Live Action Reference with Pernille

A while back I was teaching a class at The Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark, one of Europe's best animation schools. Students are required to film themselves acting out a shot and then use the acting as reference for the animation. One of the best examples was this shot animated by Pernille Flyvholm.  Like all the students, Pernille filmed herself acting out the shot, filming multiple takes until she got it just right. The live action has some great detail in it - such as the little flip of the phone in the character's hand - an authentic detail that makes the acting feel believable. 

Learning From The Animation Workshop

The Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark

Earlier in January I was back at The Animation Workshop, working as a "Censor" or - as we would say in the UK - an External Examiner.

External Examiners exist to maintain standards across higher education and ensure that degree results are fairly awarded.

Standards at the Animation Workshop are very, very high.  Not only do their students achieve high levels of skills in both 2D and 3D animation, but many are also skilled character designers and storyboard artists.

Animation producer Claus Toksvig explains how to finance an independent animated feature film

How do you produce and finance an independent animated feature film? It's far from an easy task, but not an impossible dream. In this interview last year at our sister blog FLiP, Danish producer Claus Toksvig explains how it all works, and what are the challenges of making an independent animated film outside of the studio system.