As part of our new marketing push, we are looking for user
testimonials. We want unequivocal (no 'if onlys' or 'buts')
testimonials from satisfied A:M users. We are going to post them to
reassure new users, and attract prospective users.

If Animation:Master is your 3D tool of choice for your studio, your
school, or just for fun, we want to hear from you. Please post your
testimonials right here in this thread.

I tried hard not to be the first to respond to this... I did.

Okay, I'll bite from the Hobbyist perspective. Looking forward to the pro's responses.

"A:M is a professional's tool--but I use it for fun! - Rodney Baker-Hobbyist and creator of My Robot Movie"

One that didn't make my list:
The $$$ I saved buying AM instead of another 3D program I can use to feed my family - Starving4rtist

*** Signature fixed for Starving4rtist sake ***

From: "Paul V Harris" <paul1@scottishtales.com> paul1@scottishtales.com
Date: 2004-2-26 14:15:55

Animation Master is the only product I use for developing Highlands Rising
Comics. I've tried other products and couldn't get past the first screen on
most of them before giving up in frustration. With A:M I've gone from not
being able to draw a straight line with a ruler to creating scenes and
animations. Between a great software product, exceptional tech support, an
even better user community A:M can't be beat.

Yours Aye.
Paul V Harris FSA Scot
Scotia Publishing, Limited
Highlands Rising Comics
St. Andrew's Society of Schenectady

<a href='http://www.scotiapublishing.com'>http://www.scotiapublishing.com

Before I tried Animation Master, I was overweight, had no friends, and couldn't dance. Now, after buying Animation Master...well..those things are still true, BUT, now I can make way-awesome animations. Thank you, Animation Master!!!


Edit:
Mike Dalton
David City, Nebraska

Great quote! But, you didn't tell us your name. Please make sure to put your name on your quote. Keep it coming!

*looks at name* Yep...I like that one.

May as well bring this over.....


Hash knows no piece of software is ever completely bug-free. But the difference between Hash and other 3D authors is that Hash acknowledge it. So, armed with feedback from their users, they fix them quickly and efficiently. It's that sort of policy that has gained the respect I have for Hash. They don't believe their software is infallible. They just get on with the job of making Animation Master so.

Don't let the name fool you. Animation is just one of the the many talents of Animation Master. They all combine to create a program that is efficient, versatile, enjoyable, powerful and affordable. I promise you, once you read the feature list and see the price, you will need to sit down. I did. After that, I reached for my wallet in case the price changed. It never has.

Ken Heslip
www.zeoneo.com

A lot of care has gone into Animation:Master's interface. Modeling is intuitive and akin to sculpting with clay, rather than manipulating blocks. And animation, while hard no matter what the medium, is direct and powerful. Using A:M 2003, I was able to create an award-winning animation in only eight days.

-- Zach Brewster-Geisz


(yow! Do I ever sound conceited!)

From: Anzovins anzovin@rcn.com
Date: 2004-2-26 19:11:28

We've tried everything out there, and Animation:Master remains the world's
greatest value in character animation software. A:M's nonlinear animation
tools are the best available at any price.

Steve and Raf Anzovin
Anzovin Studio

As an independent filmmaker, I'm constantly looking for ways to lower the cost of production and still deliver proffesional quality work. I used to think that integrating 3d character animation and set design in a realistic way with live action footage was outside the financial scope of the independent filmmaker. Hash Animation:Master has completely changed my mind, and has broadened the scope of what I now know is possible as an indie filmmaker.

Sterling Macer Jr.

As a `traditional` animator I found Hash Animation: Master to be the most intuitive and natural feeling of the 3D packages I tried. Several of my animator colleagues were impressed enough to want to join me on the A:M adventure.
Excited?...Enthusiastic? You bet we are! But then that`s the way Animation: Master makes you feel. Animation should be fun ( yes even computer animation! ) and with Animation: Master it most certainly is.

Dale Hemenway.
UK.


Blimey, I always feel quite embarrassed doing this sort of thing. Don`t know why.




P.s Don`t quote that last line if you use it

Before I used Animation Master, I thought computer animation was out of reach for me; I thought I would never figure other programs out. I wish I'd found A:M years ago!

