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Hey! I am in love with your animations. I would love to become and animator as either an occupation or as a hobby, and i was wondering what programs you recommend?

Wow, thank you! That's super cool, I'm always happy to hear about new aspiring animators!

As for your question, software is probably the least important part of learning animation. I've used a bunch and if you know how to animate, you can animate with anything. The software/technology changes, but the technique is timeless. That being said, my preferred software is Maya.

Buy this book >click< and study it! It's one of the most informative sources for animation in the known universe. Start small. Don't animate a full character. Animate a ball for awhile. Get the basics down first.

I don't have all the answers and I'm still constantly learning, but I'm thinking of doing some tutorials on getting started in animation. If I do, I'll post some links here on the blog!

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Preview of a shot I'm working on for my LoZ short film. Lots more to come!

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Ganondorf should probably just go back to the Sacred Realm.

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Still alive! Hard at work on Link stuff. Shooting the short film in a couple weeks out in Yosemite, so I'll be putting up some cool stuff in the next month!

In the meantime, here's a doodle from yesterday.

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Adam Jensen

When robot arms are a thing, I want mine with a built in Keurig.

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Loosening up the wrist for 20 mins - here are the doodles that aren't complete garbage. Just partly garbage. Like 40% garbage.

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Plant tests for the Link short film

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A couple renders of the Makar plushie Link is napping with

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Hyah

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A scribble in my sketchbook looked like a bald guy. This is that bald guy.

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I've gotten a few cool answers from people to my question about what makes the Zelda series special to them >>here<< (Would love more!)

I probably should give my answer too since I'm working on this short film.

Working in game development, I can typically see right through the way a game works. Games have lost a little magic because I can see behind the curtain. I'm drawn to the Zelda series because they maintain their magic. I can still see how things function, but it's constructed in such a charming and mysterious way that it always feels like there's more - there's something left to discover. 

And the rest. The music is beautiful and moving, especially all of the fully orchestrated stuff. The convincing atmosphere and story of these three intertwined souls destined to be reincarnated as different people who must fulfill their role.

It's fascinating and beautiful and reminds me why I'm in game development in the first place.

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What is it about the Zelda series that makes it special to you?

Working on the Link short film, it's a question I think about a lot, but haven't discussed with other people that much. What do you think?

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blackdoveproductions replied to: “Just fartin’ around with the facial rig again”

You create the rig yourself?

Yep, finally nearing completion. If you're into this stuff too, I'm working in Maya, so the face is done with a combination of blendshapes, a joint-based jaw set up, and sets of clusters for detail controls.

The body is being done with The Setup Machine to assist with creating the proper controls, but sadly it doesn't place joints or paint weights for you, so I'm still doing that part too. Nearly done!