El sendero hacia el exito

¡Hola compañeros/as!

Muchos de vosotros a lo mejor pensábais que había abandonado el Blog en el peor momento, justo cuando estaba a punto de finalizar el curso de Animation Mentor. Pues no, aquí estoy así que podéis estar tranquilos, tengo cuerda para rato. Aún así aprovecho para pedir disculpas por mi ausencia durante estas semanas. Todo tiene una buena razón de peso y el título del post tiene mucho que ver con ello. Prometo que en breve colgaré un último post dedicado a las últimas semanas de AM.

Una vez dicho esto, me gustaría comunicaros que la razón por la cuál he estado ausente es debido a una gran oportunidad profesional y personal que me ha surgido. He tenido la “suerte” de poder entrar dentro de la próxima producción animada de Juan José Campanella (Futbolín), como animador junior. Y para ello he tenido que desplazarme hasta Buenos Aires con la intención de quedarme hasta acabar el proyecto (aproximadamente para dentro de 1 año y pico).

Muchos podrían atribuir esta oportunidad a la suerte. Puede. Desde mi punto de vista creo que la suerte nos la creamos uno mismo, estamos continuamente provocando el destino para que aquello que queremos se materialice. Es por ello que, con la experiencia que he tenido durante este largo proceso de introducción en la animación (y que muchos de vosotros habéis podido seguir), me siento con la obligación de contagiaros con la única filosofía válida para conseguir alcanzar vuestros sueños en la vida, especialmente los animadores.

Es la filosofía de la Alegría, del Entusiasmo, del valor del Compañerismo, de la Autocrítica y de la Ilusón de materializar aquello que deseas. Yo me siento afortunado de poder estar viviendo esta experiencia, pero realmente me doy cuenta que si he llegado aquí és porque lo he perseguido, cada paso o movimiento que he hecho en la vida ha sido enfocado hacia lo que quería hacer en un futuro inmediato, a pesar de que fuera un paso pequeño, todo suma. Al final te das cuenta que todo lo que recibes ha sido provocado por tus acciones. Así que os animo a seguir esta filosofía. Es una filosofía aplicable a cualquier cosa, y a diferencia de otras, ésta, tarde o temprano, te devuelve los frutos.

“Animaros” a forjar vuestro sendero hacia el éxito personal. Deseo que mi ejemplo sea inspirador para muchos de vosotros y sobretodo no dejéis de trabajar duro para cumplir vuestro sueño.

Un abrazo!

Thank You!

With this post I want to celebrate and thank several things. Specially all the people who follow the blog weekly.

Thanks to all the people who everyday spent his time reading my personal website. Since I created this website I’ve been receiving messages of support from people around the world. They’re glad to read a blog where they could follow the process of animation from an amateur level to an advanced level.

I’ll tell you something. Before I started Animation Mentor, I was in the same situation that many of you are, looking for references of people involved in the course, because doing this I could decide what to do with my professional future. This already happened more than a year ago. That’s why I created this website, because I wanted you to had the chance to participate in the experience I’m currently living. I hope to convince lot of creative people about the wonders of animation. For me this experience is being very hard, spending lot of effort but in return, the level of satisfaction and happiness is huge. In addition, I’ve met a lot of people with the same interests, you are the best example of that.

So I just want to say Thank you all for being there, following me, for encouraging me to go through with this experience, and to make me able to represent (for a few) a promising figure in the world of animation (I’m full of pride and enthusiasm for that) Your enthusiasm and friendship took me where I’m today.

Although there’s a lot of great stuff to learn and a long way to go. I am still a “youngster” in animation!

A big hug to everyone!

Albert.

Interview by YouAnimator

I’m very proud to announce my first interview as animator. YouAnimator get in touch with me and asked me if I would like to be interviewed as an animator with a successful future. Obviously I said YES!

Meet Albert Barba Cunill, a talented AM student from Spain with bright future. Albert is a big fan of the World Champion Spanish soccer team as well as Animation Mentor.

YOUANIMATOR: How long have you been involved with animation – and how did you originally get into it?

ALBERT: To be honest, I think that I’ve been involved since I was a child. I’ve always had artistic sensibility and I loved all related with drawings, movies and FX. I remember being a child I wanted to be technical in FX for Hollywood movies. This is not far from what I’m doing right now, my intuition was guiding me through the good path.

I completed a degree in “Electronic Art and Digital Design” in High School and in there I discovered 2D and 3D Animation. I learned with Maya software and I used it for more than 4 years, but I spent most of the time modeling with Nurbs, polygons, studying Fur, Cloth, PaintFX… I only spent 6 months learning 3D animation, and sincerely, I didn’t learned almost anything. I guess I didn’t have enough willing because It was very difficult for me and I was overwhelmed at the end.

Now I’ve discovered the animation through a different point of view. Knowing that you are able to create a character from scratch and give him to life is such a sweet feeling. Then, if this character produces laughs or tears to audience, well… then I will have achieved my goal: excite people.

Y: What do you think about the current school you attend (have attended)?

A: No doubt, for me Animation Mentor is the best animation school at the moment. The program gives you the opportunity to learn from the best professionals in the animation. And you can do it staying at home. For me it’s a unique experience and I’m making lots of friends and contacts. I hope they will serve in a near future! Anyway, I still have much to learn. I’ll finish the course in July 2011. Then I will focus on finding a good job.