Chris Nix - UK

After a careful marketing research about five years ago, we decided to implement in our college AnimationMaster v7. (now we are using v 10.5). We wanted a powerful yet easy to use software that would enable our students to release their story-telling creativity in a 3D world. We were amazed at the power of A:M. Since then we have had a continuous stream of animations in both, our Diploma course as well as in our College Degree Studies on Animation. Other important feature was the price that enabled our students to buy the software and not learn a software that was going to be unreachable to them due to its cost. The best testimony is what our students have achieved. Please visit our page: www.uninterguad.com
Sincerely,

Armando G. Lagos Barba
President
Guadalajara International University.

I've been playing with computer animation as a hobby since the original TRS-80 and have done some sort of animation on the Apple II, OSI Challenger 4P ,Commodore 64, Amiga 1200 and various Window machines . But I must say the most enjoyable experience has been with Animation Master. I had a flickering candle in 3d within 2 hours of receiving the program and have had never ending enjoyment from that point on.Also I have enjoyed all the people surrounding it. The staff at Hash, the fellow users with the mail list many of whom are now good friends all make AM great !

Wow, where do I begin?

Animation Master is THE program for you if you are an independant animaton film maker, hobbyist, or aspiring proffessional.

It is very powerful and yet the easiest to master for full character animation. A:M IS your 3D pipeline. I can’t think of a style of animation that can’t be done with the right thinking and the combination of A:M, a paint program and a compositing program. (And for many tasks, A:M can double as a compositer if needed).

Features that have had to been purchased separately in the past for other programs, such as particles, hair, toon rendering, lens flares, easy full featured animation tools and more are part of A:M right out the box.

Part of its’ power is all the time it saves you. This is time you can put to use where it should be used: -making your art and tweeking your animation performances.

If you come from the world of traditional 2D drawn animation then A:M is your choice. It comes the closest to working like a 2D animator thinks and draws. It’s spline modeling and animating is akin to drawing in 3D. For character animation it is simply the best method for me out there. For example, it has an awsome animation light table (called Onion Skining) built in to toggle on as a display mode for animating so that you can watch your arcs and refine the relationships between your poses for the best animation performances by seeing more than one frame at the same time.

A:M doesn’t force a style on you. From cartoons to realistic images, the choice is up to you the artist. Take a look at the gallery images to see the wide variety of user work. It’s the best 3D app I’ve seen at getting out of the way of you the artist.

It is priced for artists of modest means. An independent or small commercial studio can afford as many legal seats as they need. Cheap enough so that students can also own a copy.

You can look at the entire manual on line and then ask its’ friendly user base any questions you might have.

Along with many others out there, my A:M work has personaly helped me land many interviews, jobs and job offers. I’ve been flown out to Pixar (twice) and Avalanche Software for four different job interviews. Digital Domain was very interested in my A:M modeling at one point. I worked as a Director of Character Animation for a college and for Eggington Productions. I consulted with Neal Adams in New York and Disney World’s Imagineering in Florida. It’s great for web graphics and as a front end for making frames you can use to make Flash animations. I’ve even taught students A:M who went on to work at Pixar.

There are many many independents and big studio employees who either used A:M to help land a job, or go home at night and use it for personal projects.

A:M is a “Swiss army knife” of a 3D program, but for artists, not programmers. If you want to create it, you can do with A:M. And 9 times out of 10, you’ll also be able to do it faster, easier and cheaper too!

Glen Crowell
www.glencrowell.com

From: "frank_silas" frank_silas@netzero.net
Date: 2004-2-26 23:20:47

I have used Animation Master to further my professional career in 3D. It is
the first 3D program I ever purchased and the only one I have installed on
my computers at home. I am a professional 3D Artist.

Frank Silas
3D Artist
Rockstar Games
http://www.franksilas.com
.

A.M. hobbyist here, and I love that it has the capability of doing live action animations..with my little low cost digital video camcorder and unbelievably priced Animation Master I can do live action animations that involve my whole family...thanks for having such a complete animation software title that the animator wanna be can afford and is actually easy enough to use.

