This one will be short and sweet.

First off, go see ‘Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs’.

Fun, fun stuff. For the kids and adults. It was a ‘cartoon-cartoon’ and one heck of a ride.

I went out of my way NOT to see it in craptastic ‘Real 3D’ and I have to say, there was not one second when I thought “Hey, I wish this was blurrier and stuff was flying at my face.”

Not once.

Between this and ‘Surf’s Up’ (love that one), Sony Pictures Animation has earned my total respect. They are making some great stuff over there. Thank you Sony Animation people!

Maybe I’ll write more of a review thingy on ‘Cloudy’ soon. In the meantime, go see it.

Second, I can’t wait for the Princess and the Frog!

2D classical animation is coming back. I’m all giddy about it.

Just sayin’.

Third, I’m starting a new season of ‘Kid vs Kat’.

Like today.

Should be a fun season. Lots of work ahead. Lots of late nights. But it’s cool.

I even splurged (i.e. racked up credit card) for my own Cintiq 21UX (insert rapid inhalation of breath here). Kind of scary. But it’s purrrrrtty. I will be drawing my boards digitally this time around. And I’ll be writing about the process in the Production Journal to keep you up on the madness that is working on an animated TV series.

Fourth, the Mini Storyboard Critiques are going up!

In price.

It was supposed to be today. But I felt I should give the people ‘on the fence’ a little more time.

So there’s a slight delay in the price increase. It’s now Wednesday, October 14th. Yeah, in TWO DAYS.

Then the $32 Mini Storyboard Critique goes up to $54 and the Mini Critique 3-Pack goes from $89 to $149. (Do the math on that one. Smart people are scooping up the 3-pack.)

You can use these ANY time, so no worries if you don’t have work to send me right away. We’ll just tuck it away until you’re ready. Or set a date in the future and use that as accountability to get your butt in gear if you need it!

We artist types tend to do that ‘procrastination thing’. Accountability is a good cure for that.

So if you’re on the fence, now is the time to hop off and snatch up one (or three) of these suckers. Because the price certainly won’t go down in the future.

That’s it, that’s all, c’est tout.

For now.

_._._._._._._

Sign-up for the Storyboard Club Mailing List and get a Free Storyboard Template Pack!

Get your own Mini Storyboard Critique here before the price increases on October 12th 14th!!!

Read the Storyboard Blog by RSS Feed or by email for some KvK madness in the future.

© 2007-2010 Karen J Lloyds Storyboard Blog - All Rights Reserved.

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1. I’m Back Oy. What the heck happened there? How long have...

Oy.

What the heck happened there? How long have I been absent? Way too long, apparently.

Funny how time can slip away from you when you’re working 16 hour days, huh? Sorry about that, but I just couldn’t summon up the brain power or the time to write anything.

But I have returned! (If anyone cares.)

And yes, that photo is totally silly.

So here’s a couple of things.

I’m teaching again. Yes, I am once again the storyboard instructor at the Vancouver Film School. If you are planning on attending there in the near future, it will be I who whips you into storyboarding shape and crushes your dreams.

Wee! Fun times.

I’m also working again. I know I haven’t really talked about it, but this past year has *sucked* work-wise. Everyone has been feeling it in my neck of the woods. And a lot of them still are. Ick.

Then it all came tumbling at me at once (which is how it always goes). A rush development board this past month which turned out rather well. Happy clients make it all worth it. (And money helps. I had forgotten how to press ‘deposit’ on the bank machine.)

Then I’ll be working on the next season of ‘Kid Vs Kat’. So the Production Journal shall live on! Which means more late nights and all around insanity for the next seven months. Eep.

But it’s all in the name of going back to Hawaii, right? RIGHT?

Don’t worry, the blog shall prevail. I promise. I may have to skip a week here and there, but I’ll do my best.

Plus I’ll still be offering my One-On-One Storyboard Consulting and the Mini Storyboard Critiques. And hopefully a few little learning products.

