Month: January 2003

  • CMLL Blue Mascot

    We had already posted some images here (back in November 2002) of this little guy, but the files were accidentally deleted from this server…. aaarrggghhh!!! Luckily, we managed to find some others. Here’s a good close-up of the new mascot from Mexico’s largest lucha wrestling federation:

    and one for size…

    Images are from the CMLL website

  • RANDOM NEWS

    The New SPACE RACE… is between China and India! (BBC NEWS article)

    LAVA PALAVER… Giant Lava Lamp; Cooking With Lava;…and not forgetting this very nice write-up from Kev’s Polynesian Pop Paradise.

  • NOTE: You can now also access our blog via this URL – http://www.fwakanimation.com.au/blog.html (you will be automatically redirected here)

  • 1950s & 1960s Rock n Roll Movies & TV! - The VIDEO BEAT!

    …a site that specializes in 1950′s and 1960′s Rock n Roll movies for purchase. They probably have every twistin’, go-go, hotrod, juvenile delinquent, surfer, mod & psychedelic movie … ever made.

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    Flash Animation to TV
     
    An article from the Flashkit newsletter. By GMF (Moderator)
     
    How do I prepare my Flash files for TV?
    While working on your animation, there are a few things you can do to make for an easier video transfer: Output your animation periodically to an SWF, animated GIF, AVI or QuickTime file. These formats show you the speed of your animation better than Flash movies inside the Flash editor. Even with a good graphics card, Flash movies played inside the Flash editor often run a bit slower than the stated frame rate. Start with television-safe colors, rather than color correcting all your files after you export them. Many of Flash’s colors, especially the reds, are too bright for television and burn out on the screen. Use more muted colors to begin with, or use a program like Debabelizer to create a television-safe palette.

    How do I get my Flash files into a video format?
    When you are finished with your Flash animation, you have a variety of options for transferring it to video. The biggest decision you’ll need to make is whether you want a quick and inexpensive solution or a high quality solution that costs more What’s the quickest way to output to video?
     
    Flash exports AVI and QuickTime files, both with or without sound. For lower quality transfers to video, these formats are sufficient. The main advantage is that you can import these formats directly into many standard video editing programs and then output them to tape.
     
    The basic steps for this option are: 1 Export your Flash animation as a QuickTime, AVI, or any sequenced image file that is supported by the video editing program you choose. 2 Import the file into your video editing application and use its sound editing feature to add a soundtrack to your animation. 3 Choose a method for outputting to tape.

    What about high quality video formats?
    For a higher-quality finished product, we’ve been testing various sequenced graphic file formats such as high resolution bitmap and JPEG files. With this method, you get huge files. Each graphics file can easily take up a megabyte of space, so you need a JAZ drive or some other form of high volume storage/transfer equipment.
     
    Here are the steps for this method of output to video: 1 Export your animation from Flash using one of the sequenced graphic file formats at the highest resolution. 2 Use a program like Debabelizer to tone down the reds and other colors in all the files at once.The standard Flash palette is a little too bright for television. 3 Import your images into a video editing application to sync your soundtrack to your animation. 4 Render the entire animation and choose a method of output to tape.

    How do I get my files on tape?
    To transfer your Flash animation to tape, you can either take it to a service bureau or invest in a video output board. Using a service bureau is the way to go for most animators, especially if you only occasionally need video versions of your work.
     
    Most digital post-production facilities can process the files you output from Flash and transfer them to tape using high-end computer workstations. If you choose this option, check which file transfer options the facility can handle (most facilities can process materials from Zip, Jaz or Syquest media) and whether the facility offers discounted night rates. Although it costs a few hundred dollars, this option is significantly less money and hassle than buying the equipment yourself.
     
    If you need to do a lot of transferring to tape, investing in equipment makes sense. The equipment includes a fast computer, a good video board, a video editing program, a good VCR, and some excellent technical support. Most Macintosh computers come with a board capable of low-resolution work. Video boards for Windows-based computers retail anywhere from $300 to thousands of dollars for broadcast quality boards. If all you want to do is show your friends your animation on the television, a lower end board is sufficient. For broadcast-quality work, you’ll want to invest in a high-end board.

    Conclusion:
    The ability to use Flash to create 2D character animation for video and television on standard desktop computers allows many animators to develop work for those fields at a significantly reduced cost. Flash’s ease of use combined with the dropping price of video cards and editing systems, finally frees animators from the enormous cost constraints associated with previous 2D animation hardware and software systems. As costs continue to fall, creativity and talent will determine an animator’s success rather than access to equipment. An exciting world of animation surely awaits us.
     
    ——————–
    Links with similar Flash > Video info: Animation Cafe; Flickerlab
     

  • The Art of Headwear

      

    The website: Kaburimono.com (English translation)

    These appeal to me for obvious reasons - since we’ve also been designing silly masks. (And doesn’t the pineapple head remind you of Ensalada de Frutas?) …Not sure how acceptable it is to walk around the streets of Japan wearing these creations, but as the designer himself proposes…

    If appearance changes, the heart should also change. And I will overcome difficult modern society happily by flexible way-of-thinking conversion.

    - RIMONO design (text translated from Japanese)

  • Illustrator/Designer extraordinaire: Jorge Alderete . We’ve always loved his B-movie/luchador dingbat designs, but looks like there’s lots of cool new stuff on his website.

  • Link: Havana Street – retro clip art

  • MUCHA LUCHA Press

    Recently spotted: Fresh and Far Out cartoons - a Canada.com article, which references ¡Mucha Lucha! (and also Kapow’s Yakkity Yak and WB’s Ozzy & Drix) in its review of Teletoon’s new cartoons.

    …Our pint-sized protagonists Rikochet, Buena Girl and the Flea attend The Foremost Renowned International School of Lucha, where they deal with run-of-the-mill growing-up stuff, while honing their in-ring skills at the Hairy Knuckle School of Wrestling.

    OOPS! The journo has made a mistake. The 3 mascaritas DON’T train at the Hairy Knuckle School… That’s where the ENEMY trains! A positive review, nevertheless.

  • music – music – music

    …If only our music stores catered to all these categories! Well-known and unknown artists are listed but not all are downloadable. MUSIC categories include: Aliens; Baby Talk; Bodily Functions; Breakups; and Recorded Greetings…