tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344832432024-03-07T18:43:27.020-08:00TonymationOne Animated Life
A blog about an animator who does 3D and CG animation for film, television, and video games.tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-76144553840864389022013-05-17T08:26:00.000-07:002013-05-17T08:33:08.294-07:00One Thing Every Day - Week 6<b>Monday April 29th</b><br />
I did some drawing exercises. I really struggle with fluid line work, so I focused on trying to do stronger lines. I tend to scratch all over the page until I find the "line" I want. Then I go back over my sketch with a darker pencil.<br />
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<b>Tuesday April 30th</b><br />
Tuesdays are super long work days for me, so I ended up shooting reference in the living room after everyone went to sleep. <br />
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I am not a dancer, so it took lots of takes of me trying things out that looked fun, goofy, and a little over the top to fit the "Carlton Banks" character I was going for.<br />
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<b>Wednesday May 1st</b><br />
FAIL<br />
I taught class which is always a learning experience, but it doesn't count, so today I have nothing to share.<br />
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<b>Thursday May 2nd</b><br />
Another late night reference recording session. My poor wife has to see every version the next day and tell me which one she likes best. What a trooper.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Imagine being exposed to 14 different versions of this!</span></div>
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<b>Friday May 3rd</b><br />
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Put together an edit of my reference from the last several days. I included it in an earlier post, but I'll drop it in here so you don't have to go find it. I actually have ideas that will change the start of the shot. I'll post that update soon.<br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/IN3KKeFUw9A" target="_blank">Link</a> for mobile readers</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/IN3KKeFUw9A?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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We held our second production meeting for the secret family project. The girls were successful in being as loud as possible and ended the meeting prematurely, so not much was accomplished, but it was good to get a few things discussed.<br />
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<b>Saturday May 4th</b><br />
Created some storyboards for my shot, and posted a lovely little blog about the initial steps in creating the shot. (<a href="http://tonymation.blogspot.com/2013/05/thats-so-kind-progress-1.html" target="_blank">click here to read the prior post</a>)<br />
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<b>Sunday May 5th</b><br />
Began Redesigning my website and logo.tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-15630780270110899432013-05-13T14:04:00.000-07:002013-05-13T14:04:05.640-07:00One Thing Every Day - Week 5The weeks switch over in the middle of our drive home from California.<br />
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<b>Monday April 22nd</b><br />
Today we left El Paso to make the long journey across the state of Texas. Our drive was over 12 hours long. We were driving a completely different route than our drive to California, but we still found that Texas does rest stops right.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">These playgrounds are needed exercise for the kids on the long drive.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">I think that dangerous animals love the rest stops in Texas as much as we do.</span></div>
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<b>Tuesday April 23rd</b><br />
I put in more than a full day of work, but took my wife and son out for a fun evening without the chaos of the girls. We watched the amazing musical, "Wicked."<br />
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I bought the soundtrack last summer, and was blown away by the songs. As a story exercise I wrote down what I thought was the entire story in an outline. I had my son read my outline on the drive home, after the play. I was amazed that I was 100% accurate.<br />
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I even shot reference for a potential shot I wanted to animate to the song, "Dancing Through Life." I acted out the scene very closely to the way they performed it in the play without ever seeing the show before. I'm glad I decided not to animate that shot because it would have not come across as a performance I created, but merely my interpretation of the original.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">We thoroughly enjoyed the show.</span></div>
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<b>Wednesday April 24th</b><br />
Today I enjoyed watching a little of "Wreck-It-Ralph" with the kids. Sometimes I watch movies for fun, but today I took the opportunity to study the camera work and layout.<br />
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In this shot I am looking at composition. I feel this shot is a great example of framing.<br />
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If you black out the elements they are using to frame the two focal points you see they've created a diagonal with the wall behind Ralph and the floor behind the Surge Protector. These elements tie the two subjects together and also limit the area of interest on the screen so we know where we should be looking.<br />
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These elements also establish a flow between the two focal points, Ralph being the primary focal point, and the Surge Protector being the secondary. Notice how size and color create a natural level of importance in visual weight on the screen. <br />
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In the following shots we see Ralph framed slightly off center, to the left. Our eyes are naturally drawn to his eye mask, so when the camera cuts to the next shot we move our attention to the boy and girl in yellow. The movement of Frogger into frame grabs our focus next. Dig Dug begins digging for safety, and we digest that without looking at it since we are still looking to see what Frogger is going to do. Frogger then jumps toward the hole Dig Dug made further clarifying his action. The characters are framed with the design on the floor and the background characters. The use of color helps the three focal points stand out as well.<br />
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All of this happens quickly to create a sense of chaotic reaction to the "bad guy", but at the same time it all registers because it is controlled chaos.<br />
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Ralph continues eating his cherry and then Sonic delivers some important plot information in a very clever way. They are using a simple tracking camera, following Ralph through Game Central Station. This shot starts out with Sonic as the focal point in the background telling us that you should be safe and alert when outside your game. The focus transfers from Sonic to the Dig Dug baddies who walk in front of Ralph, which in-turn helps us transfer our focus on the foreground screen explaining if you die outside your game, you don't regenerate, and then they put a nice end button with Sonic saying "Game Over!"<br />
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What a cool way to show how characters travel outside their game, which fills in details about their world, and delivers needed plot information to the audience. It all serves the story.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Check out the T-Rex from "Meet the Robinsons" behind Ralph.</span></div>
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<b>Thursday April 25th</b><br />
Today was a super busy work day, and I have to admit I didn't do anything special to become a stronger storyteller. :(<br />
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<b>Friday April 26th</b><br />
I have been kicking around an idea that I have been wanting to get off the ground. I decided it would be fun to involve the whole family in the process of creating this project. I won't say too much about it in this post, but today we had our first production meeting during lunch.<br />
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We assigned our roles for the project, and ironed out the things we would need to do and tools we'd need to buy to get started.<br />
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I also read Chapter 8 of "A Challenge for the Actor" by Uta Hagen.<br />
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<b>Saturday April 27th</b><br />
Today I spent time writing for the project I mentioned above. It is fun putting new stories together.<br />
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I also read Chapter 9 of "A Challenge for the Actor" by Uta Hagen.<br />
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<b>Sunday April 28th</b><br />
Today I shot some reference for a shot that I plan to animate. This is fastest way for me to find a character. I feel like I came across some interesting ideas, but I am not completely happy with where the performance is yet. I'll be shooting more reference next week.<br />
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Anthony and Kyra like to help me with my reference, so here's Kyra standing in for the girl character in my shot. <br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Mommy, what is wrong with daddy?</span></div>