Mike Cossey

One day, a 3D application will come along that surpasses it's own hype and it will change the way you think about 3D animation. One day, a 3D application will be made affordable to a very broad spectrum of artists and a new day of creativity will be born. One day, a 3D app will bring together a world community of artists that are dedicated to their craft and willing to help each other learn. One day a company will seek out the opinions of individual users and communcate with them, directly, about their concerns. One day, something that is too good to be true, will be.

Don't look now but..., that day is here and it's been here for a while now, in the form of Animation Master.

Mike Hart

I got Am some time ago and find it so interesting and fun ,I think it's the best prog I ever bought.Every time I start making something I get sidetracked by a new thing I find or see an answer to a question on this forum and just have to try it .There are so many generous and helpful ppl here that I will never finish anything lol,AM for me is Magic
Steve 392

Animation:Master is a great program. It does however take some time to adjust to if you have tinkered with polygon-based programs. Nowadays it's the other way around for me... It's very easy to adapt your drawing skills to spline modeling. I have never regretted my switch to A:M.

Regards,
Mats Tegner

When I started in 3d I was blocky, bald and suffered from Gimbal Lock. Now my surfaces are smooth, I have hair in places where I never thought to, and can twist in the most amazing ways without unsightly deformations! Thanks Hash!

I am a new A:M user. I am preparing a run at the animation contest in March. I started off using 3dmax so when I discovered A:M I had a good idea of what I wanted to accomplish with organic modeling. I found A:M to be much easier for organic modeling. I was really surprised , and still am, with the high end capabilities in A:M. It amazes me that I can do things in A:M that I can't in Max and for less than 1/10 the price. There are no plugins one needs to buy. One can just jump right in and create whatever you wish.
I recommend this program for everyone. Amateur to Pro and in between. Last but not least are the professional tips and help one receives from the user group.
This is free help from some of the best animators in the business. They give their time cheerfully to answer questions from newbies like myself and others.
When you buy Animation Master you get the total package. A King's portion at a peasant's price.
If you are not in the process of e-mailng Hash or on-line at this minute ordering your software, you are burning daylight. Or at least pixels.

John Wactor (Amatuer Newbie)

We use Animation:Master for mainly one reason:

It provides the most intuitive workflow and unconventional yet so logical solutions in every phase of 3D character-animation.

The fact that its price-performance ratio is unbeaten is a very positive sideeffect
If you want to work efficiently, this is a very important advantage, of course.

Animation Master (A:M) is perhaps the most surprising piece of software I have ever encountered. It contains the most intuitive toolset for the artistic mind i have ever used at a price that is almost disturbingly low. A:M's interface is flexible and intuitive and never gets in the way. If there is a better program for animating characters anywhere I have yet to encounter it.

-David Rogers

An A:M user for 3 years, its still the best single piece of software i have ever purchased, bar none. Always easy to use, and probably the most intuitive 3d application out there. With the addition of the outstanding new hair system for 2004, it never ceases to amaze me.

Keith White.
3d student and hobbyist.

When I started in 3-D, I quickly learned that some of the great work I saw created with other software would have been impossible without very expensive, 3rd-party plugins which can cost between $500 and $5,000. When your dreams are bigger than your wallet, an all-in-one production solution for under $300 can be the difference between an abandoned dream and a finished project you can be proud of.

Ed Lynch
Animator, Firaxis Games

Having worked in this business for years, it was a fresh breeze to get A:M in 2001 and i was instantly able to bring my work to new levels and at the same time everything was much easier.
In 2004, A:M is at version 11.0 and i am using its even improved reactive animation engine and its improved modeler.
Even when the customer specifically requests hand drawn flash animation, i'm creating simple models in a:m, animate them there, then export to flash and hand draw over this footage.
But its great new great renderer doesnt make me stop there. If the customer suddenly changes his mind and now wants photo realism, i just go back to detail the model, easily texture it, keep the animation and render it out at premium quality.
Exactly what i need.

: marcel bricman
: kci - design & development
: http://www.kci-group.com/

When I fist saw Hash demo Animation Master I thought great, another incredible piece of software that I can't afford. At the end of the demo they told me the price and I about fell over.

After using the software for a few days I realized that this application did more (and did it better) than the software I use daily that cost thousands of dollars!

