School's Out II

See School's Out I here.

Paul Mendoza and I teach animation one night a week at the Academy of Art University. Last night was the last class of the semester, as evidenced by my whiteboard drawings:

As you may know from previous posts, I always leave a whiteboard drawing under the projector screen for the next class.

Today was special, because when I got to class, there was finally a whiteboard drawing waiting for me!

Also waiting for me: a delicious batch of cake pops! Thanks, Hannah!

Congrats to our students for a semester of fantastic animation!

11 days...

Reading Buddies

For the last couple of years, I've been participating in a program called Reading Buddies. Every Wednesday, we go down to the local Elementary School at lunch to read with the youngsters.

It's been an amazing experience watching my reading buddy, Domanic (seen with me on the top left), as his reading skills improve. I've even had a chance to teach him a thing or two about dinosaurs!

If you know of any programs like this near you, I'd highly recommend getting involve. Reading can change a kid's life, but you don't have to take my word for it!

12 days...

CHADES CHALLENGE XLVII: EVOLUTIONARY PARLIAMENT

"A parliament is nothing less than a big meeting of more or less idle people." -Walter Bagehot

Sorry this post is late, I was on vacation last week. Turns out today is perfect timing,  though, what with the Rise of the Planet of the Apes trailer premiering yesterday. Bad title, cool trailer.

If you designed any evolutionary parliament designs (everyone is invited to contribute), leave me a comment with a link to your image and I'll post it below. If not, join us next week (April 22nd) for:

CHADES CHALLENGE XLVIII:

THE EASTER BUNNY

Z.M. Shore

Zane Yarbrough

If you enjoy these Chades Callenges and would like a direct character design critique from me (or other far more talented industry professionals), check out my buddy Mario Furmanczyk's animation industry forum AnimatedBuzz.com.

Mario's been keeping this site up since we were at CalArts, and it's developed into an awesome Facebook/Animation Mentor hybrid. Get cheap critiques, post filmwork, portfolios, and reels, or just chew the fat with your fellow animators.

3 days...

CHADES CHALLENGE XLV:
INTERSTELLAR TYRANTS
I was strapped for time this week, so I jotted this interstellar tyrant on a complimentary notepad handed out at an educational conference earlier today.



It was a long conference, so I had plenty of time to draw.

Rest assured, I was listening the entire time I was sketching this guy.

The conference was in Sacramento, so I think I was channeling the former governator for this particular space fascist.

Here I am in the conference room with my old animation teacher, Shawn Sullivan. Thirteen years ago, Shawn gave me my first animation lessons at Sheldon High School. Now that I am a teacher myself, he's giving me my first lessons in the field of education...

...and power tools. Thaumatropes were handed out to everyone who attended our conference. Shawn never settles for the "ordinary" animation methods. This is his Power Thaumatrope.

If you designed any interstellar tyrants, leave me a comment with a link to your image and I'll post it below. If not, join us March 18th for Chades Challenge XLVI: Cheesy Graverobbers!

44 days...

Gamers Will Save the World

TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) talks like this one are great sources of inspiration and challenging thought. If you dug what Ms. McGonigal had to say, I'd encourage you to check out these other outstanding lectures:

Sir Ken Robinson: Do Schools Kill Creativity?
Clifford Stoll: 18 Minutes with an Agile Mind
Jill Bolte Taylor: How it Feels to Have a Stroke