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This was a good way to get back into gear. I think I could have done more, but with work and family duties I think this was a decent week.tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-57432879897233438432013-05-12T01:18:00.000-07:002013-05-12T01:29:03.990-07:00Tonymation Website RedesignIf you happened across my website over the last 3 years or so, I apologize. I hope the new design is more palatable.<br />
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If you haven't, well I'm going to offer my old site up for comparison against my better judgement. And, I am pretty sure this post would be rather boring if I didn't give visual confirmation that I really did a horrible job on the last version. <br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Old Design</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">New Design</span></div>
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I also added a nifty navigation bar at the top of this blog so you can access my website directly from there. Feel free to tell me how great or horrible you think I am at designing websites and logos.</div>
tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-58364752270477673252013-05-08T09:59:00.000-07:002013-05-27T11:11:02.579-07:00One Thing Every Day - Week 4Week 2 in California<br />
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<b>Monday April 15th</b><br />
Body Acting critique class went well. Leslie was getting tired of finding things to do outside of the hotel room while I taught classes, but she never took my suggestion of posing as a homeless woman on a street corner to see how much money she could get.<br />
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The Croods Round Table<br />
After my class, a quick lunch and other AnimSchool tasks, I packed up and made the hour long drive out to the Dreamworks Animation studio. I arrived 30 minutes before we were to begin recording, but my host was stuck in a meeting, so I didn't get to the room until a few minutes before the arranged start time. It doesn't take too long to set up, but my macbook could see I was in a hurry and decided it would "not recognize" my microphone. I was like, "Hey! You know this microphone. If you guys aren't on speaking terms you better make up fast."<br />
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So we started a little late, and one of my questions hijacked the conversation for nearly 30 minutes. The animators involved were very gracious with their time, but I was so nervous about sucking their Monday night away I could barely muster the courage to ask more questions. Of course I'll edit the podcast to make me sound like a silky smooth host.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Animators on Dreamworks animated film, "The Croods" </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Top Row: Jennifer Harlow, David Couchariere, Hans Dastrup, Liron Topaz, Thomas Grummt </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Bottom Row: Gabriele Pennacchioli, Line Andersen</span></div>
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<b>Tuesday April 16th</b><br />
Another long day of classes. Here's my class schedule using Pacific time.<br />
<br />
Animating Characters 10:00 am - 12:45 pm<br />
This class is supposed to end at noon, but it always runs long so I tend to have only 10-15 minutes before General Reviews.<br />
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General Reviews 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm<br />
I have a decent break after General Reviews. I am usually pretty hungry since I am not able to eat lunch most Tuesdays. So I usually end up eating whatever is close to me. My wife has had to snatch the kids away from me a couple of times. <br />
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Character Evaluation 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm<br />
After this class I usually catch up on my emails and then call it a night. Typically I am in Texas and this class ends around 11pm.<br />
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<b>Wednesday April 17th</b><br />
I got some school business done early and then headed out to Dreamworks where I enjoyed lunch with my good friend Tyler Phillips. It was "bring your kid to work" day, and "How to Train Your Dragon" day all at the same time. I'm not sure how they pull that off, but the folks at Dreamworks have some special magic that helps them mix such an impossible combination. Only a few kids were eaten, so it was a rather successful event.<br />
<br />
Tyler showed me the new updated proprietary software he is using, Primo. One feature that is by far my favorite, is the constant geometry caching the software does so you have the ability to scrub and play real-time without ever creating a playblast. Since it is actually caching the geo, you can move the camera while playing and still see your shot in real-time. This is going to pay huge dividends in time savings for their animation department.<br />
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I jumped over to the Disney studio for a brief visit and then headed back to Dreamworks to record the next round table podcast.<br />
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Rise of the Guardians Round Table<br />
If you could bottle the energy and wit of this group, you'd have yourself an addictive drug that would make you millions until the government decides to deem it unhealthy, confiscate it all, and then throw you in jail to rot. But it would be fun while it lasted.<br />
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It was much easier to not look like a bumbling idiot at this podcast because I couldn't get these guys to stop talking and laughing. I just sat on the sidelines, laughed, and pretended I was as cool as them.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #444444;">If you ever need to liven a party, call these guys.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Back: Jacob Gardner, JP Sans, Ben Wilis, Pierre Perifel, Gabe Hordos</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Front: Tyler Phillips, Alexis Wanneroy</span></div>
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<b>Thursday April 18th</b><br />
Disneyland<br />
We decided to head back to California Adventure to see if we could get another go on the Radiator Springs Racers, and catch a ride on Soarin'. We were disappointed on both counts. Let's sum up the ride situation here real quick:<br />
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<b><i>Bug's Land</i></b><br />
Filled with 4 kiddie rides that were operating with 10-20 minute lines.<br />
Flik's Flyers<br />
Francis' Ladybug Boogie<br />
Heimlich's Chew Chew Train<br />
Tuck and Roll's Drive 'Em Buggies<br />
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<i><b>Car's Land</b></i><br />
Mater's Junkyard Jamboree - 25-40 minute wait<br />
Luigi's Flying Tires - 45-55 minute wait<br />
Radiator Springs Racers - over 110 minute wait.<br />
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Every Disneyland veteran knows you should dart over to the fastpass distibution machine for Radiator Springs Racers as soon as you enter the park. Unfortunately, the park was full of Disneyland veterans. The line for the fastpass machine had over an hour wait. It wrapped from Bug's Land, around through Buena Vista Street, down Hollywood Land, and ended in front of the Tower of Terror. If you know the park you quickly realize that you could free Scotland from Longshanks with that many people!<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">This line isn't for an attraction, but for a fastpass to an attraction!</span></div>
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I decided to rally the troops with a moving William Wallace-esque speech: "Son's of Disneyland. How many days sitting in a fastpass distribution line would you trade for one chance, JUST ONE!!! To stand up to the Disney park executives and say, you may take our rides, but you'll never take our churros!!!"<br />
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As I imagined the crowd cheering and running with me into battle, a cast member snapped me out of my smiling stupor and asked me if I had
been on the ride before, and I responded that I had. She smiled and said, "Oh
then you don't have to ride it again." Technically she was right, but I kind of paid money to, so the intended consolation was lost on me. The little kid inside my head that paid the exorbitant ticket prices for a family of five was throwing a full blown tantrum.<br />
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I wish I had the wits about me to take a photo of this madness, but the only thing that could keep me from crying was the Brioche French Toast at Flo's V8 Cafe. So off to Car's Land we strolled.<br />
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<i><b>Golden State</b></i><br />
Grizzly River Run - 20-45 minute wait<br />
Soarin' Over California - <span style="color: red;"><i><b>Closed</b></i></span><br />
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<i><b>Hollywood Pictures Backlot</b></i><br />
Monsters, Inc. Sulley to the Rescue - 20-30 minute wait<br />
Tower of Terror - 45-60 minute wait<br />
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<i><b>Paradise Pier</b></i><br />
California Screamin' - <span style="color: red;"><b><i>Closed</i></b></span><br />
Golden Zephyr - <span style="color: red;"><i><b>Closed due to high winds</b></i></span><br />
