...digging up the past on New Years eve...

I was going through old sketchbooks and notepads. Besides a bunch of stories and character designs I found something I had no idea how to create at the time. My first job in the 3D animation world was at a start up game studio. I was thrown into the lead animator roll after a few weeks and it was a true learning experience. I had no clue how to create an animation pipeline that would be effective for getting us from the beginning of the game to the end. The pipeline had to show the back and forth between the different departments and not just what the animators output. I wanted to post this because it is kind of a release to see that I could do this. I really appreciate John Sicat (EA Creative Director now!) for giving me the chance to prove myself. We have been good friends since then. You can do anything I guess when the pressure is on you to perform. Like Al Pacino said in Devils Advocate, "...pressure changes everything....some people focus..others fold"

stay focused in the new year!

...new Rapunzel image released...

This image was posted by disneypixar.fr. and has the two main characters facing off. I am sure there will be many more to come.

take a break from drawing and draw?

researching some stuff for work and drawing some ideas..but I took a break and kept drawing. I used to love the Looney Tunes stuff that was drawn in the real world even though it looked odd. For some reason I was amazed by it and still at that point I didnt know I could do animation for a living (very young age). I found some fantastic stuff and I think it is really going to help out for next year. I will probably stop in the office tomorrow and work out some things that have been popping into my head over the weekend. I also had time to help my wife out with a logo for her math education blog.

If you have kids and need a good way to get them excited about math, my wife is creating an area that will give exposure to great ways of learning math. It incorporates real life situations, videos, and information that can help them excel in class. I will give an update when it goes live. Here is a sneak peek at what the logo looks like so far.

HI-HO....HI-HO its off to... (lack of posts)

Aww Man homie... I have not been posting much stuff here or the Pencil Test Depot, but I did put 2 new pencil tests up go take a peek at PencilTestDepot. I showed my first shots for production today. 6 shots for the movie within the same sequence. I blocked out all six and wanted to show them before the holiday break. I didnt want to come back and have to wait for the directors to see...or just sit on the ideas that long period. I was able to show and got some good notes that I can hit the ground running when we get back. This wasnt the first animation I showed. The first bit of work I did was with the main villain of the movie. That test got sent off to simulation so that we could see everything working as a whole. I cant wait to see what it looks like.

Anyway... feels like going to the office everyday with the "Bruce Leroy" glow! Excited to be at work and eager to keep pushing forward to help make the production be something we all can be proud of.

Animation: A Labor of Love

Animation has always been a big part of my life. I used to sit in front of the TV at a young age and watch anything that was animated, even episodes of My Little Pony. I just loved cartoons at a young age. When my mother couldnt get us toys she would give me a stack of paper and pencils. Being a teacher, my mother had more than enough of both. My grandmothers house was just another place that fueled my head with ideas. Now that I am working as an animator, I think back to all those days. The moments of trying stuff, mimicking other artists, and just being curious. Animation is hard work and it is work that I love. I try so hard to be better, more creative, strong mentally, innovative, and so many other things to be good as I can be. Staying humble and remembering the struggle is what keeps me going day after day. I remember eating crap and staying up until the sun showed up for a new day and how that was a regular way of living. For me, animation is hard. I try so hard to get the ideas and character out of my mind and on to the screen, I am literally drained by the end of the day. I try hard because I want my mother and brother to be proud of me. I want my grandmothers to smile down on me and be happy their grandson is still trying. Trying to be someone they can be proud of.

JB

...Santa and Hannukah Harry are on the way...

The holidays are creeping up and I have been grinding at work pretty hard. Going in early and trying to push. I hope everyone gets to have a good holiday this year. I drew another yearly HOBO SANTA. I have a few of these I draw during the holiday season... something about the holidays and hobos... This is not the happiest mixture but I always find it interesting. I am in the middle of coloring this one... fingers crossed for the outcome.


***Disney Update: I have been working on a something to hopefully help define one of the characters for the movie. Its not set in stone but I have been getting some really positive feedback and I look forward to really trying some powerful acting.

...first day at Disney...and new character stuff

So today was my first day at Disney and I was pretty 'geeked up'. You are already siked about it but once you walk through the doors its an even better feeling than you expected. Met with some old friends and spoke with Glen K. My friend and I walked around the studio and he introduced me to some of the team. I have to say that the projects look amazing and the artists are at the top of their game. Walking into an "animation" studio with so much history...a history that I have soaked up for a long time really hit me hard. I am eager and excited... a bit more than excited. My office door is open!


On another note... more art for JBToon and one of the last Key Frames from a test I am starting.

JSBToon: SECOND PASS. Head Poses

After playing with the shapes and placement of things, I think I got a good workable head. The rough drawings really felt good when trying to discover the best turning shapes. This was always one of my favorite things with 2D animation; creating the model sheets. It can be tough trying to figure out how the character turns, but the discoveries are worth it. There may be more evolution when the animation is started and I sure it will be for the best.

...going back to Cali..Cali... Cali...

the day I was leaving to come back to California I did a sketch of my wife and I. She says I never draw us so...NO.. I dont like drawing myself. Just is a coincidence this month I guess. I made the cartoon version and played around a bit more. Kind of like our Cali post card. Dont be surprised if this gets used for parties or some other kind of invitation (insert address here). You see I left some space... ok.. back to drawing model sheets. oh! and I just realized that the shirt I am wearing is damn near the same color as the logo dude..uck

..a few months back...

When I started getting the 2D animation bug again, I started playing around with a thumbnail mock up of sorts. Just playing around with some ideas and thoughts.