And please note:

I will be raising the price of the Mini Critiques on October 12th. It’s going from $32 to $54. Yup. So if you’ve been on the fence thinking about getting one, now is the time! You don’t have to use it right away either. You can tuck it away and use it anytime you like in the future.

Now, the next post will be the follow-up to Aidan’s revised storyboard. Really! It will! Honest Aidan, honest!!

Thank you all for your patience. : )

_._._._._._._

Sign-up for the Storyboard Club Mailing List and get a Free Storyboard Template Pack!

Get your own awesome Mini Storyboard Critique here before the price increases on October 12th!

Read the Storyboard Blog by RSS Feed or by email because I *will* be back. Again.

© 2007-2010 Karen J Lloyds Storyboard Blog - All Rights Reserved.

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I’m really working on a post (or series of posts) with an interview I did with Anne Denman of Studio B Productions about resumes, portfolios and applying to studios and stuff.

We recorded the interview during lunch on an audio cassette and I’ve transcribed it. But digging through it all and actually *writing* the article is inflicting all sorts of procrastination-ish stuff on me.

I will get it done though!

So to fill in the gap, I’m going to pimp out a few artists.

This is what happens when you sign up to the Storyboard Club Mailing List Which Is Really Kind Of A Newsletter Thingy on your right.

Some of my ‘list people’ wrote to me and gave me a link to their sites. And they’re very good, so you should look at them and learn.

There are some good examples of making a blog a half-decent portfolio. And some are just really nice drawings.

Take it away Eric the orchestra leader!

(Name that reference and you get a cookie.)

Aidan Casserly has two nice sites. Aidan’s portfolio site is clean and easy to navigate. Aidan’s blog is full of more storyboard goodness. Check them out.

Drew Blom. After reading my series of posts on making a portfolio site, Drew made a very nice site on Weebly.com. Watch and learn folks.

Valery Koval is a storyboard and concept artist in Russia (wow, people read me in Russia?). He sent me his site link yesterday and I thought his drawing style was cool. His site is a pretty good use of a Blogger blog as a portfolio site too.

Remember my Which Animation Student Are You? post? Well, I always said I should do a follow-up because there were definitely more types.

Well, I don’t have to anymore. Because this guy, Chuck Dillon, already did it. With pictures! (Yes, it’s about ‘art students’, but close enough. And it’s funny cause it’s true.)

And finally a little video love for my consulting client R.J. Pena. It’s his thesis film that he worked long and hard on. And I think anyone who puts in all the blood, sweat and tears into creating and finishing their first animated film deserves an audience. (Plus my name is in the credits…ha!)

That’s it for now! You may go about your lives as normal.

I may continue the procrastination by going to see ‘UP’ again…

_._._._._._._

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Read the Storyboard Blog by RSS Feed or by email because I WILL finish that resume post!

© 2007-2010 Karen J Lloyds Storyboard Blog - All Rights Reserved.

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OK, this is an experiment.

One that I may regret. I’m not sure yet.

But I feel as though I’m in a bit of a ‘posting slump’ and need to shake things up a bit. And since I started using audio in my Mini Critiques, I realized that audio and video really are a godsend to a lazy ass like me.

Sorta.

Because I can talk a heckuva lot faster than I can type.

And I’m a bit of a ham.

So I went to see Pixar’s ‘UP’.

And I was going to give it one of my ‘tri-perspective’ reviews and all. Much like my Coraline review, I was going to focus on the experience of seeing the movie.

Well, this was my experience.

Sorry if the video is too long. Sorry if it’s not loud enough. Sorry that there is no real review at this time. When I see the movie again, I’ll give one (the short version is: it’s fabulous).

But there were ‘technical difficulties’ that I need to rant about.

So in the name of “putting myself out there” here is my ‘UP’ experience.

My apologies. : )

(Judging from the still frame on the video, I assume the video Gods are punishing me already.)

If you can’t see the video in your feed reader, click through to the post.

_._._._._._._

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Read the Storyboard Blog by RSS Feed or by email to see if I ever video-blog again.

© 2007-2010 Karen J Lloyds Storyboard Blog - All Rights Reserved.

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Lookie! New stuff in the sidebar!