Goofy's Sky School - <b><i><span style="color: red;">Closed off and on throughout the day</span></i></b><br />
The Little Mermaid - 25-40 minute wait<br />
Mickey's Fun Wheel -<b><i><span style="color: red;"> Closed for a medical emergency when we walked by</span></i></b><br />
Silly Symphony Swings - <b><i><span style="color: red;">Closed off and on throughout the day</span></i></b><br />
Toy Story Midway Mania - <b><i><span style="color: red;">Closed off and on throughout the day</span></i></b><br />
Toy Story Midway Mania - When open the wait time was over 45 minutes.<br />
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So you can see our options were limited. We ended up riding Jumping Jellyfish about 50 times since there wasn't much else to do. It was a sad way to spend our last day at Disneyland.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Jumping Jellyfish </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Weee! My feet on Jumping Jellyfish.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">You can see the Golden Zephyr - Closed due to high winds.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Okay daddy can we please go do something else now?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">In the background you can see California Screamin' and </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">the Silly Symphony Swings which are both closed</span>.</div>
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<br />
<b>Friday April 20th</b><br />
When we woke up Leslie decided she wanted to go to the beach in Santa Monica. It dawned on me that Disney didn't have the market on magical dirt cornered. And Leslie was now somehow involved in this sandy scheme. <br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"> I drove right up onto the pier. It was pretty cool.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">A photo from the pier where I parked. </span></div>
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I had scheduled lunch at Disney with my long-time friend, Brian Menz. He walked with me around the campus as I shot pics and video. He was very gracious with his time, especially since they are in crunch mode on "Frozen" right now.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">I finally remembered to take a picture!</span></div>
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I was getting photo updates from Leslie throughout the day. At least on this day I was also enjoying myself while they had a blast on the beach, instead of being cooped up in a room on a computer.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Anthony hanging out on the pier. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Leslie and Kaylie playing in... you guessed it, dirt! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Kyra wanted to flavor her dirt so she added sea salt. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Yet another dirt overdose. And she swears she doesn't have a problem.</span></div>
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Afterwards I made one last stop at Dreamworks to hand out some thank you chocolate to everyone who participated in the podcasts. I can't be sure, but I swear I heard some of them say, "Oh chocolate, I was hoping it was dirt." I said my final goodbyes and made the long drive back to the beach to pick up the family.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">The campus at Dreamworks is beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Kaylie was too ashamed to look me in the eye.</span></div>
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<b>Saturday April 21st</b><br />
Our last day in Riverside!<br />
I held my 2 lectures for Animating Characters and Body Acting.<br />
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We had our last meal at Ruby's Auto Diner at the mall in Riverside. That place has fantastic burgers. <br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">I'm gonna miss you Ruby</span></div>
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We drove out to the Burbank/Glendale area on our final evening in California. We cruised the neighborhoods imagining what it would be like to live there.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">The entrance to the old Disney animation building.</span></div>
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<b>Sunday April 22nd</b><br />
We woke up before 7am, grabbed some muffins and got on the open road back to Texas. We drove for over 12 hours, including stops, and ended our day in El Paso, Texas. After unloading the family and the overnight necessities I grabbed some take-out from Red Lobster. We ate dinner, watched an episode of Restaurant Impossible and passed out.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Robert Irvine's show is an addiction the whole family enjoys.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: black;">We continue our journey home on the next post. Come back soon to see me get back on track when I settle into a normal routine again. </span></span></div>
tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-15346108694807092482013-04-30T16:51:00.002-07:002013-05-07T18:24:51.729-07:00One Thing Every Day - Week 3Hello from Riverside California!<br />
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<b>Monday April 8th</b><br />
I got my office set up in the room and put in a full day of work. I taught my Body Acting class for AnimSchool, and finished up a new picker for Scout, our dog character.<br />
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After class was over we headed out to have some lunch. We found this really cool restaurant called, Farrel's Ice Cream Parlour. It was themed out with turn of the century Americana. I liked the environment, but the food was bland and expensive. They weren't very busy, but it seemed like every 5 minutes they were banging a drum and singing happy birthday to somebody. Part of me wonders if they were just making up birthdays to have something to do.<br />
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After lunch, I finished up my work day and that evening we went to a local drive-in theater. I haven't been to one since I was a kid. The last movie I remember watching at a drive-in was the live-action Popeye movie (1980). It had to be a re-release because I can't possibly be that old. We took the whole family to see "The Croods". I wish we had one of these close to home. It was one of the most fun movie-going experiences we've had in years, and the first time we've all been able to go to the movies together without worrying about one of the girls chewing through a seat cushion.</div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">You have to wait for the sun to go down before the movie can start.</span></div>
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The concessions were reasonably priced and they had some really good mexican food that they actually cook right in front of your eyes. We spent under $20 for the whole family which basically fed us for the night. We enjoyed this theater food more than the burgers at Farrel's which cost us over twice as much </div>
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<span style="color: #999999;">The Monsters University trailer looked great.</span></div>
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<b><b>Tuesday April 9th</b></b><br />
Tuesdays are my long days. I teach three classes for a total of 7 hours of class in one day. In between I worked on future lectures. I try to incorporate slides, videos, and live demonstrations into my lectures to better illustrate ideas, and to keep it interesting for my students with short attention spans. You know who you are!<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Here's an example of one of my slides.</span></div>
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<b><b><b>Wednesday April 10th</b> </b></b><br />
Disneyland!<br />
We set aside certain days as vacation days during this trip. We spent the entire day at Disneyland.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">It's been over 6 years since we've been to this park.</span></div>
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Kyra saw so many people driving around in little motorized carts, and for a short moment she thought she found her very own. She was ready to take Kaylie on leisurely tour of the park, but quickly discovered that Mr. Toad had forgot to fill the tank with gas.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Come on Kaylie let's go check out the churro stand!</span></div>
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Kaylie decided to fall asleep before the Tiki birds starting singing, so we both rested outside while Leslie, Kyra, and Anthony watched the show. It was a nice break.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Nobody holds me when I want a nap!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Sure play in the dirt, daddy only put a second mortgage on the house to bring you here. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #666666;">558,502</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">My score on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters! Zurg has put a bounty on my head.</span></div>
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We don't like to wait in lines to see characters, so we scheduled a character meal at Goofy's Kitchen located in the Disneyland Hotel.<br />
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The meal was buffet style, and had a nice selection. I was happy with
