Best animation Movies Ever #20 My Neighbor Totoro

Here is another movie in our top 25 list!

Tej Kohli list of best animation movies ever shares another interesting movie which should be part of every animation lovers' library. In this post Tej Kohli talks about the 20th best animation movie My Neighbor Totoro!

My Neighbor Totoro is one of the earlier animation films by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli and even 22 years later is still considered one of their best creations.

The movie narrates the story of two sisters who move to the countryside in the post war Japan. There they come across a forest full of imaginative critters, and a large protective spirit named Totoro. As with most Miyazaki's movies, the film shows the journey of clash of childhood innocence and the beginning of adulthood and other other harsh realities associated to it.

Totoro does justice to both these aspects with its bright, vibrant visuals and its denial to submit to the old storytelling methods that derail so many Hollywood animations. If you are a fan of Miyazaki's films or even animation in general, you cannot afford to give this movie a miss.

Tej Kohli is an animation expert and loves sharing information about animation movies. For more movies in the top 25 list, keep reading Tej Kohli blog.

Best animation Movies Ever #21 The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Tej Kohli animation career blog brings another addition to his list of best animation movies ever. Taking the 21st spot is The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Read on to know what makes this movie special and deserving of this spot at Tej Kohli Blog.

Imagine what will you get when you combine the unique film making talents of writer-directors Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach - arguable their best work, though with a brief moments of very old-school, fun stop-motion animation.

The fantastic Mr. Fox, is based on novel by Roald Dahl, has George Clooney lending his voice to the titular character, a columnist who relapses to his sly, chicken coop robbing roots to feed his family when three big corporate chicken farmers threaten to tear down Fox and Friends' home. Despite being set isin a very basic environment, the content and interplay between the characters is very inspiring, witty and entertaining. The characters, made of art and craft supplies, feel more alive than most live-action characters. And Anderson and Baumbach, operating outside of their usual wheelhouse governed by all-too-smart, upper-class people with upper-class problems, seem to bring out the best in each other here, giving the film many opportunities to be one of the most underrated films of 2009.

Tej Kohli animation career blog is a place to find useful and informative articles on 2d and 3d animation. For more useful tips, keep reading the articles by Tej Kohli.

Best animation Movies Ever #22 Ghost In the Shell

Tej Kohli blog presents another movie on its top animation movies ever list. Read on to know what this movie is all about at Tej Kohli blog.

A feature length film by Mamoru Oshii, Ghost in the Shell is adapted from the manga by Masamune Shirow. This helped kick off a massive, worldwide franchise including several sequences, a few TV series, video games, novels, toys and more. Directors of the sorts of James Cameron has praised it, the Wachowski brothers have confessed it as being a key influence on The Matrix and a Steven Spielberg produced live-action film which is currently under production.

The movie is basically a crime thriller set in the future, says Tej Kohli. The 1985 film revolves around cyborg security officer Major Motoko Kusanagi, who sets out on the trial of a criminal hacker called Puppet Master. The film explores such deep, existential themes as the nature of identity and what it is that makes us human.

Tej Kohli blog is a place to find useful information on animation. For more information keep reading Tej Kohli blog.

Tej Kohli Explains How to Format a Script for an Animated Series

Tej Kohli animation blog is a useful resource for all animation enthusiasts. In this article Tej Kohli has discussed some useful tips to help animators format a script for an animated series.

There is no difference between writing a script for animation and writing a live-action script. The format of both these scripts remain pretty much the same. To format a screenplay or script you can use various word processing programs such as word, but nowadays a variety of screenplay formatting programs are available that makes this process easier and seamless. There is a standard format for a screenplay or script that is accepted industry-wise. If you want to deliver a professional looking, quality and finished script, you would certainly need a properly formatted screenplay.

Tej Kohli offers some handy tips for the writers and animators.

