Classical Dance: Great Reference for Animators!

Last weekend, I went with my wife to a Bharatnatyam dance show. My mom used to teach Bharatnatyam during my school days so it was a bit nostalgic to see those movements.

But this time watching the show, I was too critical for the movement and gestures as an animator. And I realized classical dance are a great source of reference for animators to study – posing, arcs, ease-in and ease-out, follow through, etc.

Bharatnatyam Dance

The best part was there were two dancers – one was really good and the other one was a bit stiff. You could easily see the difference in the movement from a not an experienced dancer to an experienced one! The principles of animation still apply!

Bharatnatyam

Project Ror Fanbase Still Alive!

Recently, I stumbled across a gallery of artwork and screenshots of a project I worked on almost 8-9 years ago. The project was a fan campaign/mod for WarCraft III called Project RoR. I had so much fun working on that WC3 Game Mod. I am so happy to see someone is keeping the work and credit alive!

Project RoR Surgeon

Project RoR Gallery

Midnight doodle

Midnight doodle

I have not been posting much recently on my blog. That’s a good sign in a way. It means I have been quite busy with lots to do. And also been doodling a lot now and then… More to come soon…

Animation: Is it only for children?

For years, animated films have been considered as entertainment packages only for children. Sure, your parents might have sat down and watched with you “The Lion King” and really enjoyed it. But they would not watch it on their own if they had to, after all it’s a kids movie.

Ever since Mickey Mouse started whistling, animation has been ghettoized as a children’s medium and its practitioners condemned to anonymity.

Pixar has been trying to change that as they always make films not targetting only the children. However, they still have a long way to go.

I was walking in a DVD store looking for the film “Cars”. I found it in the children’s section. Seriously, all the animated films were available in children’s section. Even a film like “Persepolis” is found in children’s section. Persepolis is no way a children’s movie.

I think stores should organize these movies not in children’s section but in Animated Films Category… Till then, it’s still a long way for people to take this medium of story telling seriously for adult audience…