Swiss Quality Animation

My Favourite parts (the last one) - 8 - Tangled

2012-01-23T13:52:00.000-08:00

I wanted to write this entry a long time ago, but kinda forgot about it over time. But yesterday it came up when i was talking to a friend on skype.
Tangled goes hand in hand with all the other films ive already listed. It is simply beautiful, with a nice well told story, cool characters and it has written Glen Keane all over it. I cant imagine how amazing it must have been to work with glen on this one. I just recently also saw Tangled ever after and its such a nice addition to the movie. It also was like a get together with old friends :-)
My favourite part in this movie are the two sequences when Rapunzel and Flynn are coming to the castle. First there is this AMAZINGLY MAGICAL dance sequence, followed by the lanterns. What moves so much here, is the pictures combined with the amazing music.
In this part it doesnt even bother me that they have to break into song again because it somehow just fits right in.
To go a bit into depth... There is also some pretty darn awesome animation to see, specially in the lantern sequence. For example when Rapunzel sees the first lantern. Gets up and "stumbles" over the boat... If you just look at the technical side of this its already amazing and how it turned out is even cooler. The next one is following the moment when rapunzel turns around and sees flynn holding those two lanterns... The way she sits down... its not just sitting down... there is so much character in it. She is about to give the diadem to flynn... and just by the way how she sits down, how much this moment means to her. Its not just giving it to him... she shows her trust for him... its so beautiful...

Some people might say its too cheesy, but in my opinion they really found the balance here... i dont think its cheesy at all... (ok, maybe the singing a bit... but well... its disney...)
To me the group hug and falling on their knees all together at the end was much cheesier and a bit too much for me...

Anyways... I love this film... and here are the two sequences i was talking about.

coming home...

2011-12-20T16:33:00.000-08:00

The last two weeks of 2011 im going to stay at home in switzerland.

It is amazing and weird at the same time... amazing because i see all my loved ones... get lots of hugs and just have a good time...
Weird because it doesnt feel like ive been away for 8 months at all... everything is still so familiar... there hasnt much changed (except for the new gas station in dagmersellen and the first out of all my closer buddies who is about to get married and become a daddy)
Its just weird... and also weird to feel that im on a vacation... at home... and that i will leave very soon again...

But it really helps to see my life from a different angle...
While being here and meeting all the people feels amazing, i also notice that the actual life here... and how things go... arent what i want anymore... its part of my past (and its a good and fulfilled past btw) but not my future, and in a couple of moments i found myself frightened what might happen if i cant stay in canada after this year because i definitely dont want to go back...

Well i guess i have to work even harder when i get back...

But for now im just enjoying the off time...
Happy Holidays everyone!

copied pairs

2011-12-08T07:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday i made an attempt to explain copied pairs to a student at AM... (btw. her name is Dita Lang... keep that name in mind... she will make it big... im sure of that!)
And i thought that concept would be nice to post up here as a base for discussions.
So here is what i wrote to her about how i approach copied pairs:

The main concept and advantage of working that way is probably that you can figure out how trasitions and the timing feel much better than in stepped...

Im doing it this way (this is for an acting shot):
im setting a key pose (nicely fleshed out of course) and put a key on all controls... then i go to the place where the movement should end... do the end pose and set a key on all controls...
lets assume that there is a hold following after that movement... i go and set a key on all controls at the end of that hold but at the START of the following movement without changing anything... so that there are two identical keys... combined with plateau curves, the character shouldnt move AT ALL between these two curves... if he does you probably have some overshoots going on somewhere...
then i go to the end of the following movement and do the next key pose... try to feel out how long this one should be held and set another key without changing anything at the START of the next movement... and so on...
After that you can start filling in the breakdowns but thats coming in a second pass...
What i think is really important to get the concept of copied pairs, is that you have two identical poses at the end of the previous movement and at the start of the next move...

(all this of course also applys to physical shots with one advantage: you can time it out in a later pass... wich means... in the first pass you just put in all your golden poses every fifth (or so) frame without looking at the timing... and in the next pass you time it out...)

If you want to go in later and add a copy of a key... you just select everything again... go to the key you want to copy, right click in the timeline and choose copy... then you go to the frame you want to place it, right click on the timeline and choose paste...
Some rigs get messed up when you copy the keys of ALL controls at once... in that case i usually go in, one frame after the key i want to copy, set a key on everything, go to the graph editor and push the curves back to the same value as the actual keyframe i want to copy, and then you can drag it out to where it belongs...

Im not using many tools or scripts for that... except for two things:
-Tween key... (as soon as you start doing breakdowns!) Gives you such a nice start on your inbetweens... (emphasis on start! you still have to go in and flesh them out! Dont be lazy on those inbetweens! You want to know how the character gets from one golden pose to the next!)
- there is a script done by cameron fielding from dreamworks who allows you to easily figure out your timing...
check it out here: http://fliponline.blogspot.com/2007/04/quick-trick-tap-your-timing.html
Its such a simple script but speeds you up a LOT... and you dont have to go into the dope sheet or graph editor and move keys around...
Just hit select all on your GUI Picker and then use the hotkey you gave it... so simple... so fast... try it! :-)

Another note at the end just to think about... mostly for acting shots i block in stepped to be fully focused on the poses but with copied pairs in my back head... so i put in copied keys even if you cant see they are there when you play in stepped... but you will see it as soon as you turn it into spline (or in my case plateau)

Thats my personal approach to this... i would really love to hear some comments, suggestions or other peoples approaches!

worth sharing...

2011-12-07T06:48:00.001-08:00

Break The Law of Silence from CRCR on Vimeo.

My Idol...

2011-12-05T09:04:00.000-08:00

Carlos is probably my biggest idol...
And here is another reason why...

At the end... when he starts talking about how he continues learning about animation... you can truly feel how much he loves animation just by looking at his eyes...

Pure inspiration!

and here we go again...

2011-12-02T20:12:00.000-08:00

Serkis gave another interview on his performances... and the emotions are cooking high again...

I think he deserves the credit. And they truly are HIS acting choices... in my opinion he deserved an oscar for Gollum... that was just freakin brilliant work! Period! I would be frustrated too, to not getting considered for an oscar just because i played in the wrong movie...

But he shouldnt play the animators work down as he does... it just seems like he doesnt really understand the process of an animator because hes not really interested in it...

And those people who wrote him hate mail are just jerks!
The animators community is based on accepting everyones opinion and growing together...
And im sure if serkis would take a deeper look in the creative process of us animators he wouldnt say stuff like that.

All that of course is only my humble opinion...

Impossible is nothing

2011-11-30T06:59:00.000-08:00

Stumbled upon this here today while browsing youtube for new animation dialogues... and remembered how motivational it was as i first saw it on tv...

All these legends together... and its true...

impossible is nothing!

Oh those gobelins show offs...

2011-11-28T08:39:00.000-08:00

If i could go back and choose a school to go to... i would go to gobelins. Even before calarts or AAU... Almost every piece ive seen coming from their students is awesome...

Like this short...
I love the mood so much...

The Night We Were Kings from Cube Creative on Vimeo.

My favourite parts - 7 - How to train your Dragon

2011-11-25T15:04:00.000-08:00

Wait what?! Yes i decided to write about other awesome film moments because there is more out there than just Pixar! :-) so my favourite non-Pixar movie is definitely HttyD.
To me this was the first time that Dreamworks catched up with Pixar in terms of story and animation. (Kung Fu Panda was close... but not quiet as awesome)
A very cool soundtrack and very cool characters did the rest. Also there are some amazing visuals like the one in the beginning when hickup walks up to his house with the blond teacher guy (sorry dont remember the name) the whole picture looks more like a painting than a scene from a movie... same for the scene in the end when stoic walks over to toothless who is lying on the ground... again... a painting not a scene from a movie... beautiful!
My first highlight, animation wise, for this film is the one that is cool for everyone... toothless... His character and also his moves specially in those sequences when the two get to know each other is just awesome... The combination of all the animals the animators have studied works so nicely together and some of the character stuff is simply hilarious.
And the scene when hickup holds up his hand and toothless puts his nose in the hand... that one is soooo beautifully subtile... no words needed...
Thats when the movie took a huge leap and didnt feel like animation anymore but like a big film.

The next thing that amazed me is Stoic. They really gave him so much depth... such a huge character... but how he holds hiccup there when he thanks toothless... thats another goosebump moment... and his character arc over the movie is definitely as big as hiccups. Maybe im so amazed by him because he reminded me of my own father. Its just so cool to feel that inside he loves his son but he is very insecure about how to deal with him because he doesnt understand why hiccup is doing all that stuff that seems unimportant or weird to him.
His beard is amazing!
And i love gerard butlers voice! :-)

Very beautiful movie!

My favourite parts - 6 - Nemo

2011-11-24T08:56:00.000-08:00

Stanton at its best...
He is an amazing storyteller, and nemo is such a complete film, you just have to love it.
The sondtrack is probably my favourite out of all Pixar films... and its filled with lots and lots of details.
Ive just recently bought the art of finding nemo and all the amazing drawings... specially simon varelas stuff is just stunning!
Its also one of the few movies that has a very good german version. Wich is also something pixar manages to do quiet well overall.

The part that stands out to me in particular for this movie is this here:

finally Nemo and Marlin are reunited.
But the very special thing about it was to see doug sweatland talk about it on the pixar story.
There you see how deep he thinks into the shot, the subtext, what every gesture means.
Doug is a genious anyways and this part shows how every animator should think...
I feel it brought my own work on a completely new level when i really started to think about the character, the subtext and really tried to figure out what every gesture will mean. That was one of these moments when it somehow clicked for me...

Geesh i love animation! :-)

My favourite parts - 5 - Wall-E

2011-11-22T13:42:00.000-08:00

Were getting to one of my all time favourites...
I just love the characters so much... i love the setting, the story... everything... the only thing i was a bit disappointed about was that the movie is a bit split into these two parts... its just some kind of bump more in the visual style that disappointed me because i was so amazed by that post human world... the axiom is much more cartoony... but anyways... the story is beautiful and as i mentioned... wall-e is my favourite pixar character of all time!
You have to know how to animate first to be able to give him that robotic moves but still give him sooooo much character...
The part that stood out to me the most... is probably the one that stood out to everyone the most...

beautiful...

