Emrox 2017-06-24 04:26:01

I know they changed it years ago but I still like doing that thing where you have just the one image at the end of your post

Plebs 2017-06-24 06:03:06

I'd say the only way you could truly make a difference is to focus on what method works best for you. If others spend double the amount of time on one thing they will be better than you at that one thing, but (now speaking from personal experience) you will reach a point where your work will be of great enough level where it would be smarter to broaden your skill palette in other areas. You will improve greatly in things like writing and programming as opposed to getting a little bit better at art. So investing your time in that could be a smart thing to do. It's ok to learn a different set of skills, as long as each of the things you learn can also be ushered to become part a whole. That's a condition for me personally. I agree with you that learning about one thing also expands knowledge in other areas.

We live in an age where anyone can learn anything and starting a business is easier than ever before. Which means that you need to become a powerhouse, not just because you want it but also because it's the only way to actually do something nobody's done before. The word unique has lost all it's meaning for me, but truly unique concepts are a fusion of several vastly different elements. The factor that makes it work is the competence of the people involved.

As to your third point. I'm both self-taught and college educated in two very different things, but they are two sides of the same coin. It's just that, nobody's attempted to put a coin like that together (yet). I've still got plenty to learn before I actually put all my money on it. I could go on, but talking is easy and I prefer talking after having done something first. I think as long as you're dedicated you can make it work.

Pjorg 2017-06-24 15:17:52

post the book

dylan 2017-06-24 19:47:46

I think it's time for you to accept that you're on the director track. not the animator track, and not the programmer track.

you're skilled in a lot of areas, but you're not, and probably never will be, the best in any. you've developed a lot of skills, and you know how to translate one skill to another. you're an animator that can talk about programming, but you're also a programmer that can talk about art. in the job market, you're the equivalent of the person that can speak multiple languages - you'll be translating and relaying and conveying and directing - but you won't be doing the specific tasks yourself for the most part.

i think newgrounds has raised a lot of us that way, with everyone making their own everything. newgrounds forces you to be good at multiple skills in order to showcase the one skill you originally cared about.

I think the best example of this is that almost every author on newgrounds had to, at one point, learn how to program a play button for an SWF. it was a small thing, but it shows that no author here was ever really part of the single-skill pipeline.

you're not going to be the best animator around. you're a pretty fucking talented animator, but you won't be the best. your best skill will revolve around your ability to steer multiple visions and talents into one final product - you're a director.

The-Psycho-Ragdoller 2017-06-24 23:24:18

I needed to read that. It makes me feel a bit easier knowing there's someone else out there who doesn't know if they should be the master of one or the jack-of-all-trades...

One things that helps me though, and I hope it can help you feel like you're not wasting your life, is just remembering that YOU are the one who defines what 'being the best' is, and nobody else. Personally, when it comes to being the best, I consider 'the best' to be good enough that you can accomplish the ideas you really wish to achieve as solidly clearly as you envisioned it. Or at least as close to that as possible.

You may feel that your palette of skills is too broad and doesn't quite fit together right now, but I can tell you without a doubt that isn't true--You're passion for writing, art, and your interest in programming--all of your current skills are enough to make a big project on your own, one that YOU can Direct, and that YOU can work on at your own sensible pace. It's The Journey.

I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.

Love Peck by the way!

Plebs 2017-06-25 05:46:30

I agree with your interpretation of that quote. Funny enough, I'm not an animator because I like drawing, I am one because it's a way to convey my ideas. A form of communication really, just in this case visualized with movement and sound. Animation is the chosen medium because it (aside from film and some games) comes closest to breathing life into my ideas. Making use of as many senses as possible, leaving little room for other's to form their own interpretation. Which is the opposite with comics and books. So whichever way works best in the translation of those ideas, into something that is perceivable by others is the goal.

I'm also curious about the book, forgot to mention it.

