Thursday, May 1, 2008

Why Animation?

As another semester wraps up, I am encouraged by the animation students who have completed the History of Animation course. We try to show the students that their idols or heroes in the field started out young, impressionable, and hungry, just like them. It is hard to wrap your head around the idea that an icon like Walt Disney started out in animation before he was 20. Consider who your favorite animator is, and why? Then consider who influenced him/her. The answer may influence you even more so!

2 comments:

Erik Westlund said...

Hey John,

Glad to see you online.

I had a great painting teacher in undergraduate school name Simon Gouverneur who constantly talked about writers who influenced him. He always advised if you vaule a book find out the author's source and go there.

Its a universal concern. The version of ideas you encounter in most works are probably at least one step removed and somewhat watered down from the original source. So, go to the source.

John Cummins said...

I like that end statement, Erik! Go to the source! This is sound advice to give any aspiring artist or animator who is looking to enhance their creative potential!