1. Write an outline : Figure out the duration of the episode or the animated movie you are making. Then start writing an outline that summarizes the primary high and low points in the plot. Then, develop story points to 'beats' that are central to the plot of the movie. Weave the story around these beats.

2. Write about the characters : A common practice that a lot of screenplay writers do is to develop their characters by using a technique called back story. Back story gives a basic idea about the characters and helps a writer imagine how and why characters act and react. These stories helps the writers understand why a character reacts in a particular way. This helps the writer to take the story forward.

3. Determine action sequences using outline: A characteristic difference between animation script and a live action script is in the use of action. An animated script is full of action since the animated characters can be put in rather perilous situations than live-action actors. While an action sequence is written very clearly and concisely, an animator uses the script as a blueprint to develop the action sequences.

4. Write dialogues: Dialogues, like in live-action scripts, helps to take the story further. However, live action scripts can proceed slowly than animated ones as live actors can interpret their parts as they interpret their character. Whereas, an animation script moves faster as it is the essence of animation to keep things, characters and situations moving. As most animation characters talk in short, quick sentences, it is important that the dialogues are sharp, quick and snappy. Avoid writing long speeches.

5. Rewrite : Once you have completed the first draft, leave it for a while. Then, with a fresh mid, review the script for movement, action and dialogue. If there is any action sequence which is not clear and concise, rewrite it. Cut the dialogues short if need be. And remember to correct typos, if any.

Tej Kohli is an entrepreneur and philanthropist located in San Jose, Costa Rica. In this blog, Tej Kohli covers all the important aspects of 3D animation to help beginners start their career journey.

Tej Kohli Explains 2D Animation Techniques

Tej Kohli Animation Career Blog explains the basic 2D animation techniques...

Animation, be it 2D or 3D, is a string of frames that imparts movement. Traditional animation comprised of a sequence of illustrations shat at 24 frames per second. The art of animation is varied and that's why the list of 2D animation methods has gone far behind paper and pencil. Give below is the overview of 2d animation techniques and principles.

The art of movement – one of the basic aesthetics of animation is deciding the motion of the drawings. Will it snap, or will it have an attitude, this is up to an animator to select any realistic or unique style he likes to bring about the desired effect.

Timing – once you have decided the movement of the animation, the next step is to decide how much time to allot to that action. This process is known as timing. In order to accomplish this, an animator can enact the action in his head and determine the duration using his instinct. If you want to have a more precise measurement, try this technique using a stopwatch. You may also act out the motion yourself to get a better understanding of what you are drawing.

Spacing – spacing means determining how the drawings will be placed between each other. When done in a right manner, the spacing of illustrations can create weight and believability. This do this, always remember that when you add more drawings, the longer they will be seen on the screen. While a fewer drawings takes less time, they imply a shorter action. If the motion takes place at equal intervals, then the illustrations must be spaced equally from each other. As the motions speeds up or slows down, drawings can be spaced accordingly - slow in and slow out.

Slow In - Think acceleration the same way as the action of reaching out your hand. The actions begins at a slow pace but gets faster as your hand accelerates upward. This is executed by padding drawings together at the beginning of the action, showing longer onscreen, to using fewer frames, father apart as the action completes, thus the ending is appearing for less time onscreen.

Slow Out - This is a term for deceleration. The action starts fast and ends slowly, creating a slow out. At the start, drawings are placed father apart from each other, with many drawings padding the end of the action. This creates a slowing effect.

Key Frames - These are usually the first frames drawn, and represent the major points of action. Key framing the animation is a general way of laying down a foundation of the most important poses. The biggest benefits to using key frames is the ability to see if the animation works with a relatively low drawing investment. As a note, not all animators use key frames, as it can make animation look stiff or unnatural. It also depends largely on preference.