:-) so full of detail... i love how the cockroach is walking up and down... looking at them... then going again... like in a hospital... so perfect... then... 2:29... how eve holds him in the moment she gives up hope...
and then the kiss...
ok first... i have never ever experienced something that was quiet as this moment at a theatre than on this movie... no one dared to breathe... dead silence... and then comes his questioning "evaa?" (im having goose bumps again) its just perfect...
And again... its not just the whole scene but how deep they go here... not all the new parts made him whole again... its that little kiss from eva... the love she feels when she kisses him goodbye... thats what truly revives him... awesome also because they established the strength of her kiss and the influence on him in the space/dance sequence where it overloads his system and lets it crash... but now that much energy/love was needed to revive his soul... awww... so beautiful...

btw... go to carlos baenas website to see what he did here... the broken wall-e is just awesome...

:-) i love writing about animation... :-)

My favourite parts - 4 - Up

2011-11-18T14:04:00.000-08:00

In preparation for this post i watched the intro sequence again and... well... watch it yourself first...

I really had to wipe a tear away... BEAUTIFUL! Amazing! And what a build up for a movie in the first 10minutes... oh i love it so much... thank god its friday... so i can watch it again this weekend...
This sequence makes me feel sooooo unworthy of even dreaming of working at pixar someday...

This film proves another thing... well actually pixar proved this much longer ago but this here is special i think...
It proves that they make films with such a depth that its definitely not just for kids anymore... the beautiful thing is that there is something for everyone... kids will love it because all the fun stuff like speaking dogs... a funny bird etc, but there is so much going on, on deeper levels that appeals to grown ups... im saying it again... pixar films are plain and simple... pieces of beautiful art.

But... im getting off topic (again).

The first thing that made me laugh out loud from excitement about the amazing animation is at 0:59 when carl places his hand on the arm of the chair and ellie grabs it... this moment... (oh my god im having goose bumps just by thinking of it again!) its so subtile... like its the most natural thing for them... perfect...

The whole sequence of course could be a short film in itself and is a masterpiece in every aspect (not just animation)

Next thing...

again... carls animation is just beautiful... how he rubs his eyes... how he gets up etc.
And there is that shot when he comes down the stairs in the "elevator"... (wich is storytelling wise also very very amazing... he got that elevator... and later in the film he is doing all this physical stuff... that elevater really shows how much he had forgotten to live...) in that shot, there are so many subtile moves... nothing forced, basically just overlap from the elevators movement... i just love that subtile stuff! :-)

There are lots of other things thats are very outstanding to me (as always) for example the scene when muntz kidnaps kevin and sets the house on fire... carl goes to extinguish the fire and russel accuses him not to care about kevin... the way carl turns around in his reaction... the lighting... that huge emotion in his face... thats another very very unique and incredibly strong moment.

I could go on and on again... but ill leave it for now :-)

My favourite parts - 3 - Incredibles

2011-11-18T12:54:00.000-08:00

To me visually this wasnt the most appealing pixar film, and in times where i didnt know anything about movie making or animation... i actually wasnt that impressed by it when i first saw it. But as i started studying animation, and watched it again... i realized how amazing this film is... the visual style (specially of the environment) still isnt that appealing to me, but the animation is just another milestone in animation history. I recently just watched it with the animators commentaries wich just opened another level of excitement about the film.
It has an amazing story and every character develops in its own special way... its just amazing how everything is worked out perfectly. And of course there is the world famous edna mode... wich just rocks the house! And knowing that brad bird did her voice just increases my admiration for him.
He is actually the only reason why i will go and watch ghost protocol... :-)

But to come back to my favourite parts in the film...
For this one its actually just two little parts that just show pixars greatness... i like elastigirl/helen a lot... she is so confident, but vulnerable on the other hand... and that elastic stuff must be awesome to animate... but apart from all the funky stuff they did with her, there are a few moments where they showed her "powers" in a more subtile way.

Timecode 2:29 and 2:50

Specially at 2:29 there is no awesome stretch going on, but her main pose is just perfect... and amazingly beautiful. Her SL leg is bent in that amazing arc wich as i mentioned shows her flexibility without showing it off because in that moment she has to act subtile so she doesnt get seen... thats the way to keep a character like her consistent.
Same at 2:50... ok there is much more S&S going on, but its so fast that its almost not visible... and the way she squishes when she lands is just pure animation awesomeness :-) again... you dont have to turn her into a parachute to jump down from the ceiling... she doesnt need that here... its just perfect (hehe i gotta search the dictionary, i guess im using a lot of superlatives over and over again) :-)

Thats it for Incredibles... to me this film is a real phenomenon... everytime i watch it, i see something new that amazes me... well this happens with every pixar film, but incredibles hits me off the chair everytime i see it.

My favourite parts - 2 - Toy Story 3

2011-11-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

Ok... I wasnt a huge fan of the toy story franchise... even though i remember how eager i was to see the first one all those years ago... but it was not until i saw TS3 that i really got amazed by it.
All the characters are so incredibly beautyful animated, and integrated into an amazing and much more complex story than i had expected... and with so much attention to detail and nice additions to the animation that was already established in the first two films.
Apart from all that, there were two things in this film that just cracked me up and really showed that animation (not just since TS3) has grown up.
The first scene i was amazed by is of course the reactor scene...
(dont get distracted by the title... it just cuts out earlier... but the actual footage im talking about is the same)

Beautiful... Pixar proves that there are no words needed (like the f.ex. cheesy stuff in Harry Potter 7.2) to show the moment when someone realizes he is going to die... the characters just look into each others eyes, hold hands and go into their end together... This moment is incredibly strong! Everything weve seen in all three movies comes up again...
accompanied by an amazing soundtrack this scene to me is movie history...

I also admire how they cut everything together... the chain starts and ends with the two leaders of the gang... the first who grabs someones hand is buzz... and the last one is woody... the one who always kept fighting the longest and always had to fight the hardest comes crawling back, ready to fight on... but this time his friends just look at him and tell him... let it be... this time he has to accept that there is no way out... and like a true leader... he sits in front of all others, his arms spread out protecting them till death... beautiful...
Hehe and then they of course get saved in a way only pixar can do it :-)
Love it :-)

The second thing that made me go overboard at the theatre was... of course... the world famous spanish buzz... I loved it so much that i felt bound to do a little hommage to carlos baena as i came on stage to get my AM diploma in summer 2010... (i wouldnt have done it if carlos himself wouldnt have been on stage of course) :-)

I cant point out anything that appeals to me in particular because these are the most complete piece of animation ive ever seen.
To me the special thing while watching it was, by knowing who did it (i know there are some credits to give to other animators who have worked on those pieces too... check out carlos' website to see which stuff he did), i could almost feel how much fun and joy carlos must have felt while animating it and how much of his heart and soul are conserved in it...
I guess its already pretty obvious and will become more clear when i move on, that carlos is one of my biggest idols... not just because his work is just breathtaking but also because he is such a natural and amazing person...

Again, there is much more stuff in this movie thats simply stunning but these two things stood out the most for me.

Hehe... i really have to go home... recalling all those moments makes me want to work on my own stuff :-)

My Favourite parts - 1 - Ratatouille

2011-11-17T08:54:00.000-08:00

Ok starting off here...
In this movie there are so many amazing parts that its really hard to say what stands out in particular.
But to me the whole skinner character is the highlight...
For example in this sequence here (sorry no sound but maybe its even better like that):

Its amazing how much detail is in the animation... i love how he grabs and pulls linguini at sec 14, then we only see his hat at sec 31 but thats all we need to see... his hat bumping around and everyone can imagine whats going on... he is so into his own rant that he misses that the "bad juju" guy is getting the soup.
And then my idol carlos baena comes into play :-) sec 51... need i say anything more? Its just pure facial animation awesomeness... sec 56... What a pose... 1:00 that detail how he pushes himself up on his tiptoes... so he can see through the window (wich is so nice working together with the following shot) thats just... aaaaah... stuff like that is what makes animation great... its not just puppets moving... its art...
The next part of the sequence is also really amazing because it reveals another part of skinners bad character and how very insecure he is on the inside... how he points at linguini in a its not my fault matter at 1:18... and then straightens himself up... suddenly not as pompuous and superior as before... tiny steps... a straight walk and a face wich just shows how dead scared he is inside but tries to act as calm as possible... great great great stuff!

There is another scene when skinner reads the letter from linguinis mother... I couldnt find the clip online (and maybe its even better like that... so people will actually buy the dvd) but im sure if youve seen the movie you know what scene im talking about.
We had a lecture about this whole sequence at Animation Mentor... and it just cracks me up again every time im watching it... its just amazing to see exactly whats going on in skinners mind just by seeing his eyes dart around and his frown getting bigger. Great great stuff...

Ratatouille is one of my favourite Pixar films ever... I simply love it... It looks beautiful, the animation is of course over the top... but also the story... i love the story... Brad Bird is a genious!

Thanks... next film might follow soon :-)

I got inspired...

2011-11-17T06:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the new Brave Trailer came out...
At first i didnt want to see it because ive become very careful with watching trailers since despicable me... just because i dont want the first 20min of the movie spoiled by the trailer...
But after the whole office talking about it and mails going back and forth i just had to watch it... and ended up forgetting everything around me and going through it frame by frame...
And after that the day couldnt end fast enough so i could go home and implement some of the stuff ive seen into my own work.
There is one thing i noticed in it wich just cracked me up... they hid a small but AWESOME hommage to Beauty and the Beast in it... (or at least i think it is one) :-)
Know what im talking about?

I love stuff like that...
And because the trailer inspired me so much, im gonna post some of my favourite moments from pixar films in the next few days... just to add a little nerdyness to this blog :-)

until then...
To infinity... and beyoooooond! :-)

I was hoping for this... rebuttal for the dark knight chase sequence

2011-11-10T08:03:00.000-08:00

http://josephkahn.blogspot.com/2011/09/analyzing-action.html

Someone puts that chase sequence from the dark knight in a better light.
Another incredible learning experience just by readingit.
Unfortunately he gets a bit rude from time to time... but what ever... its a nice rebuttal to the original also very negative video.

my first workflow tip... keeping the "feel" of your blocking

2011-10-22T19:10:00.000-07:00

Ok fist off... after animating professionally for only 4 months i feel not the slightest qualified to teach others how to animate, but on one of my last acting shots i did in my spare time, i started doing something i never have heard from mentors or someone else, and id like to share this because to me it works pretty well.

