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Congrats Animation Mentor Graduates!!!… Now What?

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Congrats to my fellow Animation Mentor graduates! We did it!

Yes many of us have been done since either last summer or this past fall, but the ceremony, show, and pomp & circumstance all happened this past weekend. For an online school like Animation Mentor, these events are even more thrilling, as we finally get to meet-up with all those folks we’ve seen only through the eyes of a lowly webcam. It amazes me, that even though we’ve never met in “real” life, I can start up a conversation with them like I had known them for years.

The events of this past weekend are a definite high, but the real question comes after. Like coming back from a conference, or an expo, the quintessential thing we must ask of ourselves after all this is… Now What?

There are some graduates out there that already have found themselves a job, and for them they have answered their “Now What?” I’m proud of them, but I’m also proud of everyone else that graduated that will either now or later attempt to do something that not many people ever accomplish… Realize a dream.

For me, I’m not going to stand still through this high. I’m going to go back to where my inspiration lies:

It’s time to give this piece an animated facelift that I have always envisioned it to have. After about 2 years, I think I owe it to all those organizations that fight for social justice, especially those I organize with, to do something positive for the people. And hey, if I get a job in the industry at the same time, even better.

Carlos Buloasn Test Character Rig

I know my fellow AM graduates have other shots they’re working on as well, and the main thing, like I’ve always stated each in week in my videos to them, is to keep inspired and most of all, HAVE FUN!


Yes for some it’s a struggle, but that’s why we’re here. Yes we observe life in order to create the illusion of it, but at the same time by animating life, we can change it as well.

If you want to know who we are, WE ARE REVOLUTION!

Congrats once again AM Graduates!

Filipin@s: Ricky Nierva

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Speaking of the First Quarter Storm, I thought this would be an appropriate time to bring back my Filipin@s post. This time I would like present Ricky Nierva. Yet another Pixar important person, he was a story artist on Toy Story 2, the character designer for Monsters Inc., the art director for Finding Nemo, and the production designer for Up.

Click here to hear the Spline Doctors podcast with Ricky Nierva

So the best run of animated movies since the 90s Disney movies and a Filipin@ is involved in much of the look and design… hmmm….

First Quarter Storm: 40 Years Later…

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Yesterday marked the 40th Anniversary of the First Quarter Storm in the Philippines, which was a series of protests against a corrupt and unjust Marcos Regime. The significance of which was the catalyst that eventually started the People Power Movement and the ousting of Ferdinand Marcos.

Now how does this relate to animation, comics, and cartoons? Well, the First Quarter Storm also produced a creative spark that artists have been feeding off of for the past 40 years. I know its inspired me, and has also other more well renowned artists. And its something I WE keep in the back of my OUR mind(s) as something that drives me US as I WE progress (slowly) through my OUR (neverending) process of learning animation…

For now, I present to you a video of a poem by Carlos Bulosan called “If You Want To Know Who We Are.” Produced and voiced by Ron Antonio (yes the same dude from here)

I have talked with many folks who feel that its best if politics stay away from art/ animation/ cartoons/ etc. NOT ME, as far as I’m concerned, no matter what, politics is always involved, and that makes the art that much more powerful. But you know what, I’m always down for dialogue.

Will Draw For Food: Compare Your Life To Pixar

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In this current world of iPhones, reality TV, instant streaming, and basically instant gratification, I think many of us forget that the things we want to accomplish in life take time and perseverance. I think fellow artist Josh Mirman nailed it on the head with this animated piece:

Vodpod videos no longer available.

I think its time to do some work! Check out his site and artwork here.

Thanks to the homie, Aimee, for pointing out this video to me.

MLK Day: A Message to Animation Students….

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Yesterday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and I got many hits for my previous Bootleg Classic post about it. Well, I decided that I had to say a message to not only animation students, but anybody else that wants to listen about the importance of yesterday, and the vital dialogue and work needed to fully realize Dr. King’s OUR dreams.