(If you’re reading this in a feed reader, head on over here and take a peek.)

I’m starting a little club.

The Storyboard Club.

At this point, it’s just a free mailing list. But it will turn into more.

With this list, I will occasionally keep in touch with you by email. I might send out a monthly ‘blog round-up’ of the month’s posts with some extra insights. Or a newsletter-ish thingy. Or give you a link to something cool I won’t necessarily post on the blog.

When I make an eBook or host a webinar, you will hear about it first. And you will get it for less money than the general public. First dibs, baby.

Because when you’re part of my ‘club’, you’re all special and stuff.

If this appeals to you at all, I’d love you to sign up!

To top it off, you get a cool free thing when you do. A big ol’ Storyboard Template Pack and Short Film Tip Sheet.

If you like the free templates I already offer, you will love this thing. Head on over to the Download Page for all the juicy details.

Then fill in the sign-up form in the sidebar and you’re golden.

(UPDATE: There was a glitch that came to my attention. Apparently the sign-up form wasn’t showing up in all browsers. It should be *beneath* the template image in the sidebar. I have changed the code and hope it’s working. If you can’t see it, please let me know in the comments. I’d really appreciate it.)

A note to email subscribers: I will not automatically include you in the Storyboard Club Mailing List. That would be kinda sleazy, because maybe you don’t want to be on the list. So if you do, just opt-in and you’ll still get blog updates and the Storyboard Club emails. I really hope you do!

Yay! Exciting.

Next thing.

I had a great couple of questions in the ‘Why You Hiding‘ comments a couple of weeks ago. It was from Djordje (I haven’t a clue how to pronounce that) and was as follows:

I’ve had a question on my mind and have to ask, how do you go about analyzing animation/live action from a storyboard artists perspective? What do you exactly look for? Is it a combination of composition, staging, rule of thirds, depth and shot choice for individual frames and scenes? Then would you look at how the scenes cut together and flow?

It was a little too much to tackle in the comment section and I thought it would make a great post or series of posts. I still do, and I will do that.

But when I started to think about it, I had a hard time wondering how I would explain it.

I mean sure, I could get all technical and analytical and stuff (bor-ing), but I was trying to find the real ‘heart’ of it. How do I go about critiquing a story? What am I looking for?

Not to tell you how to do it, but how do I do it?

The only thing that kept coming up for me, was that it’s ‘just a feeling‘.

Really helpful, huh?

I believe people are born with certain talents and abilities. Yes, you can learn almost anything. You can even learn to be pretty damn good at something.

Then there are some things you’re just born with.

I can draw. I always have drawn. I get better when I draw more. I’m pretty good and make a living at it. But I see other people’s amazing work and just know I could never do that. Hell, I don’t have the drive to do that.

You can tell they live and breath it and were born with that ‘extra something’.

It’s the same for music.

I learned to play the bass way back when. I loved it. I was pretty good at it. But it wasn’t because I was a born musician. It was because I was a good student, I practiced and I have a really good sense of timing.

But I could never do a solo. I could never write music. Because I am no musician. And never will be.

And that’s OK. It didn’t make me love it any less.

We’ve all seen those people who are born to play music. Who are born to dance. Who are born to make amazing, original art. You may be one of them. Cool.

Over the years of doing what I do, I think I’ve come to the realization that although I make my living drawing, I am really a ‘teller of stories‘.

Other people’s stories.

That’s why I’ve kept doing what I’ve been doing. I get off finding that ‘feeling‘ of the right beat, the good gag, the great reveal, the satisfying ending.

I dig it.

I get a sense of when something isn’t working. I get this little nagging feeling when a story is missing something. I get an ahhh feeling through me when it flows smoothly. I just know it works.

Because I think I have that ‘born thing’ when it comes to visual storytelling.

That’s why I’m shifting my career path.

Yes, I’ll still storyboard when I have to. It pays the bills and I’m good at it.

But I really want to be a story consultant and storyboard mentor to help other people tell their stories.

There. I said it.

