Note: Keekat's right foot may appear askew in the most recent release.
If you experience this problem download the attached file for a Keekat with working foot.

The Art of Animation Master Part I: Animation

ANYONE CAN ANIMATE
1 - You're the Director
2 - A Chorus Line
3 - Move It
4 - It's a Pitch
5 - Take a Walk
6 - The Door's Stuck
7 - Can You Say That?

Preferred file format is Jpeg (.jpg)
Preferred file name format is: 'Ex1 (Your Name)(Additional Information you want to type).jpg'

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The Art of Animation:Master
Exercise 1: You're the Director
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An introduction to the Animation Master interface and basic navigation in a Choreography. Approximate time to complete: 20 Minutes


Example from Exercise 1 by Dan Roberts

Break out The Art of Animation Master manual and turn to page 15. Take a nice look at the picture on page 14 by Den Beauvais and realize you are now on your way to mastering the art of animation. Each exercise video can be either viewed online or downloaded as well:

Web/Online (6.6MB)

Download Exercise 1 Zip ( 6.34MB)

It may be useful to watch the video first and then read along as you complete the exercise.


Workflow
While Exercise 1 is primarily an exercise in familiarity with the A:M User interface don't run through this exercise too quickly... there is a lot you can miss!

For further exploration keep the following questions in mind as you work through Exercise 1:

What is the function of a Library?

What is a Pose?

How do Libraries and Poses relate to the concept of a Talent Pool?


Shortcut Keys
At the end of Excercise 1 there is an introduction to A:M Keyboard Shortcuts. These keys can prove to be VERY useful so keep them handy.

Z - Zoom
Shift Z - Zoom fit
M - Move
T - Turn
7 - Default Render
8 - Wireframe Render
9 - Shaded Wireframe render
0 - Shaded and Wireframe render

On the number pad:
0 - Bottom View
1 - Camera View
2 - Front View
4 - Left View
5 - Top View
6 - Right View
7 - Bird's Eye View
8 - Back View

Here is an even more extensive listing of shortcuts: A:M Keyboard Shortcuts

Name:  Den Dotson

Exercises Completed:  One so far with more on the way
Date Completed:  Saturday March 12, 2005

Instructor:  Rodney (Head of Department of Encouragement) and that guy on the web tutorials

Remarks/Suggestions for Improvement:  Keep up the good work!

Even though I have used Hash Animation Master for some time I have never forced myself to sit down and work through every exercise in the Art of AM. Rodney's idea of offering a certificate has given me the excuse to DO IT!

Here is a link to the first completed exercise:

http://homepage.mac.com/animateden/hash/yo...director_sm.mov

Thanks Rodney,
-Den

Congrats Den!
You are the first to officially begin the 2005 Art of Animation:Master exercises.
I'm still adjusting under the hood but hope to get the exercises recollected in such a way to make it even more fun and educational.

Thanks Den!

Thanks Rodney! And thank you so much for taking upon yourself to do this.

I noticed you haven't gotten to putting up links for the next few exercises...is it okay if I post links to my finished exercise here or should they go someplace else?

Working away on Ex 2,
-Den

Den you are welcome to post as you see fit.
All I ask is that you keep the posts in the New Users Forum so I can move them to the appropriate place later. My power ends at the gate to the NUF.

I did add the link to the current Exercise 2 above and will be adding the rest back in as I find time.

Thanks!

I've had the application for a long time too. But I tend not to go through all the excercises.
So here is my go at it.


Sylvester

Good to have you with us Sylvester!

Old or new, all are welcome to join in.

Name: Chris Thom

Exercises Completed: 1

Date Completed: Apr 9, 05

Instructor: Rodney

Remarks/Suggestions for Improvement: Since I'm a Fellow now it might be a good idea if I completed these exercises. Plus I'll get a nifty certificate to hang next to my plaque.

Here's #1

ChrisThom,
I can't view your exercise just now but want to welcome you aboard!
Hope you are the first of many Fellows that pass through here.

