So yesterday ended up actually being pretty awesome!
I Got up early and headed over to the CTN Animation Expo in Burbank, and spent pretty much the entire day there! I wasn't sure what to expect with this con (there really wasn't much to expect anyway, since it was the first one), but it was pretty much like all of my favorite things about Comic Con, except condensed into a mere fraction of the space and people involved, with less line-waiting, more professionals and no crazies. I was pretty much surrounded by people so much more talented than me, which is both agonizing and inspiring. 8o
Considering I was only able to do one day there, I did as much as I could! Got into the Dreamworks' Production Design panel, which was on their design process for "How To Train Your Dragon" and how they went through three different levels of development as the story kept changing. I actually wasn't aware how much influence Chris Sanders had in that, but after seeing lots of it, yeah there's definitely
lots of his work influence. (To say nothing of Toothless the dragon looking quite a bit like Stitch!) We got free signed lithographs of some production work from that. 8D
The other panel I waited a bit for was the Pixar Story artists panel, which was basically like five story artists talking about their story process. It's kind of interesting and encouraging how many of them are into comics, utilize their comics work in story, or both. All their advice and stuff seems like it should be obvious when you create stories for movies, yet is so difficult for people to follow for some reason!
Also went to the Character Designer's panel, which included people like Harald Siepermann and Andreas Deja, and they also spilled a bunch on how they did their design process. So the panels were gooood.
And then the exhibit hall AAAAAAAAAH. MY POOR WALLET SUFFERED. Because seriously, I walked in and it was like HEY LOOK
Stephen Silver Claire Wendling Sergio Toppi Peter de Seve David Coleman etc. etc. A THOUSAND ARTISTS YOU REALLY LIKE ARE SELLING THEIR CRAP HERE, COME BUY IT ALL, SUCKERRRRR. I was mostly good and only came away with a Wendling sketchbook, a Disney/Pixar artist comic anthology (the sequel to Rocket Johnson), and one of Pascal Campion's sketchbooks because he's a really sweet guy. OH YEAH, and all the free stuff...like a HUGEASS PRINCESS AND THE FROG POSTER OH YEAH. I also ran into a ton of people I hadn't seen in awhile, including people from Gnomon that I'd been meaning to say hi to. I stopped by the Sony Animation booth and passed along my stuff, and seemed to get a decently good reaction, although it didn't really go one way or the other.
Also uh, while I was there, I was pretty much introduced to Shane Acker and got to talk with him and we had this whole convo about what he's working on next. 8DDDD
The con was also showing off a ton of character maquettes, with some really oldschool stuff as well as stuff from the new Alice and Wonderland. They were also doing live demos, so I got to sit for an hour and just watch Andreas Deja draw various Disney characters and relate anecdotes about what it was like designing and drawing them. 8D
I finally finished off the day by deciding to stay late for the movie screenings, which were Don Bluth's
Banjo the Woodpile Cat, and
The Secret of Kells, both of which I hadn't seen before. I don't think either were super-strong on story, but animation-wise MORE than made up for it. Especially Secret of Kells, OMFGGGGGG. That whole movie was just ridiculous eye candy, with some mesmerizing animation, and getting to watch it in a full theater full of animators who applauded at the end was nothing short of awesome.
SO YEAH, GOOD TRIP. If they hold it again next year I'm definitely making an effort to go back, since it WAS all the best professional stuff about Comic Con for me condensed down into a small enough package to be both manageable and fun!
Drawing: Lunargyros and commissions still
Writing: Cards
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tired
rushed
hopeful
busy