Making of Samurai Jack

Repost from 12yrs ago -- Inspiration of the day 'Making of Samurai Jack'! Love it!







Samurai Jack Artist's blogs:

Chris Battle
Shayne Poindexter
Roger Web
Chris Reccardi
Chris Mitchell
Andy Bialk
Jim Smith
Michael Manley
Frederick Gardner
Don Shank
Dan Krall
Lynne Naylor
Andy Suriano
Leticia Lacy
Dexter Smith
Bill Wray  -- William Wray
Scott Wills
Justin Thompson

How The Personal Computer Broke The Human Body

 

 

 // How the Personal Computer Broke the Human Body (via Vice)

 

This article by Vice got me thinking about previous work experiences.The vfx/games/animation industries require artists to spend enormous amounts of time seated (sometimes standing) working in front of screens cranking out all kinds of creative and innovative magic. It is a very sedentary career so getting up for coffee or tea, a quick walk around the block, the random nerf battle, getting out for lunch, a stroll around the dept to stretch the legs is a must. During a normal workday, these basic activities help a lot, but things get difficult when you're facing a 14hr+ day and need to stay limber, sharp and task effective. Those long crunch time hours day after day, month after month, can wreak havoc on an artist's body. I have had friends and coworkers who developed slipped discs and other physical issues due to massive amounts of overtime. I personally suffered debilitating pinched nerves in my neck and lower back, RSI in my arms and wrists during many rigorous overtime productions. I usually bounce back after a crunch is over, but after 15 years there are lasting consequences. You might say 'it comes with the territory' or 'it's the nature of the industry' and that's very true but it's not an excuse. Studios should continue to improve ergonomic working conditions and implement protections for their talented crew.

Over the years I have worked for ten studios, and two universities. They all have had various equipment standards for artists. Here are some of my experiences:

 

-Three studios provided adjustable standing desks. Of those three, two had Herman Miller Aeron chairs and the other had quality office chairs.

-One university provided standing desks and quality office chairs.

 

-Two studios allowed artists to create standing desks by using concrete blocks to lift the desks (one studio required us to spray paint the concrete blocks black so they would blend into the studio aesthetic). Both provided basic office chairs and artists had to buy their own stool style chairs if they wanted to sit and work at their standing desk on blocks (the artists had to buy the blocks).

-Three studios used extensive cafeteria style seating with row after row of artists working at long tables. You could personally buy a standing desk converter like a VariDesk and use that as a standing option if it fit on the table. All three studios offered decent office chairs but many were broken and they also couldn't roll underneath the worktables causing some artists to remove the armrests.

-Five studios had difficulty supplying basic monitor stands for artists. It is very common for artists to use reams of copy paper, empty amazon boxes, etc,  to raise the level of their monitors to a comfortable ergonomic working height. Eventually most (not all) of the studios supplied monitor risers.

Lastly, all studios are different and have varying budgets to spend on equipment for artists. While not all can provide top tier office chairs and expensive standing desks, all studios can strive to improve working conditions for their artists. This not only comes in the form of physical ergonomics but also in managerial choices concerning scheduling, bidding, artist/production expectations, and eliminating the reliance on planned unpaid overtime work. All these things factor into the health and well-being of a successful and productive crew and ultimately the studio as a whole. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terminator 2: The Forgotten Art of Blockbuster Cinema

 

 

 

Soul | Q&A with Director Pete Docter and Producer Dana Murray

 

BAFTA  Making of Soul  Q&A with the Director Pete Docter and Producer Dana Murray

Batman The Animated Series - The Heart of Batman Documentary

Over the Moon: Q&A With Director and Producers

 

BFI at Home | Over the Moon Q&A with director Glen Keane and producers Peilin Chou and Gennie Rim

 

Lecture By Director Chris Buck: Making Disney's Frozen

Randy Haycock animation tests










Also check out:

// THR - Full Animator Oscar Roundtable Interview

Chris Buck (co-director of Frozen), Dan Scanlon (director of Monsters University), Chris Wedge (director of Epic), Kristine Belson (producer of The Croods), and Chris Meledandri (Illumination CEO and a producer of Despicable Me 2)

Destiny 2: SuperAlloy's Pre-Vis for Season of the Worthy

LAIKA's Missing Link | Animating Action in Missing Link

Behind the Scenes of Kitbull | Pixar Sparkshorts

Behind the Scenes: “Trace & Bake” | Overwatch

VFX of “Attraction” Motion Picture from SIGGRAPH 2017

Some nice vfx work in this show! Really liked the creature design and animation -- great!


VFX of “Attraction” | Mikhail Lesin | Houdini HIVE at SIGGRAPH 2017


Cameron Fielding Anim Reel

Making of Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)

The Iron Giant Crew/Gag Reel (1998)

Great to see this footage of Warner Feature Animation taken during the production of The Iron Giant. The animation tests are a lot of fun! Adam Dotson animator extraordinaire who was a CG Animator on the film was kind enough to upload it!

Kubo and the Two Strings: Behind the Scenes

Interview: Kubo & The Two Strings, Art Parkinson, Travis Knight

The Little Prince: Stop Motion Animation Behind the Scenes

What a beautiful film! Such a shame it wasn't released in US theaters. Glad Netflix picked it up! Bravo!



// Paramount Scraps Release of Animated 'Little Prince'

Imagining Zootopia (Full Documentary)

Floyd Norman Documentary - Trailer

I'm looking forward to this!


'Animator. Storyman. Troublemaker. Take an intimate journey through the life and career of the 'Forrest Gump' of the animation industry - Floyd Norman. At 80 years old, see how this Disney Legend continues to impact animation and stir up his own brand of "trouble".' - Michael Fiore Films

VFX Before and After of Star Wars: The Force Awakens

/Spoilers/ Star Wars: Force Awakens: Behind the Scenes In Abu Dhabi