Featured Student: Elaine Reali
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AnimationMentor.com:
What inspired you to learn animation?
Elaine Reali:
Growing up I was completely enamored by the "magic" of Disney's animated features. The first ones I saw and owned were Bambi and Dumbo. I fell in love with the characters and was astounded by the way my whole family could sit and watch the movies together. We were all entertained by them. Soon I started dragging my family to see the animated movies released in the theaters and was overwhelmed again and again by the imagination put into these movies and the enjoyment that we all got out of them. After seeing The Little Mermaid when I was nine years old, I knew that I wanted animation to be a part of my life. I inspired to go and find any information I could on Walt Disney and animation in general. Up until this time I had honestly just accepted the movies to be magically made and the characters were all real. I couldn't figure out any other way they were possible. It was just a reality to me. The craft itself, creativity, team work, and gift of the movie to the world to enjoy are really the main reasons I wanted to be a part of animation.
AnimationMentor.com:
What would be your ultimate dream job?
Elaine Reali:
My dream job is to become a coloring book tester. I think it is an awesome job to use Crayolas all day and try to stay in the lines...
Ok, maybe not...
My dream job would be to move out of TV animation and move into feature animation where there is considerably more character development allowed and encouraged. To be a part of what it was that inspired me to get into animation would be unbelievable. I love seeing things that don't really exist at all come to life. I love seeing and hearing about kids thinking these characters are real, and they become genuinely concerned for them or they are completely entertained by them at all times.
AnimationMentor.com:
How has your experience at AnimationMentor.com been so far?
Elaine Reali:
Animation Mentor has been so incredible so far. I went through an animation program in school which did not teach me much about animation at all. We did a few tests on the principles of animation, like the bouncing ball and overlapping action. But we never had a character animation class or guidance as we did our short films. A few of us students took it upon ourselves to try to teach ourselves a bit more. It was a struggle but thankfully it was enough to land work animating at Cartoon Network (after being at WB for 2 years, but not animating). I have since been learning so much more just having a job where I do get to animate all day then get to go home and animate more for Animation Mentor. This allows me to apply what I learn in the lecture videos to both my assignments and my actual work at the studio. The mentors we have heard from have been outstanding. They have discussed topics I wish I had been exposed to in college. It has been outstanding learning from such great animators. And the diversity of their backgrounds just adds so much more to the knowledge we are being given through the program. I had always been afraid of the computer, especially 3d animation, but my second mentor, Jason Ryan, had such a clear traditional approach to planning a scene in Maya and executing it that I was able to understand the process so much better than if I had tried to learn this myself or just from a friend. This experience has been incredibly invaluable.
AnimationMentor.com:
What's one of the most important and/or interesting lessons you've learned while at AnimationMentor.com?
Elaine Reali:
The most important lessons I have learned while at AnimationMentor.com really have to be the reintroduction of the principles of animation, the lessons of teamwork and flow of productions, and the topic of phrasing. I have been able to have the principles of animation at the forefront while animation class work and at work. It has become a more natural addition to my work, and it has hopefully improved it! Phrasing was a topic that I had never been introduced to before. It was a concept that I had never consciously put into my work and now knowing how to plan a scene and to get to know a character in the process, I will be more aware of ways to improve my scenes by being aware of phrasing and its necessity to make a scene stand stronger.
AnimationMentor.com:
Who is your favorite animator?
Elaine Reali:
My favorite animator would have to be a traditional animator who has inspired us all and the whole world loves whether they know it or not.
Frank Thomas was an outstanding animator. He knew just how to make a character come to life. His amazing work on Bambi, Ichabod, Madame Mim, Captain Hook...the list goes on and on...is phenomenal. Frank is someone to look up to even now. Animation is a very time consuming and involving medium. But knowing how Frank took the time to experience life and observe life should be a lesson in itself. His scenes always showed a real emotion that the audience could connect to. He knew of little quarks to add to the character to give them a believable quality. Frank's love of music and the piano helped him animate Hook playing the piano perfectly. His observation of life and how he was able to implement it into his work and inspire coworkers (and continually offer help to them evidently) is something that I hope I never forget about. That is what animation is about. That is exactly how it should be.