Thanks!
Rodney (who feels a bit guilty for being called the instructor... but hey... I'll try to live up to it)

Nice Touch with the wink Chris! Very fluid and smooth.

Hi,
Got my 11.1 upgrade from 8 (2000) today.

Woah! The interface has been updated ( read: improved ) muchly since then.

Kudos to the Hash team!

Ummm I just noticed the other guys did a movie.

I did a still, but I chose the "Toon Render" default icon from the "Render to File" window, ignoring the "Advanced" options.

I think the Toon Render engine works quite well!

I am also working on a short intro for an internal video project at work.

I was having trouble with version 8 crashing when I hit a certain frame.
If I started the render from that frame with "Shadows" and "Antialias" turned off, then the render would finish ok. But then the sequences were disjointed when I put them together in the video software.

I have loaded the project into v11.1 and am now rendering with Toon settings (just for fun!). The models look quite interesting with the Toon Render so I hope the whole sequence is pleasing now.

I am a network administrator so this is quite outside my normal tasks. I am enjoying it!

My thanks to Rodney also for moderating/overseeing these exercises.

kagorami

Kim,
Welcome aboard!

Stills work almost as well as movies for some of the exercises.
Sometimes it depends on artist preference alone.

One thing to keep in mind...
I extract elements of your exercises for inclusion in your certificate.
That way each and every participant can remember the fun they had working through the exercises in The Art of Animation:Master. ...and yes... the occasional struggles too.

You hit two of my favorite elements right off the bat... Keekat... and toon rendering. You are off to a great start.

There are a lot of other folks that should dive in and join the fun.
It's always more fun when you work through the exercises with others.

P.S. You aren't related to the famous Cindy Groves of A:M fame are you?

Hi,

I've just started playing with this software and am really excited about its creative possibilities.

Name: Tom Jansen

Exercise: Well, I quickly ran through each of the exercises, and am now going back through each one with more detail.

Date Completed: April 14, 2005

Instructor: None, though I will start to look at each of the exercises posted to learn from everyone here!

Here's a link to my file: http://cybersummit.org/AM/Ex1_KeeKat.mov

Thanks!
-Tom

Welcome aboard Tom.

Good to have you with us!
Since you've already been through the exercises once hopefully this time will be more fun than the last.

Here's a capture from your Exercise 1 movie for all to see:

Hi!

Well I got my copy today and jumped right in to lesson 1.

Name: Steve Nicholas

Lessons completed: #1

Date Completed: 6 May, 2005

Comments: Well, I just kind of figured out the basics of the timeline by trial and error...mostly error. I messed with the various pose sliders at the end..makes him look a little insane.

Hi again, here comes my exercise no 1.

greetings,
Ulrika

Steve and Ulrika,
Here we are at just Exercise #1 and already I can see you two are off to a great start. How do I know? The detail and personalization you've added to this (rather simple) exercise tells me you are not only willing but capable of producing animation with style.

No exaggeration here... onward to Exercise #2 and beyond!

Name: Tenez Waggoner

Exercises Completed: 1 You're the Director

Date Completed: May 12 2005

Instructor: None

Remarks/Suggestions for Improvement: When rendering. First make sure the model is on the ground plane. Otherwise keekats shadow won't be attached to him. I learned this the hard way.

thanks it's good to be here

Name: Jarrod Selsmark

Exercises Completed: #1 You're the Director

Date Completed: 21 May 2005

Instructor: N/A

Remarks/Suggestions for Improvement: Fun project. I haven't touched AM for sooo long its not funny.. Still update every year though.. Making an effort to actually sit down and learn properly this time... I thought KeeKat is way too cute.. We all know that cats have a bit of the devil in them though

Hi Rod,

Here is my first completed exercise...
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Name: Robert Harris

Exercise: Your're the director

Date Completed: May 24th, 2005

Woo hoo! Darklimit is in the house.

