Picking up trash: A discussion on Flash and traditional animation
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Scavenging, must one learn to draw well to study Flash?
Do all experts need to learn it well?
The better you draw, the more it promotes your animation.
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Teacher Scavenging, how many steps does it usually take you to paint a character?
It may vary from person to person. I usually draw directly and then modify it.
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Since your work on "Carrying Wife During Mid-Autumn Festival," younger brother feels very moved by the music and Xiao Po Hai animation.
May I ask, what is your most skilled ability?
Our traditional culture has many good things that can be used... It will not become outdated; it depends on how you use it.
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Where did you practice your animation foundation?
Is there any good way to improve?
I basically practiced at home, meaning you don't necessarily have to go for professional training. Before I made animations, I often drew pictures.
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Big Brother, I just watched the anti-SARS animation. How do you combine life with animation?
Preventing SARS is the top priority. It has affected the construction of the socialist market economy, haha.
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Teacher Scavenging, may I ask if you draw the script (storyboard) on paper before making Flash? How much do you draw?
Some storyboards are drawn individually, but generally, I draw them directly in Flash.
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What about the production process and methods?
What processes does the program require, and how should materials be selected?
This question is a bit broad. Recently, I am writing a book, which will systematically introduce such issues.
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What do you think of the future of Flash animation? Please answer, teacher.
Like our other industries, they should all prosper together.
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Scavenging, I heard you used to work in the film industry. A few days ago, I happened to see you and Lin Du on TV.
I would like to ask how you transferred from traditional drawing to Flash.
1. Many people may still be stuck with hand-drawing. How did you think of transferring to Flash?
2. Do you currently draw alone or collaborate with others?
No matter how good the machine is, it needs human operation. Hand-drawing is the foundation. Future creations can be done using various tools and equipment... I collaborate with some friends.
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Big Brother Scavenging, last time my classmate interviewed you, she said hello. :)
I would like to ask, your walking motion is very coordinated. Generally, how many frames are needed to handle it well? Thank you.
I personally don't walk very coordinated :) ... A complete walking motion requires many drawings. In Flash, I usually only draw 6-8 images. Greetings to your classmate!
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For us, we've seen some very exciting Japanese animations, like Saint Seiya. Regarding the visuals, teacher, do you have confidence that you can make them or even better? If so, what objective conditions are needed?
The bottleneck is not in technology, but in the mechanism... I believe.
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Teacher Scavenging, I've seen many of your works, and I really like them. Now, I have a question. I've been studying Flash for a while, but my progress is minimal, especially in animation compositing, which I always fail to handle well. I wonder if Teacher Scavenging has any advice for beginners like us. I hope to get your guidance.
You're asking a comprehensive question. I always believe that with hard work, you will definitely gain a lot. No one is inherently smarter than another.
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Brother Scavenging: I feel that in your and Little's animations, the traditional frame-by-frame animation elements are still quite high, requiring a strong painting foundation. May I ask, in designing a set of actions for a character, how many images are generally appropriate? How many frames per second should be chosen for animation? Thank you.
Hello Apple Orchard Keeper. In recent works, I set 25 frames, suitable for television broadcasting. This isn't important. The latest episodes of Xiao Po Hai actually have fewer frames, fewer images. I think when using Flash to make animations, the number of images doesn't matter. Use more motion.
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Hello Scavenging! I have a question.
Yaya and Xiao Po Hai can be considered relatively successful cartoon characters.
So, how do you create cartoon characters with distinct personalities like Yaya and Xiao Po Hai?
The images of Xiao Po Hai and Xiao Ya already existed in "Mid-Autumn Festival," and friends reacted positively, so I decided to make them into a series. This was also my original intention for making animated series through Flash. I've always liked watching "Tom and Jerry" and never get tired of it. For an adult to enjoy it so much shows the charm of animated series... Elements like belly bands and braids in the two children's costumes have Chinese traditional flavors. Perhaps because I live on this land, I am often captivated by Chinese traditional culture. Being able to reflect this essence in my works should be natural. Starting from Chinese classical themes, we should have an inexhaustible source. I have no doubt about this. The script for "Jingyang Ridge" was completed in one night. During the production, the most consideration was given to dramatic effects. Talking about this topic might be lengthy, so let me give a few simple examples: 'Wu Song played by a child wearing diapers,' 'Pigsy becomes the inn owner,' 'Various objects in Xiao Po Hai's diaper'... Dramatic effect is a kind of effect different from reality, which should be reflected more in animated films. Within a few minutes, how to make the plot twist and turn, fun reborn, until the audience suddenly understand, and not stick to the original work. This is also what I strive for during the production process.
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I admire Scavenging's FLASH works the most, whether it's characters, camera angles, or motion coordination.
In fact, I think a good FLASH is far beyond just using push-pull-movement techniques inside. It requires a strong art/cartoon foundation, as well as handling keyframes for character movements, camera angle transitions, etc. There's quite a bit of traditional animation content involved here.