AnimationMentor.com:
What is your favorite animated/CG scene of all time?
Elaine Reali:
My favorite CG sequence is the "I'm not strong enough" scene from The Incredibles. There is so much human emotion plowing through a cg model in that scene that it was just obvious in every screening in the theaters that I saw it at, the audience was taken aback. After I saw it the first time, I purposely looked around at people to see their reactions to that scene. They were quite taken by it. Their expressions were amazing to see. (To my understanding...Good job Pete Sohn!)
But my favorite animated scene in general is the introduction of Thumper and Bambi. Their character interaction is so genuine and pure. Bambi is struggling to get up, in which the timing of his limbs and tail are perfect. His stumbling around is amazing and perfect for his character. Thumper's character comes through so strongly you fall in love with him right away as well. There is not any dialogue until the end of this scene when Thumper says "kinda wobbly, isn't he?" but the timing of the movements have amazing beats working between the two characters that give so much life to the scene. There are great poses hit, expressions for both characters, and of course the actual execution of the animation is perfect as well. The fact that pencil lines made this scene come into existence will never cease to amaze me. It was completely created by humans. It was made a reality. It is a classic scene that will hopefully be seen and enjoyed forever, and it certainly deserves to be.
AnimationMentor.com:
Anything else you want to say to your fellow and prospective students of AnimationMentor.com?
Elaine Reali:
Animation Mentor is such a great program for us to be able to have the opportunity to be a part of. As much of a struggle as it is right now, trying to balance work and Animation Mentor, it is very much worth it. I have learned more than I thought possible through an online program. Thank you to everyone who leaves comments and critiques for anyone. This will only help us all become stronger animators and help us have a better eye for looking at work. I learn so much by just reading what other students have to say. They see things in my work that I overlook or neglect to realize I need to add to the scene. The helpful attitudes and friendly students are amazing to be able to learn with and from!
What inspired you to learn animation?
Elaine Reali:
Growing up I was completely enamored by the "magic" of Disney's animated features. The first ones I saw and owned were Bambi and Dumbo. I fell in love with the characters and was astounded by the way my whole family could sit and watch the movies together. We were all entertained by them. Soon I started dragging my family to see the animated movies released in the theaters and was overwhelmed again and again by the imagination put into these movies and the enjoyment that we all got out of them. After seeing The Little Mermaid when I was nine years old, I knew that I wanted animation to be a part of my life. I inspired to go and find any information I could on Walt Disney and animation in general. Up until this time I had honestly just accepted the movies to be magically made and the characters were all real. I couldn't figure out any other way they were possible. It was just a reality to me. The craft itself, creativity, team work, and gift of the movie to the world to enjoy are really the main reasons I wanted to be a part of animation.
AnimationMentor.com:
What would be your ultimate dream job?
Elaine Reali:
My dream job is to become a coloring book tester. I think it is an awesome job to use Crayolas all day and try to stay in the lines...
Ok, maybe not...
My dream job would be to move out of TV animation and move into feature animation where there is considerably more character development allowed and encouraged. To be a part of what it was that inspired me to get into animation would be unbelievable. I love seeing things that don't really exist at all come to life. I love seeing and hearing about kids thinking these characters are real, and they become genuinely concerned for them or they are completely entertained by them at all times.
AnimationMentor.com:
How has your experience at AnimationMentor.com been so far?