1s, 2s, 3s, 4s - Animation is recorded at 24 frames per second. The term 1s, 2s and so on refers to how many frames are shot per drawing. If each drawing were shot only once, a 1 to 1 ration of one drawing to one frame shot, this would mean the animation was shot on 1s. If each drawing was shot twice, one drawing for every two frames, would be called 2s, and etc. Contrary to popular opinion most animation is not shot on 1s, but rather 2s unless the action needs to be particularly smooth as in dancing or an underwater scene.

Tej Kohli 3D secure | Tej Kohli Squidoo Profile | Tej Kohli Walk for vision | Tej Kohli Google Sites

Understanding breakdown Drawings in 2D Animation with Tej Kohli

Tej Kohli describe the process of 2D animation and the importance of breakdown drawings in creating an animated scene. Keep reading Tej Kohli animation career help blog foe more on 2D animation.

Developing a 2D animation needs a series of multiple drawings to complete the description of actions to narrate a story. The breakdown drawing referred to the middle drawings that severe as the chief changeover actions between two keys.

Story – This is the most important component of the animator's mind – it starts simply with telling a story. Video recording devices are often used as reference point and can be a paramount tool for understanding the distinction between key and breakdown drawings.

Timing – The plan for animation depends a lot on timing. A lot of animators use stopwatch and timing graphs are detail the key frame and breakdown poses.

Key Frames – these are the primary describing actions that explains the story of the scene. If you are making a a story animation, it must begin with key frames to organize the further work.

Breakdown – it's not necessary to place the breakdown at the exact middle point between the two key frames. Since, a breakdown is next most changeover point between two key drawings, it necessitates a lot of fine tuning and shifting.

In-between – also known as straight run, these drawings fills in the remaining information enabling a smooth run for your scene. The direction already established by the key and breakdown drawings is crucial to create the smoothest flow and timing for 2D animation.

Tej Kohli in News | Tej Kohli Profile| Tej Kohli Squidoo

History of Animation by Tej Kohli

Tej Kohli

History of animation

Animation has come a long way from papers to the computer screens and now the big screen. But do you even now how animation started? Tej Kohli blog takes on a delighful journey of the animation...

Animated films have entertained people from all around the world for over years now. A shark leaping out of the water to attack, a humanoid swinging through the trees centuries in to the future, or a bird flying so close you can almost hear the flapping of its wings – these are a few examples of animation work seen by zillions across the globe in animation movies. What started as groups of hand-drawn pictures of cartoons about a century ago has turned into a multi-billion dollar industry that entertains and challenges us the way no artform has ever done.

Early History Of Animation
The inception of the animation dates back to 1824 when Peter Roget wrote a scientific paper on how the brain sees individual images as a continuous series of motion. This was followed by the invention of the first camera, the kinetoscope by Thomas Edison that could project 13 seconds of a film. Within a decade, photographer and owner of the Vitagraph Studios, J. Stuart Blackton made the first ever animation film with the help of a blackboard. Known as 'Humorous phases of funny faces', he drew a comic face them filmed it, stopped the camera while he erased a face and made a new face and then filmed it again. This outcome of changing faces or stop-motion became the first animated film technique.

The Silent Era
In 1910, the French caricaturist and animator Emile Cohl used paper cutouts to demonstrate an early example of animated films. His technique revolved around repositioning the figure instead of drawing it again, which was time saving. By the year 1914, Winsor McCay, also known as the father of American animation, created a cartoon named Gertie the Dinosaur, which needed thousands of individual drawings. In the same year, Earl Hurd, when working at John Bay studios, developed the technique of drawing on transparent cels and then photographed each one. This cel animation technique became the foundation of animated film making for years.

Disney's animated Cels
In 1923m Walt Disney, a commercial artist, shifted from Kansas City toLA to work as a director. Disney wanted realism in his characters and trained his animators to study anatomy to add more life to the characters. He advanced the Hurd's Cel animation technique. Images were hand drawn on transparent cels in layers, one on top of another. Background cel was kept at the bottom of the pile as each layer was filmed then removed. The process was time consuming and took weeks to generate a single sequence. It was in 1928, when Disney made its first talking animated film, “steamboat Willie”, an instant success that introduced Mickey Mouse. By 1937, Disney produced the first full length colored animated film “Snow white and the seven dwarfs”, earning an academy award, the first of 37 Oscars for Disney.

