FINAL BLOGGGGGGG

1. In general, what did you like most about this class?

• I really liked the different types of animation we did in the class. I also enjoyed just being there with people that have a lot in common with one another.

 2. In general, what did you like least about this class?

• I can't really say I didn't like anything! I thought this class reached my expectations c:

 3. What were your most favorite project and least favorite project and why?

• I think either the 11 Second Club or the Music Video projects were my absolute favorite projects. These projects, I think, showed everyone's growth in the class considering they were the most recent projects we did, especially with the music video.
• My least favorite was maybe the Stop Motion. It was tedious, but I thought it was really interesting at the same time. I think what irked me about that project was how precise it had to be. But hey, that's to be expected with stop motion!

 4. Do you feel that this class will help you achieve your future academic or career goals? How or why (or why not)?

• I think this class will, without a doubt, help me achieve my future goals. I think this class is great for anyone who wants to pursue animation or a field related to it. You learn a lot in this class, and this class prepares you for the professional world.

5. Additional comments:

• Taking this class was the best decision I've made throughout my entire high school career.
• I'm glad I got to work with such a talented group of people.
• To the upcoming students, TAKE THIS CLASS SERIOUSLY. Make sure you work hard and do your best in this class every single day.
• Ms. Licata, thank you for being such a wonderful teacher and friend to the whole class. You made the class welcoming and homey for all of us.
• I'm going to miss you all so much. It's been a privilege. :)

Reality TV

Reality TV is apparently TV for families nowadays.

I didn't know that:

• Reality TV can captivate kids depending on the subject matter of the show.
• Kids, in terms of reality TV, are interested by competition, scorekeeping and, creation.
• Children and parents have their own targeted shows.

I thought this article was depressing. I think that it's weird for young children to be exposed to reality shows. I also think that reality TV has become very questionable.

My one question is: What show will come out next?

..Kinda scared to find out.
 

The Old Man and the Sea

Aleksandr Petrov created an adaptation of The Old Man and the Sea.

I didn't know that:

• Petrov used oil paints to create his adaptation.
• Petrov painted every single frame.
• Petrov was animating under the camera the whole time, so if he screwed up, he had to start over.

 I thought this article was awesome. I like how fluid the animation is in this short film. I also think it's amazing how this guy painted thousands and thousands of frames just to make this movie. Very admirable.

My one question is: Can I meet this man?

 

Disney Sexism?

Disney apparently made a more risqué version of Merida from "Brave".

I didn't know that:

• Brenda Chapman, the creator of the movie, wanted Merida to be a role model for young girls.
• Chapman modeled Merida after her teenage daughter.
• Merida was supposed to break the mold of glamorous Disney princesses.

I thought this article was outrageous. Disney had no right to recreate Merida, and so provocatively as well. I think that Disney needs a taste of reality here.

My one question is: Disney, what were you thinking?

6 Documentary Mistakes

Documentary filmmakers can make certain mistakes very often.

I didn't know that:

• Finding a topic that will stand out from the rest will help with a documentary.
• Creating a poor reenactment of a past event will hinder a documentary.
• Scripting should be the last thing you do when making a documentary.

I thought this article was interesting. I like how there are several mistakes doc filmmakers can make xD
I also think that this was also very informative.

My one question is: Are there more mistakes filmmakers make? xD

5/19/13

This week was alright. Just a work week for the most part..

What made me happy was the feedback I received on my final project!

What frustrated me this week was the Workforce Assessments. I didn't make the cut, but whatever.
I was also sick this week, so that also frustrated me.

I didn't really learn anything this week.

I don't really want to learn anything right now..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdzjqOuO_Ig

 

This is fantastic.

Takes you inside the animation process. WOOT

 

5/12/13

This week was pretty good. I finished my project on time and I won a scholarship, which I'm still shocked about! That's what made me happy this week.

Prom drama is what frustrated me this week.
Oy.

This week I didn't really learn anything. It was primarily a work week.

I want to learn how to improve my work some more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxL21NQMczg

This blows my mind.
To think how the same game can look so different with certain technology.
 

Crowdfunding

This article talks about how people crowdfund in order to reach out to the public.

I didn't know that:

• Crowdfunding was a thing.
• The studio that worked on Adventure Time was called Frederator.
• With Lighthouse and the Lock, Cartoon Network UK gave all rights to the original creator instead of screwing around with it.

I felt indifferent about this article. I like that this article talks about certain creators who were well-known for their work. At the same time, I think crowdfunding is a difficult thing to pull off.

My one question is: Will someone be able to crowdfund an entire show?

Standards of Living

This article talks about how the film, Standards of Living, was filmed on an iPad 2.

I didn't know that:

• Aaron Mento wrote the screenplay for the movie on an Apple tablet.
• The Twilight Zone and Inland Empire served as inspiration for the iPad recording.
• Standards of Living was shot WITHOUT a tripod.

I thought this article was interesting. I find it incredible how low-budget filmmaking can leave more room for creativity, especially in this case. I also like how brave Aaron Mento was in doing so.