Elaine Reali:
Animation Mentor has been so incredible so far. I went through an animation program in school which did not teach me much about animation at all. We did a few tests on the principles of animation, like the bouncing ball and overlapping action. But we never had a character animation class or guidance as we did our short films. A few of us students took it upon ourselves to try to teach ourselves a bit more. It was a struggle but thankfully it was enough to land work animating at Cartoon Network (after being at WB for 2 years, but not animating). I have since been learning so much more just having a job where I do get to animate all day then get to go home and animate more for Animation Mentor. This allows me to apply what I learn in the lecture videos to both my assignments and my actual work at the studio. The mentors we have heard from have been outstanding. They have discussed topics I wish I had been exposed to in college. It has been outstanding learning from such great animators. And the diversity of their backgrounds just adds so much more to the knowledge we are being given through the program. I had always been afraid of the computer, especially 3d animation, but my second mentor, Jason Ryan, had such a clear traditional approach to planning a scene in Maya and executing it that I was able to understand the process so much better than if I had tried to learn this myself or just from a friend. This experience has been incredibly invaluable.
AnimationMentor.com:
What's one of the most important and/or interesting lessons you've learned while at AnimationMentor.com?
Elaine Reali:
The most important lessons I have learned while at AnimationMentor.com really have to be the reintroduction of the principles of animation, the lessons of teamwork and flow of productions, and the topic of phrasing. I have been able to have the principles of animation at the forefront while animation class work and at work. It has become a more natural addition to my work, and it has hopefully improved it! Phrasing was a topic that I had never been introduced to before. It was a concept that I had never consciously put into my work and now knowing how to plan a scene and to get to know a character in the process, I will be more aware of ways to improve my scenes by being aware of phrasing and its necessity to make a scene stand stronger.
AnimationMentor.com:
Who is your favorite animator?
Elaine Reali:
My favorite animator would have to be a traditional animator who has inspired us all and the whole world loves whether they know it or not.
Frank Thomas was an outstanding animator. He knew just how to make a character come to life. His amazing work on Bambi, Ichabod, Madame Mim, Captain Hook...the list goes on and on...is phenomenal. Frank is someone to look up to even now. Animation is a very time consuming and involving medium. But knowing how Frank took the time to experience life and observe life should be a lesson in itself. His scenes always showed a real emotion that the audience could connect to. He knew of little quarks to add to the character to give them a believable quality. Frank's love of music and the piano helped him animate Hook playing the piano perfectly. His observation of life and how he was able to implement it into his work and inspire coworkers (and continually offer help to them evidently) is something that I hope I never forget about. That is what animation is about. That is exactly how it should be.
AnimationMentor.com:
What is your favorite animated/CG scene of all time?
Elaine Reali:
My favorite CG sequence is the "I'm not strong enough" scene from The Incredibles. There is so much human emotion plowing through a cg model in that scene that it was just obvious in every screening in the theaters that I saw it at, the audience was taken aback. After I saw it the first time, I purposely looked around at people to see their reactions to that scene. They were quite taken by it. Their expressions were amazing to see. (To my understanding...Good job Pete Sohn!)
But my favorite animated scene in general is the introduction of Thumper and Bambi. Their character interaction is so genuine and pure. Bambi is struggling to get up, in which the timing of his limbs and tail are perfect. His stumbling around is amazing and perfect for his character. Thumper's character comes through so strongly you fall in love with him right away as well. There is not any dialogue until the end of this scene when Thumper says "kinda wobbly, isn't he?" but the timing of the movements have amazing beats working between the two characters that give so much life to the scene. There are great poses hit, expressions for both characters, and of course the actual execution of the animation is perfect as well. The fact that pencil lines made this scene come into existence will never cease to amaze me. It was completely created by humans. It was made a reality. It is a classic scene that will hopefully be seen and enjoyed forever, and it certainly deserves to be.
AnimationMentor.com:
Anything else you want to say to your fellow and prospective students of AnimationMentor.com?
Elaine Reali:
Animation Mentor is such a great program for us to be able to have the opportunity to be a part of. As much of a struggle as it is right now, trying to balance work and Animation Mentor, it is very much worth it. I have learned more than I thought possible through an online program. Thank you to everyone who leaves comments and critiques for anyone. This will only help us all become stronger animators and help us have a better eye for looking at work. I learn so much by just reading what other students have to say. They see things in my work that I overlook or neglect to realize I need to add to the scene. The helpful attitudes and friendly students are amazing to be able to learn with and from!