Tommy Wright
Technical Director
The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
http://www.jimmyneutron.com

As a high school Science and Information Technology teacher of 10 years I have recently begun teaching Animation using Animation Master and have found it to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. The students are completely absorbed in their work during class, and have found A:M's intuitive interface and powerful features easy to follow, allowing them to create work which only a short time ago would have amazed them. As a user of Animation Master, I have found the easy animation workflow and powerful industry standard features perfectly suit my needs as I work on my own short film project at home, as well as completing paid studio animation work outside of my school hours. The support provided by the Hash Inc. team is absolutely top notch, with the programmers and support staff themselves often taking part in discussions on the Hash forums and mailing list, and I have seen many suggestions that have arisen from these discussions incorporated into later versions of the software.
I would not hesitate to recommend Animation Master as the number one choice of 3D animation software for anyone from a budding animator to a professional studio.

I got Animation Master just about a year ago. I went from a complete beginner, with absolutely no prior experience whatsoever to a fairly proficient user in just under 6 months. The true turning point, when I really thought to myself "Wow, I can do this" was when I was able to model a head in under 2 hours. It is an awesome piece of software for an even more awesome price. Oh, and the subscriptions are great too, the ability to have a say in what features will be changed, and not have to wait a year and pay 350 dollars to see it come into fruition is unheard of anywhere else.


Zachary Taich

Having recently graduated from an animation program at a local college, I was faced with the daunting task of acquiring the tools I needed to succeed. Not only did the software I would choose have to provide me with tools to create impressive media, but being fresh out of college I also needed something affordable as well.

Hash's Animation:Master is a dream come true. Not only does it include everything you need for top quality animation, it also fell nicely within my budget. Best of all, it's an easy to learn package with an excellent, supportive user and developper community to back it up.

I've never seen any other program like it. Animation:Master is the 3D creation software for everyone.

-Paul A. Rodrigue

Animation Master is the best 3D character animation tool out there. Compared to other 'professional' 3D apps, where overcoming their arcane interface is seen as an achievement in itself, AM makes it almost too easy to produce professional looking work.
In fact, I'd rather keep this software secret, it gives me a wonderful unfair advantage!

Stephen Millingen.

When I was looking for a 3D application several years ago, I wanted one that would allow me to create fun and lifelike characters, texture them, pose them and render them. I looked at many different options. Unfortunately for a Mac user, the options were limited and expensive. Except for Animation: Master. It seemed to have all the features I needed, ran on the Mac and was very inexpensive. I looked at all the examples of A:M art that I could find, studied the tutorials and, finally, feeling like I could grasp the program I purchased it.

It was and still is THE best computer software purchase I ever made as far as fun, enjoyment and satisfaction with the results. It gives me the ability to bring to life all the characters I can imagine. And after many years avoiding the animation part of it, I have learned how fun and easy it is to animate in A:M.

I'm hooked on this program!

Jim Talbot

HASH Animation Master, unlike any other 3D package I've used, is deceptively simple to pick up and start creating. The simplicity of the core concepts is such that you can simply install it read a few pages of a manual and be modelling and animating at a level that is, frankly, impossible on any other package in such a short period of time.
However, once you have mastered the basics, this programs almost limitless depth starts to become apparent - there is virtually nothing you can't do with a bit of creativity and imagination in this package.
However what truly sets this package apart from all the other 3D software around today, is not what you get on the CD but the amazingly supportive developers and artistic community that has been built around this fantastic product.
I have sent myself bankrupt trying to afford other packages and their relentless upgrade pricing, and these packages have taken me years to learn even the most basic tasks.
Animation Master is THE best value 3D animation tool around today, if you want to create 3D animation, you MUST have this software!

I wish I didn't live in Australia so I could track down the developers and shout them all beers with the money I saved buying the software!!!

If only I could find a girl as sophisticated yet affordable as Animation Master.

John Keates
Starving artist.

I've been using A:M for about 6 Years and have recently
implemented A:M 2003 into our production enviroment alongside some of our more
expensive apps. And I must say... WOW!... A:M has some of the best animation tools of any other toolset that I have ever used. Modeling and texture mapping is a breeze! The workflow and ease of use is unparralled. The interface is uncluttered and most of all unintimidating like some of the other more engineer-oriented apps. What can I say about a program that allows me to express my creative vision at work and at home except for the fact that this application rocks!