So in celebration of that, I’ve reworked my ‘Work With Karen‘ pages. It now has One-On-One Storyboard Consultations and the brand spanking new Mini Storyboard Critiques.

Different options for different needs and different budgets.

Check them out if you have that ‘feeling‘ you have a story to tell.

And if you need some guidance and feedback, let me help you.

I’ll dig it.

How do I know?

Just a feeling. : )

_._._._._._._

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Read the Storyboard Blog by RSS Feed or by email for more processes on processing the process.

© 2007-2010 Karen J Lloyds Storyboard Blog - All Rights Reserved.

No related posts this time.

I took my little ten year-old companion to see ‘Coraline‘ last weekend.

So why not give my two cents about it? (Plus, I didn’t know what else to write about this week.)

Much like my little review of ‘Igor‘, I won’t be going the normal ‘movie review’ route. As in, no story synopsis and naming all the people involved and all that. You can search that stuff on Google.

I prefer to talk about the experience of seeing the movie. First impressions. My impressions. Story stuff.

But not give it all away or anything.

I have not read the book or the graphic novel. I went in cold with no expectations.

And I have only seen it once. When I watch a movie for the first time, I’m all in ‘viewer mode’ and not thinking too much like a storyboard artist or industry person. I like to let that go and just watch.

And hopefully enjoy.

I enjoyed.

While I can name a whole whack of things that stink about going to a matinee full of kids with a kid, sometimes it’s a delight.

This time was a delight. Yippee.

First off, it wasn’t too crowded. Second, there was an equal amount of adults in the theatre. Third, the movie rocked the Casbah.

I was worried going in because we were going to see it in that ‘Real 3D’ crap. Yes. I said crap. We saw ‘Bolt‘ in that 3D crap and it was fuzzy and useless to the story as far as I was concerned.

I would have preferred to see it, you know…normal.

Rant ahead:

Note to all big-wig filmmakers in Hollywood: We don’t care about your stupid wowee zowee technology as much as you want us to. We hate having to wear geeky-looking glasses and keep adjusting our eyes while just being gouged at the box office to justify the expense of said glasses. That we didn’t want in the first place. Get over the whole ‘Real 3D’ thing already! It’s just ‘Real Annoying’.

Rant complete.

So I put on my glasses on top of my other glasses that I need to like, see with and waited for the movie to begin.

And lo and behold, the 3D thing was actually working! It fit the style and looked pretty good. I think this stuff works better with stop-motion animation rather than computer animation. It has a better ‘we’re in the set too’ feel. So they get brownie points for that.

Visually, this movie is amazing.

You get sucked in right away and taken inside Coraline’s world.

Coraline’s highly-detailed-oh-my-god-that-must-have-taken-forever-to-animate world.

(OK, the industry-type part of me leaked in a little.)

One of my first impressions was that I loved the character of Coraline. She was smart. And adventurous. Not all ‘girly’ and silly. Love that.

She’s someone a little girl could want to be like and not want to make me hurl.

The acting was top notch. Yes, there are celebrity voices, but they didn’t stand out as a ‘who’s who’. You just enjoyed the acting and the voices felt like the character’s voices. Good casting.

But it’s the animation acting that I’m really talking about. Great stuff, fun to watch and draws you in.

The story was wonderful. What I liked is that it has an ‘old classic story’ feel while remaining somewhat modern. As in, Coraline’s parents work on computers all day.

The story wasn’t sugary and cute. It has a creepy side. A slightly disturbing side. That whole ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ feel.

It was a refreshing change.

Was there anything that bugged me? Yes. There were a couple of minor story issues that nagged me a bit when it was over. But nothing to make me say it is anything less than great. (I can leave that stuff for a more in-depth analysis when the DVD comes out.)

So what do I mean by “the Coraline effect”?

I mean ‘Coraline‘ did one of those rare things to that movie theatre audience.

It shut them the heck up.

Except for one young little boy (who was getting a little freaked near the end), that theatre was silent for the whole movie.

People didn’t move. My ten year-old companion didn’t move.

Everyone sat. Everyone watched. Nobody spoke.

