BSA725 Update

I should update this more

OK, last week, I was struggling with rigging the Boy character in Adobe Character Animator

The legs were broken, and the head half frozen

It took till last Tuesday, I finally got a good looking result (but not enough child-like bounce in their step). Caleb said it was good. I was so glad but worried. I personally feel like I am not animating, and have no control over how this animation looks

Then, in the next class, tutor Rachel made some comments about the software we're using (she voiced what I was thinking and worried about)

After hearing this, I thought that we were taking a HUGE risk with using this software, where the animation could be affected in a negative way

I then messaged Producer Fabri my concerns and worries for using this software. I have full respect for Fabri and her decisions, so whatever she decides after hearing my worries, I will respect and work hard with it!

Here is what I messaged

Hey Fabri. I don't want to worry or stress you, but I really have to mention something OK?

I am thinking about what is going to be animated in character animator. A stop and spin, face change and dash, hug tightly

I am then thinking/planning how I am going to animate that in character animator

I realized that I have no idea how I would do that, and I have 2 weeks to try an figure it out (I can manage, learning a new software if not why I'm bringing this up)

Then today, you remember and got a little worried /stressed, when tutor Rachel heard we were using character animator for our project

She was shocked. Then hoped we were joking, when made many comments that worried all who heard it

The comments that stood out to me was 'its not industry standard', 'its a cheap, unclean (the words she used) way to get fast meh animation' 'it's unupdated'

This Should Be A Worry.

I don't want our group project to have second best animation, that doesn't meet the standard of our future work place

I got warning signs. Not about learning a new software. But the software itself

With many still not up to date with the tutorials you worked so hard to find, they would be getting stressed about how this is gonna work

Also. I know the boy is behind. Yet none of the animators who have boy in their scene have even asked about what it happening

They might also, be unsure about how to go about this

But I might be wrong

I'm sorry to be a butt. But I think we should reconsider the software for animating in

I (personally, you don't need to listen to me at all ha ha) feel like I don't have control over the animation in character animator. If something is clipping, I cannot fix it

Even today Jay said that the boy seems very un bouncy, a little meh. I told her why and we didn't upgrade it. I couldn't even if I wanted

I don't remember having a group chat about the software we were going to animate in changing. It just happened one day ha ha

I hope you can understand my concern. You don't have to react to this and continue this and it's no sweat. But I knew I had to at least mention something :laughing:

I would suggest we change software for Toonboom. Over half of us used it in first year so there is something there. And we have the control over the animation

I do like how Character animator updates right away with Photoshop

But at this stage, the only character to be changed is the boy character

With this rant over, I hope you Are Doing Well! You seemed tired and stuff today. I hope you get a good rest and have at least a 15 minute rest

Please message/update me what your thinking about this too. I was going to message in the HOD chat but thought I should message you first

Sorry about being the butt ha ha ha

This was her response

Thanks for reaching out and telling me about your concern. but i feel like our know with toonboom and adobe CH CC are the same. most of us forgot on how to use toonboom, and most of us are still learning our way around Adobe CH CC.

and we are tight on schedule and i'm worried that if we changed our software now it will affect the timeframe again

even if we change to harmony, most of us still needs time to transfer all the artworks from psd and re-learn harmony again.

i do get your concern about quality. cause i am too. but right now, we only have 2 months left. whatever software we go for, i feel like will still have a similar result because of our limited time

as for changing the choice of software, i did explain it to all of you on the reason why me and kang consider on using Adobe CH CC during lockdown. me and kang showed everyone the test rigs. and i asked everyone if they have any comments or concerns or anything, but no one seem to respond. that's why we just went for it.

and tbh, i am aware that not all of the shots can be done in Adobe CH CC. some shots will need to be done with a mix of after effects and adobe CH CC. that's why i told the animators to review their shots and approach either me or you , if they have any questions on how we can animate them.

I am a little disappointed and worried still, but this is what's going to happen so I will make do

I am the animator supervisor, so I will work with and for Fabri to help her and help the animators with this software

I found some tutorial to help me with fixing puppets and other things within Character Animator

I hope this will help my understanding of the software