Early Computer Animation
By the year 1980, what had taken weeks to do manually was replaced by the first computer animated production system – CAPS, and by the year 1985, Disney studio adopted this computer generated process entirely. With a wider color palette and blended and shaded tones, this computer software added a more realistic appeal to the animation. Developed by Disney and Pixar artists and engineers, this program allowed camera movements such as pan, tilt and zooms as a part of entire filming process. Disney took over Pixar in 2006, replacing CAPS with newer 2D and 3D animation techniques.

CGI animation and 3D
The introduction of CGI, computer generated imagery, changed film making for good. With movies like the 'Terminator 2' and 'Jurrassic Park' in the 1990, animation marked a new epoch in the film making industry. In 1995, Walt Disney Productions and Pixar animation studios jointly produced “Toy Story', the first film to be completely animated using CGI technology. Motion capture is a technique where any movement is recorded and transferred digitally. This technique is used by the US military to create battlefield scenarios in its training. This method was first used in 2004 movie “The Polar Express” . In 2009, film “Avatar” reinvented 3D technology as the first ever movie to use performance capture imagery to produce life-like 3D characters and an entire world.

Tej Kohli Real Estate Tej Kohli Cornea Transplant Tej Kohli Grafix Softech Tej Kohli on Twitter

Learning 2D Animation the Easy Way!

Tej Kohli explains how to learn 2D animation.
Things You'll Need:
* Tracing paper
* Digital camera or scanner
* Pencil
* Eraser
* Computer

2D animation is a time-consuming and painstaking process. A classic form of animation, 2D animation is also capable of producing some truly mind blowing outcomes. Learning and developing your won 2D animation is a simple concept to begin, yet it can take years to excel in this art completely. Each frame must be drawn in hand,and while this may look like too much work, it will add a truly unique flavor to your animation work. Upon learning the basics of the 2D animation, you can start drafting more complex animations.

2D animation reflects the movement of the object or the character. So, to begin with, draw a character in a starting pose, which will serve as as base for your next frames. A simple example of 2D animation would be to create a character who is waving. Draw the head, body, arms and legs of the character. Position the waving arm above the head with the palm open. Be sure to keep a slight bend in the elbow to make the pose look natural.

Now put a tracing paper above the drawing and copy the picture except the waving arm and the eyebrows. Then redraw the waving arm so that it is extending out diagonally. Make sure the elbow remains completely straight. Redraw the eyebrows tilting inwards slightly towards each other. This will add some slight movement in the drawing, so it doesn't appear that the arm's the only section being animated.

Next, trace over the picture again except the waving arm and the eyebrows. This time, redraw the waving arm so that it's now pointing straight up. Make sure to take a slight bend in the elbow, but not as much as you gave in Step 1. Draw the eyebrows tilting almost diagonally down. This will reflect a slight effort in the character's face from waving.

Redo steps 1 to 3 until you think that the character has waved for long enough. Take individual digital photos of all your drawings, and import the pictures in your computer. Through a computer program like iMovie or Movie Magic, you may string a series of pictures together in sequence to create an animation effect.

Tej Kohli Reviews Tej Kohli Law Career Blog Tej Kohli Stumble Upon

Tej Kohli explains 2D Animation Software for Beginners

In the previous post, Tej Kohli discussed about the various 2D animation tools available for professionals online. Today, Tej Kohli will talk about most useful 2D animation software for 'Beginners'.

A 2D animation programs is the one that allows you to create moving 2D images on a desktop or other output media. These softwares are nothing but a specialized painting or drawing programs that allows the movement of pictures along the two dimensions of the screen, besides an additional dimension of time.

