Sunday, October 29, 2017

Fred Moore's 14 Points of Animation




"If a drawing looks clumsy, or lacks appeal, or no longer looks like the model, perhaps the animator is trying to show something that should not be shown.  

When Fred (Moore) was giving a talk on drawing Mickey, he was asked,  "How do you draw him looking right down on top of his head?"  Fred responded, "Why would you?"  If the appeal in the design was based on the balance of the ears to the nose and the relationship of the cheeks to the eyes and the head shape, Fred wondered why would you deliberately throw all that away?  

Why would you show a view that did not have much going for it as possible?  

- Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, The Illusion of Life   -  


"What happens is FACT.  TRUTH is what we think about. Write the truth."  - Robert McKee



People often like to cite the 12 Points of Animation as described in the Illusion of Life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston. In this very same tome is their once senior animator, Fred Moore's 14 Points of Animation. 

Each has its own value and speaks for itself. But perhaps #6, 11-14 are the ones I'd like to point out when it comes to drawing.

 Fred Moore's 14 Points of Animation

1. Appeal in drawing

2.  Staging

3. Most interesting way?  (Why would anyone other than your mother like to see it?)

4. Is it the most entertaining way?

6. Are you advancing the character?

7.  is this the simplest statement of the main idea of the scene?

8.  is the story point clear?

9. Are the secondary actions working with the main action?

10. Is the presentation best for the medium?

11.  Does it have 2 dimensional clarity?

12.  Does it have 3 dimensional solidity?

13.  Does it have 4 dimensional drawing?  (Drag and follow through)

14.  Are you trying to do something that shouldn't be attempted?  (Like trying to show the top of Mickey's head)





There is another anecdote where the legendary Milt Kahl commented on dealing with "difficult drawings", "Why would you even draw it that way in the first place??" 

In the search of drawing what rings true about a subject....it's not about drawing what is literal about it, but rather, what is "true" about the subject.   "Truth", perhaps to be specific, "emotional truth"  is sometimes better served subjectively. 


Tuesday, October 24, 2017

GLENN VILPPU : The Drawing Master Returns to Tokyo again!


"Glenn Vilppu was the caliber level of work that we strove for." - Aaron Blaise, Veteran Disney animator/ director, artist. 



He has been teaching drawing in the animation industry for over 40 years. He's been called a legend. His teachings are part of the compilations notes of fellow Disney teacher, Walt Stanchfeld in Drawn to Life.   His original Drawing Manual is one the most coveted instructional art books in the world but sadly is the the most pirated globally. 

His name:  Glenn Vilppu.   


アニメーション業界でドローイングを教えて40年以上。彼はいまやレジェンドと呼ばれている。彼の教えは、同じくディズニーで講師を務めていたウォルト・スタンチフィールドがまとめた「Drawn to Life」にも掲載されている。彼が著した「Drawing Manual」は、アートの指南書として非常に人気を博したが、悲しいことに、世界中に海賊版が出回ることにもなっている。

彼の名は、グレン・ビルプ





He humbly just calls himself an drawing teacher, but Glenn is a master draftsman whose teachings has enabled countless students, artists and professional artist to have the skills and confidence to pursue their dreams.  


グレンは自身を単に「ドローイングの先生だ」と言う。しかし、グレンは巨匠のひとりでもあり、彼の教えによって育てられた生徒、アーティスト、業界のプロは数多く、グレンからの教えによって、技術と自信を持って夢を追いかけている。

Glenn has taught at some of the biggest animation studios in the world, Disney and Dreamworks and has taught globally, from  North America, Europe and Asia.   

グレンは、ディズニー、ドリームワークスをはじめ大手アニメーションスタジオで教えるほか、北米、ヨーロッパ、アジアなど世界各地で授業を行っている。


This coming December will be Glenn Vilppu's 4th seminar with Master Drawing Japan.  Additionally he is coming to Japan to christen the release of his NEW Drawing Manual which has been translated in to Japanese with Born Digital. 

来る12月、グレン・ビルプはMaster Drawing Japan主催のセミナーに来日。これは、4回目のセミナーになる。また新しいバージョンになった「ドローイングマニュアル」は(株)ボーンデジタルによって日本語版も出版されている。その記念の講義も同じく12月に開催の予定だ。


2月2日~3日:フィギュアドローイングマスタークラス:12時-6時(両日とも)


12月4日:グレン・ビルプ メソッド:6時~9時(講義の後にはサイン会も行われます)


12月9日~10日:構図マスタークラス:12時-6時(両日とも)












Ki CREATIVE STUDIO: BASICS - GESTURE: What's the Big Idea?