Im talking about that well known moment when you come out of blocking in stepped and turn your awesome looking piece of animation into spline (or in my case plateau).

Suddenly everything looks funky, floaty and completely terrible... i used to go back and set more breakdowns but i dont think thats very efficient. Dont get me wrong, i dont get out of blocking without the feeling i have set enough keys to define all my transitions and all the key movements, wich is usually when i have a key on every 4th - 5th frame.

But then it still looks terrible sometimes. So what i did on my last shot was simply, keep a playblast of my awesome looking blocking and have it open during my first few passes of splining. And constantly go over it an check if my animation still feels the same as my blocking. I found this extremely helpful and it was one of these moments where i wondered why i hadnt done this earlier.

I dont know if everyone else does this but no one thinks its worth mentioning but i find this a nice little trick to hold on to if you feel lost when your splines go crazy :-)

Cheers
Luke

The Dark Knight in the cut, Part 1

2011-10-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

I actually ama big Fan of Nolan and also the Dark Knight, but this video showed me that awesome (and successful) movies not necessarily have to be great in every aspect. I just keep asking myself if Nolan maybe intended to confuse by breaking the rules of editing or if its really done pretty sloppy.
Since i just started Production for my first own short film, these 20min were a HUGE learning experience.

In the Cut, Part I: Shots in the Dark (Knight) from Jim Emerson on Vimeo.

Demoreel inspiration

2011-10-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

On the look out for some new ideas for shots i looked at the reels of a few people who have done AAU and there is some FREAKIN AWESOME Stuff.
If you need some inspiration look at these People:

Lisa Allen

Joshua Slice

Chutinart Warunyuwong

Shaofu Zhang

Louaye Moulayess

Stefan Schumacher

(Swiss guy btw! And furthermore, his site is in my opinion a sample for the perfect portfolio page)

Inspiration through people

2011-10-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

Theres another thing thats currently happening to me id like to write about.

A few weeks ago i saw a character design done by one of our matte painters... and i liked it a lot.
As i was on the threadmill at the gym this character came back to my mind and i thought about creating a story around that character... later that evening on the bus i had a basic idea for an adventure for this character... not a whole story... just the beginning... a setup :-)
I had nothing more for several weeks... but then suddenly (on the bus again) it came to me like a flash... i typed everything down on my phone because i didnt want to loose it and had nothing else to write on me. I almost missed my stop because i was so into it.
I pitched it to my workmate and he liked it... but not just him... everyone at work liked it... another guy (actually my cg supervisor) was totally eager to realize it as well...
So we decided to make that movie :-)

That was probably 3 weeks ago... since then ive drawn out rough storyboards, and developed the story to a really cool point. There are still some gaps, but it will come along... because... and thats what im actually talking about...

We are talking about it a lot... and everyone has great ideas... were also defining the look and feel of the world and of course the character needs some work...
This is so incredibly inspiring... both guys have so much knowledge in how to realize such a project and totally support me in realizing my story idea...
Ive never experienced something like that before... im full of energy, wich i can use not just for that short, but also for the other ideas i have... today i was awake 1hour too early... i dont know why... but instead of turning around and do the lazy thing... i got up and worked on another shot i really love and wich will hopefully be finished till end october...

To come to the point... talking to people who are as passionate as myself about our art, and work together to create something special... thats just... hard to describe... its just one of the best experiences ive ever made in my life, and i wish to everyone that you can make this experience yourself...

am i getting a bit emotional recently? ;-)

Fate... or Destiny?

2011-09-29T15:40:00.000-07:00

And now there is another thing that i wanted to share here.
Some people might say im just too deep into all that mythological stuff and that its all just not proven, but im making one experience OVER and OVER again... what im talking about is fate...
I truly believe that fate will guide me into the right direction and open every door for me... as long as i manage to step through myself.

One example wich i realized long long after it actually happened.
I was Extremely engaged in the swiss national karate team... i loved karate (i still love it btw) i had some talent, but would probably never have made it to european or worlds top... but i was sooo extremely focused on that goal and i believed that i can do it if i just work hard enough... i wasnt listening to anyone who was saying im trying too hard... sacrificed a lot that i regret now...
And then it happened... i fought at the swiss championships in 2008... i was in the shape of my life and in my first fight my opponent was none other than the 10 times swiss champion... i had fought him many times before but never had a chance... but this time we were equals... who knows where it would have led me if i would have won that fight... but in that very moment fate changed my life for the first time...
In a very unlucky action and without any bad intent from anyone, i ripped my crucial ligament in my left knee... as he tried to throw me on the mats...
I tried to go on, but it just wasnt possible...
Result: Surgery, Physiotherapy and build up from scratch...
Because of that big break in my life... i had to find something else to focus on while i had to stand low on sports...
i decided to start a new education called...

Animation Mentor...

Wich let me discover my pure LOVE for Animation and brought me to the point im at right now...

In these 3 Years i started to realize if you dont always try to reach your goals straight and without looking left and right... you live a much more relaxed and pleasant life. You finally have time to see the beauty of life... and everything that goes on around you.
Dont get me wrong... i worked hard and im still working hard to reach my goals... but im not trying to force anything... i trust that if the time is right, and its the right way for me, and i always work hard... fate will show me the door..
So far it never has ditched me...on travels when i felt lost... with hard decisions... and just today... i thought it would be the worst day since im here in toronto... and it really was a BAD day at first... but then... out of a sudden and soooo totally unexpected, something happens... coming from someone you would never have expected it... opens up a new door... and makes this day just beautiful...

i will step through that door... and im looking forward whats expecting me on the other side.

I hope i could communicate in my terrible english what i mean because this really has become a life philosophy to me and i would be so happy if i could inspire someone with it...

so true!

2011-09-29T15:14:00.001-07:00

http://spungella.blogspot.com/2011/09/seriously.html

Cant tell how much i agree with what JD is writing there!
Thats why i had to bring one box more to Canada... i had just have too many DVDs... :-)

Animation with a moustache

2011-09-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

My buddy Olivier Ladeuix is currently doing the Animation Collaborative Workshop over at Emeryville... Sounds like its a really cool thing (as expected... regarding who created it) Head over to his Blog to see his Progress on his cool and original shot idea...

also check out the Anim-C Homepage... they are constantly adding new courses...

I want one too...

2011-09-20T07:33:00.001-07:00

AT-AT day afternoon from Patrick Boivin on Vimeo.

If you dont like to listen to music while animating...

2011-08-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

Mixed Music

2011-06-08T20:59:00.000-07:00

Discovered this one yesterday.
12 Tracks mixed together from various songs...
And the coolest thing... it shows you the name of every song that gets mixed in, and i guess you can even download it.

Really cool stuff!

Check it out

I wanna be an Astronaut

2011-05-22T22:43:00.000-07:00

Thats what i used to say when i was asked what i want to become when i was a child.
It turned out that im not smart enough for that... but im pretty happy with the path im taking right now...

But what i find really exciting is that we can actually be part of every NASA Mission... live!
Head over to NASA TV and check it out...

Specially the Shuttle Launches are amazing... but also all the other stuff like the space walks provide such a deep look inside how they work.

Definitely worth checking out! :-)
There is actually only one last Shuttle Launch left before they have to stop the program due to a smaller budget.

Good morning Toronto...

2011-05-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

Ive finally started working here in Toronto... Nothing more to say about that :-)

And since Firefox has all those new cool features, i also changed the Layout of the Blog :-)
Hope everone likes it... if anyone sees it at all :-)

And to start i wanted to post something i found on Bobby Becks Blog... Awesome Stuff about ILM!
Check it out

Oh and of course i will adjust the header as soon as possible :-)

Animation Mentor Newsletter

2011-04-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

Animation Mentor Newsletter

Just wanted to share that one cause Rick is just Awesome! And what he sais is awesome too... obviously :-)

Oscar Night

2011-02-19T04:43:00.000-08:00

The Oscars are just around the corner... and this is a very special oscar year!

Its not just the year of How to train your dragon... and with that Simon Otto as head of character animation. (He is from switzerland by the way) :-)

No, its also the year of The Gruffalo... in wich 7 of 10 animators are Animation Mentor Alumni... this is amazingly awesome :-) and shows what a great school AM really is, and that besids all the amazing people in this huge community... they really know how to teach animation :-)

So... go Toothless and go Gruffalo! Im keeping my fingers crossed for you!

waiting...

2011-01-11T01:21:00.000-08:00

Nobody said it was easy... no one ever said it would be so hard...

Even Coldplay already said it, and now i feel exactly like that...
Pixomondo is not ready with preparations in Toronto, wich means... i have to wait...
New starting date: 1. May... hopefully this is the last time they postpone it...

Cheeers and out

Thomas Grummt is going to Dreamworks!!!

2010-11-24T14:05:00.000-08:00

Its incredibly awesome! Another AMer at Dreamworks!
Thomas Grummt will start working on his first project next week...
This is so inspiring and motivating... i wish him all the best... and im sure he will prove that AMers are the best Animators in the world :-)

Check out his Reel...

Thomas Grummt Animation Reel 2010 from Thomas Grummt on Vimeo.

Jeffs WETA-Blog

2010-11-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

Jeffrey Engel... one of the coolest AMers ive ever met has started a new blog about his adventures in New Zealand...

Really worth reading... keeps you motivated if you dont know what you are working for :-)

David Martinez - Chronicles of an animator

2010-11-04T03:17:00.000-07:00

This is one of the best Blogs i found on the net...
David is a fellow AM Alumni and posts so many great articles that it gets pretty hard to keep track of everything hes posting :-)

But there is a lot of amazing and inspirational Stuff on it!
Check it out here

Cheers
Luke

Goodbye Switzerland

2010-11-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone... currently im working hard on my demoreel, and actually i wanted to book some flights for next summer to go to Siggraph etc.

But now... i have to change a lot...