the food, but we spent nearly $200. I don't understand how
Disney can feel justified in this price point for a buffet meal with a
few characters walking around. I won't be doing this again unless we get
the free dining plan included in a vacation package. Also, the server,
who is only responsible for bringing us drinks, got an automatic 18%
gratuity. I quickly realized that I shouldn't aspire to animate for
Disney, but to wait tables instead! <br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">I felt completey justified when I picked Goofy's pocket.</span></div>
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We sat in traffic on the way home. It took nearly 2 hours to get back to the hotel. But at least we had hard-wired internet! <b>: /</b><br />
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<b>Thursday April 11th</b><br />
Disneyland again!<br />
I woke up with a sore back but the kids cracked the whip shouting, "Disneyland!", so we headed back to the costliest place... er I mean happiest place on earth.<br />
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Right from the start I knew we were in for trouble when I saw these storm troopers harassing an innocent girl. I would have helped her, but I didn't want to lose my place in line for Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Kyra kept sticking her tongue out at the troopers which eventually scared them away.</span></div>
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Leslie and Anthony used nifty fastpasses I got for the Indian Jones Adventure ride and I took the girls to the nearest pile of dirt. Apparently there's something magical about the dirt in Disneyland.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZBU3iymREUo_zp19ba9NCPcFVjSiJeFz8SXX0mYVepW952m8H5LJC45_5jX5tTFVrvIGlGn5MpmhueQ437vMYTGfYjzT-mhnIdQjjQoW-QPv2X0zmx4XqA-efd_ooZdic3PT/s1600/IMG_2410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZBU3iymREUo_zp19ba9NCPcFVjSiJeFz8SXX0mYVepW952m8H5LJC45_5jX5tTFVrvIGlGn5MpmhueQ437vMYTGfYjzT-mhnIdQjjQoW-QPv2X0zmx4XqA-efd_ooZdic3PT/s400/IMG_2410.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #666666;"> </span></div>
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After a long romp in the dirt, Kyra passed out. She kept mumbling gimme more dirt, which I thought was a little unusual.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;">Wake me up when you find a new pile of dirt.</span></div>
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We eventually made it to Toontown. I decided to go straight to City Hall to request an investigation on the contents of the magical Disneyland dirt, but they swore it was normal dirt. I guess even Disneyland isn't exempt from political cover-ups.<br />
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My only recourse was to take it to the big cheese himself. He gave me the silent treatment. This conspiracy must run deep if even Mickey is too afraid to talk about it.<br />
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On my way out the masses gathered, obviously there to support me on my quest to uncover the dirty truth about the shrouded soil. They literally erupted into applause as I perused the overly sanitized streets. If the Disney dirt was on the up and up, then why, suddenly was there none to be found!<br />
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<b>Friday April 12th</b><br />
Lunch at the Disney animation studios.<br />
I joined several friends at the Disney Animation Studio for lunch on Friday. It was definitely fun to see all of my friends making another awesome movie (Frozen), but I was also there to shoot some video of our instructors for AnimSchool. These videos should be appearing on the school website soon.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;">The new animation building named after Roy E. Disney, Walt's nephew.</span></div>
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I wish I had more pictures to share, but I get so distracted with catching up with my friends that I literally have this one lonely photo as proof this day ever happened.<br />
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<b>Saturday April 13th</b><br />
AnimSchool, the beach, and friends!<br />
Most of the day was spent teaching 2 classes and getting caught up on work, but the last fleeting hours of the day were spent at the Aliso beach park with our good friends, Jarrod and Laurell Showers. They brought along three tiny people they called their children.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">This is Jarrod. He has a wife and 3 kids, but I'm too absent-minded to take pictures of people.</span></div>
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I hadn't eaten a meal at all that day and it was already dinner time. I ended up driving up and down the PCH for nearly an hour searching for food. I finally found Ruby's Auto Diner. I went in hoping there was a slight chance they served people. I was fully prepared to use my acting skills and fool them into thinking I was a Ford Mustang if they didn't.</div>
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When I got back to the beach with food for everyone I noticed this nosy pest eying my burger. I grabbed one of the kid's sand shovels just in case something went down.<br />
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Just moments after we finished eating, Leslie and I stopped for a quick photo on the beach. And wouldn't you know it, that little punk photo bombed me!<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">You win this round seagull... well played.</span></div>
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We stopped off at the Showers' house for some AnimSchool business. Jarrod needed some video for a little instruction piece he is making, so we decided to meet up at Disneyland the next day and shoot it.<br />
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<b>Sunday April 14th</b><br />
California Adventure!<br />
We skipped breakfast at the hotel and sped to meet up with Florian Perret at California Adventure. He got 3 of us in with his Silver pass, and Brien Hindman gave us two passes so the entire family got into the park for free!<br />
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We rushed to get our fastpasses for Radiator Springs Racers, and then settled down for breakfast at Flo's V8 Cafe. The Brioche French Toast was amazing! If happiness had a flavor it would taste like this.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><b>Brioche French Toast</b> <br />
Baked and served with Salted Caramel Sauce
and Bananas. $7.99</span></div>
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We scurried over to the Bug's Land and rode some rides and eventually met up with our good friends, the Showers. Jarrod was way too excited so the man in the dark glasses came over to put a stop to it.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"> Excuse me sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to stop having fun until the ride has started.</span></div>
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We rode several rides, but then headed over to the Pier to have lunch and shoot the video for Jarrod.<br />
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After the video was complete Jarrod and family headed back home and we headed back to Cars Land. We met some celebrities as we walked the streets.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Kaylie swears that Red farted, but I just thought she was passing blame.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Time to use our fastpasses on Radiator Springs Racers! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Anthony and Kyra are ready to race! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Why am I shouting?!!</span></div>
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This is my new favorite Disney attraction. This includes all attractions across Disneyland and Walt Disney World. My hats off to the Imagineers that pulled off this themed land, and especially this attraction.<br />
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Leslie and Anthony got to use the last two fastpasses while I watched the girls. Kaylie passed out and Kyra photo bombed her while she slept.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">I wasn't sure if Kaylie fell asleep, or was "put" to sleep.</span></div>
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I was so proud of her stealthy technique, I bought her some ice cream. Yum!<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">meh</span></div>
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The next thing I know Red drives by, I hear what I thought was a horn blast, and suddenly Kyra's ice cream started melting. I began to wonder if Kaylie had been telling the truth all along!<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">What's happening daddy?</span></div>
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We tried to ride Soarin', but it was closed. I can't be sure, but I bet Red had something to do with it. So we decided to park hop over to the Magic Kingdom. <br />
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Leslie and Anthony decided to ride Pirates of the Caribbean so I got some snacks for me and the girls. Instead of eating the snacks they decided to play in the dirt with random children.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Hey kid you like dirt? Then chase me around this tree!</span></div>
