I am doing an opening for our new online animation course….Animation FUNdamentals .

The course will be directed at junior high and high school students…and anyone, at any level can participate.

This partial sequence features Ty B. Bear in his most extensive animated appearance to date.

The pencil test is drawn in pencil and then shot with a mini DV camera into Flipbook by Digicel …the easiest animation software out there…

more tests of Ty B. Bear in the future…

Always Animated

Here is a short lecture demo on line of action as it pertains to thumbnails and posing.

Always thumbnail out your key poses before you lay down your keys- no matter what kind of animation you do : 2D, 3D, stopmotion.

Happy Animation Day!

Today animators will gather to celebrate the world’s best artform…

I pay tribute to all those here… and in the here after, that made my animation journey wonderful!

Some recent photos of my studio….my animation environment…

The walls of my studio are adorned with animation artwork….thats an original Mickey by Freddy Moore and a Chuck Jones drawing

More art from my artistic brother,Graham Toms and Glenn Vilppu and Squash

Ye old animation disc- a Richardson Magnabar with 12 and 16 fields

My shrine to my family, art and films and other fun stuff

Here is a current project Mr. Bagley, a color key set-up drawing

Have a great day!

Jim Korkis is an amazing individual! His in your face style of presentation is hilarious as well as delightful!

Here’s some of the gang from the Disney Institute with Leonard Maltin at a character breakfast…thats Jim upper right in the blue shirt and grin

He is one of best authorities on Disney History and he has penned several books including Cartoon Confidential. I have learned a lot from Jim in so many ways.

He has been the guest of many festivals and conferences including the COMICON in San Diego.

He left his job and his acting career in L.A. and moved to Orlando to take care of his ailing parents.

He joined the staff at the Disney Institute in 1995 and immediately made an impact on our team. His specialty was writing, acting and presentation. As I have said time and time again- you did NOT want to follow Jim during a presentation - his skill levels are so high - the only way for you… was down! That said, Jim was always gracious and warm and wonderful.

When I first joined Disney, I found Jim’s folder under the 2^nd or 3rd tier of candidates for the animation department at the newly formed Disney Institute. Jim’s articles for Animation Magazine were legendary! I was amazed that he had applied for the Tute and immediately hired him. I had to have him on the team. At the time, he was working as Merlin in the Magic Kingdom. How fortunate we were to add him to our staff!

Jim and I did several special presentations together at the Institute. I did what I had to do as an animator, that is balance Jim’s presentation skills with drawing funny pictures of him- usually as a sheep or a chicken with Jim’s glasses. Sorry Jim- thanks for being a good sport!

Lately, Jim has had some set-backs physically. I want to extend to him the warmest wishes for a speedy recovery…so that the new, old Jim will soon be bouncing along again…we love you man!
GET WELL JIM KORKIS!

Heres some animation from a CHARACTER DESIGN FOR TEENS workshop held at the Jepson Center for the Arts - a part of the Telfair Museum.

The students had a great time exploring different aspects of animation from 2D to Stop Motion. This represents the work of 4 classes.

Many thanks to each of the students (Charish, Olivia, Stephanie, Kelsea and Jeremy) for their hard work and talents.

Thanks also to the folks at the Jepson, especially Studio Coordinator, Torrey Stifel and Kent Braun from Digicel and the FLIPBOOK software.

A very SPECIAL THANKS to Michelle Armstrong (Lauria) - an excellent musician and daughter-in-law for her wonderful music and singing.

These workshops are always fun because of the passion the the participants.

Very Cool!!!

Someone emailed about our upcoming ONLINE lessons and asked specially about cartoon hands and how to construct them. So here is a demo - hot off the camera - on the topic.

Our online lessons will be out soon…

Thanks for asking!

TALKING ABOUT A WISH COME TRUE…

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We received notification that OUR WORLD was one of FOUR finalists in the animated short category at the Beaufort Film Festival- a part of a four day event called THE BEAUFORT KALEIDOSCOPE in beautiful town Beaufort, South Carolina - less than an hour from Savannah.

Beaufort has a rich film history as a location with THE BIG CHILL, THE GREAT SANTINI, FOREST GUMP, PRINCE OF TIDES and THE GENERAL’S DAUGHTER being shot in that area. In the BIG CHILL, when Kevin Kline and friends take their morning jog - it is through downtown Beaufort, SC.

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Here’s a look at one of their posters….

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A recent OUR WORLD card…just found out last week the producer and good friend Alexandra Ohlsen is engaged to be married.

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Raul O Leary awaits his turn for IN SEARCH OF OSAMA to hit the big screen…

Here is a brand new character- for now, he is Animation Freak boy. Here is a demo of his head construction beginning with simple forms and then just adding and adding and adding.

The expression on the Freek Boy allows me to demonstrate the facial mask and how the brows control the eye shapes.

Here are the Animation Freek Girl and Boy characters - any ideas for names?

These characters will be used for handouts and demos for our new online animation course.

This group is ready to make films

Family Programs 2008 at the Telfair Museum

Winter Session Dates (4 weeks): Jan 28-Feb 22
Spring Session Dates (6 weeks): April 14-May 23

Character Design for Teens (Ages 13-16) New!
Experience the art of animation in this overview session for teens. Participants will explore the basics of animation, weight, speed, timing, etc, through the creation of flipbooks, stop-motion projects, clay character-animation, and drawing. The student will be the animator and director!

Instructor: Larry Lauria
Materials included. $80 members/$90 non-members
Limit 15 students
Thursdays 4pm-6pm

Character Design for Adults Ages 17+ New!
Based on the Jepson Center exhibition Leadership: Oliphant Cartoons and Sculpture from the Bush Years, Character Design will teach you techniques to sketch and design cartoon characters. Hailing from the Disney Institute, seasoned animator Larry Lauria will guide you through the basics of animation and cartoon character development.

Instructor: Larry Lauria
A supply list will be provided. $80 members/
$100 non-members
Limit 12 students
Wednesdays 10am-1pm

To register: Please download the online registration form after contacting studio coordinator to check class availability at stifelt@telfair.org or 790-8823.

Hello.

I just cleared out my COMMENT box and the 2000 plus spam messages- that plus the 1200 + from the Christmas Holidays and it is NO FUN!

If you have a comment please email me at lanimate@bellsouth.net and I will transfer it to my page.

Thanks…