I got hired by Pixomondo to do a 6-12 Month Traineeship as Animator and Generalist at their brand new studio in Toronto.

This is like Christmas and Birthday together... its such a big chance to get the foot in the door... im still a bit speechless because i totally didnt expect to get hired that soon after graduation.

So... wish me luck fellas! And i hope to see some of you soon :-)

Summer Program

2010-10-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

Im thinking about doing a summer course in 2011...

This one sounds awesome:
http://www.gobelins.fr/~summerschool/en/

but this one too (and i could stay after the course to attend Siggraph):
http://www.vanarts.com/courses/character-animation-intensive

wich one would YOU choose?

The unseen sea

2010-09-20T02:49:00.000-07:00

Seems like im a big fan of Simons work huh?
But what should i say... its just amazing what he did here

The unseen sea

Nothing more to say...

Simon Christen... one of the few swiss Pioneers...

2010-08-23T03:21:00.000-07:00

Its just amazing to see what Simon is doing over there at Pixar.
Its even more amazing because its maybe 3 weeks ago since i was there... at Pixar, walking around with Simon, Thiago and Yann, driving with a scooter through the animation department and having such a BLAST that it almost seems surreal to me now.

And now there is this interview... amazing to know the person behind these lines and to know how passionate he is about this amazing art form/craft...

Go and read the interview

Thanks to you Simon and Jess (and of course cody and zoe) for being amazing hosts, and showing us your world...
it was amazingly inspiring! :-)

Pixar vs. Dreamworks

2010-08-13T02:04:00.000-07:00

Simon Christen showed me that clip and i just laughed my ass off...

Buzz and Woody joking about Dreamworks

But just to mention it before someone feels offended:
I really respect Dreamworks and i really loved How to train your Dragon.
That one was the first movie that was a real movie with Heart and showed, that Dreamworks is more than on the right track. If they go on on this path they will definitely be on the same level as Pixar in near future. (Maybe they even are already!)
If you look back to some dreamworks movies, its obvious that they had to do a long way to come to that level... every studio writes his own history (of course not everyone can have such a cool one as Pixar) and its great to see how the whole industry is growing and evolving...

To say it short: I dont want to offend anyone and i respect everyone in the industry, but this video was too funny not to be posted :-) Not more... and not less... :-)

Thanks

Lighting for Pros

2010-08-11T23:23:00.000-07:00

Found that one on CG-Society... amazing stuff!!
First check out the Pictures...
studio-aiko.com/temp/classroom/classroom_daylight.html

Not every version is as good as the daylight version, but overall i love all thos little details, and that flashlight one is totally amazing... isnt it?

and then there is also a Making of:

I really love this stuff!

Back...

2010-08-06T17:44:00.000-07:00

Ok...
Im Back from my trip and will switch back to english now...
Just to mention it, im officially a AM Alumni.
Getting my diploma from Shawn Kelly was just Amazing!
The whole Graduation Ceremony was Amazing!
The People were Amazing!

It was just AMAAAAAZING!

Thank you
Specially to Simon and Jess Christen wo opened their home and hearts for me and my 2 buddys although they didnt know us very well...
Thanks to Svetla, Dee, Thiago, Yann, Jason, Jean-Luc (and GF), Timo, Matt and all the others... it was so cool to meet you guys!

Of course special Thanks to Bobby, Shawn and Carlos... You guys changed my life... seriously!

Ok... lets get back to work...

cheers

JFK

2010-08-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

So jetz hocki also do... am JFK... a dem Platz wo alles agfange hed...
Zerscht muesi no öppis nochehole... Ei post hani nie chönne ufelade... es isch dä woni gschribe ha während de Fahrt vo LA uf San Francisco...
Zum JFK chomi spöter zrugg :-)

odeli
Dasmol schribi ned vomene Flughafe us oder eme Hotelzimmer oder so... nei, i dem momänt hocki im auto ufem Bifahrersitz während mer richtig san francisco fahrid wo uf mich und zwe Kollege de allmonatlichi Pixar-Interni "Friday Beer Bash" wartet.
Aber zu dem chomi spöter zrugg...

Fömer a woni s letschte mol ufghört ha... Ft Lauderdale... S umstige isch perfekt glaufe... wär sogar fascht no is falsche flugzüg igstige weli so früe am gate gsi be :-)
De Aflug uf Vegas isch eifach atemberaubend gsi... mer sind genau quer zum Strip glandet und wenn me das no i de Nacht macht gsed das eifach genial us! Isch es cools gfühl gsi noch 2 Johr weder det z si... isch schliesslich die erst Stadt wo mer vor 2 Johr uf üsem Road Trip scho gmacht hend.
de tag döre öppe 42° gsi... ke chance witer als 2 meter z laufe ohni sofort afo z schwitze... und im zimmer isch d Air Con natürlich vollgas glaufe... ha sit här Schluckweh... huere kack!
Woni is Zimmer cho be sind det zwe lüt gsi... e Russ, und e Sturzbsoffne Ängländer... läck... dä siech hed au möge uselo... und je spöter dases worde isch desto bsoffner ischer worde... am schluss heder nur no im delirium unverständlichs züg glallet... amüsant :-)
Ich ha mi i dere Nacht nöm uf d Socke gmacht, be doch chli gschafft gsi noch Miami...

Am nöchste Tag ufsto... badhose a, und zerscht mol öppis go z ässe hole... chome zu de töre us und ha ganz ehrlich grad zerscht mol weder e schritt retour gmacht... wenn me useme 18° Zimmer use i 42° ine lauft hauts eim fascht vom hocker...
Ha mi de doch öberwunde zum 7eleven z laufe und spaghetti und sauce z hole...
Woni so glaufe be hani erst realisiert i was förnere Abgfuckte gägend das Hostel lid... Sehr vel Homeless, Wärbigsschilder för Restaurants oder Gschäft wo scho lang gschlosse sind, Lüt wo eim abättlid... immer mit de gliche Story... mis auto isch ligge blibe... hesch mer chli gäld zum go sprit hole...
Ha mi dör alles döre kämpft und be völlig verschwitzt weder zrugg is hostel cho woni de mini Spaghetti kochet ha...

Nochär a pool... chli bädelet, ball gspielt mit es paar dütsche und franzose... dusse chli mit eme andere russ und zwe andere franzose is gspröch cho... de laufid zwe rächt härzigi ladys dör s pool areal...
Ha vo afang a dänkt... läck die könnsch irgendwo här...
Aber isch z schnell gange zum sicher si...
Chli spöter isch de die eint (die härziger) weder zrugg cho und fod mit ere andere afo schwizerdütsch rede... i dem momänt heds mer de ändgöltig klick gmacht...
För die wo si könnid... d Stephi Murer und Michaela Frutiger :-)
So trifft me sich weder... :-)
Ha die zwöi de chönne öberrede, das sie mit üs am obe i usgang chömid... E Limo-Tour vom Hostel us isch ufem Programm gstande.
Und es isch ganz e geili sach gsi :-)
Jede hed e Fläsche Schämpis öbercho und mer sind mit ere riese Limo 1h lang de strip entlang gfahre, hend bilder vorem las vegas sign gmacht und sind de i 2 clubs im Mandalay Bay... e riiiiese Ussicht uf de Strip! Genial gsi!
Aber am gliche obe hed mi die cool Stadt doch no enttüscht... 03.30 isch d musig lisliger worde und d liechter sind agange... has fascht ned chönne glaube... anschinend machid die Clubs tatsächlich am 4i zue... chas ja ned siiiiiii!!!
Weni dra dänke wie lang mer vor zwöi johr am Silvester gmacht hend läck du mir...
Au uf de Strasse isch meistens so ab 02.00 nüd me los gsi... Und de hani no dä eint russ vom pool am hals gha... läck... hed scho d Stephi und Michaela hässig gmacht weler so ahänglich gsi isch, und au mir ischer fascht bis is Zimmer noche glaufe... uuuuund gschnorret heder wie es Buech... d hälfti hani ned verstande... und verzeeellt vo dem meitschi woner so gärn hed... und Bilder zeigt vo Partys... und und und... au weni gseid ha dasi jetz eigentlich wett go schlofe, oder öb mer ächt jetz ändlich chöigid los go... nöööö... nüd... eis letschts bild heds immer no müesse si...

Komplettiert isch die famosi Truppe vomene 29 jährige Holländer worde...
Au dä hed vel z verzelle gha... Vor allem öber sini diverse Sexuelle Abentür... eine meh... häiäiäi... aber ich glaube dä hed ned nur verzellt... am letschte obe ischer also au mit einere abdampfet... na ja... wenigstens hani mit dene zwe damene glück gha... isch ächt schön gsi wedermol normal mit öppertem chönne z rede...

Und denn ischs au scho witers gange uf Los Angeles...
Ha mi gäg de Greyhound und för ne Flug entschiede... hed mi eifach agschisse 7h ine Bus ine z hocke...

Am Nomitag am 3 beni de im hostel gsi... und scho gli hani de eint Co-Student us Frankrich troffe gha... De Yann... glaubs ganz ganz e liebe Typ :-) aber... ich ha gmeint ICH sig liecht usem konzept z bringe und es ständigs närvebündel... aber dä franzos... dä schlod alles... also ich ha immer gwösst wie lang das mer no irgend wo äne bruchid, und i weli strass das mer als nöchsts abbiegid uuuund so witers... und wenn mol öppis schief glaufe isch... goood christ... aber wie gseid... e liebe cheib, und genau so passionierte animator wie ich :)

Mer sind de am gliche obe no a d Kickoff Party in Hollywood... So cool gsi, alli die Lüt wo me nur öber d Webcam gse hed, ändlich mol live z gse :-) Und natürlich hend au d Animations-Stars ned gfählt... Gänd mol Näme wie Aaron Hartline, Michael Mackarevitz, Carlos Baena oder Bobby Beck i Google i oder gönd uf IMDB go luege...
Amazing!!