Luis 2017-06-26 09:07:31

interesting read. i agree with most of your thoughts. i think sometimes people get caught up in the seriousness of a creative career, where the creative mind in general is a bit organic and abstract in the way it works. i know some guys / girls that cant go anywhere without their sketchbook and pouring their all into incorporating it into their day, which is great if that works for them. For me, its just not something that ever took off, and even when i forced it, i never stuck to it and probably never will, ive come to accept that its just not how i work or stay creative. i think i tend to 'sketch' with my mind more often than not. I have a deep fascination about the way humans interact with each other, these sacks of flesh throwing sounds and gestures at each other like wild animals with designer clothes or what have you. That sort of thing excites me and sparks my curiousity (sounds creepy doesnt it) but in my own interactions and observations i think its greatly improved my understanding of subtleties in my work (and other peoples) im able to better understand the art of subtle gestures and interactions, which is something old cartoons really nail. So while i could spend all day drawing i think that you sometimes risk having things be technically beautiful but not have much heart or personality.

Flikkernicht 2017-07-05 15:19:00

im late to seeing this and i dont have anything particularly interesting to add other than this hits home for me in a lot of capacities:

I've caught the "asian work addiction" (lol) because I spent my entire high school time creating art and animation without ever studying or comprehending anything about them. i guess im pretty bitter about that and im kind of desperately busting my ass to catch up. but the more I study the less creative ideas I tend to have, where before thats all i had. im trying to strike a balance right now of studying and also intaking inspiring material while also working on the more "creative" ideas I have and that seems to be working, or at least it feels a lot more fulfilling than studying eight hours a day and still feeling like a schmuck who can't draw what he wants to.

at the same time im wondering if i should've pursued the other fields I care about like film and writing. i wonder a lot if i should've just stuck to film because no matter how much i study and put it into practice it still seems like i can't draw for shit. it's really frustrating having all these ideas for shots, camera movements etc to visually communicate things to the audience without ever having the technical ability to draw or animate these ideas. ive thought about directing things in live-action but with my film experience being so minimal, it's-- as you said-- pretty daunting because everyones working twice as hard at that craft etc etc. i also wonder if i should've just stuck to writing but considering how little i've actually read i doubt i'd be able to articulate anything that isn't already restated by someone smarter than me, better than i could. at some point id really love to put my focus onto directing something in live-action or writing some kind of weird memoir thing but I have this looming fear that if I dont get the fuck better at drawing i'm not gonna get a job.

however your whole 20 crafts argument at least gives me a little bit of hope, as theres nothing preventing me from taking up those crafts again, and possibly because I'm not so desensitized to them i might have something more interesting to say? I dunno. especially with the sam hyde thing, I talked to Patrick about that a while back...while I agree that sams a voice comedy needs, the fact that everything he does now is so laden with irony and shrouding his intentions behind ten different barriers is really pathetic considering he's like 31 now. I think sam used to really have something, and I still really love a ton of the stuff he's made, but it's gotten to where it's been kinda lost through that whole rabbithole thing you were talking about. Devoting yourself so hopelessly to a craft kind of robs what you initially loved about it.

not to turn this into some diary entry or anything but i get what you mean about feeling like youre wasting your life. and it sucks! it sucks feeling like you're kind of floating directionless in the void. i think this is kind of intrinsic to this whole 20 something age range though. i dont think anyone under the age of thirty has a clear path theyve defined for themselves. i wouldn't worry about it too much. i think you especially have a distinct creator voice so you're way ahead of most of us. i've always enjoyed the way you write both in comedy and in these blog posts so if that book ever surfaces im sure that'd be a fun read. regardless im lookin forward to seeing whatever you end up doing in whatever medium so good luck!

turtleco 2017-07-29 23:40:35

I know you're not a fan of either Chuck Jones or Glenn Keane, but they've both said similar things. It worked for them, so I think there's a lot of truth to it. Plus life would be pretty fucking dull if you just grinded non-stop.