They were taken inside that story.

Ahhhhh.

Thanks ‘Coraline‘. I needed that.

So readers, should you see it?

Here is the storyboard blog’s tri-perspective recommendation:

For animation types: For the love of all that is good and holy, YES! You will appreciate this movie on all levels. A must see.

For the kiddies: They’ll love it. They will get sucked in to this story and stay mesmerized. BUT it is a little creepy-scary for very young ones, I think. So be careful with the under-six crowd.

For ‘regular’ adults: You’ll probably like it with or with out some kiddlets with you. If you’re the type that feels weird seeing a ‘kid’s movie’ alone, then rent some out. Or suck it up and go see it anyway.

It’s just good old-fashioned storytelling that works.

With some amazing eye-candy to go along with it.

Read the Storyboard Blog by RSS Feed or by email for more review-ishness in the future.

© 2007-2010 Karen J Lloyds Storyboard Blog - All Rights Reserved.

No related posts this time.

Well, I was really going to put up the next Wall-E post this week. I really was.

Then I got work.

So I’ve been working.

Funny how I always seem to snag a new gig at the beginning of December, so I have to do work over the holidays.

Oh well. Said work will pay for those holidays, so it’s all good.

Then I had to do ‘holiday stuff‘. So I didn’t get it done.

Then, lo and behold, it actually IS the holidays, so there you go. No Wall-E post.

I know it’s not that big a deal because many of you are doing some sort of ‘holiday thang’ anyway.

So Wall-E is still coming with the Close-Up lesson.

Fear not.

It just might happen next week. Or a bit later. We’ll see.

In the meantime, I just want to wish you a very happy ‘whatever you celebrate’ (if anything) and one flipping fantastic 2009!

At the very least, have a very nice weekend.

I appreciate each and every one of you who stops by to read the storyboard blog.

Thank you soooo much!

Now let’s have a drink and eat something totally bad for us and enjoy.

Cheers to all!

K

© 2007-2010 Karen J Lloyds Storyboard Blog - All Rights Reserved.

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Whoa! What happened here?

We interrupt the Feature Favorites posts to bring you this important announcement:

Today my little storyboard blog turns one year old. Yay!

So it got a make-over and a face-lift. (It will soon buy a Porche and start dating younger men.)

Now things aren’t perfect. I’ve already found some stuff I need to tweak, so it’s still a work in progress. (In other words…Gaa! I don’t know how to fix it!!!)

Like as I write this, the whole site has shrunk from my test version, so the type (and everything!) is smaller than it should be. I don’t know what that’s all about. *pulls on hair* (Update: OK, that’s fixed. I was just a techno-idiot. Many thanks to Nathan. )

But I’ll give you a few highlights to show you around.

As you can see, the banner at the top is basically the same (and click-able). I didn’t want to totally disorient you. But the page navigation is under the banner and there are a few sub headers as well. Do a little hovering and you’ll see them.

One big change is that the sidebar links now are in the Resources page. It’s got cool tabs and I’ll be adding to them as time goes on. You can contact me for any link suggestions. I welcome it!

And one of the biggest changes is the Work With Karen page. I am offering storyboard mentoring and visual story consulting services now. Wee! I just have some primary information right now, but rates and much more information about the services are coming very soon.

But if you’re chomping at the bit and want some information now, contact me and I’ll answer your questions.

There are Testimonials to read from some cool folks I’ve already worked with. So you can check those out. If we ever work together, you can be added too.

The consulting will be operating under the business name of ‘See The Script Media‘ and there is a website in the works for all that too. In due time and you’ll know all about it when it’s ready.

Another little thing you might have noticed is the new Alltop badge in the sidebar. This is a very cool site that has RSS feeds for tons of blogs under tons of categories. I happened to make it into the ‘Animation‘ category, so I’m quite stoked about that.

If you want to browse a bunch of blog headlines very quickly and easily, check out Alltop and search their many subjects.

I’ve also added Gravatars to the comment section. If you have one, it’s already showing up. If you don’t have one, just go to Gravatar.com and sign up. Use the email address you normally use when you comment on blogs, upload the image you want and that’s about it. It really livens up the comments, don’t you think?