David Wyman
Senior Graphics Designer
WFLA-TV News Channel 8

Several years ago, as I was nearing the end of my animation studies at an art school, I was having trouble completing projects due to the complexity of the software at school, and the difficulty of just getting to school often enough to use it. I had a couple 3D packages at home, but both of them were grossly lacking in proper character animation tools. A friend recommended that I try Animation:Master, and said that an older version it came packed with a certain book. I bought the book, tried out A:M, and one of the first impressions that came to me was that it was actually FUN! After dealing with the tedium of some other animation software, I finally found a program that was a joy to use, not too complicated, inexpensive, and still had a capable toolset that would allow me to practice character animation at home.

I picked up the latest version with what little money I got from my tax refund that year. The animation on my graduation demo reel was all done in A:M. When I was asked to do a couple animation tests for my first potential job at Big Idea Productions, I did them both in A:M as well. I was hired, and told by one of my co-workers shortly after I started that he was impressed that I could create quality animation in such a short time.

I feel that I owe at least part of the credit to A:M, which allowed me to get the practice I needed and develop a rapid workflow that eventually carried over well to my full-time day job. I still use A:M for projects at home, and I still include the animation that I make with it on my demo reel.

Another soundbyte:

A:M has the easiest, most intuitive animation tools I've seen in any software at any price. It's nice to know that when I sit down to work, my time will be spent animating, not wrestling with the software. The workflow is geared to the artistic mind instead of technical and yet professional features and quality means you'll never have to compromise your artistic vision.

Ed Lynch
Animator, Firaxis Games

Comparing price with value, Animation Master is the only choice. As a hobbyist, I have tinkered with evenly priced products that had no real modelling function. Any program with Animation Masters abilities cost far beyond what the average joe would shell out for.

I love creating. If it's not on paper, it's on the PC. Now with Animation Master, my creations on the PC have limitless possibilities.

Thanks Martin and crew.

Lance Hetlet

I might not be famous like others in the industry, but I know I wouldn't be where I am if it weren’t for Animation Master.
- William Young

Story behind the quote:

In 1997 a friend of mine showed me the Hash web site after demoing a program called Spatch and saying it's modeling technology was based on Animation Master. At that time I had a Mac, and had been considering getting Lightwave as I use to own an Amiga Video Toaster system. I had a limited budget and knew Lightwave for the Mac performed exceptionally poorly at the time so was contemplating buying a PC; however, I knew I couldn't afford both a new computer and a multi-thousand dollar piece of software. So when I saw how little Animation Master cost, how robust the web site claimed its feature set was, and that for the price I got both the Mac and PC versions of the software I was both ecstatic and skeptical at same time. After almost a month of research, rumors, and looking at their home page in doubt I concluded that there was only one way I could satisfy my curiosity. Roughly a week later I started using Animation Master, and was blown away by how easy and powerful it was. I started telling all my friends about it, and was so eager for others to hear about how great Animation Master was that I started pestering Raf Anzovin to review it for Mac Addict magazine. After many weeks of persistent nudging Raf finally borrowed A:M, and soon after wrote it a great review. We then confounded a modeling and animation course that is still being taught at Umass Amherst using A:M, and roughly two years after we first started using it Raf created Anzovin Studio. I've been happily working there ever since.

My $.02...

I have had the opportunity to use several polygonal programs. None, in my opinion, have the pure power and simplicity of A:M. Too often this simplicity is derided as being childish. I beg to differ. I believe the program should not be a hinderance to the artist, but allow the artist to create. A:M's interface is elegant in it's design. All the tools are within easy access - no more digging and plowing to find any given tool. For me, A:M has a true organic modeling paradigm which mimics drawing by the artist. Each aspect of A:M, be it modeling, rendering, decals, materials etc...all are intuitive and logical. Animation in A:M, again, is simple but incredibly powerful. The creation of a boning system, and applying this system, is again, intuitive and elegant. Character animation in A:M would be that of a puppeteer and marionettes. You simply pull, push, squash and you character reacts the way it should. Their is no limitation as to how you can animate in A:M. Beyond the program itself, the technical support staff is exceptional. Be it a telephone call or email. Any problem will be treated professionally and timely. The community supporting A:M is second to none. The user base is friendly, supportive and a great resource to learn from. Very rare to have a support staff and community that work hand in hand to ensure the success a great program! A:M...it simply works powerfully!

