If you don’t already know him, I wanted to introduce you to MDotStrange.  I think this dude holds the record for making the most animated movies all by himself.  He has created 3 animated feature length films.  He set a bar if you ask me on what can be done.

So often I have spent my time in areas where there are tons of artists.  These tons of artists have wonderful skills and abilities but they waste it working for the man.  Instead of creating their own way they exchange their life for a buck.    I mean if you like animating for someone else that is great.    But I’ve seen so many artists desire to make their own stuff but think it is impossible, that is it too hard and it takes too long.   So they don’t attempt to create their own original stuff.  It really is sad considering how many stories are waiting to be told and never will be.

Here is the truth.

1) It is not impossible.

2) It is not hard especially if you can draw or do animation (digging ditches and working construction is hard work, not sitting in the AC creating)

3) Too long?  In 10 years MDotStrange created 3 full length films.  Now imagine if you use premade assets and things like mocap and use various short cut methods that build results, then the truth is it doesn’t take 10 years to make a movie.

Here are some of his works.

We Are the Strange

Heart String Marionette

I thought I’d share this with you all.

He talks alot about talking Japanese.   Meh….

He does have some good advice though.   He says start a Manga first.  Well that is the game plan for myself.

I’m actually working on several Manga’s and/or Webtoons.   I will be posting some work here including videos.  And since it is about how to make anime even if you are not the greatest artist this should help all of you out.   Recently I just got a great pipeline going for manga and anime.    If you want tutorials it will be under my category called “Anime Class!”

Now take some of this video as advice but some of it falls under goofy parody like advice and not really being 100% serious.

I hate the last part of the video but there are again some gems, especially the part about making a manga.

Making a Manga is easier than a full anime but as you create your manga you can start gaining fans and then Kickstart a full animation.    That is just one route.

 

 

 

 

 

We talk about making anime.  Truth is that year after year it is getting easier and easier to do it on your own or with some friends.

For example check out the latest trailer for Gantz 0.

Here are some behind the scenes.

So maybe combine Poser, Iclone or DAZ3d with one of the packages below.

Personally I’ve used IPIsoft but I’ve recently been thinking about Iclones Mocap or Iclone mixed with Perception.

Hey Perception if you want to give me a mocap suit and Iclone you want me to start making my anime using your stuff that I promote please call me.  LOL.

Seriously….call me.  Perception Neuron looks awesome.

Okay back to our story.  Did you know the creator of Gantz actually used Poser in creating his comic?

Yup!

So why not use something like POser, Iclone or DAZ to make your stuff?

Now I need to find some cheap facial capture software.  If you know where to find it please let me know!

I love it.  Reallusion please get me one of these.   I will tell everyone about it till the end of days.  :)

Now I wanted to touch one this subject because some people have a bad view of Poser in the art community.  They think that you MUST do everything yourself.  But what does that get them.  At most it is a nice looking short but never anything epic or long lasting.

Some of you have asked me about that fact.  You are trying to tell your story but then some in the CG community tell you not to use Poser.  But truth is Poser can help you get up to speed much faster and tell stories.

If you push the tool that Poser is you can create wonderful artwork to tell your story.

Poser1

One of my favorite comics ever was created by Brian Haberlin.  He uses Poser to help him make one of the largest graphic novels in the world with cool augmented reality.  If you have checked out his novels please do for an inspirational aspect into what can be done with Poser as a tool but also as good awesome fun.  I loved Anomaly.  Oh and by the way, this guy has TV and movie deals.  So you tell me it is not a legit tool to create great imagery and tell stories.  In the end don’t let anyone discouarage you.  There are some elitist out there but they are purist.  They care about what program was used and at the end of the day it is just foolish.

End result is all that matters.

anomaly

poseraomaly

Poseranomaly

 

If you are going to make your own anime, you have to be able to animate.   One of the tools of choice is non-other than Flash, now called Adobe Animate or something of that nature.  I wanted to post this step by step guide for some of your newer guys just trying to collect information on how to animate.

Flash is where I started and I still have it on my hard drive today.  It is easy to use and was just what I originally started using as well as many Animators out there.

Adobe Animate is now available for around $20 bucks a month.  But if you cannot afford it there are tons of cool, free animation tools.

Here is the same creator above using FREE Tools.

 

The tutorials above are by Jesse Jones.  I ran into his work when several artists were animating an entire episode of Dragoball.  It was a fun project.

Follow the link below to check it out.

 

I love 2d work very much.  I love it even more when both 3d is used to bring an extra upgrade in quality.  The other day I was checking out Mike Inel’s work.  I found this little video where Mike uses a type of mocap, rotoscoping and then tracing over the 3d work.  I’ll let you check out the process here below.

 

I noticed Otaking using a similiar process.  I think this helps take his 2d to the next level.

 

This should help you in your endeavors especially if you are not the best artist.    You could easily use Poser characters and trace over them in a 2d package.   Daz is free and you could do the same thing.  Go for it.  Make your own anime today.

 

 

 

I know it is a little late but RWBY is back.

One reason I really love RWBY is knowing how this show was created.  It really helped me realize that this cool stuff can be created by even the smallest of groups using a little imagination and creative thinking.

I wish Monty Oum could have seen this show to fruition.    Thanks Rooster Teeth for a promising new season.

 

Monty has created his own Anime series here in my hometown of Austin.  I thought that was so cool.   Here are some behind the scenes videos I hope you enjoy.

 

You can glean so much by watching others work.   I learned so much from watching him work and will be employing them in my animated series.

Stay tuned for more updates.