BLOODWING ANGEL CHRONICLES: Sha-Dow the Prince of Darkness Rough Animation

Here's a sample of my rough animation keys I'm drawing for a test of a villain in my Bloodwing Angel Chronicles graphic novel series. This is followed by a short pencil test.

 

BLOODWING ANGEL CHRONICLES KICKSTARTER

 My Bloodwing Angel Chronicles Kickstarer has just been launched. This first 52-page full color printed issue contains the origin of Mychal the Bloodwing Angel. Check it out!

How to Make Animation Tip# 1: Thumbnail Story Reel

 Click on the link below to get to YouTube.

https://youtu.be/iWW6uYy_0Ys

I’m developing my second Snuffy & Zoey cartoon and documenting my progress with a series of videos showing the stage of production I’m currently at. Titled “Animation Tip #1: Thumbnail Story Reel” shows how I start the entire production process by scanning thumbnail storyboard panels and creating a basic story reel with sound and music.

SNUFFY & ZOEY'S TOYBOX THEATER CARTOONS FOR KIDS! EPISODE 1

I'll be focusing my energies on creating more cartoons in this series. If you like this video, please leave a comment on YouTube. Thanks!

Star Wars Holiday Special Boba Fett Animation Roughs

Happy Holidays! Here's my Holiday Musical Extravaganza on YouTube!

How To Draw Animation (Part 3): Overlapping Action! Secret Sauce of Animation!

In this tutorial, I show you advanced examples of overlapping action, a basic animation principle.

If you like this video, please leave a comment on YouTube...and if you like my channel and need a coffee mug or a T-shirt, check out: http://www.cafepress.com/johntheanimatorguy

How To Draw Animation-Squash and Stretch More Than Bouncing A Ball (Part 2)

My latest video. If you like it, please leave a comment on YouTube!

How To Draw Like An Animator

My latest YouTube video is now published! Hope you like it, and if you do, please leave a comment on YouTube!

Introducing John the Animator Guy Celestri YouTube Trailer

I'm busy editing together the first episode...it should be ready next week!

Mission of My YouTube Channel

A young artist asked me, "What is the purpose of your YouTube channel?" My answer is simple...check out my channel's banner (seen below).

 

Snuffy and Zoey Website

I've developed an independent animation-centric website (separate from this one); and created the first in a series of short whimsical 2D web cartoons starring my characters Snuffy and Zoey. The website (https://snuffyandzoey.com/) is now live. This "John The Animator Guy" blog will continue to be supported and I will be posting about the production process of my new cartoons.

The purpose of the new site is to freely share my knowledge and enthusiasm for classical 2D hand drawn animation with children ages 8 and under (and their young parents and/or grandparents); and, in so doing, present a positive way to express oneself creatively.

The limitations of Blogger forced me to launch a standalone website where I can have total control of the quality of the material I post...and also (perhaps) in the future have a small online store offering licensed merchandise of Snuffy and Zoey.

This is my contribution to helping keep the art of classical 2D animation alive. I guess I'm sort of an internet Johnny Appleseed of animation…you never where those scattered seeds will land or what kind of good fruit they will produce.

Old School Field Guide Area & Basic Scanner

Old School 12Field Guide scanned on basic home scanner

As part of my mission to keep old school animation alive, I want to point out inexpensive ways to create it.

One of the biggest expenses in creating animation electronically is buying a Cintiq or some such tablet. The mistake is to think that having the latest equipment will make your art better.

Getting the largest Cintiq to draw on doesn't mean you'll be able to draw better, it just means you'll have the ability to draw more complex designs. But since most modern day animation is being watched on small devices like iPhone, iPads and computer screens, I suggest character designs should be simple in order for facial expressions to be legible.

And if you want to draw those simple characters on paper, you can use 8.5 x 11 inch paper, scan it on a basic home scanner/printer, and import those JPEG files into a basic animation/coloring program.

Let me point out to you that all those classic Warner Brothers, Disney, Max Fleischer, MGM, and Terrytoons theatrical short cartoons were drawn on a maximum 12 field area...and projected onto screens at least 15 feet  high and 45 feet wide.

My 16-year-old Epson scanner

One of my rough poses scanned on my old scanner

The following three Popeye animation poses appear to be drawn on 8.5 x 11 inch paper.

Here's a scan of some Batman and The Joker animation poses I drew on 8.5 x 11 inch paper for that series of Zeller's Batman TV commercials run in Canada back in 1988.

I want to encourage you to think simple...you can get great results with basic tools!

Cleaning Up Drawings & Spacing Charts

This is a cleaned up animation key pose using buffed down blue pencil for underdrawing, tied down with a combination of Blackwing 602 and Mitsubishi 9850 HB for the black line...Blackwing 602 for thicker lines and Mitsubishi 9850 HB for more delicate line work!

It's second nature for me to describe on my spacing charts what I plan to do on particular drawings.

Rock & Rule - Cindy and Angel escape

 

This is my favorite sequence I animated on. Basically, I directed myself and was allowed complete freedom...as long as I followed the basics of the script and the recorded dialog.

Below is the thumbnail analysis I did for one of Cindy's early scenes. I animated this particular scene 35 years ago, but I don't think I could do a better job today...the result might be different but not technically any better.

2D Animation Work In Progress

I've been working on this two and a half minute short web cartoon on and off for the past year. It's my way of keeping my hand in traditional 2D animation, using pencil drawings scanned into ToonBoom Studio software. This file shows the various stages I go through to produce my final color...there are completed color scenes, cleaned up animation, rough inbetweened animation, and basic key poses.

For those viewers who can't see the below embedded file, please go to Vimeo at:
https://vimeo.com/152711633

A frustrating aspect of Blogger is how it messes with the quality of the uploaded HD video clips. But this gives you an idea of how my characters' relationships are developing.

The Zen of Animation

Animator: BILL TYTLA

 
Animation that is entertaining is an extremely taxing process, both mentally and physically...so, it's best to enjoy experiencing the process itself. If you do, you will spend many positive hours in "The Zone", where you become one with the drawings you create.

Animator: BILL TYTLA

 

Old School Pencil + New School Tools

I've been working on simple action cycles that are entertaining to watch and play with...as in a mobile video game. I created this clip of simulated game play, using a combination of old school and digital methods...animating with pencil on paper, then scanning the drawings into ToonBoom Studio for color and assembly.

Click on the video below to watch it.