Frames and Keyframes

Any picture made with 2D animation software is called a frame, which are similar to the frames of a traditional animated movies. Artists paint a series of virtual frames to create a movie. Each frame displays graphical objects that represents characters or scenery. There is a very slight movement in the characters as they move from one frame to the next. This movement creates the illusion of motion when the frames are shown quickly in sequence.

Every animation program has playback tools which are used to view this sequence of frames. Most animation software will also let you export the movie to a popular format like AVI or Quicktime.

2D animation software saves you time by computing frames. In these programs, only those frames where a new action begin or ends are drawn rather than every frame. Such frames are called keyframes. The calculations a software use to compute the frames in between the keyframes is called interpolation.

Based on the type of motion to be interpolated, key frames can be divided into various categories. While the translation keyframes are for movement of a graphical object, scaling keyframes allows you to resize objects. Rotation keyframe allows for the circular movement of an object around a specific point.

Curve Editors

the curve editors display curves that reflects the motion of a graphical object. The animation can be changed by reshaping the curves rather than objects. One of the main advantage of curve editors is that you are able to see every motion frame at once, instead of single frame at a time.

Horizontal Graphs

It displays the increasing numbers along its left side to show various horizontal positions of the object. The center of the graph displays the curve itself and for right-to-left moving ball, this curve will represent a line starting from the upper left of the screen, and moving to the lower right of the screen.

Vertical Graphs

The vertical graph is similar to the horizontal graph, except the graph's left side will display vertical values for the ball's position. This means a line will run across the lower left of the screen and move to the upper right.

Tej Kohli IT Blog | Tej Kohli Philanthropist | Tej Kohli Squidoo

Tej Kohli's Best 2D Animation Tools

Tej Kohli Animation blog - your reservoir of animation and everything related to it!

While there is no denial that 3D animation has taken the animation industry by storm, there are still a plenty of traditionalists who believe that 2D animation is better that its contemporary counterpart. No matter if you believe that strongly, or you're just a novice who is trying to carve his niche is the animation industry, 2D animation is your first step towards becoming a professional animator. There are a variety of 2D animation tools available out there, even online. You can also access them for free and hone your 2D animation skills.

Pencil – This is perhaps the first thing an artist shall befriend with. Not only in real life but also virtually. Pencil is a free animation program that allow users to create 2D images using both bitmap and vector graphics. Although this programs doesn't not feature all the features that a professional 2D animation program has, but as a free program, it lets users create hand-drawn-like animations.

DigiCel FlipBook – This is an extremely useful program that helps at every stage of animation process – from the lip-syncing and creating storyboards to the raw and refined animation, all the way to the final product. Equally great for amateurs and professionals, this program helps you create feature-length animations. Use hand-drawn pictures or create them on the computer itself. You can also add a variety of effects, like zooms and dissolves to give your work a professional look.

Plastic Animation Paper – This program is available in three versions, and each of them differ in price and tools they feature. The free version is very basic but looks great if you're fond of 2D animation, and is ideal for an amateur. The home edition, which comes at $99, has some extra tools that adds a professional appeal to your animation. Using the home edition, you can make animations for YouTube or your own website. And lastly, the professional version, which is tagged at $695. This is capable of making feature-length animation and is perfect for a studio team.

Stickman and Elemento – This is a basic program with few buttons and features and allow students to expand their knowledge about the animation process. Draw in the program or import images like JPEG or Photoshop. While it's not a fully-featured software, but is ideal for younger students to help them harness their creativity.

Monkey Jam – A freeware animation, Monkey Jam is a wonderful intermediate program that allows you to create your own personal animations. Animate or separate layers to facilitate animation process, and use keyboard shortcuts to alter image duration, which works great while testing the speed of animation.

Tej Kohli Business Blog | Tej Kohli Guide | Tej Kohli Law Career Blog | Reviews by Tej Kohli