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Kaylie dropped all pretense and showed her addiction to the Disney magic dust.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">It's like candy! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Mmmm... i'm lick some is my favritish... </span></div>
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And of course when she crashed and I told her what she did, she was ashamed. <br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">I have ashamed</span>.</div>
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This wasn't the only addictive substance Disney exposed my poor innocent children to.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;"> Quick while daddy's not looking!</span></div>
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To end the day we dined at Pinocchio's Village Haus. We were here nearly 7 years ago with Anthony.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">And they're still looking for Monstro.</span></div>
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That about wraps up this week. Come back soon to see the second week of our vacation!tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-12512528268984558072013-04-29T08:28:00.000-07:002013-05-07T18:24:42.880-07:00One Thing Every Day - Week 2This is the worst follow up week to a great 1st week with my One Thing Every Day goal. This will basically highlight our trip to Los Angeles. Enjoy!<br />
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<b> </b><br />
<b>Monday - Thursday</b><br />
I started off this week with my 13 year anniversary, so Monday was devoted to my lovely wife. And yes, our anniversary is on April 1st. No foolin'! We celebrated with a date night where we shopped for new swimsuits for her. She lost over 55 pounds so it was time to get a reward.<br />
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The rest of the week was a compacted work week so I could get ready for a long working vacation in Los Angeles.<br />
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<b>Friday April 5th</b><br />
We left our house early in the morning and headed west. This day's drive was roughly 8 hours long, not including stops.<br />
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Texas has some really cool rest stops with fun playgrounds, and amazing restrooms that double as storm shelters, so while I stood there at the urinal I felt so safe. Then I remembered my kids were outside playing, so I ran out shouting for them to get to the shelter like Bill Paxton did in the movie Twister.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Can you believe this is a restroom at a rest stop?!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Walking in, a peace set over me knowing I'd be relieving myself in safety.</span></div>
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Once my wife convinced me that there weren't any storms around, I soon discovered another threat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0Vd0tkxQOs5a6EG3-OEIW-GOTm3KDu62i4by2u7CDaJmmMoyqDoCUZi8gMZkGK768Uhg3KaWCv8uIjVGs8hS3FT80VNfdY1TCBl7aD2p3PC8bzWDz_YdGmG3F0zxQDG9ZIJr/s1600/IMG_2153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW0Vd0tkxQOs5a6EG3-OEIW-GOTm3KDu62i4by2u7CDaJmmMoyqDoCUZi8gMZkGK768Uhg3KaWCv8uIjVGs8hS3FT80VNfdY1TCBl7aD2p3PC8bzWDz_YdGmG3F0zxQDG9ZIJr/s400/IMG_2153.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">No Pets!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Oh by the way there are snakes everywhere.</span></div>
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This wasn't nearly as scary to me though, because I'm sure the snakes would read the sign that says there isn't any food or drink inside the playground, lose interest, and leave. So we let the kids play in a vain attempt to drain their infinite supply of energy.<br />
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We ended the drive in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and stayed at a nice Holiday Inn Express.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">Notice the large bug I just smashed on my windshield on the left.</span></div>
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<b>Saturday April 6th</b><br />
We left the hotel before 7am with Arizona in our sights. Today's drive would be slightly over 8 hours, not including stops.<br />
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We spontaneously decided to add a detour to our trip to see the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. The most petrified wood I saw was in the gift shop, and at pretty hefty prices. Also, you are not allowed to take any souvenir petrified wood pieces from the actual park. So I left behind a souvenir for them!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8lghmEuiu1R87BZ8cXlgBdvU9Nemsrw7XtKHDiq0a7rsPdf2ZIOAa_E0J-ojvvl1i1bfQgNEFzWtfattM51L5V-YMWwExym8CHMSc-43-KF9dfZTeYJzSTE0S4uapKeuBGna/s1600/IMG_2267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8lghmEuiu1R87BZ8cXlgBdvU9Nemsrw7XtKHDiq0a7rsPdf2ZIOAa_E0J-ojvvl1i1bfQgNEFzWtfattM51L5V-YMWwExym8CHMSc-43-KF9dfZTeYJzSTE0S4uapKeuBGna/s400/IMG_2267.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvp9yXNNHM2PtA8ZznQoeT7S9XTbl-qf22Y8s7XjBtZLenyeqmd873r2Twk58k2Y7oqpJWNdm5zfMeo9OYl4b8MSbmjDZDLQYShoJr-Dc_d1YYx-f9VCV9OkT3ZrfXfufXGpAh/s1600/IMG_2237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvp9yXNNHM2PtA8ZznQoeT7S9XTbl-qf22Y8s7XjBtZLenyeqmd873r2Twk58k2Y7oqpJWNdm5zfMeo9OYl4b8MSbmjDZDLQYShoJr-Dc_d1YYx-f9VCV9OkT3ZrfXfufXGpAh/s400/IMG_2237.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">So if the sudden 1,000 foot drop doesn't keep you at a safe distance</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">this rotting fence and sign will surely do the trick.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">No sweetie don't go that way, cuz you will fall to a tragic and horribly painful death.</span></div>
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We were making great time, but then we got stuck behind this slowpoke that hogged the road.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpa854uXke2culO7M0qBR7usNROWFNW_Jf6WG_oXMS3ISxQw3bClLjUJW_Q7a9LU_OzjJePhvthSwZn7t3f6iu5fAojGMZL5FFx4GvDlAtFAIZezPupoYeSXw2_Y3n-eLlibW/s1600/IMG_2284.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpa854uXke2culO7M0qBR7usNROWFNW_Jf6WG_oXMS3ISxQw3bClLjUJW_Q7a9LU_OzjJePhvthSwZn7t3f6iu5fAojGMZL5FFx4GvDlAtFAIZezPupoYeSXw2_Y3n-eLlibW/s400/IMG_2284.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">He was swerving all over the road... I think he was drunk.</span></div>
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We diverted through the Tonto National Forest and the view was fantastic.</div>
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We ended the drive in Pheonix, Arizona, and stayed at a musty Super 8 motel. I can't believe Leslie and I decided to stay there, but we will never make that mistake again.<br />
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<b>Sunday April 7th</b><br />
We got up bright and early and headed for California around 7am. This was the shortest leg of the journey clocking in at roughly 4.5 hours without stops.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXdp1aNHAunl7GrqoB8lbD6Z6FZr8oKQ8mhoqewZpM0oFSR1xDzSJ9LyzSW0ifvQtyPiuEKb5xqXcgWHduDJCJfHO1wp_l0mbaln0GxeJDzc4Iv40BommOO1G8yBN7omYqzaF/s1600/IMG_2325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXdp1aNHAunl7GrqoB8lbD6Z6FZr8oKQ8mhoqewZpM0oFSR1xDzSJ9LyzSW0ifvQtyPiuEKb5xqXcgWHduDJCJfHO1wp_l0mbaln0GxeJDzc4Iv40BommOO1G8yBN7omYqzaF/s400/IMG_2325.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">Almost there! </span></div>
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Finally we made it to our destination in Riverside, California. We decided to stay here because I still had to teach classes, and this was the closest we could get to Los Angeles with a confirmed hard-wired internet connection. Unfortunately, the connection was horrible which left us stuck an hour away from everything. On the bright side, the room was quite large and in the end, we loved the community.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLA9yhuRuLMgr6IBlXzWyaKgNfpuiGrysxjDQMt-ey2ehWuy6jvCC0s3Wm5yK1Tu8Ax_mJRpalJ10FLOR4aCF8wB6Ks62vktnFqmisvdqZ-j0uK4ZkJPNCLhXUnDXbvoRBM_UA/s1600/IMG_2326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLA9yhuRuLMgr6IBlXzWyaKgNfpuiGrysxjDQMt-ey2ehWuy6jvCC0s3Wm5yK1Tu8Ax_mJRpalJ10FLOR4aCF8wB6Ks62vktnFqmisvdqZ-j0uK4ZkJPNCLhXUnDXbvoRBM_UA/s400/IMG_2326.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"> Can you find Wreck-it-Ralph?</span></div>
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I still have two more weeks to catch up with this, but they will be pointing out how badly I kept to my goal during this working vacation. But, you'll get to see some cool pictures!tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-4586708732454322532013-04-01T08:45:00.003-07:002013-05-22T10:49:27.474-07:00One Thing Every Day - Week 1Ah... my first post of accountability. Let's see what I did this past week to better myself as animator.<br />
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<b>Monday</b><br />
