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Inkthinker — Modell - 'Broken Bat'

Published: 2009-05-13 09:35:18 +0000 UTC; Views: 9689; Favourites: 129; Downloads: 1789
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Description Here's a recently completed bit from my work at Studio Fates . This is the line test from a short ten-second piece created for D Code (the agency) and Modell (the client, a line of sporting goods stores). Layout, keys and breakdowns by yours truly, tweens and cleanup by Awesome Olsson .

I got a bunch of leeway in designing this piece from the ground up, and since the premise was pretty simple I took advantage of the chance to be all wacky with the camera like I like to be, like. Some edits were made before the final composite (for instance the leg doesn't flail around so much in the finished version, and some of the squash in the ball was taken back out), this is still my personal favorite edit.

Sorry if the lack of eyes is a bit freaky, the final version comes with a heavy shadow that obscures the face, and part of the mandate was to try and keep it simple and the character relatively universal. Since I didn't direct the shadow animation on this, I didn't include it. The big board at the end is blank here, but in the final displays the Modell logo and slogan (lest you think we're fool enough to forget). We actually managed to slip it in twice before the end, a feat for which I am actually a little bit proud.

I rarely know exactly where these things go when they leave my desk, but if I've got it right then this animation now plays on the big screen at Citi Field (home of the NY Mets) whenever they break a baseball bat. It might play at other times, and I don't know what happens if you're watching the game on TV, but it should be up there now. It looks a lot prettier than this what with the color and the shadows and the sound and the music and all. If you're a Mets fan, then keep an eye out for it!
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Comments: 36

Kerzid [2015-07-13 13:30:53 +0000 UTC]

H-how...?
You're such an amazing animator.

You and Alan Becker could rule the universe!

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jump-cut [2012-08-21 09:57:25 +0000 UTC]

you're a big inspiration of mine

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Inkthinker In reply to jump-cut [2012-08-21 19:41:21 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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jump-cut In reply to Inkthinker [2012-08-22 07:14:49 +0000 UTC]

How long did it take to get this good?

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Inkthinker In reply to jump-cut [2012-08-22 19:12:04 +0000 UTC]

Years of practice? I did this work in 09, by that time I had been animating on a fairly steady basis for about 8 years.

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jump-cut In reply to Inkthinker [2012-08-23 02:20:44 +0000 UTC]

fair enough, just curious. keep on being awesome. or don't. your choice

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curlpop [2010-09-17 02:53:35 +0000 UTC]

This is fantastic!!! Oh man the timing is great!

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CemVural [2009-07-13 21:54:04 +0000 UTC]

Oh...My...God ...

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LukeDenby [2009-06-06 01:36:15 +0000 UTC]

love the way the camera follows the bat around as it's shattering.

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RyanOttley [2009-05-16 14:15:14 +0000 UTC]

Nice!

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thedarknessking [2009-05-16 04:42:30 +0000 UTC]

wow that was great i am once again humbed by your skill

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weisen1 [2009-05-15 13:48:55 +0000 UTC]

Some very subtle ad placement there ;D
Really liked the sequence where the bat broke, the camera perspective was pretty awesome.

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Inkthinker In reply to weisen1 [2009-05-15 19:53:41 +0000 UTC]

Not too subtle, I hope. Their name is all over the end of it, and it's their ad. But yeah, we worked to flash the name past a couple times before you get to the end so it's all reinforced and such.

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weisen1 In reply to Inkthinker [2009-05-16 08:46:44 +0000 UTC]

Clever ;D

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Sebbythefreak [2009-05-15 12:24:54 +0000 UTC]

lovely!
Love the slingshot effect with the slow-mo thing.

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Dualmask [2009-05-14 23:54:09 +0000 UTC]

Although it's awesome like always (love the little bit of personality coming off the guy at the end), I feel the early part goes a bit too fast. I was hoping for a slightly more dramatic, slo-mo build up of the bat striking the ball. Then again, it might have just played really fast. I am viewing this in Firefox...

Anyway, great work. Not quite as enjoyable as the previous ones (what can I say, I dig strong women) but still fun.

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Inkthinker In reply to Dualmask [2009-05-15 19:54:52 +0000 UTC]

I wish I had the freedom to time things as I like, but we were up against the 10-second time limit and I think I might have pushed it over as it was. Just the same, I got about 80% of the effect I wanted, so I guess I should be happy with that.

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Dualmask In reply to Inkthinker [2009-05-15 20:17:32 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, it's definitely impressive. Quite amazing how you made use of the little time you had.

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TotalMayhem [2009-05-14 16:25:03 +0000 UTC]

It just makes me happy that 2D isn't dead... Brilliant.

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guamish-girl [2009-05-14 08:08:29 +0000 UTC]

I like the part when he spins to a confused stop, it's oddly funny to me. And if I ever do venture to a baseball game, I'll be sure to replace the bats with rotten ones so they'll break, and I'll be able to see the clip in all it's glory.

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adony [2009-05-14 07:53:46 +0000 UTC]

Bet the client loves it! Looks cool; lotsa energy!

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Leri0 [2009-05-14 03:25:08 +0000 UTC]

man this is awesome!
i do some animations on easytoon, but i'm searching for an program like this u use, with layers, brushes and stuffs..
could you tell me what program u use to animate?
thx!
cya, keep drawing!

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AnimatedTako [2009-05-13 19:54:40 +0000 UTC]

I love the camera and how it plays into everything on this one. I don't much mind the lack of eyes, since the character acting is so good anyway. More!

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Farblade [2009-05-13 18:18:57 +0000 UTC]

Real clean animation, I love it And now I'll be paying attention to when bats break, cool to hear that they'll play this then.

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Malakuko [2009-05-13 15:20:18 +0000 UTC]

wow that was good!!

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roronora [2009-05-13 13:46:02 +0000 UTC]

I love you.

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Gigi800 [2009-05-13 12:57:15 +0000 UTC]

good work!

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mrTwisby [2009-05-13 12:23:52 +0000 UTC]

Love the constant play between motion and energy in your clips.

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xPaintball [2009-05-13 12:23:10 +0000 UTC]

Wow...

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Dieman [2009-05-13 11:52:37 +0000 UTC]

I love how he spins and then has that "oh..." expression, and then when the camera moves behind him, he just tosses away the bat, very off-handedly. I love humorous action. Great stuff, mate.

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MichelDinel [2009-05-13 10:38:54 +0000 UTC]

Man, I missed the previous ones. I blame the new thumbnail preview mode when in a hurry. Pretty wicked stuff. Movement is pretty sweet! Almost looks like it was drawn straight into digital format with this being quite clean. The other ones kicked ass as well!

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Inkthinker In reply to MichelDinel [2009-05-20 02:15:26 +0000 UTC]

I wish I knew why they stopped letting us embed GIF sequences in the page. It was much more convenient.

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MichelDinel In reply to Inkthinker [2009-05-20 04:38:44 +0000 UTC]

Yeah. What annoyed me most is when they deleted just about all of my old GIF animations....which were actually better than the most recent stuff.

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nellaboon [2009-05-13 10:09:37 +0000 UTC]

Wow, excellent animation. Your work really makes me want to try my hand at traditional animation.

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Etbaal [2009-05-13 10:04:16 +0000 UTC]

o.O

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too-much4you [2009-05-13 10:01:07 +0000 UTC]

great animation, love the slow motion when the ball hit the bat, is fantastic.

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