Tony Matias

Discovering Animation:Master was one of those life-changing "moments", like when I first learned to draw, or decided that I wanted to be an artist. A whole world of possibilities opened up to me. Hash has invented the best tool since the paintbrush!

"I love Animation:Master so much, my wife's starting to get jealous."

-- Jeff Lee, computer programmer.

This Testimonial was sent directly to me, so I'm posting it here for Jeff Dates.

Day Off the Dead was completely modeled, setup, textured, animated, lit
and rendered using Animation Master. Now the short is traveling the
world and receiving all sorts of acclaims! The production cycle was
handled non-linearly, as was the animation in everyone's part-time.
This couldn't have been done without Animation Master! The workflow of
Animation Master gives you the power that other "professional-high-end"
3D softwares do, without the price gouge! All this with an artist's
interface, and no need for a technical background! With the talent pool
of Animation Master users that we could draw from, it's no wonder that
Day Off The Dead is doing as well as it is! I recommend Animation Master
for those users who want to ENJOY their production without worrying
about the technical aspects of it! Thanks!
Jeffrey Dates
Co-Director, Day Off The Dead

Animation: Master gave me the tools I needed to quickly jump into learning 3D Character Animation. As a beginner I found it intuitive and fun to use, and as a professional I continue to find it powerful and flexible. It's certainly the best animation software for the money, and the programmers and support staff are helpful and responsive.

Well, as if there aren't enough testimonials here already, for some odd reason I felt compelled to give my thoughts.
I was always in awe looking at movies and whatnot that were computer animated. I never thought I'd actually be able to do anything like them. While I haven't been animating for long, and I don't have the mony to upgrade from V7.0, A:M is so easy to use that I have made some pretty cool models and animations. I haven't looked into any other programs, and I don't see the need to. I don't thik it's possible to get better than this, and definatly not for the price.
Alright, so there's my two cents.

I dont know if this counts, but it is a true story.
This is the condensed version.

My girlfriend was wanting buy me a birthday present.
I found out that she had been secretly talking to the Maya people for weeks.
I decided to check out the Maya packages and pricing online.
What the heck! She is willing to pay for it!

After comparing the features, it was clear.
I told her..........
"Thanks for the thought, but I would rather have the AM 2004 update.
It has features that the Maya standard package doesnt and its is $1900 less."

I ordered my present today!

Here is a testimonial from Jeff Lew (creator of The Killer Bean).

"I like Animation Master because it’s fast and easy to use. The interface seems almost invisible because the workflow is so well designed. It truly is a tool for the artist and not the technical computer person. Also, because it is so cheap, it allowed me to actually work on accomplishing my dreams, rather than just waiting and still dreaming." -- Jeff Lew

Why I chose Animation Master:

I've always been the self-taught independent type, I'm involved in creating 3D animation shorts and, at some point, full length feature films.

However, I'm not a student. As an independent filmmaker, I'd rather spend the money on making films. I always thought 3D animation software was financially out of reach.

And then I saw Alien Song. Once I learned that it had been created with a full featured spline-based 3D package that costs a fraction of all those other programs, I knew I had found the program for me. And, I know that I'll always be Animation Master user.

Steven J. Potter
Austin, TX

A:M makes me think of a Rolls Royce engine stuck in a mini, you feel the speed and power much better when you're driving fast.... and the speedometer keeps signaling higher speeds with every upgrade.
The greatest part of A:M is the hands-on workflow. It has been geared towards ease of use long before other packages caught up to that concept. It works like artists think, with a lot of instinct and visual clarity. The modular build-up makes it custom-fit for the individual artist. And it's great to see all those enthusiastic 'individual' artists make up the vast, excellent and helpfull A:M comunity that it is.
Everybody can afford this Rolls-mini, and drive it!


Arthur Scheijde
Concept designer