The Mysterious Traveller

When it comes down to it, I tend to blog about animation and the industry that I am currently work in. But everybody loves a tangent.  This blog was originally meant as a guide (albeit a terribly scruffy one) to map the journey from graduation to 'real life' and the job opportunities that one might get via the animation route. There was no intention to preach or instruct graduates that this was the way , but to merely show that I had found a way (very much like the dinosaurs on Isla Nublar). So really, I don't need to blog about anything now.  We all know that just isn't true. I like writing bollocks too much to cease all this tomfoolery. Of course, I am still working on side projects (something that all creative folk ought to be doing) and taking my sweet ass time in completing any of them. The most ongoing of all is the model I have been constructing based on a Quentin Blake illustration, taken from my favourite Roald Dahl book The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me . ...

...*yawns* ...*stretches his fingers* It's taken me over ten days to write this blog so there may be some really hurried sections. Or some really naff sections. For this I can merely bequeath you to enjoy the photographs rather than my grumpy typing. There are sentences in past tense, present tense and stuff all over the bloody shop. It's just been all Thunderbirds are go at the studio in Birmingham. So I have decided to summarise my 2013 year in a post with as little writing as possible and as many visual aids (stop that) as I can muster. As the new year has already begun, I shall be typing furiously to finish this post, but have immediately jeopardised this by watching the Christmas special of Father Ted. So fifty five minutes later I can continue. It has certainly been a productive and progressive year for me within the animation industry. I have placed a hat upon my head especially to take it off again to Mr Drew Roper because without the support from him and the ...

Unlike me to go a month without posting an update; perhaps I'm losing my touch OR I have been so productive that I couldn't possibly make time! That's right folks it is the latter and it's all been positive news since FLIP Festival (which was a great opportunity for networking). I have been approached with various project proposals to either work with a team or undertake as a freelance animator (again it is the latter that I am most excited about). But before I divulge into these projects I can finally, and triumphantly, show you the animation I helped with after spending a week in Canterbury with the Animate and Create team. It was for the Shepherd Neame Brewery (Bishops Finger anyone?) as part of their 'Merry Christmas' advertising campaign. I helped cut out the characters and back them with the book text design, although I did design and make the backdrop of trees in the opening sequence (05:00) and the candles/food on the table for the grand feast. I crea...

So July has been a month of good news and countless propositions for me. Some have been honourable with a multitude of career prospects, whilst some have a more personal touch and giving me titles such as The Godfather and 'that guy who filmed our wedding'. Either way, even without getting the job down in Kent for the Animate and Create Studios , I deem it a productive month for networking and getting that little bit closer to freelancing glory. I shall talk about the interview later, however, because I have an incredible announcement to make. I was told by The Man  not to promote this until the 23rd July, which has obviously been and gone, but I have literally just this moment uncovered the online festival programme with the line-up so I have no qualms whatsoever in confirming that The Money Tree animated film has been accepted into the Bristol Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival .  Yes, the final major project I was involved in (alongside three of my esteemed a...

As I write this new entry I have actually lost all energy in physical form, however, my strong will to do something productive has prevailed. I have left my job as a catering assistant at Princethorpe College and just returned from an intense seven day drinking excursion to the cultural and peaceful coastal village of Ayia Napa, therefore, this day signifies the new adventures of Tom's Thumb. In between recovering by the pool and having yet another McDonalds meal (it truly was one of the most unhealthiest weeks of my life; I loved it!) I somehow mustered myself to reach the reception and make full use of the Internet. I logged onto my Hotmail account. I discovered an email from a Dan Richards. The name didn't originally ring any bells but as I opened it and read through, it all became clear... I finally have an interview for an animation based job!!! Animate and Create Studios   I had applied for the role of stop motion animator and workshop leader in the A...