Other than all that, the blog is pretty much the same except for the new theme. If you find any icky stuff going on in your browser, I’d really appreciate you giving me the heads up. Just go to the contact page and fire me a message. Thanks!

I have a few more things planned for the blog and, of course, you’ll be the first to know about them.

The last of the Feature Favorite posts will be up shortly (I hope). So stay tuned for that and I hope you like the new digs (once all the bugs are worked out)!

Cheers.

Read the Storyboard Blog by RSS Feed or by email to catch my take on South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut. I promise.

© 2007-2010 Karen J Lloyds Storyboard Blog - All Rights Reserved.

No related posts this time.

Remember ‘Hell Week‘?

That was when I was up to my ears with storyboard work and barely had time to breath.

Ahh, the memories.

I would post some links to some other cool stuff because I had no time to write. It’s good to spread some link love once in a while (that’s from Blogging 101) so I think I’m due.

I’m still an unemployed bum at the moment, so there is no ‘Hell Week’. I am busy doing stuff for myself, not for money. In due time, in due time.

But read this first.

I’d like to inform you that someone emailed me about some potential STORYBOARD WORK. Here’s what it said:

I am looking for Storyboard artists in the Los Angeles area AND or a few great ones who can work from home and turn around boards fast and meet deadlines.

This project is a kids show. We will be making many 11 Minute episodes and will need many great storyboard artists.

Humor is a must to make the stories work. The age of viewers will be pre-school.

I have asked her permission to post up her email address, but in the meantime if anyone is interested, head to my contact page, send me a request and I’ll forward you her email address. (UPDATE: I will be responding to you with a different email address from the blog, so check your SPAM folders!)

I am assuming this is paid work (I’ve asked for confirmation…you know how I feel about that) but I have no other information at the moment.

I am also assuming they want some level of experience and if you are going to apply, make sure you have some real work to show and a resume.

Be professional. Always.

Hmm, I may have to start a job board or something.

- Next, the cool folks at Animation Mentor (no, they are not paying me) have a brand new website. Go check it out if you’re interested to learn 3D character animation from the pros.

- This was a couple of weeks ago, but Jaden over at Screenwriting for Hollywood wrote some nice things about me and reprinted one of my articles. If you’re into writing screenplays, reading movie reviews and other cool stuff, you can click over from the banner in my ‘Karma’ section (on the right).

- Need a good kick in the ass? Like the movie Fight Club? Head over to Lateral Action to read this great Brian Clark article. We really can learn a lot from movies.

- Beating yourself up? Think you’re a lazy bum that can’t get anything done? (I know I do sometimes.) Read the wonderful and calming Havi Brooks over at The Fluent Self.

She just rocks. Period.

Here’s some of the ‘other stuff’ I read.

I’ve been drawing silly pictures for some of these fellow bloggers that I like.

The first is for Naomi at IttyBiz. I drew it for her son’s birthday and it’s a little…um…nasty at first glance. If you knew Naomi, you’d know why she thought it rocked. She’s a bit of a potty mouth and knows lots about marketing and stuff.

And the drawing subject does have a meaning, but it’s too long to explain.

This one was for Alex at Someday Syndrome. He’s also a butt-kicker about ‘following your dreams already’ and stop saying you’ll do it “someday”. Nice stuff.

And another one I did was for blogging buddy Brett over at 6 Weeks. His whole blog is based around the Fight Club thing (what is it with guys and that movie?).

He does these ‘Viking Friday’ posts and usually his pal Friar does a cartoon for him. Friar was away one week so I offered.

All part of my devious plan of…uh…nothing really.

And lastly one of my newer blogging pals, Steph, has launched a new site EditQuest. It’s a copyediting service for writers in the fantasy fiction genre. It’s for novel writers looking to get published, but it’s also for short stories, blog posts, ezine material, journal and mag articles, gaming copy…any fantasy writing. If you love that sort of thing and are maybe writing the next ‘Lord of the Rings’, check EditQuest out.

