To Every Character (turn, turn turn)
Yeah, I’m throwing this rough turn of Rosemary up here at 5:45pm on Monday. As most of you know, the full body turn is usually the first page of every character’s model pack. It’s the one page that animators will pull out of the pack and tack on their desk wall for reference, and chuck everything else. Just kidding, but, well, it does contain the most info on one page.
I remember when I was young and excited and the industry was still all about the hand drawn animation in the early 90’s. My animation geek buddies and I would ‘collect’ model sheets from every possible show - in particular I always wanted to get my hands on the ones from Disney. These model sheets were the ‘keys’ to learning to draw the characters - usually created by the lead animator for the character. And having the ‘official’ model sheets from a favorite show or movie - that was like, “wow man, I have the same model sheets that the actual people who worked on that actual movie had.” Any regular animation geek could go to a con or a gallery and buy a cel setup or some drawing, but only the ‘insiders’ could get our hands on the model sheets, dude! We would endlessly xerox these babies and trade em with each other. I had some that had to have been 5th or 6th generation xerox. Wow. Those were the days. Alas, computer animation kinda ruined that particular fun.
Oh yes, the voice of Rosemary, as some of you were asking, is played by relative newcomer Jentle Phoenix. She just doesn’t have a hawesome weblog like Wil so I don’t know too much about her. But she has the right voice, and that’s what counts!
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On May 1st, 2006 at 12:00 am
Awsome turnarounds… Now what do the character packets include? The first page is chracter turn around the second is?, third is? the fourth is? etc.. Im wondering because I want to do that for my characters. If you could let me know thatd be great. Would you be able to post her audition tape of the voice for rosemary? -Steve
On May 1st, 2006 at 12:00 am
Model Packs differ a little bit from project to project. If the project is going to be animated in a non-english speaking foreign country, we include mouth charts (Speaking of which, have you american animators ever thought what it would be like working with a foreign mouth chart? I’m curious how well we would do). Aside from that, many model packs have construction or chalk talk pages, with detail on how to draw the character from a technical standpoint (how many heads high, the basic underlying shapes, how many tufts of hair, etc.). Most model packs have a page or two of expressions, showing various emotions and emotional body language. There’s usually a drawing or two showing how to squash and stretch the character in extreme situations like yelling or falling (if the story calls for that). More detailed sheets, esp. ones for feature animation have extra stuff like a page full of hands/feet from different angles. The last thing in a character model sheet will be special poses/other costumes. showing what the character looks like when he/she’s got another outfit on, or if something has affected him/her physically like they get squashed under a falling piano or burnt to a crisp - that unusual pose has to be modeled too.
On May 1st, 2006 at 12:00 am
Thankyou Jun! That was really interesting to read. And its going to be very helpful for me!! Thanks! -Steve
On May 1st, 2006 at 12:00 am
Don’t quote me but I think Jentle Phoenix is a stand up comic. I caught her act over at the Friars club in beverly hills. I draw caricatures over there, I probably have a couple of her.
On May 2nd, 2006 at 12:00 am
While Jentle Phoenix may not have a hawesome blog, I bleieve this is her MySpace page (though I abhor the thought of Myspace in general, I figured I’d post it for those who don’t):
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=39342861
And she has a demo on the William Morris page that follows:
http://www.wma.com/0/vo/beverlyhillsed/women/
Second column, 16th from the top.
On May 2nd, 2006 at 12:00 am
Wow Jun, this is an awesome post…I remember those days of salivating over overcopied model sheets…I have piles and piles in my attic! I used to love to copy them!
On May 2nd, 2006 at 12:00 am
Hi Jun! I linked over from Wil Wheaton’s blog, and I just wanted to say that this show looks fantabulous! As a former WoW-ite (had to take some time off to focus on some comic book projects), I think the basis for this show is awesome and will appeal to tons of people.
I know I will be watching!
On May 3rd, 2006 at 12:00 am
hi Jun! another Wil transplant here. i bookmarked your site and added it to my regular round next to Wil’s. maybe you should get Jentil to start a blog! anyway, just wanted to tell you i’ve been reading your backposts and am looking forward to your posts about the new show. good luck!
On May 3rd, 2006 at 12:00 am
The project seems to be rolling well.
I enjoy reading entries……
I learned a lot about your job today.
Pretty soon, your “Happy B-Day!!”
On May 4th, 2006 at 12:00 am
It looks like an amazing project, most especially for any of the daydreamers who did the double-life/fantasy thing when we were back in the painful years. (I know I wasn’t really GOOD at being a teenager until I was past 30)…
Is the project going to be scripted completely in-house when it gets underway, or will a “bible” be offered for the free-lancers who’ll probably be bombarding you any day now?
At the very least, you might have your new “Kyle” thinking about a script…Experience, the character’s own touch and writing talent could make a great combo.
On May 6th, 2006 at 12:00 am
Heh. Not-Appearing-In-This-Skectch. Funny. =D
Letting Wil write an episode aint a bad idea.
Now we know who Kyle and Rosemary are, abouts when will the show premier? I havent been this excited about a Nick show in years.
On May 6th, 2006 at 12:00 am
I got you beat - I haven’t been excited about a Nick show AT ALL in years.
On May 9th, 2006 at 12:00 am
So Micah, what brings you to our blogs here if you’re not excited at all?