Friday 23 May 2014

Hand In Today


Hello Blog it's been a while.

A lot has happened !!!!

I have been given the amazing opportunity to visit Rastamouse Productions for a weeks work experience (12th May)

There I got to see the studios from props to animating. But of course my favourite part, where I spent my work experience was in the puppet department.



The lovely ladies that look after the puppets taught me how to make Rastamouse and Orphan hands from wire twisting to padding them up. I helped finish off Zoomers skates. I even made a T-shirt ready for a crowd scene.


I honestly did not want to leave. I had incredible people that looked after me !
THANK YOU RASTAMOUSE CREW !!!

And now back to my Uni work !
My hand in is today.
Funny how all the work that had been done these past 3 years is over.
I will need to touch up my film a lot again by tuesday to have a chance to be in the Glammies !!!
Possible the last ever Glammies which is gutting :(
But I'm glad myself and my year get to go out with a big celebration !



Thursday 1 May 2014

Goodbye Ice Cream !!!


Have been working in Cadwaladers on and off during my time at University and it's finally time to say goodbye.
Started doodling after being inspired by my Instagram feed and ended up drawing a flustered me at work.
Started working in St.Davids Cads and now for only two months and got to know my new Cads family at Mermaid Quay were all of the Ice cream is down at the Bay.
Has been a pleasure working with you all !
And I hope to see you all soon.


This is the cabinet in St Davids I decorated. Sadly never had the chance to decorate Mermaid Quay's one which had twice as many flavours !!! 
- Ice cream is a nightmare to clean HA!

Monday 28 April 2014

I Have A Website !


-------------> http://hqjstopmotion.wix.com/hqjstopmotion <-------------

Go on click it !!!
This if for my Business studies side of Animation.
I'm completely new at it but pretty pleased with the outcome !!!
Hope you like it, less of me rambling on about my work going wrong :P
Its all quite organised for me.

And I think I prefer these stars for the background of my film :D
Still plenty to edit !!!



Studio Showcase #5 Laika


Laika has been growing since 2005 where they created theor forst short all-CG-animated film called Moongirl.

Since then they have made The Oscar and BAFTA-nominated film ParaNorman (2012)
Their first stop motion movie, Coraline (2009) broke them through with their stunning storytelling.
Their style and talent for making thousands upon thousands of replaceable faces is what also made them creating short movies of their characters almost building themselves again through stopmotion.
Their use of recipes and technology of printing the faces helped them carry on this beautiful style in their future films.


Their skills in storytelling and character performance in all mediums, including CG, stop motion which they demonstrate in the feature films so well. they're talents stretch further in their commercials, including 2D animation.

Following Laika closely ever since Coraline, this is where my ultimate dream job would be, helping them make the puppets and sets for their unbelievably beautiful films. Laika give the opportunity for graduates to become an intern for them. And the latest big film of theirs is The Boxtrolls that will premiere in the theatres September 26, 2014.

We're a community of artists and technicians who create original animated content. We handcraft and transform everyday materials into living creatures infused with dimension and soul.”



Sunday 27 April 2014

Studio Showcase #4 BlinkInk


Blink is an award-winning British commercial production company based in London. Today, Blink is one of the industry;s most respected production companies, creating breathtaking commercials, short films and music videos using both live action and animation.

Their famous John Lewis Christmas campaign was the symbol of the winter season in 2013. Blinkink and Hornet are the proud creators of The Bear and The Hare, combining the stunning traditional 2D characters walking around a stop motion christmas wonderland. A beautiful short take of the Bear that had never seen Christmas.


Most recently Barry the Biscuit Boy, created by Joseph Mann and Andrew Thomas Haung's new live=action puppeteer, stop frame, animated advert for Cravendale. The funny story of a Barry the Biscuit Boy who loved milk so much to the point of disaster to himself.

Blinkink have been keeping stop motion animation alive in their commercials for years making sure the talent doesn't die out with the art of what is Stop motion, and even 2D animation.
It is companies like these that appreciates and respects the hard working traditional animators and creates stunning pieces with them.




Friday 25 April 2014

Studio Showcase #3 Factory Transmedia


Factory Transmedia design and collaborate on projects across all media. they develop and produce project of all genres of animation. Factory TM can provide an exceptional range of creative adverts and TV series.

