you can not deny their ability to throw seemingly limitless amounts of revenue at ad campaigns such as this, and create something brilliant.

There's many things I love about it, and all the elements come together perfectly. Everything from the sublime animation, the lovingly crafted characters, the sense of fun, the use of light, music, original and interesting angles, rewatchability, and the fluidity of the storytelling.

I guess that's what stands out the most for me, in that they have managed to weave a captivating narrative over just 5 minutes when many Hollywood studios would have overcooked it for 90. It's storytelling in a way that no other medium can match.

I've decided that I'm going to start a playlist on my youtube channel titled 'References / Inspiration' for whenever I get a drawing block. I'll try and add useful content as and when I find any. Check it oot here - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnhvXo8o5RktsOP4GqJHERoIxUEHt2Qph

Plenty more new coming! Stay tuned in

Ripple of news

Something big is coming, hold tight devoted followers. 

I haven't given any updates in too long, and I don't really have enough time to now, but a huge project that I've been involved with for months Is finally on its last lap. I'll give a more detailed bio of the project when it drops.

Here's a typical snapshot of what my life has been like for the past few days / weeks / months. 

Not much longer now ! x

Animation detention

I felt like mixing it up today and doing some animation practise from the Animator Island '51 animation exercises to master' -

Http://www.animatorisland.com/51-animation-exercises-to-master/

This was a break from my usual paid work, but it definitely felt good to go over old ground and refine my understanding of some animation fundamentals. It feels good to instinctively know the 'right' way to go about approaching a animation sequence from a technical standpoint. 

Check it out here -

http://www.swfcabin.com/open/1401212012

If I can budget my time properly I'd love to have a crack at some level 2-4 exercises :) 

Apart form that, progress on all my other projects has been good :) watch dis space !

Monster

I've been a little quiet lately, so here's a something to I've been working on this week to wet your appetite.

It's a monster that will appear dominantly in a music video I'm working on for a Scandinavian band. Realistically the whole thing should be done in a month and a bit, depending on how many mental breakdowns I have.

take care ! Live long and prolapse

http://www.newgrounds.com/dump/item/f68ecaf3fd21f46259636169ca72f5b7

New website

http://samw.co.uk/

Go forth and Czech it out you filthy pagans!

Erm. Shtuff

I've been busy being continually and incessantly breathing. Here's a foul excuse for an update for what I've been doing in an easily accessible visual medium.

And here's some old shading experiment doodles that gives the illusion that I am working now

 

Inspiration

I stumbled across this gem, although the content is a little old now it's a hugely motivating documentary showcasing the sheer effort, skill and sleepless nights that go into making an animated movie. It also shows just how highly competitive the industry is. 

This is for myself first and foremost. I hope that I find the time to rewatch this periodically in the future.

New work coming soon ;)

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=a-5Bs9IfCp4