I kept it vague, and I probably could’ve added more of my own commentary, but I think folks are smart enough to have their own opinions…

I only hope that folks are listening…

And The End…

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It’s amazing really…  It has been 3 months since I last posted. In that time, I started a new “part-time” job, and tried to “focus” on school. Didn’t really work out out on both accounts. New job feels almost like a full time job, and haven’t been really able to focus on school. Yeah, things got rough and I’ve stumbled these past few weeks, so much so that I’m going to retake this last class. Anyway, witness my class 3 reel:

On the surface it may seem alright, but now that I pick it apart I see all kinds of things wrong, and I see why I need to keep learning…

Along the way, I’ve lost sight of many of my inspirations. It’s no coincidence that once I stopped writing, many of those inspirations that kept me going vanished into thin air. But luckily there are things like this that bring me back:

And then there’s _______. Okay, so I promised that I wouldn’t do sappy-ass cryptic posts, so I’ll just say this. I think I can officially close the chapter on HER…

As always, as one chapter ends, the next one begins. Yeah, it’s been a rough past few weeks. BUT that’s why they call it a struggle…

Art of the Cartoon is in for a revamp… and I’m up for the challenge.

2010 I attempt the impossible…

ISANG BAGSAK…

Isang Bagsak! Barely made it, but still made it!

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Just started Fall Term today, and while I still had a blast Summer Term, that last animation assignment almost did me in. There’s a reason why I discontinued the Ron Antonio Dance Project posts, and that reason was because my animation plain sucked! Now why did it suck? It was a combination of things, I got busy with work and training for the Portland Marathon, and my priorities just got all screwed up. And honestly, I didn’t put as much time and effort into that animation as I should have. Suffice to say that that was one of the main reasons I have decided to leave my job and focus on school. That’s right, as of October 16. I will no longer be working at the Wing Luke Asian Museum (well at least full-time, I’ll probably still have to train the new person). Anyway, take a look at my progress reel from last class… looking back its not that impressive, and it shows that I have to step it up.

But still, I made it. We may not finish the way we like, but sometimes all that matters is that we finish. I’ve learned that lesson in the ND movement, in marathons, and now in animation. It’s a good lesson, but I want to do more than just finish…

Isang Bagsak!

I’m Back! MTV’s ABDC: Constructive Criticism

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What’s up beautiful folks! Sorry I haven’t posted anything in a minute, an explanation is in order, but before that, here’s a fun little comic strip I came up with.

Here’s the backstory. I don’t watch a lot MTV ever since they stopped playing music videos. I have been watching on occasion America’s Best Dance Crew. The first 3 seasons we’re pretty good. I still think Jabawockeez were the most unique and best crew they’ve had, but I’ve enjoyed Beat Freaks, Quest Crew, Sup3r Cr3w, and Kaba as well. This season, season 4, Massive Monkees (from Seattle) was one of the crews. Even though I thought Massive didn’t need to do the show since they were already world renowned, and former world b-boy champions, I was still excited nonetheless. However, the crap that was put out this season was terrible!!! I think it was easy to see from the outset that the two best crews were Rhythm City and Massive, yet those two are nowhere near the finals. The most unique was Vogue Evolution, and the rest, well, they were ok, but nothing memorable. The dancing was eh, the mixes were bleh, and for some reason the judges comments were reduced to this…

abdccc

Oh, and even though I think what Kanye did was disrespectful and messed up, I have to applaud him on the fact that a) he spoke his mind and didn’t a fuck what anybody thought and b) made the this year’s VMA’s somewhat memorable. If not for Kanye, all we probably would’ve remembered is what the fuck was Lady Gaga wearing and why did she start bleeding.

One last note: How does MTV still have a Video Music Awards when they hardly play videos?

From Concept to Completion: The Cherry & Daps Wedding Painting

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Happy One Year Anniversary to Cherry and Daps! For their wedding gift last year, I decided to do a painting inspired by the happy couple (actually its a thing I do for most wedding presents). Here is the finished product:

IMG_0523

Not only to celebrate the one year anniversary of this happy couple, but also to give readers an insight into how I take an art piece from concept to finished product, I present the first, in hopefully many, From Concept to Completion segments. Hit the Jump to find out how I went from concept to completion… Continue reading →