Everyone take note. This will probably be your only chance to work through the exercises next to DL. Best to sign up and get to exercising now!

There will be other A:M Community greats to pass through these online exercises but there is and will remain only one... Darklimit.

I'm looking forward to your progress and feedback DL.
Great to have you with us.

I have been messing with Hash on and off for a bit and decided to do the exercises as well. Not much excitement in this one though.


Name: Leo Mitchell

Exercise # 01

Completed 24 May 2005

Instructor: Web Tutorial and manual


I am looking forward to the more challenging projects.

Name: Paula Waslen

Exercises Completed: 1

Date Completed: May 26, 05

Instructor: Rodney

Remarks/Suggestions for Improvement: As simple as this was, I see there is a lot to learn about render settings.

Although I am not completely new to AM, I haven't completed much stuff. I'm hoping these tutorials will force me to change that!

Welcome aboard Paula.
We just graduated Forevernameless so it's always good to see others pick up the torch and run with it.

If getting into the habit of producing artwork on a deadline is one of your goals I think you'll find this process very rewarding.

Rodney

Thanks Rodney! I do need a little push and a good goal to get me moving. You and everyone here are very inspirational, so that should help.

Name: Doug Fall

Exercises Completed: #1

Date Completed: May 28, 2005

Instructor: Web Tutorial and Manual

Remarks/Suggestions for Improvement: Yes, yes I see that others have added their own personal touches - I already completed 1 and 2 "by the book", so I'll try harder for the rest...

Doug,
Welcome aboard... great to have you with us.

Personal touches are indeed great. Sometimes a director will want a specific look too though. Those cases may not provide for the greatest freedom of expression but there is satisfaction in knowing you can hit the mark and produce exactly what is required.

...and bam! There keekat is in all his wide-eyed glory.

A bit late but thought I would join in if that's ok...

Name: Jacob R.

Excersises Completed: #1, --

Date: 6/08/05


I regret not doing these the week I got this great software...although i think I know many of these concepts, I will probably learn a lot...

Name: Paul Mcgrade

Exercises Completed: Exercise 1: You're The Director

Date Completed: June 10th, 2005

Instructor: None

Hey Paul!

I'm having one of those deja vu spells... haven't I seen you complete some of these exercises before?

In any case, its good to have you with us.
Nice toon rendering of Keekat.

Actually, I havn't posted on hash forums for a while now lol, I bought lightwave and am using it now, however I still have AM. So when Darklimit told me about that OZ movie, I wanted to join up so I thought I would just do these exercises for the heck of it

I've been using A:M since 2001, and am finally starting to consider myself competent. I realized that I hadn't officially done all the exercises though. I figured I might as well try them all again, this time with four years' experience under my belt. Here, then, is the first one:

Name: Zev Eisenberg
Exercise Completed: Exercise 1 "You're the Director"
Date Competed: 20 June 2005
Remarks/Suggestions: none now, wait'll I get to the hard stuff.

-Zev

Great to have you with us Zev!
2001 eh? Old timers are especially welcome here.

Jonathan,
I stand corrected. Thanks for setting me straight!
You are quite correct and from the moment you open the box A:M is a veritable cornucopia of fun and excitement!

I shall not doubt again.

Impressive gesturing there on Keekat too!

Name: Kenneth Wong

Exercises Completed: Exercise 1: You're the Director

Date Completed: 22nd June 2005

Instructor: Just the book

Remarks/Suggestions for Improvement: None

I hope I've attached this pic properly

Name: John Bauer

Exercises Completed: Exercise 1: Your the Director
Date Completed: June 14

Instructor: Den Dotson

John, (or do you prefer Chip?)

Welcome! Great to have you with us.

Linda Bridges
You're the Director
Completed: June 14, 2005
Instructor: Den Dotson

Name: Daniel Koroby
Exercise Completed: Ex 1: You're the Director
Date Completed: June 14
Instructor: Den Dotson