WISTFUL DOWN THE WIND!

You get more than top-notch instruction from me when I teach! You get unique animation memories, history and whimsy too. Take the case of the 1970's 'Cresta Bear' commercials!

“It’s frothy man!”

I have to say that I’m recording so much material for my forthcoming, ‘Walking the Walk’, animation course right now - starting this Monday, April 28th - that I often amuse myself (and hopefully my students) by sharing little-known stories of my animation past with whoever cares to listen. It is true, nothing gets in the way of the instruction. However, when demonstrating something that is slow, mechanical and somewhat repetitive - such as ‘inbetweening’ for example - I try to not strain my students’ patience when watching me, by also sharing stories of the industry and my journey within it at the same time.

Here is one case in question - an except from my ‘Class 3’ demo on inbetweening in Rough Animator, where I get quite wistful in remembering the creation of one of the most successful British advertising campaigns ever… ‘Cresta Bear’.

All this of course is great fodder for my ‘animated memoir’ film aspirations. That is something I’ll be sharing more and more with my paid subscribers as time goes by. The idea is somewhat inspired by the success of my previously published ‘Animation Me’ memoir. At the same time, will be much more additional material and concepts added to the final film project when the time comes. But perhaps the except above gives just a tiny hint of where I’m going with the overall concept. Essentially, the plan is to tell tales told from my life and career, as I work through a typical day at my desktop - albeit, often interrupted by my imaginary muse and mentor, ‘Arnie’.

Imagine the stories that Arnie and I could tell you, as I am seen animating some of the incredible sequences that will feature in the same film!

The reality is that I have so many amazing stories from my life - in and outside of animation. The are funny, sad, inspirational, aspirational, transformative and even quite spooky and mystical at time. But they are all true, and are thoroughly entertaining - albeit there were never any cameras there to capture the moment at the time.

For example, there was the time in the early 1990’s when Arnie and I climbed the Great Pyramid in Egypt, when on a research trip I was making for PBS Television in the USA. This is all in addition to many other amazing, and often mystical, experiences that I had in that ancient, magical land. Really! I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried!

Anyway, so varied and interesting have been many of these experiences, that I now want to bring them to life by having young, up-and-coming animators re-created the stories for me throughout the film - that is though, in their own style and using their own favored techniques. The trigger for all of the stories will be a documentary-style setting of me working at my desk and telling the stories to my mischievous muse, ‘Arnie’. This is all clearly such stuff as dreams are made of - and and a perfect platform for exploring new and innovative approaches to animated storytelling!

The last meeting I ever had with my legendary teacher and animation hero, Richard Williams, was at the famous Aardman studio canteen in Bristol, England. My wife captured the moment on camera - although she definitely wasn’t aware at the time that I was accompanied by two of my most outlandish of imaginary friends. They both owe their existence to the incredible animation knowledge the Dick, and others, gave to me way back, at the beginning of my career!

Oh, and by the way…

I would love to hear what you think about all this. Your responses could well help me form the content of my animated memoir as it unfolds in my mind, and as I begin to commit it to paper through the concept art and screenplay.

And, incidentally…

‘Walking the Walk’ is my way of ‘paying it forward’ - for the incredible journey I’ve had through the wonderful world or animation. I’ve been privileged enough to be gifted some incredible knowledge of animation - and life - from some of the greatest minds ever. This has been such invaluable, foundational, knowledge that I’ve been able to successfully prove, perfect and evolve it ever since.

If you don’t know how to animated a ‘Sneak’ - or the other crucial walking actions that every animator should know how to do - you will by the end of my ‘Walking the Walk’ course!

So yes, what an amazing life and career I’ve had! I’ve woken-up grateful, each day - and long may it continue!

Namaste! :)