The Animators Survival Kit – Richard Williams

 

The Animator’s Survival Kit written by Richard Williams is an extremely useful book on traditional, computer, stop motion, games and internet animation. Williams is an incredibly talented animator and was the director of animation for the famous Hollywood movie ‘Who Framed Roger Rabbit’. Animation is becoming a more widely popular and creative aspect to be included in films/adverts/TV shows etc. Williams began his career with traditional animation before moving onto digital and 3D animation too. His book included hundreds upon hundred of drawings as well as information including his top tips and secrets. He provided the readers with the principles and definitions of animation that everyone needs to know. He includes a range of levels such for beginners up to expert animators. I bought this book after it being suggested to me by a tutor. After thoroughly reading through it, it has provided me with a detailed foundation of information on the diverse forms of animation. It has not only provided me with information but also helped me gained a great deal of ideas for my own project development. Williams is an incredibly talented animator and the fact that he has shared his wisdom ideas with many is great for aspiring animators.

 

Can you find me?

Despite the pure simplicity and dull style of this illustration, I am actually quite fascinated by it. I admire the deep message behind it. The man is holding an image of himself, searching for his long lost self, who he obviously feels he has lost due to his Depression. This is something many sufferers feel. They feel they lose who they once were and become someone entirely different, who they don’t like at all. This is a vital element I want to include within my character and his narrative. I want to be able to express, through illustrations and storyboards, that this character was once happy, fun and adventurous. He got good grades, cared about his education and spent any spare time with his friends or playing sport. Yet all this was taken away once he became depressed. He became someone no one recognised or understood. Not only do his friends or family no longer recognise him but he, himself, no longer does either. He feels alone. This is all what the image above means to me and is expressing.

Note:  I came across this sketch after my friend sent it me on Facebook, as she knew about my project. Yet she hadn’t noted down where she found it from. I attempted to look it up online but I couldn’t discover it’s original source.