1. I joined a Visual Storytelling class last week. Today I chose a pose from my personal test animation to upload as an example to be potentially critiqued. I posted 5 variations of the same pose as I updated my shot. I'll post them here to make this a little more visually interesting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHT-myjQphreLcIRbRrVpxlijqMv_vw90vDx0axoK-wf8Z7OLNNKrQ5eqR6Who7HYjJwgHhgtCU_RyrWeP8_5OSkWgqllM6Dp_1aFM7R7qBDzqRKq085JEuvNMVgUdpR9dwJBK/s1600/Image_Attempt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHT-myjQphreLcIRbRrVpxlijqMv_vw90vDx0axoK-wf8Z7OLNNKrQ5eqR6Who7HYjJwgHhgtCU_RyrWeP8_5OSkWgqllM6Dp_1aFM7R7qBDzqRKq085JEuvNMVgUdpR9dwJBK/s400/Image_Attempt1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First pass blocking</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiz5uuslmwpXqPtlJ1I5sOOz6cQn-9CO27fS83NkPgMDtKZx2YaoX5e4nsg6_7k5GLjVtb2resoLscpSn1hx8phGvRQXw_VQ3faCdkFEYz65VmfU7YNOD-_frnGspzJ5qotsY9/s1600/Image_Attempt2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiz5uuslmwpXqPtlJ1I5sOOz6cQn-9CO27fS83NkPgMDtKZx2YaoX5e4nsg6_7k5GLjVtb2resoLscpSn1hx8phGvRQXw_VQ3faCdkFEYz65VmfU7YNOD-_frnGspzJ5qotsY9/s400/Image_Attempt2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Second pass blocking with a supporting background. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsAt_xTAs9OzcPFoBjigq-qfLQ6ynsULD5QsrOAmDZR4QQzOZJD0tK72aQ3Pv-0uSU-cPotQAW_SChMeSZvfpFj-PyHlVViWe-w1hMj14eEb3t-vMBh6pKs7uEuVw5g6XD90s/s1600/Image_Attempt3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsAt_xTAs9OzcPFoBjigq-qfLQ6ynsULD5QsrOAmDZR4QQzOZJD0tK72aQ3Pv-0uSU-cPotQAW_SChMeSZvfpFj-PyHlVViWe-w1hMj14eEb3t-vMBh6pKs7uEuVw5g6XD90s/s400/Image_Attempt3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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First Polish Pass </div>
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As I worked through the animation this pose got some updates. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdi0ammuA8tL7uEfy_fh6YMv5keuRroENO-dO8eMZZKrHYP6Cw3PVGu8-pfEsRtzQX2VNRDZGbClHUrZa5gu2z49-Gpvtg1ZMdczZGDZ7pw2UgkG5P75iib3acj_lgQyp8sHt/s1600/Image_Attempt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdi0ammuA8tL7uEfy_fh6YMv5keuRroENO-dO8eMZZKrHYP6Cw3PVGu8-pfEsRtzQX2VNRDZGbClHUrZa5gu2z49-Gpvtg1ZMdczZGDZ7pw2UgkG5P75iib3acj_lgQyp8sHt/s400/Image_Attempt4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Second Polish Pass </div>
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I wasn't satisfied with my shot so I overhauled some of the acting and the posing.</div>
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I also re-staged the shot to get a more appealing angle on the character.</div>
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I changed some of the proportions on the character's head, shoulders, chest, and arms.</div>
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I actually did some slight modeling to the pectoral area where they meet the arms. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTfzPskqCjK3hsyRkROkCNLDSR7sXWJOo2UwzQpz2Fb-4uK32d5ROd8cdKFsiI3Kc6iqvHYw6QrFMySqAp-asJDaXw08JhZLexHtgjInVwV8nPzc5-hS8XcrZGKWsbvMwmL4Q/s1600/Image_Attempt5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSTfzPskqCjK3hsyRkROkCNLDSR7sXWJOo2UwzQpz2Fb-4uK32d5ROd8cdKFsiI3Kc6iqvHYw6QrFMySqAp-asJDaXw08JhZLexHtgjInVwV8nPzc5-hS8XcrZGKWsbvMwmL4Q/s400/Image_Attempt5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Final Pass</div>
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As I changed the first portion of the shot, it called for some minor tweaks to blend properly.</div>
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Here's the result of the blending on the final pose in this shot.</div>
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2. Added new slides for my Body Mechanics classes at AnimSchool, which required some research on Lines, Shapes, and Form.<br />
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3. Watched Hotel Transylvania and captured some shots to demonstrate animation concepts to my students.<br />
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4. Read chapter 3 of "A Challenge for the Actor" by Uta Hagen.<br />
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<b>Tuesday</b><br />
1. Dissected live action films to collect images for instruction material. Focused on Framing and Composition.<br />
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Here's some examples of the images I grabbed for my students.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbKcjAtzBhVGWcLV1M0brGpQNxex9Fs0dl5Y6XYCfOv6uNguchFTO7l3jeLcb1blYxWUl9oOuu_1SDMQ6jhBFU9W3SA0UiEajJ-1apijhRjv7alYxuWq9KfE889uxAVaDyIe_/s1600/Inception.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbKcjAtzBhVGWcLV1M0brGpQNxex9Fs0dl5Y6XYCfOv6uNguchFTO7l3jeLcb1blYxWUl9oOuu_1SDMQ6jhBFU9W3SA0UiEajJ-1apijhRjv7alYxuWq9KfE889uxAVaDyIe_/s400/Inception.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Good framing and clear focal point.</div>
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There is no doubt who we should be looking at here. I like the framing elements behind Saito (Ken Watanabe). They are asymmetrical since they aren't centered around him, but there are also design elements (brown branches) that point toward his face. Both familiar characters are looking at Saito giving him even more importance in the shot. I interpret the complexity of the lamps above and in the reflection on the table to mirror the complexity of the situation in this scene, or even just another way to emphasize that they are in a world that is merely a reflection of reality.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TP075mzgdUj_lSFN1hbqg5TKqzTBSfbeUGf7za9lfmp8_yNX0uQ8L3yq6v3gR-1cm5SjhIR1fkxAsUowUQ-Jykzv9rVu5MihMsCv_homl9pnUK7M1IU1Fb6C-ejDwtFO3Itp/s1600/ThePrestige.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TP075mzgdUj_lSFN1hbqg5TKqzTBSfbeUGf7za9lfmp8_yNX0uQ8L3yq6v3gR-1cm5SjhIR1fkxAsUowUQ-Jykzv9rVu5MihMsCv_homl9pnUK7M1IU1Fb6C-ejDwtFO3Itp/s400/ThePrestige.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I feel that Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) is framed a little too far to the right. But as I watch the scene, this awkward framing fits the mood of the shot. There is tension in here, and the slightly off-balance framing supports this tension. They do a great job with the diagonals to pull you into the focal point, and Cutter (Michael Cane) is directing us to Angier with his gaze as well. I like the white cuffs popping out against his jacket causing contrast that keeps us looking at Angier. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmjzddebYeYF41cmxf3NBZcWIy9G5IIhUQ1cGfu0Q4kUm5Udn7NqH6ZXfFUKbJzidhIUeDJrBN9GtG1aMIqQ3DJlwxdd0d-PRyciV6u4D3Y4h1NVcBcMWDtYv9875mbHNjnGb/s1600/TheMatrixReloaded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmjzddebYeYF41cmxf3NBZcWIy9G5IIhUQ1cGfu0Q4kUm5Udn7NqH6ZXfFUKbJzidhIUeDJrBN9GtG1aMIqQ3DJlwxdd0d-PRyciV6u4D3Y4h1NVcBcMWDtYv9875mbHNjnGb/s400/TheMatrixReloaded.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Using the Rule of 3</div>
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This is a simple yet elegant example of the rule of 3. We have a clear hierarchy.</div>
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1. Agent in the center</div>
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2. Agent on the left</div>
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3. Agent on the right</div>
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Their attire unifies them in purpose, and the sunglasses remove their humanity. </div>
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Unclear Focal Point </div>
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I feel there are two competing focal points in this shot causing it to be unclear what should draw my attention. The high contrast of the octopus pulls me into the shot, but everyone is looking at Ken, and all of the dynamic lines point to Ken as well.</div>
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Where is the Power </div>
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Great example of dynamic framing, and it is very clear that one of these characters is in control and the other is definitely in trouble. There is a story in this one single frame. I love it! </div>
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Organizing Chaos </div>
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This is a marketing image that I don't think was actually in the film. There are so many characters in this shot, but it is crafted well.Woody is definitely the focal point. Then they use the rule of 3 to group side characters.</div>
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Woody, Jessie, and Hamm </div>
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Rex, Slinky, and Buzz</div>
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Bullseye, Mr. Potato Head, and Mrs. Potato Head</div>
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Story </div>
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Without ever seeing this movie you could show this image to somebody and they will immediately know that Morgan Freeman's character is a convict. Somebody is exerting authority over him, and he is rejecting their exertion. </div>
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Contrast</div>
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Notice Mel Gibson has the most blue paint, and it is on his face, an area that draws our eyes immediately. Also notice how everyone else who has their face in the shot, has their eyes squinted tightly shut, so we are drawn to William Wallace alone.</div>
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2. Read chapter 4 of "A Challenge for the Actor" by Uta Hagen.</div>
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<b>Wednesday</b><br />
1. Completed a new hybrid version of my personal shot where I cut the original beginning back in by request of a respected peer. I did three versions of this shot. The first was in dire need of plussing, so the second and final versions are much stronger, in my opinion.<br />