Y: What would you consider the most crititcal aspect of character animation?

A: The hardest thing is to make believable what is not real. We are talking about a 3D character with no life, and bringing him to life requires a special sensitivity for observation and introspection. Small details are what really matters. The goal is to achieve a link between the audience and the character, and try they feel identified with what is happening. If finally happens, then the satisfaction is absolute. But it is very difficult to achieve it without the basics of animation. Without this base you will not get anything.

Y: what is the most difficult for you?

A: I still have much to learn, and I’m sure there are a lot of things that are very difficult and many of them I’ve still not discovered. I could tell you that the most complicated moment I had was when I was trying to animate a heavy object (external force) which was being manipulated by a character. External forces are very hard to comprehend when they interact with a character.

Y: Do you have any idols (role models)? (In animation and/or acting)

A: There are so many! But most of them I can’t remember the name. In the world of animation I would pick Chuck Jones (genious), Glen Keane, Matt Strangio (Animation Mentor student working on Pixar), Carlos Baena or Carlos Grangel (Character Designer). For me one of the best actors is Jim Carrey. His acting ability has no limits, has infinite performing choices. I just love his performance.

Y: What is your opinion of the rigs you can find on YouAnimator?

A: I still haven’t used them because Animation Mentor offers us their own characters rigs. However, in the near future I’ll download the rigs to practice.

Y: What are your dreams for the future? (can be animation related – doesn’t have to be)

A: Work as Animation Director in a feature film. I would love it, now that’s my goal, but I am a man who has many interests. Maybe in 10 years I’m working on music clips. What I do know is that I want to be creative the entire life, is the talent I have and I enjoy very much with it, so I’ll try squeeze it to the maximum.

Y: What is your ars poetica?

A: I think that if you believe in your opportunities and chances, then the reward will come to you someday. But you don’t have to wait for the 1 Million dollar call. You must believe in you, and if someday reward comes to you, this will be because you deserve it. The Passion and Love you show at your work are the keys that will open all the doors to success. And now, let’s fight for your dream!

 

Frans Johansson: The Secret Truth About Executing Great Ideas

If you want to succeed in something, you must first start with a simple idea and then, fail 10 times while trying to make it happen. It will be later when you see the light.

This is called the “Aha Moment“. And only then, you will realize that this simple idea, that was flying over your head during so much time, is much more than a good idea. Now has turned into a brilliant idea.

And the only secret in order to achieve that is enable you to… ACT. You must do it, and convince yourself this is a good idea and realize that it will be successful.

Frans Johansson is an entrepreneur and thought leader. He is also a consultant and the managing director for a hedge fund. Frans previously co-founded and managed two companies, a Boston-based software company and a medical device company operating out of Baltimore, Maryland and Stockholm, Sweden.

In this high-energy talk, Frans Johansson illustrates how relentless trial-and-error – coming up with an idea, executing it on a small scale, and then refining it – is THE distinguishing characteristic of the greatest artists, scientists, and entrepreneurs.

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Jim Carrey introduces Eckhart Tolle

Bobby Beck posted this video a couple of months ago. I’m totally agree with this type of thought. The power of now, the power of love and of course the power of attraction. This kind of thinking is the one which I’m always looking for becuase it gives me power, energy, inspiration and faith for being the one who I want to be.

I posted the hole speech for you. Jim Carrey as you have never seen him before. His honest, candid, humble self discussing openly his life-long pursuit for meaning and purpose, his encounters with Awakening and his optimistic view of the emerging “New Earth”.

Recorded at the 2009 Inaugural GATE Event (Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment)

Video was Shot and Produced by Eckhart Tolle TV. Eckhart Tolle TV is an online video network offering of transformational video content featuring Eckhart Tolle & Kim Eng.

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Steve Jobs speech, Stanford University

This is for me the best inspiring speech I’ve ever heard in my life.

Please, take a seat, lean back, put your feet up and just enjoy the speech.

Keep silence… Please welcome Steve Jobs.

Note: The speech begins after minute 7.30

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J.J. Abrams & the Mystery Box

Artists, animators, designers, producers… anyway, all this kind of people, like us, are continuously searching for something to get inspired. I believe that enthusiasm is the turning point to achieve whatever we are looking for.

So, when enthusiasm and inspiration come together, then we have the perfect formula.

Let’s back to previous. Me, as animator and designer, I’m always thinking about which is the key to attract the audience attention. There are a lot of formulas and it also depends on social trends. So it’s pretty difficult. But there are few people who are genious and had been working on that.

J.J. Abrams, as it happens, was invited by TED to talk about something profound and interesting. He traces his love for the unseen mystery – a passion that’s evident in his films and TV shows, including Cloverfield, Lost and Alias – back to its magical beginnings.

Check out his speech. I’m sure you will get inspired immediately, I was impressed by his communication skills.
Love to watch it several times.

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TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers are invited to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes — including speakers such as Jill Bolte Taylor, Sir Ken Robinson, Hans Rosling, Al Gore and Arthur Benjamin.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, politics and the arts.