Reel Posted

So I finished my reel. And I'm super stoked with how it turned out. I really think this is the one that's gonna get me the job in the industry I've been working my ass off for. It's got a much better flow to it this time around, and it's alot more focused on the type of animating I want to do. Of course, I could ramble all day, but I'd rather hear from you.

Character Animation Reel from Andy Wiesbrock on Vimeo.

Hey-oh

Hi

So I said I wanted to keep this updated a little more, so here's some more work!

New reel is going really well, and I think I can finish it in about a month or so. I've got about 6 lined up, including the ones I've finished, so I need to come up with a few more since most of them are pretty short in length.

This one is almost done. It's a take damage animation, meant to look like someone on the wrong end of a left hook, gut punch, and uppercut. This vid isn't the latest version, but it's still got a little bit of work left anyways.

-seeyabye

sunday funday

crappy weather. blech. chicago just reared its ugly weather head. windy and rainy today, and then continuing all week. crappy weather makes me tired. this concludes tonight's weather broadcast.

bears win! missed the entire game with the exception of, well...the winning kick. personally, i call that good timing. though i would've liked to watch cutler for a whole game. ah, well. i'd watch the cowboys-giants game, but i don't actually like the cowboys. or the giants.

does anyone watch the emmy's? i actually thought they were last week. i know doogie howser is hosting. he's awesome in himym. that's about it. you would think considering the amount of tv i watch, i would pay attention to stuff like that. speaking of tv...the office is back. and hilarious. i also really dug "community," which came on right after it. best part?

chevy chase line near the end: "you remind me of myself at your age."

egotistical smartass lead character: "i deserve that."

really hoping the animation im working on right now knocks your socks off. it's by far the most complex thing i've attempted. and that includes the egg-beater fight scene. what's the scene, you ask (or not)? i'll give you a hint:

(second hint: it has nothing to do with turtles.)

posting work soon-ish. sorry for the complete lack of proper capitalization. this whole post really only existed as a way to throw up a screencap from the greatest movie about ninjitsu-practicing reptiles of all-time. for now, i'm off to the nugget for some diner pancakes. damn straight.

-seeyabye.

Update

Hi...so, yeah. Been a while. Well, I guess just a summer or so.

I've had about as much luck in the job market over the summer as I've had since I graduated. It's tough out there. But I'm not gonna sit here and piss and moan about getting in the industry, and just get to the good news - new reel coming soon!

I've been working diligently on some new pieces to put together for the reel, and after doing some research, I'm focusing the reel on a little more for game-y schtuff. Rather than worry about big scenes with lip syncing and backgrounds and props and whatnot, I'm simplifying everything into shorter animations, the kind you'd see in-game. It's my way of cutting the fat off my first attempt at the reel last year. Plus, you'll get more animations this time around. Last time only had technically 4 scenes, even though I broke a couple up to stretch it out. This time should see somewhere in the 6-10 animation range, while keeping the reel close to a minute (half-ish the first one).

As further proof that this is actually, y'know, happening - here's a quick look at one I've started.

All the animations are being done in 3D Max, as opposed to Maya, which is all I used at school. I learned Max to work at FI, and I consider myself to be just as fluent in both now. I think I actually prefer Max, to be honest. Weird.

More work coming soon. I'll post stuff as I work on it, keep you guys in the loop, and hopefully when this is all said and done, I'll be able to broadcast to you live from an animation studio!

stay classy

-toodles.

minor relocation

Moved on Monday. New apartment is now off Montrose, by the Brown Line. It feels further and further away from Chicago - mostly, I guess, because it is - but its not surrounded by the usual ambush of Mickey Dee's, Best Buys, and Starbucks. Well, there's still a Starbucks down the road, but otherwise I'm surrounded by residential apartments, school kids, and pizza places. The towering skyline, the swerving taxis, and the general noise and commotion that comes with being in "the Loop" is now a distant 8 miles away, which, for Chicago, might as well be in another state. It's quiet. And it's awesome.

I've also been working quite dilligently on my animation work for FI. Mostly smallish stuff, but it's been nice to have something to do, with a purpose. Planning on making a new reel to show some of the said work, plus an updated resume, but for now all of my work goes on YouTube. I feel like I'm late to that particular party, but it still serves its purpose. At this rate, though, I expect to jump on the Twitter train somewhere near 2011. YouTube account is under ajwiesbrock, so check it out and lemme know. Or not. It's up to you.

That's it for now. Feel the drawing bug gnawing at my ass again. I've got some new character ideas waiting to come out...




-seeyabye.

Hi again

Been a long time since I posted on here...haven't really felt like postin' in awhile. Lots happened since graduation. It winter-ed here in Chicago. And with winter comes snow and cabin fever.

Finally get to do some animation work, which feels good. Tried super-hard to do my own side projects and stuff over the winter, but I gotta say, it can be quite difficult when everything else isn't really clickin'. Cutbacks at work...no hits on a job for animation...made for a slow winter. I started alot of different things, but finished somewhere around none of them. Hopefully I'll come back to them refreshed over the summer and want to tackle them again. Til then, I just started to do some (currently unpaid) work for a small company making an actual video game, and I'm pretty effin' stoked about it.

Moving to a new apt in Chicago, somewhere cheaper, adding a 3rd roommate to go with the one I already got. Friend of mine who currently lives across the street. We are all broke. But I'm looking forward to the change of setting/pace. I think it's little shit like that can help light a fire under your ass, creatively speaking. Mix it up. Hopefully it freakin' warms up. During the winter I struggle to figure out why I chose Chicago of all places to live. It's terrible for weather. Lucky for me, winter around here generally only lasts 6-9 months. Yay me.

Other than that, I got nothing to report. Youtube channel = ajwiesbrock. Check out what I'm working on. Note that it's all pretty boring schtuff like sitting on the ground and standing up and whatnot, game animations, but...it's what I do. I can't wait to really delve into it and get into the bigger stuff. I haven't been this fired up to animate since, well, my last post. Do the math.


I got the fever...and the only prescription...is more cowbell.




It's gonna be a good summer.



-toodles.

Back in the Saddle

Feels good to be done.

Done with school, done with vacation, back in the city, and back in the action. Well, maybe not so much the action yet, but...definitely the other stuff. And eventually.

Portfolio Show went very well. Got a chance to meet some very cool people that got me thinking outside the realm of video games, which opens up alot more doors for an aspiring animator. Also, nabbed Best in Show for the game program. I was pretty happy about that.

Now it's back to the part-time job while I look frantically to start the career. Good times. I'll be doing some new stuff to keep myself in a good rhythm with Maya, and I'm gonna start doing some Max stuff soon, so I can get a better grip on that. Also lookin' to get started on a couple small game projects, but we'll see where that goes. I'll post anything that I do that remotely interests me.



toodles.