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<a href="http://www.tonymation.net/videos/NotGonnaDoThat.mov" target="_blank">Original Version</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.tonymation.net/videos/NotGonnaDoThat_updated.mov" target="_blank">Second Version</a></div>
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"I'm Not Gonna Do That Anymore"</div>
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(click image to see most recent version) </div>
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2. Read chapter 5 of "A Challenge for the Actor" by Uta Hagen.<br />
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<b>Thursday</b><br />
1. The Visual Storytelling class had critiques of multiple student drawings and photos uploaded. I watched 8 of them for a total of 2 hours of video critiques.<br />
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<br />
<b>Friday</b><br />
1. Watched 1 more 15 minute video critique for the Visual Storytelling class.<br />
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2. Watched The Dark Knight Rises. Focused on use of composition, and camera cuts.<br />
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<b>Saturday</b><br />
1. Read chapter 6 of "A Challenge for the Actor" by Uta Hagen.<br />
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<b>Sunday</b><br />
1. Read chapter 7 of "A Challenge for the Actor" by Uta Hagen.<br />
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My weekends will probably be mostly "low impact" work, but I do want to accomplish something each day, so reading will suffice for Easter weekend. This week we start a new term at AnimSchool, and on Friday I start a 3 day drive to Los Angeles. Let's see what I am able to accomplish this busy week! tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-60479856183235051052013-03-27T16:21:00.000-07:002013-05-07T17:53:54.158-07:00One Thing Every DayLast year around September I decided that I wanted to at least one thing every day that will improve me as an animator, performer, and storyteller. I feel like these all work well together, and I enjoy all three of them very much.<br />
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I'm going to start holding myself accountable by posting what I have done each week on my blog. Hopefully, it won't get stale and boring. Either way the goal isn't to write compelling posts to entice a readership, but to keep myself focused, and working on my personal goals.<br />
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The cool thing is that, by being an animator, and animation instructor, I actually get paid to improve in these areas. Since I don't currently work at a studio, I am not animating nearly as much as my peers, so I do need to stay in practice, and keep improving in all of these areas to become a more well-rounded animator.<br />
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My first update will be this Friday.<br />
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<br />tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-26907216858727435052013-02-14T15:00:00.000-08:002013-02-14T15:14:33.729-08:00A Tribute to Great TeachersFor some reason I started thinking about my childhood and the teachers
that held me to a higher standard, and by doing so, made me believe I
was special.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCMCooujDjmAHGUB8-Zsc1_BkOqsrpRlR9ACkvkFySFcpt-kwAKa_AIedjOWvkV_J4V5YBF0kVenh4D7Dm3AHxQlhmzP4qzaLNWC_uh55xuubKiicTmEENz0lVzfC5sOMPPN1/s1600/My+Kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCMCooujDjmAHGUB8-Zsc1_BkOqsrpRlR9ACkvkFySFcpt-kwAKa_AIedjOWvkV_J4V5YBF0kVenh4D7Dm3AHxQlhmzP4qzaLNWC_uh55xuubKiicTmEENz0lVzfC5sOMPPN1/s320/My+Kids.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>
<b>My Father</b><br />
I grew up in a "financially challenged" home. My father raised me and my two sisters, and now that I have 3 kids of my own, I realize how difficult it must have been for him to have done that alone. He worked long hours, and sometimes multiple jobs. The most time I spent with my father was when I joined his construction crew during my summer vacations. Sometimes money was so tight that our crew consisted of just me and my father. It's hard for me to picture it now, but I was in my pre-teen years helping my dad pour concrete. I can't imagine how my son would handle that situation. I earned $1 a day for my work, but truth be told it was rare that I actually received my wages. There weren't many moments that people might call quality father-son time, but I learned a lot about life during those summers. First and foremost, never work for free. All joking aside, I credit my father for my work ethic, and I try to honor his sacrifices by making a better life for myself and my family.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">(I spent most of my elementary school years here) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKRIsh1O_ZwLwYiHV609UhmZ-9fL-cMACysNInsGL9r719y19a7rEhMaaCpZouLUuN_YvSGzYoFu0MqLvMfb5-nOGnUFzigUP9Try09wWm9pQegLX76BbRgYobvdVNbBBRPXq/s1600/Anthony+Kindergarden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKRIsh1O_ZwLwYiHV609UhmZ-9fL-cMACysNInsGL9r719y19a7rEhMaaCpZouLUuN_YvSGzYoFu0MqLvMfb5-nOGnUFzigUP9Try09wWm9pQegLX76BbRgYobvdVNbBBRPXq/s200/Anthony+Kindergarden.jpg" width="145" /></a><b>Mrs. Maxwell</b><br />
I am naturally outgoing, and in elementary school this helped me to land the lead part in the school play, Pinocchio Jones. My biggest fan was my music teacher, Mrs. Maxwell. She would ask me how I learned to sing and dance so well. It made me feel like a star. It's interesting to reflect on how much I enjoyed performing for a crowd back when I was that young. Being funny was a way to get attention, and I worked hard at being funny.<br />
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I was feeling pretty good about myself when I moved into middle school. I was what kids would call "popular" in sixth grade. I decided to join band and became first chair rather quickly. After two months we moved to a different part of town, and I joined a new school. The second school I attended had a band teacher that
did everything she could to keep me from excelling in her class. she was the bizarro-teacher to my super-teachers. I'm sure everyone has had a bizarro-teacher in their lives. I put up with her for a couple of months but eventually I got tired of it, so I quit
band. The following week we moved again.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">(My old middle school is now a 9th grade only school)</span></div>
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My third school was Milliken. Most of the students around me came from middle to
upper-middle class families. I was surrounded by students wearing brand
named clothes, and I watched them get picked up by their parents in expensive cars
while I walked home in my Wal-Mart duds and Payless shoes. I learned quickly that kids who wear ProWings were easy targets for cruel jokes. I did not
fit in, and I was insecure. <br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">(These are the actual style shoes I had in middle school!) </span></div>
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<b>Coach Rogers </b><br />
I played sports, and sang on the choir team, but my spirit had been damaged, and I did not seek the spotlight any more. I was naturally athletic, but if I excelled it would bring attention. I was content to fade into the large pack of mediocrity in everything I did.<br />
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There was one coach who was also my science teacher who saw something in me. I wasn't sure why, but Coach Rogers would put extra pressure and responsibility on my shoulders. I don't think I responded well at that time in my life. I probably let him down more than he deserved, but he made an impression on me. I appreciated what he did, but I never told him, because I didn't know how.<br />
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<span style="color: #666666;">(Hard to believe it's been 20 years since I walked those halls!)</span><br />
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<b>Ms. Brookmole</b><br />
In high school I continued my strategy of flying below radar. My junior year I took Art as an elective. This is where I met Ms. Brookmole, who has since remarried and changed her last name. I remember making a fuss when she asked us to buy magazines for an assignment. I hated spending money, and I made it clear to everyone in that classroom how irritated I was. Fortunately, I turned in my assignment and she loved it. From then on she encouraged me to pursue art more heavily. I had no intention of doing so. I was going to be a pilot or an engineer. At least until I took my first physics class. Art sounded like a promising career suddenly. She coaxed me into submitting my work into school art contests which I won several awards. This gave me the courage to make art my major when I moved onto college.<br />
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I haven't been able to reunite with Ms. Brookmole or Coach Rogers, but one day, while I was still in high school, I ran into Mrs Maxwell while working at a local grocery store. She ran up to me with a big smile and hugged me about as hard as you can get away with hugging in public without getting a citation . She turned to my coworkers beaming and doted on me as if I was her own child. She told them I was the best performer she had ever seen in all her decades of teaching. I was shocked, and a little embarrassed. She asked what plays I have been in since my grand fifth grade performance, and I was ashamed to admit that I hadn't been in one. She gave me a stern look and demanded I get back to it. And with one last hug she left. I think she will never know how much those brief minutes meant to me, and how much they influenced my future.<br />