Factory TM is passionate about animation and embrace new talent. they certainly have experience when creating character design for animated series and the deliver world class animation for young children.

The are known for Fifi and the Flowertots, Raa Raa the Noisy Little Lion and Roary The Racing Car. Childrens programs that teach young children all of the basics in life through loveable creatures.

Working closely with Peter Kay they have combined to create Peter Kay;s all star band, where all of their characters sing along with a stop motion model of Peter Kay himself.


But what is even more exciting is their current project of recreating The Clangers !

Being one of the ultimate favourite of mine as a child, they maybe the beginning of my passion for stop motion. They are currently filming 52x11min episodes for The Clangers as they return back home to the BBC after 45 years.

The Clangers, which previously launched on the BBC in 1969, are pink, long-nosed, inventive and loveable mouse like creatures who live on a small blue planet, out in the starry reaches of space, not to far from Earth.

Factory TM say, "The joint announcement is made by CBeebies, Coolabi, Smallfilms and US 24-hour pre-school network, Sprout, who together are co-producing the new pre-school series, with BBC Worldwide for its international channels. BBC Worldwide is also confirmed as the international distributor for the show. The £5 million production is already underway and is set for a highly anticipated return to the small screen in 2015."


So they have high hopes for these little guys !!!

Thursday 24 April 2014

Studio Showcase #2 Famous Flying Films


Machinnon & Saunders and Famous Flying Films are combing their amazing talents to create a new Cbeebies stop motion comedy series Calamity Island. The series will consist of 52x7min episodes and will launch in 2014.

Calamity island is about two shipwrecked sailors and a mischievous penguin on a tropical Island.

The creator David Johnson, also created the famous Koala Brothers. A stop frame model animation series aimed at pre school audiences. David creates adventurous, curious and lovable characters that communicates to his young audience mainly through the power of body language and suggestion. His style of characters design and puppet fabrication is his signature. 


Studio Showcase #1 Three Stones Media


Three Stones Media was formed in 2007. They combine the best emerging talents that produce great storytelling and high quality products.

2011 three Stones brought a new project to the world. That being Rastamouse, a stop frame animation TV series for CBeebies.


The 78x11min episodes show a cool crime fighting mouse who through the power of redemption always "Makes a Bad Ting Good".

The series is an award winning  place of storytelling developed with the original authors and animator Derek MogFord. Together they have created a very distinctive show of which they are extremely proud of. Showing off their adorable puppets with their extremely bright and colourful 2D background and props.


The first two series of Rastamouse were made by the Welsh Animation company Dinamo. Unfortunately Dinamo closed down in June 2013 whilst filming a third series was being developed.
But Three Stones have picked it back up again.

Being so close it would be an amazing opportunity for myself to see how these cute puppets are created from scratch right through the fur fabricating. And also to see how a real studio works !


Wednesday 16 April 2014

No More Dark Rooms !


Yes I've done it !!!
I can now enjoy daylight again.
I know I've neglected my blog, but its only because I'VE FINISHED FILMING !!!
4 weeks of filming time and I have roughly 4 minutes of my film ready to edit.
And OMG theres a lot to edit !!!
And as you can tell I went slightly mad in a small dark room :P
Here is some more photos of my process.





Tuesday 8 April 2014


Forgot to post this !!!
Happy Birthday to Lil Sophie and my Cousin Luke !!!
Also sorry for the lack of Updates on my project.
Been a busy bee, animating solidly !!!
No such thing as weekends and Easter Holiday for me.
But aiming to have filming done by 13th April, and then the dreaded task of Post Production.

So for now have a giggle at my lovely friends and family's Birthday Cards I've drawn !!!




Friday 21 March 2014

Green Screen



Lights, Camera, Action !
Been setting up ready for filming today. 
Just thought I'd share my first testing shot from this afternoon. 
Now I've covered the rig I'm on my way getting this film started !
Also have music collaboration on it's way too !
My idea is beginning to become the real thing now.
Fingers crossed from now on.

Thursday 20 March 2014

Making Stage ... ✔


Right so I have the set and puppets done now !
Few complications on the way as you will see here :(
But pleased with the results !
So I'd better start filming I suppose ........