Am Zischtig ischs de witers gange... Es riese Programm hed uf üs gwartet... Zerscht 1h Busfahrt vo Santa Monica nach Downtown is Convention Center... Breakfast Coffee wo sich alli AM Lüt troffe hend und denn witers... Usstelligshalle mit Ständ vo allne grosse Firmene i de VFX-Industrie... u.a. au Pixar oder Blue Sky (Ice Age)
Nochär simer ane 2h Vortrag gange und das isch 1 vo 2 absolute Highlights gsi...
5 Animationslegände hend ihri lieblingsshots us aktuelle Filme usenand gno und vo Afang bis Ändi verzellt wie si gschaffet hend, was d Problem gsi sind etc. Gönd mol de Eric Goldberg go google... Nur so zum säge... dä isch de Animator vom Dschinni in Aladdin gsi... mues me no meh säge? :-)
Gipflet hed das denn im "Spanish Buzz" Shot us Toy Story 3... Die Szene isch ja eifach scho zum luege genial, aber wenn me denn gsed wie si stück für stück zämebaut worde isch... isch genial gsi...

Ok fertig gfachsimplet, es hed no Demoree-Reviews gä...
Ha mis Demoreel z.B. imne Disney Animator chönne zeige und Aregige, Kritik und Kommentär dezue öbercho...
Veli technischi Vorträg...
Job-Fair... woni weder jede Menge Kontakte ha chönne knüpfe, und natürlich sehr vel Fachsimple mit Schuelkollege...
Geniali 2 Täg gsi...
Am Donnstig simmer de no chli z Santa Monica go shoppe... ha u.a. 7 Abercrombie Parfum und au no anderi Gschänkli mitgno... Am Nomitag simmer go Despicable Me luege... und am obe Toy Story 3... beides geniali Filme... und alles in allem e geniale Ufenthalt... :-)

Hött morge hemmer üs de welle träffe zum mitem Auto uf de Route No1 nach San Francisco z fahre...
Leider heds mit üsere Kommunikation anschinend chli ghaperet... Also iiiiiich ha gmeint, mer heigid am 06.50 bi üs im Hostel abgmacht... aber de erscht isch scho am 6i itrudlet... hed müesse ewig uf mich warte, und de zwöit hed verpennt und mer hend nomol 50min uf ihn gwartet... denn simmer de am 8i doch no irgendwie rächtzitig a de Auto Vermietstell acho... leider hed de letscht im Bunde en Unfall gha... sine Bus isch ine Zug ine gfahre und är isch 1h und 50min z spot cho... hihi... anstatt am 8i simmer de halt am 10ni abgfahre...

leider chömer drum jetz ned d Route No1 nä...
Ich be vo mim Kolleg bi Pixar hött obe a scho erwähnti "Monthly Pixar Beer Bash" iglade worde... Mer chömid warschinlich so oder so z spot... aber deför gömer de hött obe no "Dinner for the Schmucks" go luege... aber ned irgendwo... im Pixar interne Kino :-) mit luter Pixar lüt... und ich cha sogar no 2 Kollege mitnä und somit dene e riese Fröid mache... So stressig wie dä tag au agfange hed... so genial wird er jetz ände :-)

Jupiduu und trullalla... morn obe stod de d Graduation Zeremonie mit anschliessender Party ufem Programm :-) und am Sonntig de s BBQ vo de Schuel... mit ungfähr 500 Lüt :-)

Und gli chomi hei... ha mi entschiede die letscht Nacht z New York z verbringe... de hani am 4. ke Stress und be usserdem no a mim momentane Lieblingsplatz uf dere Wält... Das isch de perfekt Abschluss... :-)

Fröie mi au riiiiiiiiiesig üch alli deheime weder z gse... Alli wedermol z knuddle... und weder a d Arbeit z go... s gid vel z tue und ich be voll ufglade mit Inspiration und Power... Lets go!!! :-)

So!

Und jetz hocki also do am JFK... Zwe Pixar bsüech, jede menge "Nerd-gspröch" und ei churze Abstächer nach Manhattan spöter...

E geniali zit... wo i dere Reis no s Krönli ufgsetzt hed...

Fröie mi uf hei, aber lo alli die geniale lüt und guete Frönde woni do gfunde ha nur mit ganz schwärem härze zrugg...

Also bis gl...

Hed öpper lust mich z zöri cho abhole? :-)

Next airport, next entry

2010-07-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

Sodeli... daaasmol hocki z ft. lauderdale am flughafe und warte ufe flüger wo mi zerscht uf Nashville und denn uf Vegas sell bringe... hoffe das klappet... 40min zum umstiige... das erinneret mi chli a flug vor 2 johr wo de jöne und ich z washington gstrandet sind... hoffe mer jetz eifach mol das dä cheib ke verspötig hed...

Jajaaaa... aber zerscht jetz mol zrugg luege... 8 täg Florida... Orlando... chillig... und extrem idrücklich im kennedy space center... wow... z gse wo die Mondmissione gstartet sind, oder wo die aktuelle ächte teili för d ISS gmacht wärdid... sehr sehr idrücklich und vor allem ned so touristisch wie alles andere do i de USA... die leggid wörkli no wärt druf das me öppis lehrt und mit uf de wäg öberchond...

Drum beni au ned is Disney, Universal oder Sea World... die huere Touri-Kacke hani mer eleige ned welle atue...
Sowieso frogi mi mängisch scho öber teil sache wo das Ami-Volk do macht... sie sind zwar offe und wissbegierig und gastfründlich und und und... aber uf de andere site daf me uf de Stross kei alkohol "offe" trinke... aber wenn d fläsche inere tüte inne isch und me ned gsed wases isch... de isch alles keis problem...
oder es anders Bispiel... Jede Könnt de Song "Sexy Bitch" vom David Guetta oder? Also do äne heisst dä "Sexy Chic" wel me anschinend Bitch im Radio ned daf säge :-) no geiler findi, das i de einte ziile wos heisst "...nothing you can compare to your neigbourhood hoe...(oder whore... wie au immer)" isch das hoe unterdrückt... Das find ich unglaublich und god us minere sicht z wit imene land wo vore döre d meinigsfreiheit so gross gschribe wird...

Jaja... aber so ischs halt... Das Land der Gegensätze wirds ja au gnennt... und geil findis trotzdem :-)

Witers im text...
Uuund jetz beni immerno voll im Strudel vo Miami... oder eigentlich ja Miami Beach... Läck du mir am tschöpli... die wo chli SMS kontakt mit mir gha hend wössid wies do abgange isch...
Eigentlich hani do ned welle öber schöni Fraue oder Nachtläbe schribe... aber Cheeeeeeeses! Gods do ab... S Hostel isch de Hammer gsi... Eifach 50% dütschi, was mim änglisch rächt gschadet hed, aber deför au sehr vel hammercooli Australier und Schwede... hihi Jede obe organisierti Trips zu bekannte clubs oder eifach geile Bars...
Be no keni 2h do gsi, de hend scho es paar e trip a strand gmacht zum de Geburi vonere Französin z fiire... beni halt au mit gange :-) am morge am 2 hends üs de vom Strand vertribe... geile afang...

Denn zwe öbe ide clubs... "Louis" und "Mansion" Clubs sind ja ned so speziell gsi... aber ebe... wie gseid... ich mueses glich säge... Läck du mir hed das Katze gha! Iiiiiiincredible!!! Was a dene öbe und au am letschte obe i irgend ere Bar abgange isch... (wo öbrigens geiler gsi isch als jede no so geil Club i de Schwiz) das hani no sälte erläbt...

So fertig party... Sightseeing hani natürlich au gmacht...
Key West... geil... chillig... 3h Autofahrt ab Miami... Sind de ganz tag omeglaufe... asträngend gsi... aber cool...

Everglades... au sehr idrücklich... und grad i zite vom BP-Ölteppich sehr sehr interessant...
Ha i es paar T-Shirt stores "Fuck BP" Shirts und ähnlichs gse...
Und wenn mer scho det gsi sind hemmer zum Abschluss au grad no e Portion Krokodil-Schwanz-Nuggets gno :-)

Isch öbrigens au no spannend, ha grad hött mitem Busfahrer e churzi Diskussion öber de Obama gha... Anschinend isch dä do i de USA de öberhaupt nöm so beliebt wie am afang... miech zwenig und schlimi sich zfescht bim Usland i... Spannend spannend...

So... zrugg zum Sightseeing... Am Strand beni natürlich au gsi... Türkisblaus wasser und jede menge Bikinis... ... ou sorry... ha doch nomol müesse zu dem zrugg cho :-)
Gester beni am obe es stündli a strand go jogge... Trotz de enorme Hitz ischs extrem geil gsi, das a somene Spot z mache... Wird also nur no vo mim Jogging-Adventure im Death Valley öbertroffe :-)
Vo de Stadt Miami sälber hani leider ned so vel gse... mues irgendwenn weder zrugg uf Florida cho und alles no chli gnauer aluege...

Jaja... und hött hani weder müesse abschied nä... einisch meh ischs mer schwär gfalle wäg z go vo all dene geniale lüt und mini Reis eleige fortzsetze... Aber anderersits ischs doch so geil, alli die Emotione z erläbe... d Fröid mit dene Lüt zäme z si, a es paar vo de geilste Plätz vo dere Wält, und au die andere... halt negative emotione wenn me witers mues... probiere ächt alles ufzsuuge und z konserviere... Die reis isch warschinlich s geilste und beschte und schönschte und atemberaubendschte woni je gmacht ha...

Jepp... und jetz gods ab uf vegas... "zum glück" nur zwe nächt... bruche nochär wedermol chli e Usgangs-Pause...

Sodeli... das isch gnueg för de moment... lade de z vegas no es paar föteli vo gester obe ufe... d Schwede hends eifach zu bunt tribe... das mues veröffentlicht wärde :-) und wenis scho ned uf Facebook ufelade, tuenis wenigstens do ine :-)

Also hey... hebids guet deheime, kämpfid üch dur de räge (öbers glaubid oder ned, das ha ich hött au müesse) und dänkid zwöschedöre a mi :-)

ah und no es special grüessli a Renzo wo hoffentlich nöm am Flughafe im Starbucks hocket ;-)

Peace out!
Luke

Nachtrag

2010-07-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

Also ha das jetz eifach no schnell müesse schribe...
Ich be do z Orlando... es isch FUCKING HEISS! Und total Schräg... ich ha das Hostel gno wels do i de Umgäbig öppe s einzige isch wo sich Hostel nennt... aber eigentlich ischs meh es Motel... es vollkomme schrägs Motel... Läck hed daaas schrägi Lüt do...

