Welcome to my new 3D character animation blog/tumblr page!
Every week at this web address, I will be posting up 3D character animations highlighting a particular mood, emotion or archetype.
I have decided to undertake this weekly ritual for a few reasons. It will serve as a means for me to improve myself not only as an animator, but also as a performer AND allow me to share a constant stream of fun and exciting character animations with everyone who wants to check them out! I also plan on doing tutorials, live streams, webcam updates and a bunch of other goodies that I will reveal in time.
In any case, feel free to enjoy my art!
Updates will be posted every Monday with various updates in between each week to show my progress, work flow or highlight any animation news or events that are happening.
Feel free to contact me via email at michaelfgambino@gmail.com or follow me on twitter!
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
This is my very first attempt at making an animated character in photoshop. Even though I am a 3D animator by trade, I have always had an appreciation for traditional 2D animation and of course, old school games.
I was practically raised on it.
So, I decided to just sit down and just do it and I’m very happy with how this little guy came out. I think I can make the next animations even better!
Much kudos to “The Animation Desk” (http://www.youtube.com/user/theAnimationDesk?feature=watch) and Solar Lune (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5eAQK42ezs) for their awesome and informative tutorials on animating sprite characters.
There are certain things that take me out of the experience of playing a video game… and this was probably one of the funniest moments I’ve experienced.
More Revision work.
WIP Parkour Animation
WIP.
You can learn more about Cameron Fielding here: www.fliponline.blogspot.com. My intention wasn’t to steal anything. This is purely a study of Cameron’s work on Turok. I shot my own reference for this sequence and I’m just going to try to keep making it better.
Thank you Cameron for inspiring me to keep animating.
Please read post below.
Another big update from the animation front. I spent a bit of today refining these animations.
Doing these animations have taught me something that I try to remind myself on a daily basis. It’s something that every animator should know and keep with themselves throughout their lives.
You’re not animating just to make a demo reel.
What I mean is, not every animation you make will be of a high enough caliber to show people. I’ve learned that you should take your personal animation projects as a way of teaching yourself and building your confidence as opposed to showing people work that may not be your “best”, so when you make something that is of your best quality or of a newly reached pinnacle of your own ability… it shines brighter. I haven’t been happy with where I stand with my animation abilities, so I just gave myself a week long project to animate. Whether this makes my reel or not, I learned a lot more from doing this project than just pumping out an animation that may not be as good as I want it to be. I’m still not happy with how these turned out, but I know I can approach a fight sequence like this again and make it 10 times better.
That being said, I’ll be doing more animations like these throughout the next few weeks. I will still be working on my Source Filmmaker Project as well.
Mike
See? I’m not just full of piss and vinegar when I make promises.
Source Filmmaker Magic!
I’m currently working an a more “long-form” animation featuring more if not ALL of the Team Fortress 2 characters. I’m really happy with how this came out. The animation controls in the SFM are close to Maya, but have almost none of the falloffs. It’s pretty awesome. Keep checking back here or on my YouTube channel at “TheMikeGambino” for more updates and stoopid SFM animations. I will also have those two WIP animations posted up shortly…. I need to clarify a few things for myself on this blog so expect more activity over the course of this week.
Hope you enjoy!
Mike
Another work in project of a short animation i did over the course of last week.