Wednesday 12 March 2014

TREE TREE TREE TREE TREEEEEE !

SUCH A LATE UPDATE !!!
I've been crazy busy trying to finish everything before filming day confirmed to be on 
Monday 17th March.
Also sorting out Music collaboration.
But here is everything to catch up on !
Just look at my tree blossoming in the making stages here !!!


Tuesday 4 March 2014

Keith Johnson



(Picture is terribly blurry)
My Grandad is my main inspiration to do art.
He likes to draw all of the grandkids and show them off throughout his house.
As you can tell I get my birthday card styles from my Grandad.
One of my favourite drawings he has done of me because he's added my little fox in there as well as good old Wallace !

Friday 28 February 2014

Prince


Another sketch dailies. Today PRINCE !
Sorry or the bad quality photo. Drawing away from home this evening. 

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Ghostbusters


Egon Spengler - Ghostbusters for Sketch Dailies !
This time I wanted to draw more of a cartoon of him and decided he needed to be coloured.

Friday 21 February 2014

Sketch Dailies Hercules



Being in Cardiff I'm a little out of sync with Sketch Dailies.
But here is my second go at Sketch Dailies of Hercules !
If you love to draw, doing this is for you !

Sketch Dailies Baba Yaga


 My first entry for Sketch Dailies.
Hopefully will keep this up. But for now just line drawings.
Still have a project to do !

Thursday 20 February 2014

Late Showreel


Threw together a showreel very late, but it needed to be done !
So here you will see all of my puppets, sets and props that I also animated.

Saturday 15 February 2014

Rocks & Building


Click here to see how my rocks were made.
Also see all of my characters semi completed.
So exciting to see this all come together !!!


Sunday 9 February 2014

!!!

Karma Kid Tab is back !
Second time lucky !!!
Sorry about that !

:/

Ok ....
Completely confused, my laptop decided to wipe my Karma Kid Tab and now I have no information on that tab.
So bare with me while I try and re-write it all again.
Great !

Filing


This is my dreaded part to armature making ... the never ending filing !
I forgot how clumsy I am. My finger tips hate me right now.
But these puppets won't make themselves !!
Nothing visually exciting to post this week as I forgot ONE thing from my shopping list ... and that was shrink wrap !
I was planning on getting snaps of my puppet making in progress.
But instead started making the bottom half of the Floating Island as the Welsh weather was harsh today.
Hit this link to see the full progress of making Karma Kid from the very beginning.
Here is a picture just to remind you what I'm aiming for for the Floating Island.
Ambitious I know ! But I'm doing it anyways !



Thursday 6 February 2014

Glitter & Ribbon


So a lot of girliness is happening today with glitter and ribbon.
Find out more here of my working progress of Karma Kid.
Next will be armature building !

Wednesday 5 February 2014

Base Coat


Yay acrylics my old friends ... NOT
But I had fun painting anyways.
So glad to see colour on these pieces now. 
WAY easier to know what piece go where now.
Check out the full working process of Karma Kid from the beginning here !

Tuesday 4 February 2014

Paper Pulp




My Karma Kid Page is now up and running !!!
So from now on I will post a little information on my home page but the rest of it you will find on the 'Karma Kid' tab.
Please have a look. If you're interested in making your own paper pulp for paper mache then take a look at my step by step instructions. I will be using this technique to texture my characters clothing and hair, and of course my rocks on my floating island. The set making will be after I've completed all three of my characters.

Sunday 2 February 2014


Happy Birthday to my flat mate Ellen on the 1st Feb !
Bathing in your Very Cherry Punch :D
(Last posting)
More birthday cards here.

Friday 31 January 2014

So Many Pieces !!!

( Excuse the poor quality images ! )

 

My lovely Secondary School, Ash Manor, let me come back after 5 years and let me use their laser cutter.



I used 2D design TechSoft Design Tools - 2D Design Software (Image from the previous post)


And here is my result. This includes not only all of my characters components but also ....



... MANY necessary spare parts !


After organising them, I couldn't resist ....



... I had to position my first character I designed.
I couldn't be happier with the result of how she looks, how they all look !
Now it's time to paint them up ready to be put onto the armature to be made afterwards.
Easier to paint the individual pieces now rather than painting awkwardly once assembled.