Unter mim Bett isch no e Unterhose vo irgend eim gläge... De Strand isch eher e Sumpf... s Gebäude mit de Recepcion isch eher e Hütte wo ane Surf Shop irgendwo uf de Maledive erinneret... De Chef do isch de Aaron Paquette... e Asiat wo hött 3 mol s T-Shirt gwächslet hed (aber erscht am obe... wos eigentlich nöm so heiss isch)... woner (höchstpersönlich) isch cho de Zimmerservice mache ischer zerscht mol mitem Duftspray ine cho und hed alli näschter vorsorglich schön deftig ignäblet... :-)
Aber was wotti au erwarte för 19$ pro Nacht :-)

Die Lüt wo do sind... hend wörkli das Klischee-Bild vo de Schwiz woni dänkt ha dases niemer me hed... "aaah nice watches!" oder "ooooh Swiss Bancs" oder "swiss cheese!" Mann... und de Taxifahrer wo mi do äne gfahre hed... hahaha Das isch jetz scho de zwöit Typ gsi wo mer sini Sex-Abentür-Stories hed welle verzelle... (De letscht isch e bsoffne Bolivianer usem Hostel z NY gsi) "Once i hooked up with that chick... and we fucked the whole night long... it was so good... blah blah blah" Läck du mir! Gseni so us wie mi das wörd interessiere?

Wie erwartet... alles was noch New York chond isch halt eifach irgendwie ned guet gnueg :-)

ha grad entschiede dasi morn is Kennedy Space Center gone und denn de Sonntig im Pool verbringe... do gfindi garantiert niemert woni wörd zäme is Disneyworld oder Universal go... und eleige z go schisst mi a... hihi au guet... beni ömu richtig usgruet för Miami und Vegas :-)

So... guet nacht :-)

Durchatmen

2010-07-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

Hallöle zusammen

Isch irgendwie bezeichnend dasi erscht do z Orlando weder zit gfinde zum de Blog update...

Läck isch das e intensivi zit gsi z New York... Weis gar nöm wo dasi ufghört ha, aber zämefassend chani säge, dasi no nie amne bessere Ort gsi be uf dere Kugele...

Die Stadt isch eifach unglaublich... Und ich ha soooo vel cooli Lüt troffe... E gruppe vo Franzose wo warschinlich jedes Trinkspiel uf dere Wält könnt... Pole, Dütschi, Brasilianer, Australier, Ängländer, Japander, Chinese, Neuseeländer und so witer und so fort... und natürlich sind au d New Yorker Lüt eifach genial... Egal wo me äne chond... die meiste sind sehr hilfsbereit, interessiert und "open minded"...

Lo jetz eifach d Bilder lo spräche...

Das isch e Skulptur wo zwösche de beide WTC-Towers gstande isch... irgendwie hed sie meh oder weniger öberläbt... stod jetz ganz zunterscht im Battery Park als Denkmal... Am Ground Zero sinds scho weder mächtig am baue... i öppe 5 Johr sell s nöie Gebäude fertig si...

Samstig @Pacha... Läck... ha jetz no s pfiffe i de ohre :-)

Chill out am Sonntig uf de Terrasse im 2. Stock... zerscht simmer 9 Lüt gsi... am schluss öppe 20... Hend probiert alli nationalhymne vo de awäsende Lüt z singe... hed ned ganz klappet... aber deför sur le pont d avignon... und so witer :-)

Ufem Dach vom Rockefeller Center...
Das isch die erst Station gsi vomene Marathon Tag... be insgesamt öppe 7h glaufe... aber hed sich sooo glohnt :-)

Next Stop Brooklyn Bridge...

Imne Pärkli grad am Fluss beni chli äne gsässe und ha d Ussicht uf die Atemberaubendi Skyline vo manhattan gnosse...

Nochär beni de öber d Brookyln Bridge zrugg glaufe...

Eichhörnli irgendwo imne Park Downtown... die cheibe sind zahm... nüd cha si verschrecke :-)

Noch de Eichhörnli beni bis abe a Zipfel glaufe und ha d Fähri nach Liberty Island gno... Au ganz idrücklich vor dere Statue z sto...

Nochdem i vo Liberty island zrugg gsi be, beni de nomol ufe glaufe bis Chinatown und ha det znacht gässe...

Eis glück dasis no bis zum Subway gschafft ha... mini Bei hend brutal weh gmacht und ha chum me chönne laufe...

Museum of natural history... Es riese Teil... be öppe 3h umegwanderet und ha no lang ned alles gse... Eifach müesam wel immer öberall lüt am fötele sind... isch ei Slalom-lauf gsi :-)

Shopping @SoHo mit de Franzose und em Pol... teilwiis heds grad abe grägnet... tja... was solls... :-)

Letschte obe... zerscht time square... eini hed gmeint ich gsäch us wie de Buzz Lightyear vo toy story... hed sich doch anerbotte grad schnell es verglichsföteli z mache...
Deför hani nochär de ganz obe im Buzz sine Lieblingsspruch müesse zum beste gä: "To infinity... and beyooond!"

Sicht uf Manhattan vo Booklyn us... äbefalls am letschte obe... I dem Momänt beni scho chli sentimental worde, weli realisiert ha dasi morn witers "mues"...

Abschiedsparty... Au de Brasilianer isch am nöchste Tag witers gfloge...

Will miss you guys!

Isch schön gsi, dasis de irgendwie no gschafft ha alli nomol z gse... d Franzose, die beide Australierinne, J de cool Brasilianer und au die beide coole schwizerinne woni au irgendwie gärn öbercho ha... ha bi jedem abschied scho chli müe gha aber es isch wies isch... abfahre... dör harlem richtig La Guardia...

Sicht uf Queens (oder ev. au d Bronx) usem Flüger...

Orlando im coming...

Jetz beni do... Imne Hostel Südlich vo Orlando... eigentlich scho e anderi Ortschaft... Kissimee... sprächid das mol uf änglisch us und sägid mer wasi ächt do am beschte sett mache? :-D

Nei... chille jetz hött no chli us und go de morn los... Entweder Cape Kennedy oder Sea World... mol luege :-)

Bis zum nöchste Itrag wönschi allne e ganz e gueti Zit und es schöns weekend :-)

Luke

2010-07-10T17:49:00.000-07:00

Hey Gang...

Au hött hanis also weder gschafft äne z hocke und z schribe... Wasi immer meh z schätze weis, isch die Freiheit, ohni druck chönne z mache was me wott und niemer störts was me wenn wie macht :-)

So... wo simmer gester sto blibe? Bim Usgang richtig? :-)
De fömer doch jetz weder mit dem a...
Gester ischs i d Webster Hall gange. Lüt vom Hostel hend det gratis itritt gha... drum beni mit dene lüt mit... Zerscht simmer mit de U-Bahn weder zemli wit abe gfahre. Isch no schräg gsi... am tag hani e halbi ewigkeit gha und nochär fahrsch mit de U-Bahn i 20min glich wiit :-)
Bim Union Square simmer de use... irgend so e dütschi hed sich meini so druf gfröit, das sie de Lead öberno hed und alli hend "müesse" ihre hintenoche laufe... de hani de au usegfunde das doch tatsächlich no e zwöite schwizer debi isch :-) Zwar chli e schräge vogel... wases nebenbei bemerkt do im hostel rächt oft gid... läck heds do zum teil schrägi vögel hey! Chönnt e tag demit verbringe nur i dene zue z luege...
aber zrugg zu de Webster Hall...
Irgend einisch simmer de dinne gsi... hend chli d Floors abchecket uund so witer... mer hend usegfunde, das ufem einte Floor de Vodka lemon 9 Stutz choschtet und ufem andere nur 5... es witers Kapitel i de Gschicht "Typisch USA" :-) Hihi und wenn mer grad bim alkohol sind... hihi mer hend no e Brasilianer debi gha... eigentlich 19ni aber gfälschte Uswiis und FUSCHTDICK heders hinter de ohre gha... 1 Schluck alkohol und achtung, fertig LOS! Alles was bis de ned uf de Bäum gsi isch isch atanzet worde... Dä siech isch schlimmer gsi als de Hugu Bugu im Vollrusch :-) E riese Legände! :-) Isch rächt e coole obe worde und irgendwenn so um die 3 ha ich mich de abgseilet... Be no chli nordwärts glaufe weli no öppis z ässe ha welle bsorge... isch warschinlich ned sooo e gueti idee gsi :-) Irgendwo uf Höchi vom Flatiron Building isch mer eini entgäge cho und frogt mi so öb ich schnell ihre Nacke chöig aluege... sie heig det e Wunde... und hed welle wösse öb si tüüf isch... und öb ihri Nase no blüeti hed sie au no welle wösse... D nase hed nöme blüetet, aber de Cut am Nacke isch rächt deftig gsi...
Wie das Passiert isch hani ned usegfunde... welle wösse hanis eigentlich au ned... aber ich ha de mol schnell es Taxi äne gwunke und s ässe uf de nöchsti Tag verschobe :-)

Hött morge beni am 7ni scho weder ufgstande... am 8i isch schliesslich im Dave sini berüemti Downtown-Tour los gange... Dasmol simmer wörkli bis ganz zunderscht abe a Zipfel und hend scho mol e Blick uf d Freiheitsstatue gworfe... Dänke wirde de am mäntig d Fähre nä und das ganze chli nöcher aluege... Nochär simmer chrüz und quer dör downtown glaufe... und öppe all 20meter hemmer weder aghalte wel de Dave (ebe üse Guide) Weder hed müesse dörezelle... natürlich ned nur einisch... sondern 2-3 mol... und jedes mol ischer ufnes anders Resultat cho :-) Das vor allem wel s einte Spaniöggu Meitschi partout ned hed welle bi de Gruppe blibe und ständig weder irgendwo verlore gange isch... Isch sowieso e schrägi Gruppe gsi... chum öppis gredt oder gfrogt worde und weder heds so schrääääägi huere Vögu debi gha... Aber ich be au ned wäg de Lüt det gsi, sondern wäg de Tour, und die isch wörkli no cool gsi... Ganz vel Insider tips und anekdote und sehr vel inputs wasi no chönnt go nöcher aluege...
Uf de Liste stod ganz sicher au no d Brooklyn Bridge... häi isch scho idrücklich... und d Sicht vo det uf Manhattan mues genial si... Baui au i mini Mäntigs-Tour i :-)