She has also sparked the idea for my next post. Since I razzed ‘Igor’ so hard for the wrong things it did, I’ll tell you about some of my favorite animated flicks and what they did ‘right’.

Not just in general, but my favorite ‘moments’ from each. Because those moments are important.

So there is a real post on the horizon very soon.

You won’t have to wait a week either!

Read the Storyboard Blog by RSS Feed or by email to see what those movies will be.

© 2007-2010 Karen J Lloyds Storyboard Blog - All Rights Reserved.

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Well, it has become evident to me that writing posts about storyboard labeling does not incite much dialogue in the comment department.

See? Told you it was boring stuff.

Good thing that’s over with.

So I shall move on to what I do best, though not often enough: sarcasm.

During my stint as an animation student and as an instructor, I came across many interesting characters. And some I came across more than once. Call it a ‘type’. Call it a fluke. Whatever.

This is not a complete list, but here’s a summary of some of the various types of colorful animation students I have seen over the years. If you are in animation school now, see if you recognize any of them.

See if you *are* one of them.

And if you’re a former student of mine and think I’m talking about you…don’t flatter yourself. Guaranteed there was more than one of you over the years.

But…yeah, I might be talking about you.  So enjoy the limelight!

THE FAN-BOY

Much like ‘the keener’ below, they are super excited to be there because they love animation so damn much. They know all the shows, movies and games and are always asking you if you’ve “seen this one…” (uh, no I haven’t). They paste up tons of posters and have the biggest toy collection of anyone else in class.

And they probably can’t draw.

They don’t quite know the difference between being a fan and doing the job. They soon find out that the job isn’t quite as fun as being a fan. They may quit the program. Or they stick it out and never do anything with their education.

And end up working in a comic book shop.

THE KNOW-IT-ALL

These people probably have a lot of talent. With the ego to match.

And are irritating as all hell.

They talk about their work much more than they actually do their work. They are the ones always questioning what the instructor is saying.

“Yeah but I read that…bla bla bla…”.

Eventually the rest of the class will roll their eyes and start sighing loudly when they open their mouths.

They will attempt a huge, overly ambitious final project against the advice of their instructors.

And probably not finish it.

They don’t last long in the industry because they are a pain in the ass and usually burn bridges. Fast.

THE FLIRT

This is usually a gal. They spend more time in every other classroom but their own.

Talking to guys.

They dress all cute and act a little too girly for an animation chick.

True animation chicks become ‘buddies’ with the guys while in school (and beyond). They don’t date them. If they’re spending more time finding a boyfriend than working on their assignments, they are doomed to failure.

P.S.: Plenty of time for that when you work in the industry ladies. Because let’s face it, we can only truly ‘date our own’.

THE ‘I’M-IN-IT-FOR-THE-MONEY’ GUY

This is the person who has read too many animation magazines about how much money the top artists make in the industry (or used to).

They may not even like cartoons that much.

They think they will become *very* wealthy by becoming an animator.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHA!

THE GAMING GEEK

Yes, they like animation but they like video games more.

So all they draw is hot women with 12 inch waists and 56 inch chests.

And plaster these drawings on their blog, desk and walls.

They are also the only guys to stare at a female instructor’s chest while they are talking to them eye to eye.

Here’s a little tip guys: when you do the *eye dart* from our eyes to the boobs and back again…

WE SEE IT.

And laugh at you to our friends.

At least have the restraint to wait until we are looking the other way so you don’t look like such a dork. I mean, the rest of the guys have figured that one out. Geez!

THE KEENER

This is the guy (or gal) who is so damn excited to be there. They have dreamt of this and worked hard to get into the school and now here they are! They show up to every class and listen to everything the instructors have to say. They obsess over their assignments, hand them in on time and take in all the feedback.

If their talent does not match up to their enthusiasm, they could have a rude awakening and become disillusioned and terribly frustrated. It’s a shame, really.

If they are truly talented, they will succeed and work in the industry.

Within two years they will become bitter like the rest of us and fit right in.

They have officially ‘made it’.

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