Easier to create cut-out animation in Toon Boom

Gregory Hargis

Company
Awana® Clubs International

Occupation
Sr. Video Editor/Animator

Location
Streamwood, IL (Chicagoland area)


Biography

Gregory Hargis is a Sr. Video Editor/Animator for Awana® Clubs International. He has been working in video for the last 5 years with a degree in Visual Communications and Film Studies. He owns a small business focusing on photography as well as freelance visual communications including animation. Greg also enjoys long walks on the beach.Gregory uses Toon Boom Storyboard Pro and Animate Pro to create animation.

(Toon Boom Professional Products) are by far the best Animation software on the market. Ease of use and quality outputs, nothing compares. Customer and Tech support are second to no-one.

How long have you been in this profession? 

5 years

What are your most important accomplishments?

I have won “Best in Show” at the Imago Film Festival. I am a self taught animator who was able to learn the program and produce a quality 30+ minute animation in less than 8 months.

What kind of projects do you create storyboards for?

Lately I have been working on short,1 to 3-minute web commercials.

Do you create your animations using Toon Boom professional products only?

90% of my work is done in Animate Pro.

If not, what other applications are you using?

Final Cut Studio, Photoshop/Illustrator, and AfterEffects

Why did you choose to combine these products?

I use Final Cut to mix the audio and timing before doing storyboards. I use AfterEffects as a compositing program when called for integrating the animation within other video footage or doing other special effects not capable in Animate Pro.

Please describe your workflow

What is your pre-production process?

After Scripts are written and VO recorded, I will put them together in Final Cut Pro. I will export the audio tracks individually for import for Auto LipSync in Animate Pro. Depending on the scope of the project, storyboards will be turned into an Animatic. On lower budget projects (or quick turn around) simple camera moves and character placement will be mapped out in Animate instead of an Animatic.

What kind of animation do you create?

Typically animation for children. Wholesome, fun and exciting videos with Christian Values.

What animation technique are you mostly using?

Cut-Out Animation.

What are your top five favorite features Toon Boom Animate Pro?

1. Inverse Kinematics
2. MultiPlane 3D
3. Auto LipSync
4. Network View
5. Focus Module

What Toon Boom Professional Products’ features allow you to distinguish your animation productions, including at the storyboarding and animatic stages?

Everything you could dream of doing, can easily be done in Animate Pro.

Did you experience any productivity gains in using Toon Boom Professional Products?

Yes, most definitely. While working on an 8 episode series, the first episode took 4 weeks to complete. By the 8th episode, we were able to finish in under 2 weeks. Being able to easily re-use scenes, characters and effects was essential to a productive workflow that only Animate would allow.

Are you more efficient today compared to your production toolset used previously?

I’ve started my animation career with Digital Pro. Even the simple upgrade to Animate Pro has vastly improved productivity and cleaned up my timeline. With the use of key-framing drawing layers instead of just pegs, and now symbols, my cut-out characters are much easier to manage.

Is it possible to get the same results with other digital animation software?

Possible, yes. But not NEARLY as easy and quick with as good of quality that Animate provides.

How do you feel about Toon Boom Professional Products?

They are by far the best Animation software on the market. Ease of use and quality outputs, nothing compares. Customer and Tech support are second to no-one.

How was your leaning curve?

Have you used the video tutorials? The learning curve was a bit tricky at first, but after the first few days of watching the tutorials, lights started turning on and was quick to start my own projects. The transition from Digital Pro to Animate Pro took only a day or two, and with the use of the tutorials, I was able to learn new tricks and the changes that had been made.

Equipment used

Mac OS 10.5. QuadCore Deo with 4GB or Ram. Cintique 21X and 23” Apple Displays.