För üs ischs de aber witer gange richtig ground zero... au das isch mega idrücklich gsi... Inere Chile grad näbedra hends so e art es Memorial Museum igrichtet... (för die wos mol gse hend, die Chile wo de Hag vore dra mit Bilder etc. vollkomme bedeckt gsi isch) Isch zwar alles extrem Ami-Patriotisch präsentiert gsi, aber trotzdem unglaublich idrücklich... Bsonders wel ich dä hag 5 Mönet noch de Aschläg sälber no gse ha... und wenn me de nochär hintere cho isch zum eigentliche Ground Zero ischs genau so idrücklich z gse was si wend drus mache... De Bau isch in vollem Gange und ich be gspannt wies usgsed weni s nöchste mol verbi chome :-)

Mir sind de nochär witer nordwärts richtig Tribeca und Soho... beides ganz schöni gägende und teilwiis so ruhig, das me fascht ned glaubt, das 2-3 Blocks entfärnt Ground Zero isch oder d Wall Street oder was au immer... Das isch sowieso extrem spannend a dem Teil vo de Stadt... innerhalb vo 2 Blocks cha s ganze Ussehe vo de Umgäbig wörkli drastisch ändere, und jedes Viertel hed sine ganz eiget Charme...

Um die 2 hani mi de Vo de Gruppe verabschiedet und ha d Subway zrugg is hostel gno... ha schliesslich die dütsche welle gse tschutte :-) Und nochär beni nomol chli go ligge... tami... ha es brutals Schlafmanko! 2 Nächt und insgesamt 10h Schlaf, kombiniert mit 2 Täg und 7h I de ganze Stadt omelaufe und SCHWITZE was das Zeug hält hed sine Tribut gforderet... morn machi genau nüd... Penne bis nüd me god, easy nöimet go zmörgele, vilicht no chli i Park go ligge und denn am 2 de Final luege... Es paar wend ines Pub i de Nöchi go... ich glaube ich schliesse mi de i dene a...

Aber zerscht gods jetz hött obe nomol i Usgang :-) Pacha isch agseid... öbs öppis gsi isch erfahrid ihr de morn :-)

Wönsche e gueti zit un bis gli :-)
Luke

Run Luki run!

2010-07-09T17:29:00.000-07:00

Hey Heimat

Mit Blotere a de Füess vo dene blöde Flipflops hanis doch no weder zrugg is Hostel gschafft.
Und mage tatsächlich no schribe :-) Dänke grad a die Jungs wo i dem Momänt im Schützenhouse gas gänd :-) Hoffe ihr stossid mol uf mi a ;-)

Zerscht hani eigentlich gar nöm welle los weli müed gsi be... has mer am Tisch mit es paar Franzose und eme Ängländer gmüetlich gmacht gha und ha eigentlich nur schnell i lade uf de andere Strossesite welle go es Bierli hole... de hani die Lüt atroffe wo grad för d Pub Crawl gstartet sind und ha mi irgendwie lo öberrede mitzcho... hihi zum glöck beni mitgange :-)

Australier, Südafrikaner, Neuseeländer, Ängländer, Belgier, Amis... alles heds debi gha... Mer sind vo eim Pub us nöchste und öberall heds Bier för 2$ gä... die erschte sind scho nochem 2. Pub weder hei :-)
Ich be no chliiiiii länger blibe...
Wo mer am morge am 4i zum letschte Pub us cho sind hed mi de eint (isch glaubs e ängländer gsi) nur aglachet und seid zue mer: "youre a fucking legend man!" Warschinlich weli erscht am nomi am 3 glandet und 28h uf de Bei gsi be und trotzdem mit allne andere mitghalte ha... oder vilicht au us andere gründ ;-)

No am gliche obe hani de kurzerhand entschiede dasi hött tue usschlofe und so de Jetlag chli tue öberwinde... obwohls ned sooo schlimm gsi isch...

Hött morge hed mi de am 10ni de Zimmerservice gweck... ha mi de am au mol 11i zum näscht us gschwunge und be mol go luege was am obe so lauft... Ha mi de för Irgendöppis mit Webster Hall igschribe... Wie das gsi isch schribi de morn...

Nochär hani es kafi gno und öberleid wasi mit dem tag no mache... ha eigentlich ned so möge und mi entschiede ich chönnt ja chli go d Nachbarschaft aluege...
Also kurzerhand de Rucksack packt und be los richtig süde... denn weste... de beni meh oder weniger "zuefällig" a Central Park äne glaufe und ha dänkt... ja weni scho do be, de chönnti ja dä mol chli go aluege... also beni mol chli im Park omenand glaufe... ha mi immer chli richtig südoste orientiert...

Irgendwenn isch denn halt dä park fertig gsi, und ich ha dänkt... ja weni scho do be, de chönnti ja no chli witer d stadt dörab... ich chli witer glaufe... bis i denn irgendwenn gmerkt ha, dasi gar ned südwärts, ostwärts laufe... be grad so uf höci 3rd avenue gsi... und ha dänkt... ja jetz beni so wit cho, jetz muesi aber glich no chli südwärts laufe...
also beni de doch no gen süden glaufe... ha mol chli d avenue gwächslet... d lexington isch no cool, det heds vel lüt...
Und irgendwenn hani de plötzlich s Chrysler Building gse use stäche, und wel das mis Lieblingsgebäude i de ganze stadt isch hani dänkt... ja weni scho so wit cho be, de chönnti ja au no chli nöcher äne go... also beni glaufe und witer glaufe, es paar föteli gmacht... und dänkt aso wenn s Chrysler Building do stod isch s Empire State au ned wit wäg... be drum mol öbere uf d 5th Avenue glaufe und peng... Staaaat doch daaaa e Kiosk!!! Hihi nei... natürlich s Empire State isch det gstande... und ich ha so dänkt... ja weni scho so wit cho be, de chönnti eigentlich au grad no det uf d Plattform ufe... also beni witer glaufe... und ine, Zerscht uf de "Skyride" sone Virtuelle Flug öber NY... das hend alli müesse mache wo ufs Dach hend welle... huere kack gsi... aber was solls... Nochär witer, 1. Lift ufe... öberall chli asto... öberall stönd lüt wo ständig ihri Sätzli wederholid... do müender döre, det müender warte, do chönder zahle... und so witer... die machid de ganz tag nüd anders als det sto und d lüt iwiise... öppis USA-typischers als das gids för mich ned... es isch unglaublich wie vel vo dene Lüt die hend... die hend för alles en Iwiiser wo de ganz tag nüd anders macht als sis sätzli abeliire... immer und immer und immer weder... s hed sogar e Fotograf gha wo nüd anders gseid hed als: "OK? Cheeeeeeese!" meh ned... de ganz tag... DE GANZ TAG! Unglaublich :-) aber was solls...

ha mi also dör alli iwiiser döre schlänglet und be de ändlich im 86te Stock acho... und ich säge üch... das lohnt sich halt scho wie nüd anders... Dä Usblick isch eifach Atemberaubend und me fühlt sich wörkli wie wenn me öber de Stadt wörd schwebe... Das ständige Ruusche, gmischt mit Polizeisirene und Autohuupi hani söscht no nienet uf de Wält ghört... Das isch eifach typisch New York... Be öppe 1h uf de Plattform gsi und a Probiert ganz bewusst e tüüfe Zug vo dem Spirit z nä...
Nochär beni weder abe und es isch wörkli wie es Itauche nochdem me vom Sprungbrätt gumpet isch... Öberall Lüt, Autos und wo witer... die Stadt Pulsiert... alli sind unterwägs... eifach Genial :-)

Useme Speziergang dör d Nachbarschaft isch e Monsterwanderig dör die halb Stadt worde :-) Und jede Schritt hed sich meh als glohnt :-) aber ebe... be de langsam müed gsi und nochere Verpflegig im Starbucks hani es Taxi zrugg is Hostel gno... Jetz goni de schnell go ligge und nochär machi mi för de Usgang fertig... Wird sicher weder lustig... hend sich mega vel lüt agmäldet...

Und morn machi de e Downtown Tour mit es paar Hostel Kollege...

Ihr ghörid morn weder vo mir :-)
Hebids guet und bis gli...

Luki Gump

Lets get it started...

2010-07-08T16:09:00.000-07:00

Hey fellas...

Ha dänkt ich schribe no schnell do ine bevors de witers a Pub Crawl god :-)

Häi... isch e turbulänti Reis gsi... und e witzigi...
Zerscht verpennt... tami! Am morge am 3 nochdem alles Packt und s Partyfolk Video gschnitte gsi isch s Iphone igsteckt und lo aktualisiere... und go penne... das letschte stündli Schlaf hani mer schliesslich ned welle lo entgo...
Wasi ned gwösst ha isch gsi, dass das cheibe öpfu-telefon nocheme Update sperrt und me zerscht weder mues aktiviere... und dases bis denn kei Pieps vo sich gid...

Ok egal... uf de Zug gstresst, trotzdem easy 75min vorem Start det gsi... Icheckt... z schwäre koffer häiäiäi... wie machi de das erscht bim hei cho? Oder bim witerreise uf Orlando? Mues tatsächlich no e 2. Koffer go kaufe...
ok 150.- abtugget und ab vors Gate, und ab denn isch de alles chli smoother glaufe...
S Geilste isch ja gsi, das mer GENAU aber wörkli GANZ GENAU öber Dagmerselle ine gfloge sind...
Ha glaub sogar d Partyfolk-Arena gse :-) läck isch die Schwiz chlii us es paar Kilometer höchi...