I'm sure everyone is amazed by many Japanese animations. I now have to practice hard... Keyframe animation!
This is truly the key to making animations move.
Japanese animations indeed have many aspects worth learning from. Learn the good ones and discard the bad.
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What do you mainly do now? What status does FLASH hold in your life?
I am an animator, and Flash is also for animation. I generally stay at home. If I'm about to starve, I'll go out to eat breakfast, haha.
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Sorry for being late. Is the Xiao Po Hai series carefully planned or spontaneous?
Currently, there are few works that promote Chinese culture. Do you plan to do a special on this aspect?
I answered some of these questions earlier. I am considering this.
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Teacher Scavenging, may I ask, are the actions in some of your films done in the main scene or made into MCs?
Which is better?
At first, since I didn't know much, I made everything into MCs, but later I found making them into symbols was better...
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1. From painting to completing the entire animation, which drawing software do you use?
2. How do you transfer those images into Flash? Do you draw directly in Flash, scan after drawing, use a graphics tablet on the computer, use a mouse, or use all of them...
I draw everything in Flash. I have a graphics tablet.
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EKING's question is well-put. Support. What was your initial intention for doing Flash?
Hello Yezi: The current state of domestic animated series is clear to everyone. The audience for animated series is so vast, but currently, the truly popular ones are all foreign series. The reasons for this situation are multifaceted - system, operations, market, talent... I think we shouldn't narrowly define domestic series and foreign series. First, it must be a good series. To talk about the initial intention, it was still to make my own series and realize my own ideas.
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I want to ask, what do you think the proportions of AS and drawing in Flash are respectively?
I've said this many times, haha. I only know some basic AS statements. Many effects can be achieved with animation, and I want to learn AS too.
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Big Brother Shiyi recommends a few books on drawing.
I've looked for many days, but haven't found any. Even if I find some, they're not satisfactory.
There seem to be such posts on my forum... But there are many such books in bookstores.
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Yezi asks: After watching the video interview of Teacher Shiyi on Flash Frontier, I feel he is very humble and down-to-earth :).
Regarding localized works, we are often immersed in old legends, myths, and stories. If we simply follow this path, aren't we just moving traditional animations to Flash? How can we break through? I'm thinking, how should we understand Chinese culture? Or while using Flash as a new tool, can we also achieve breakthroughs in traditional themes?
Many things may become outdated, but a long-standing culture will never become outdated. It may be in a low tide. Culture always evolves and progresses with history. It adapts to the historical process. That is to say, we have not developed our traditional culture well, making people feel it seems backward and rigid. To talk about breaking through, it requires the overall quality of works and authors to be shown. Flash is just a form of expression.
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Ah? Teacher Shiyi, what is a graphics tablet?
A graphics tablet looks like a cutting board and can be used for drawing.
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To break through, we must merge Chinese and Western cultures. Take the essence and discard the dross.
Recently, I've watched many foreign animated series, and many of them have traces of Chinese culture.
Do you often watch animated series, Teacher Shiyi?
I've watched less in recent years, but I used to watch quite a lot.
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Teacher Shiyi, can you talk about your commercial application experience?
In the eight years of work, I've done commercial animated series of various types. Now, I'm unemployed and making pieces that align with my own ideas.
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Big Brother Shiyi:
I like the cute Po Hai series. The emotional delivery is very accurate, like watching American animated series. I want to ask about the lens usage techniques in "Shooting Eagle" and whether the scenes in "Jingyang Ridge" were optimized after drawing?
The technology in "Shooting Eagle" is very ordinary. There are too many people in China with such skills, but fewer people making such series. The scenes in "Jingyang Ridge" only have two, and they are a bit large.
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Then, Teacher Shiyi, how do you feel about your current life? How do you balance your ideals and economic problems? It must be difficult and bitter. I think Flash is better as a part-time means, fully free, but very tiring.
But if part-time, there's less time, and you can't do what you like, a dilemma.
How do you view this issue? This may be a question everyone wants to ask. Besides writing some Flash articles, I haven't earned a single cent from Flash. 555
When I run out of money, I'll look for some work. Survival comes first, haha.
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Hello Shiyi! Another question?
About SHOWGOOD's anime style. Typical Hong Kong-style nonsense. But whether it's the script, character design... or lens usage, it all feels quite good. It should be considered a successful example of commercial operation.
Have you considered turning Xiao Po Hai into a commercial series?
Do you think Xiao Po Hai can be commercially operated? Some people have recently contacted me about these issues...
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Teacher Shiyi, are you a professional Flash writer? You said you're now making pieces according to your own ideas. Can they be used commercially?
Yes, personal ideas can also have commercial value. Xiao Po Hai should belong to a type with some value.
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Big Brother Shiyi: When you made Xiao Po Hai, did you draw each frame for the moving characters? (How many frames, like the character turning from the side to the front)
All animations are a combination of various methods. Don't stick to one method. But necessary frames must be drawn.