JSBToon: FIRST PASS

So in an effort to continue pushing my animation skill set I decided to create an animated intro for this site. Began to work out the facial shapes and structure. I have to refine the placement of everything so that the character will be solid when I start the animation. The body is still a work in progress. Not sure if I want to go with the thick to thin arms or anatomically stylized. I am going to be way more anal in this animation than the pencil test I posted. That was a fun exercise that got me really pumped to animated full steam ahead at home and work. (DONT FORGET TO SPEND TIME WITH THE WIFE SUCKA!!!) This should be an interesting undertaking after all of these years but there are no real excuses not to do it. Anyway..there will be some more stuff to come as I press on. Thanks to BJ for some extra inspiration. THE NEXT PHASE OF THIS FOR ME IS TO DRAW OVER THIS SKETCHES AND REFINE THE FACE SO I CAN ANIMATE IT EASIER.

-jb

Walt Disney Animation

In a few weeks I will be starting my position as an animator at Disney. My career has been a journey that seems to be never ending. I started out chasing the dream of becoming a 2D animator and always had Disney in my sights, but there was a time when 2D animation was coming to a hault and I had to jump on the computer if I was to have a higher chance of working as a feature animator. The funny thing is the entire time I was in Los Angeles I never applied to Disney. I can honestly say if it wasnt for one of the Disney featurettes, I probably wouldnt have continued to animate. I remember sitting in my room in grad school night after night getting frustrated, but I saw this guy on one of the DVD's and I was blown away even more. The idea that he was working there gave me more hope of being an animator. I started to really focus even more and pressed forward. NOW the idea that I get to work a long side soooo many people I respect is a major thing, not just in my career but my life as well. I try so hard not to take for granted what I do for a living. We as animators/ artists are given the opportunity to do something that is rare. Some people got on the path easier than others and some get there by sweating for it. Either way you have to appreciate what you do for a living and remember to continue to do what got you to this point, because it is what made you.

...Black Warrior...Pencils

When I first started animating I was turned on to these pencils... Black Warrior... I have to say that I became addicted. When I moved up to the NW, I had a panic because only office stores carried them and none of the stores here had them in stock. I had like 3 pencils left and the way I sharpen pencils...the go fast, even with the pencil extenders. Well obviously this character isnt me but...eh

pre-color: WildCart full concept

this is the full concept of my front page. I made it in 3 sections so that I could play with the depth of field. This was actually for a larger concept that I had, but here is a piece of what I was thinking before the color

...everyday I'm rustling...

since I have been in transitioning and living in temp housing...I have been drawing on an ironing board and sometimes taking my laptop, opening a blank page, laying it flat open, and using it for a lite table. I guess its roughing it, but its better than drawing on the floor...been there, done that...but it does remind me of my childhood laying on the floor and watching cartoons.

...no storyboards...?

I remember working on a project and someone talked about how storyboards were overrated... I felt disoriented and dizzy by the statement, like I was about to go into cardiac arrest. I know not every story person works with boards, but I know most AT LEAST work with thumbnails or beat boards to visualize their idea. So in essence, they are working with a type of story board.

item_03: col-erase 20044

the blue col-erase 20044. Sounds like a weapon, but I guess for most artists it is. This is has been my choice for many years. Even before I got deep deep into animation I used to mimic the comic book artists who had rough examples in Wizard magazine. You can see it all over Florian Satzinger's blog (great work). A definite must have for all artist and animators who love to draw, but there are a few similar pencils that 'kinda' have the same feel... buy em' by the box because they go fast (CLICK ON THE PICTURE)!

old.Man-O-Steel

diggin in the crates. came across some older images that I had some fun with.

Lack of Posts: Preparing for Transition.. On to the next one!

So I have had a lack of posts here on my blog, but putting a lot of posts at the Pencil Test Depot I am sure that will slow over the next month. I am moving back to Los Angeles and I have been preparing the move as well as mentally for the next part of my career. A lot of research and sketching... It has been an eye opener and refreshing to get back into the student mind state. I have always put it in my mind that I have a long way to go in my animation career (I will probably still be saying that at age 60). Funny how the path has been...and I have to thank my wife for being very strong through this transition. Its funny to see how you inspire someone with drive and passion...at the same time how you are inspired by someones calm and peaceful outlook on life. The perfect balance and another reason why I love my wife. New posts soon...

keep grindin'

CB: Head Pass 2

these are some head passes I did on a character. Some are a little off model, but the idea of what I want is there. keep plugging away.

Pencil Test Depot: first posts..NOW UP!

Pencil Test Depot (click here to see)

I created this blog because I was tired of going all over looking at pencil tests. I also have a bunch I have collected over the years that I will share with all of the people who like looking at rough animation by good animators. I have always found them very valuable and I have always studied them. Now there will be an easy way to access them from anywhere.

Enjoy

line up...

design ..design ..and more design. Trying to make the best of the time when I work in my home office. Generating ideas and concepts.

...brass monkey...

I was going through some of my old folders and found concepts from a project that never took flight with this online group. The concept was pretty funny, but you know how things go sometimes...draw draw draw and nada. Its cool though..I was excited at the time..."the experiences thats all you have are the experiences"

the project... character 4

this was the fourth character design I created months back and when I started to do his head turn sheet, he needed a hat. I based his first hat from Lee Van Cleef then tried another. Ultimately I went back to my first idea. The other designs will be show in the sketch files/ making of.

Meet the Spy: RELEASED

so the short that I co-directed with Andrew Burke and Aaron Halifax got leaked early on the internet. The writing was done by Erik Wolpaw and Jay Pinkerton...funny stuff. Major thanks to Lars Jensvold, Jason Brashill, Mike Stevens, Bill Fletcher and Keith Huggins for helping us make it come all together.

Meet the Spy

Hope you enjoy it.

Cartoon Brew...thanks for all the great compliments

c.bradley

bottles...

...2009...

new ventures... and new horizons... and a bigger release