Z Genf beni zwöscheglandet und gli weder i de Luft gsi... isch scho es rächt schrägs gfühl gsi... ganz elei d Schwiz z verlo, aber woni mer vorgstellt ha dasi i öppe 8h öber d Brooklyn Bridge ine fahre ischs de plötzlich rächt geil gsi :-)

Im Flüger hani de Joseph, oder öbersetzt de Sepp könneglehrt... de Sepp isch e 2 Jährige Ami/Mexikaner-Bueb wo sim Mami de ganz Flug hindurch, hintere und vöre im Flugzüg devo gsecklet isch... Söscht hanis mit mim Französische Sitznachber eigentlich rächt guet troffe gha...

Jaaa und jetz beni do... i de geilste Stadt vo de Wält... am nordwestliche Zipfel vom Central Park... Scho es paar Wort mitem Koreanische Zimmergenosse ustuschet... es Pfüüsli gmacht und jetz machi mi de Ready för alles was no chond :-)

Fröie mi scho uf morn... Wasi gnau mache weisi nonig... ich glaube si machid do vom Hostel us e Tour dör d Bronx... wär glaubs no sehenswärt...

Also... haltet die Ohren Steif und bis gli...

Schlukinho

USA-Trip

2010-06-27T03:19:00.000-07:00

Hey fellas...

AM is over... and the world cup is taking all the time i have :-)
Im preparing for my USA-Trip wich starts at July 8th...

Since i promised to my friends to write a travel-diary, ill change the language to swiss german for that time because i dont want to setup another blog for this time... :-) hope all my many many many (hahaha) readers dont mind :-)

Cheers and see ya soon
Luke

somehow scary...

2010-05-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

that guy took a picture of himself EVERY DAY, for 8 years...

2010-05-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

Amazing Dor Reference

See more funny videos and Cute Animals Videos at Today's Big Thing.

There is more on break.com
Thanks to animatorsrecource for the hint :-)

cheers

New swiss guy

2010-05-20T01:45:00.000-07:00

Hey fellas

Take a look at Stefan Schumachers Portfolio.
He just got accepted to the Pixar Internship.

Awesome to see that another swiss guy has made it! :-)

Good Luck Stefan!

2010-05-06T16:47:00.001-07:00

Fantastic Demoreel

I was browsing through the AM Featured Alumni Reels and found this one...
Simply amazing... wow... there is a long way to go to become such a great artist!

http://www.maciekgliwa.com/demo.mov

Swiss Capricorns

2010-05-05T15:17:00.000-07:00

I just love that ad... its the best one in the whole campaign.
This is real swiss german :-)

Its an ad for a road tunnel that drastically reduces the time to drive around zurich.

Transcript:
Giachem wo bisch?
Giachem where are you?

Ja do bini...
here i am...

Scho no verruckt... 4 milliarde fürnes loch, und nid amol a heizig.
Pretty funny... 4 billions for a hole, but no heating.

Giachem i glauba si kömmen...
Giachem i think theyre coming...

Kei heizig, kei liecht, kei garnüd... zueständ wie im alte rom.
No heating, no light no nothing at all... conditions like in ancient rome.

Giachem! Si kömmen!
Giachem! Theyre coming!

Does size matter?

2010-04-27T04:48:00.000-07:00

Look at what i found here...
Its basically a comparison between pixar characters from all their shorts and movies...
I have to make a BIG wall poster out of it :-)

Check it out

Ed Catmull is talking... inspiring...

2010-04-27T04:40:00.000-07:00

Take a look at this article... i found it very interesting.

Finally found it again!

2010-04-20T14:20:00.001-07:00

Walkthrough Videos: Jeff Gabor from Animator Work on Vimeo.

Cool competition... Awesome Prizes!

2010-04-15T04:39:00.000-07:00

CG Coach has announced the computer graphics students awards... Awesome that the prices arent just physical... you can win an internship at Framestore or Double Negative... how cool is this?!?!

Take part here

Awards

2010-04-01T02:49:00.001-07:00

How cool is this?!?!

the first official swiss animation awards will be held in september 2010 :-)
Im freakin excited that finally someone is trying to establish a swiss animators community!

The only disappointing thing on it is, that there is no newcomer-/student-/talent-award...

maybe next year...

Job Search starts...

2010-03-29T06:48:00.000-07:00

This week ill send out a bunch of Reels for the first time to companies in Switzerland, Germany, Sweden and of course in the USA.
I really dont expect to land a Job overseas but it would be great to make the first step here in Switzerland or Germany...
I just finally WANT THAT JOB as Animator... doesnt matter where!

Keep your fingers crossed ;-)

cheers

Subtile Acting

2010-01-29T02:08:00.000-08:00

I found that shot on spungella.com
This is what i call subtile acting!
Very inspirational and simply great stuff!!

http://www.allisonrutland.com/threeDays.html

Crazy Things

2010-01-24T11:50:00.000-08:00

2010-01-16T18:21:00.000-08:00

Sooo...
this is my most recent progress reel... only stuff from AM... because i havent done anything else yet. :-)

1 Year at AM

2009-12-30T07:45:00.000-08:00

Hey Folks

after 1 Year of working and animating and constantly ignoring my sleep-deficit, i arrived at the end of class 4...

This all was a totally awesome ride... My Mentors Jalil Sadool, Mario Pochat, Chad Sellers and most recently Ray Chase just gave me so much Inspiration that i really dont know how to say thank you.

Now were heading to Class 5... Advanced Acting, then Polish and Portfolio... and after that its already over...
Ill reduce my time at work to spend more of it to my assignments so i hopefully find someone who wants to hire me :-)
I hope i can also spend a bit more time to the blog wich is an awsome tool to express mi thoughts.

Here something to motivate everyone for the next term.

Ok thanks for reading and talk to you soon :-)

Luke

Week 12 and Start of Class 2

2009-04-02T00:08:00.001-07:00

Hey there!

Aaaaall riiight... class 1 is History... unfortunately... i wish i had spent more time to it... i feel like i have to learn so many things about those basic principles...
But the School goes on :-) wich i find super exciting :-)

Next 12 Weeks we will talk about Basic Body Mechanics. (The class is called Psychology of body mechanics) Our first lecture revolved around weight and balance wich was awesome!!! I really learned much in just 30 minutes.

I also met my new class wich is awesome as well :-) you see... everything is awesome here at AM!! And im not exaggerating for once...

I will upload my class one reel as soon as im finished with polishing... there are lots of things to do like render the shots out and tweak some animations... youll hear from me soon :-)

Cheers
Luke

Week 11

2009-03-22T16:13:00.000-07:00

hey fellas

this week we had to refine our blocked walk from last week... since i knew i dont have much time to work on the weekend i worked an extra hour every evening... the result was i didnt have enough sleep... im really tired at the moment and just want to go to sleep right now :-)

but first lets go back to the assignment:
i exaggerated my poses a bit and also changed the timing a bit... now it looks pretty cool for me :-) take a look at the video below... we had to do a new pose as well... this weeks topic was BALANCE...

wow almost 3 months ago since this adventure started...

are you ready for class 2! :-)

Week 8 - 10

2009-03-12T17:15:00.000-07:00

Wow... unbelievable... were animating walk cycles :-)
damn this shit is hard! But soooo much fun as well!

below you can see my refined "vanilla walk" (common walk without "personality") Furthermore we had to pose out CONCERN...

This week were blocking a "personality" walk. After doing some reference work i decided to do a sneaky one :-) we have to do an EXHAUSTED pose as well, but i havent finished it yet. Ok back to work... cu soon

Rock on!!! :-)

Session 6 and 7... Finally

2009-02-17T06:41:00.000-08:00

Hey guys... finally im back in here.
Had some hard weeks cause my internet connection did not work... actually it still doesnt work... but i found ways to help me out :-)

you missed a lot guys... we had so many cool topics in the last few weeks... timing and spacing... where we had to learn how to let things move realistic... anticipation and squash and stretch wich makes a movement readable and clear. It can make it look cartoony as well if you use it extensively.

Last weeks assignment revolved around follow through and overlap. If you speed up an object... or slow it down... attached objects will follow delayed or move a bit further than the main object...

The most interesting and demanding part for me in this first 6 weeks was to realize that i have to simulate everything... gravity, inertia, every contact point... everything!
Every object in the computer has no "body" and no weight... they would fly through each other if i d tell them so...

the video is my assignment for week 6 "overlap and follow through" enjoy.

Next week we will talk about arcs and spline editing.

Stay tuned and keep sketching guys ;-)

Week3

2009-01-22T14:16:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone :-) another week at AM!
It definitely gets harder...
Wich pose would YOU choose to communicate "EXCITEMENT"?

My favourite is Nr.3 or one oft the three guys on the fence, but i really not shure wich one i should pick...

the other part of the assignment is to animate a bouncing ball...
our very first animation :-) im so excited :-)

wish a nice rest of the week to everyone...

cheers
Luke

Session 2

2009-01-15T15:13:00.000-08:00

Week 2... first "real" Assignment... Pleas help me pick a pose! :-)

cheers

Finally! First week at AM

2009-01-10T06:38:00.000-08:00

We just had our first Q&A Session with our mentor Jalil Sadool.
This 2hour "Double Session" was so inspiring. He told us about the way he made. How he got his first job or how he worked on Narnia and other Movies. He gave us so many helpful tips to succeed in this demanding Program called animation mentor.

Im really looking forward to the next session. Its revolving around oberving whats going on around us, sketching and posing it out.

yeppeeee! It started! And im so exited to be part of this :-)

take care folks and see you soon

still modelling :-)

2008-11-07T06:08:00.000-08:00

hey everyone...

here are some update pictures from the "Space Ship" im working on in my spare time... hope you enjoy it.

Cheers

what i've done before AM

2008-10-22T04:04:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone

long time since my last post ;-)

As promised here a few examples of older work...
the "wing" of an apache helicopter and the engine-section of a space ship...
hope to find some spare time to finish them...

cheers...

2008-10-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

Its so exciting! I just had my first Question and Answer Session with my Classmates in the Maya Springboard Class...

:-) i'm very happy! Finally my dreams start to become reality!

hope to post some of my previous work tomorrow...

cya guys

the first one

2008-10-21T11:44:00.000-07:00

Hey there... now this is the moment.... henceforward i have my own blog... :-)
i'll try to show you some of the work i'm doing during my journey with all the fabulous people on animationmentor.com

i hope some people will like it :-)

cheers
Luki