This tutorial uses Toon Boom Animate to create a multiplane landscape, in addition shows how to creating a wiggly line effect (Ed, Edd, and Eddy or Dr. Katz) on each part of the scene. The clouds and sun in the shot are parented to the camera to to push the illusion that objects furthest away in the horizon barely move.
28 minutes/103.2MB… be patient while loading

click here to order & download an HD version of this tutorial, ONLY $2!

Show some love, retweet this tutorial by clicking here

Here is part 1 of how to animate a character walking up stairs in Toon Boom Animate. This tutorial covers basic rigging and motion tweens.
16 minutes/37.2MB… be patient while loading

click here to order & download an HD version of this tutorial, ONLY $2!

Show some love, retweet this tutorial by clicking here

Okay, for those of you who haven’t heard, I’ve stopped using Flash for animation. Before I explain why, allow me to be clear—I haven’t stopped using Flash for other projects (web design, motion comics, etc.), I just no longer animate with it.

For animation, I switched over to a product from Toon Boom called Animate – right out of the box, Animate does things for my animation work flow that Flash only can do with plug-ins, and, in some cases not well, or not at all.

Though I’m sure there are other advantages for animators to switch from Flash to Toon Boom, for me and my workflow, there are three reasons worth mentioning – character rigging, a true 3D camera, and automated lip sync.

Character Rigging
Flash CS4 did add the Bone tool, however, Animate’s IK system, IMHO. is a much better solution. Cartoon Smart did an awesome comparison of the two here.

Camera
Flash, to date, has no camera of its own unless you know how to “fake” one or program one using Actionscript. Though I can’t talk about Flash’s lack of camera without mentioning V-Cam. V-Cam is a free movie clip that creates a pseudo-camera for Flash. However, when compared to Animate’s True Space camera, V-Cam lacks Z-depth and the ability to create multiplane scenes.

All of this can be faked in Flash (trust me, I’ve done a few), but having the ability to create camera moves in minutes by simply moving the camera instead of moving your object, scene or symbol is much less tedious, and far more efficient.

Lip Sync
Last but not least, automated lip sync. Almost all of my animations involve some sort of lip sync, from simple dialogue to song lyrics. Typically, in Flash, this process for me can take anywhere from two hours to a full day, or two, depending on the level of complexity or number of characters. However, Animate can automate this for you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a stickler for lip sync, so my preference is to go in after the automation and tweak a few things. The bottom line: I can now get my lip syncs done in a fraction of the time.

In closing, I realize the Flash vs. Toon Boom discussion is one of those conversations that can be lumped in with sex, religion, politics, Mac vs. PC and, more recently, Apple vs. Adobe, but IMHO, there is no reason for discord.

Both Adobe Flash and Toon Boom Animate are amazing tools, and I use both. A hammer and a wrench are also great tools, and again I use both; however, I do not hammer in nails with a wrench, nor will I animate with Flash, for that I use Toon Boom Animate.

Don’t take my word for it; try out the free PLE (Personal Learning Edition) of Animate.

This is my first tutorial using Toon Boom Animate 2. In this exercise I will
convert a rectangle to a leg, then animate the leg using layer hierarchy and
the transform tool.
If you don’t have a copy of Toon Boom Animate 2, download the FREE PLE
version here and follow along.

click here to order & download an HD version of this tutorial, ONLY $2!

Show some love, retweet this tutorial by clicking here

Hey Campers, here is a look at the first commercial that one of my brainchildren, STUDIO 11D12, is doing for local cable in Atlanta.

writing, directing, & animation: Tony Ross

character design & animation: Lamont Russ

All Voices : Demarcus Hill

Here is a basic Flash tutorial to animate cartoon eyes w/ a blink. This tutorial uses Graphic symbols set to Single Frame. I’m using CS4, but this technique is doable in earlier versions of Flash as well, (even before any CS version).
19 minutes/54.5MB… be patient while loading

click here to order & download an HD version of this tutorial, ONLY $2!

Show some love, retweet this tutorial by clicking here

After much thought, planning, and testing, I have redesigned my animation workshop. The new workshop is based off of an exercise, faking camera moves in Flash, that was in my 2008 workshops.

In this new workshop, each student will create their own 10-15 second animated scene, from start to finish, in Adobe Flash. Students will learn basic animation, character animation, as well as basic practices on how to work in Flash.

Students should bring with them an idea of a simple 10-15 second scene that has no more than 3 characters. Don’t have an idea? No worries, I will bring a few ideas with me.

This 4 day (two weekend) workshop will be taught at SCAD Atlanta’s campus.
Sign up now, seats are limited.

Flash Animation: Master the Scene
Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Feb. 21-22 and Feb. 28-March 1
Registration Fee: $325.00

http://www.scad.edu/community-education/courselistings.cfm

If you have other questions about this workshop, feel free to contact me directly at classes[at]tonyteach.com. I do my best to respond to all emails the evening of the day that they were received, EST evening that is