My one question is: Will this revolutionize filmmaking?

Vine Films?

This article talks about how people can submit Vine videos for a Tribeca 6 second film competition and the tips that follow.

I didn't know that:

• A 6-second story is NOT easy to pull off at all.
• Leaving the audience wanting more is also helpful for succeeding in this.
• 6 seconds can lead to more creativity, oddly enough.

This article was intriguing. I like that there are samples of these videos on the page. I also like the variety in tips and examples of the tips the article provides.

My one question is: Will Vine become more popular because of this contest? 

Cute Cartoon Characters

This article talks about what makes a cute cartoon character.

I didn't know that:

• The character looking well fed is a cute factor.
• E.T. and Yoda are considered cute.
• Cuteness can also be based off the behavior of a character, Scrat being an example of this.

I thought this article was informative. I like how the article gives pictures of different characters as examples of cuteness. I also like how it goes on to say that the definition of a cute character has changed.

My one question is: How will cuteness continue to change in the cartoon world?

5/5/13

This week was just a work week for the most part.

I learned about what is required for a portfolio and when you go out into the working field.

I want to learn about what it's like to be in an ACTUAL animation studio, like Pixar or something.

What made me happy this week was the amount of work I was able to get done on my final project.

What frustrated me this week was being sick on Thursday and not being able to use a tablet in class on Friday :I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgfklKnOg4w

 

Scarred for life now. ALRIGHT.

Creepy Doll animation.

Watch it.

 

More Moore's Law

This article talks about how Moore's Law helped Pixar succeed.

I didn't know that:

• Moore's Law involved computer technology growing every five years.
• Moore's Law helped Pixar with Toy Story.
• Tiny changes with capacity can lead to huge steps forward.

I thought this article was interesting. I like how Pixar used Moore's Law to their advantage. I also like how this article is informative, but hopeful at the same time.

My one question is: Will Moore's Law become even more useful as time goes by?

CUTENESS OVERLOAD--

This article talks about two guys who created robots that will create a documentary.

I didn't know that:

• The robots are voiced by a 7-year-old boy.
• The robots have hidden cameras.
• These robots have the goal of engaging in conversations emotionally with people.

I thought this article was very interesting. I like how there is a video to show off the robots' abilities. I also think the robots are adorable.

My one question is: Will these robots continue to evolve?

4/28/13

This week was pretty good! I worked a lot on my project, and that's about it xD

What made me happy this week was my average in this class so far. I'm also very happy with how my project looks so far c:

Nothing really frustrated me this week.

I didn't really learn anything this week considering it was a work week.

I don't think I want to learn anything now, except maybe portfolio stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyjw0ZLyzpE

Thought this was well-animated.
Plus, it's 3d. Enjoy!
 

THIEVES

This article discusses how an artist painted a picture involving Alice In Wonderland and how Disney used this exact picture and put it on bags without permission.

I didn't know that:

• People actually had this image tattooed on their bodies.
• Disney committed a direct copyright violation, which is shocking to me.
• Disney has not reached out to the artist as of now.

I thought this was disappointing. I never thought Disney would ever do something like this. I also think this poor girl needs A LOT more credit. That piece was fantastic!

My one question is: Why would Disney EVER think that this was ok?

Code Monkey

This article talks about how the song Code Monkey will become visual in the near future.

I didn't know that:

• The story of the song will be different from what is expected.
• Other songs will be tied in with one another to make one cohesive story.
• Jonathan Coulton is up for this idea.

I thought this article was cool. I like how the article provides sketches done by Tak Miyazawa. I also like how this interview praises Jonathan Coulton's music.

My one question is: Will this be a bigger break for Coulton in the near future?

4/21/13

This week really was a positive one.

What made me happy this week was getting really nice grades on my Abstract Audio and 11 Second Club projects. I was also happy with how much work I managed to get done on my final project. c:

Nothing really frustrated me this week. I was really happy.

I learned that this project will take a lot of patience and layers xD

I don't really want to learn anything at the moment. I'm rather content~

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYodWEKCuGg

Code Monkey animation :D

Thought this was cute.

 

4-13-13

This week was pretty good!

What made me happy this week was working on my final project! I'm determined to make this my best work!!

What frustrated me was getting the scholarship in. I forgot about it, but I managed to get it done!

I can't think of anything that I learned this week.

I want to learn how to make my animations a bit smoother.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63o3ENsF2kE

More rotoscoping!
I like how this was done on paper though!
 

Smell-O-Vision

This article discusses how Japan is working on smell-o-vision.

I didn't know that:

• Smell-o-vision has been an idea since the 1960's.
• About 100 years ago, scents have been used in theaters.
• A smell-o-vision machine is a box of scented oils with a mechanism to spread the scent(s).

I thought this article was interesting. I think it's unbelievable that stuff like this has been going on for a long time. I also like that this is finally starting to come about.

My one question is: Will this revolutionize the television industry?