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I hope my kids, and maybe if I'm lucky enough, other people look back and think of me as fondly as I think of these teachers.tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-61620827887979438162012-08-28T17:49:00.001-07:002013-02-14T13:35:17.133-08:00SIGGRAPH 2012 - Los AngelesThis August I jumped on a plane and headed back to the west coast for a convention that I have wanted to attend for the last 10 years, but never could justify the expense. Of course I'm talking about the National Unicorns Are Real But You Just Can't See Them Expo, or NUARBYJCSTE for short.<br />
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I landed in LAX for the very first time, although I made many trips there back when I lived in Los Angeles, picking up friends and relatives. It never failed the first thing they all wanted to do was see Hollywood. I always tried to convince them to join me on a unicorn hunt, but never got any takers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKNReX5nvB9as3LOHYIMhUeSJ7Dl36NwYj048CosLdC3q4afGg8JwwLkCs1yNFNVGtW9PELJKpKBuwCsZHzwcU0hqTm_IhkFDPynW4r7AogG_lV166sUQO26wkmuT_-Oi23FD/s1600/IMG_0619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKNReX5nvB9as3LOHYIMhUeSJ7Dl36NwYj048CosLdC3q4afGg8JwwLkCs1yNFNVGtW9PELJKpKBuwCsZHzwcU0hqTm_IhkFDPynW4r7AogG_lV166sUQO26wkmuT_-Oi23FD/s400/IMG_0619.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well I learned rather quickly that NUARBYJCSTE is as elusive as the unicorns themselves. I asked at every corner where the convention was being held, but to no avail.<br />
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Instead I decided to go to SIGGRAPH since I was in town, and because my boss paid for my flight and told me to help him run the AnimSchool booth. So all wasn't lost.<br />
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I remembered just how hard it was to park in Los Angeles rather quickly. But I found a great way around that problem. Apparently, if you are a police officer you can park anywhere you want!<br />
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This police car is NOT stopped at the stop sign waiting for traffic. They pulled up right in front of me while I was speaking to my lovely wife on the phone. Initially I thought they were going to ticket me for being so good looking, but nope, they just hopped out and proceeded to the taco stand across the street. Fortunately the smell of tacos distracted them from how amazing I looked that day. It also distracted them so much they parked 2 feet away from the curb. Driving around L.A. really works up an appetite.<br />
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The fun started the next day when we built our entire exhibit, from scratch. Me, Dave, and Isaac tackled this booth with the vigor and grace of three panda bears.<br />
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If something didn't bow to my whim I punched it in the face. I made an example of the sofa and everything else did as told. Here's a few progression pictures of our booth. This was taken just after I laid out the insolent sofa.<br />
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Eventually the sofa came to, and apologized for it's misconduct. It even offered to take me out for drinks after we were finished that night. I found under its rebellious facade, it was a softy. Good thing I didn't make that pun near those L.A. cops. I would have been ticketed for sure.<br />
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Finally we finished and were ready for my adoring fans to flood the building for autographs.<br />
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We were there for 3 days. I had so many fans clamoring to meet me, I actually lost my voice the first two days. It was the hardest fun I have ever had. Here's a little video of the AnimSchool guys in action.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ysqD0ukWjIs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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If you missed your opportunity to see me in person, don't worry! I'll be back in L.A. in November for CTN. Maybe next time I'll even catch a unicorn!<br />
<br />tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-23261381827714461502012-01-21T21:50:00.000-08:002013-02-14T14:57:46.008-08:00Home Office Make-OverThe new year brought with it some big changes for the Tonymation family. I left my studio job and decided to venture out with AnimSchool full-time. It was a much needed change for me and my animation sanity. I enjoy spending my days in my home office. However, that wasn't always the case.<br />
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There was a time in my not so distant past that my office was the messiest and most unorganized room in our house. And let me tell you, with 3 youngsters running amuck all day, that's quite a tall statement. With the magic of Photoshop, I will give you a glimpse into the mess that was once my office...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTHJRAVskmApqyoMkGWoqaOxdWVZ3jUsHjgyMFBwyI-wClcSAbOB50PW49Nv2DI_a17uoj74_Gf8zmlDDlY9lm9ttAIJA9MUxmsgbCZ6vn89Z4R91qfwkgr3l8S5AtbU_PvTS/s1600/Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTHJRAVskmApqyoMkGWoqaOxdWVZ3jUsHjgyMFBwyI-wClcSAbOB50PW49Nv2DI_a17uoj74_Gf8zmlDDlY9lm9ttAIJA9MUxmsgbCZ6vn89Z4R91qfwkgr3l8S5AtbU_PvTS/s400/Before.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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(This is a panorama stitched together from 13 photos)</div>
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I have to admit that a small amount of the mess was attributed to my prepping for the office overhaul, but I assure you that most of it was what I saw every day I mustered up the courage to venture into that part of our home. Another thing I should mention... the clean floor you see there, used to be littered with toys that my two girls graciously placed there for future engagements. I gathered them up and cleared room to build my...<br />
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SUPER AWESOME TONYMATION RENOVATION OFFICE OF THE YEAR! </div>
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"SATROOTY" for short. Which is also how my youngest says Saturday, by the way. A little Tonymation trivia for you. If I'm handing out trivia I guess I should be more accurate. She hasn't said Saturday to my knowledge, but that's how I imagine she will say it for the first time.<br />
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So I sought out the replacement office furniture, and after selecting the best that money has to offer... that is, the best that my wife allowed me to buy, I made my purchase and sat in my office chair for 5 days anxiously waiting for the delivery. My family begged me to come out of my office but their pleas fell on deaf ears... mainly because I was asleep.<br />
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Finally the boxes arrived. I figured I'd have a new office in a matter of hours. What I didn't realize is that those hours would add up to span over two days. I assembled the seven pieces with the precision and efficiency of a Winnebago. Eventually I threw away the extra parts and overlooked the wobbly pieces and claimed victory over the instruction booklets I refused to look at. To make a statement I urinated on them and tried to light them on fire ceremoniously. Unfortunately urine is not flammable, so I just threw them into my neighbor's backyard.<br />
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Be prepared to be amazed! The exclusive unveiling of the SATROOTY is about to happen before your very eyes!<br />
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(SATROOTY demanded 25 images for you to fully appreciate all of its glory)</div>
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Even though I deserve all of the credit for this amazing transformation, I'm obligated to mention that my father-in-law replaced my old lame ceiling fan with this fan that matches my sweet cherry finish theme. My ten percent discount would have been revoked had I left that out.<br />
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So there you have it. SATROOTY has truly lived up to the expectations of the entire Tonymation family. Yes it is true that I am the only one allowed in or near SATROOTY, but I know that everyone else is satisfied with simply living vicariously through me.<br />
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SATROOTY requested that I inform her fans that more posters will adorn her walls soon.tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-37381992987057286542012-01-13T13:14:00.000-08:002013-05-07T17:54:04.676-07:00Juice Fast Over!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow... I got so wrapped up in life that I forgot to finish my juice fast journal.<br />
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Basically I ended my juice fast a day early. I went a couple more days that I did not record here. Basically I ran a couple miles and had very similar juices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.<br />
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In all I lost just over 9 pounds.<br />
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I decided to end my fast slightly sooner because I could sense my body craving food again. This is something I expected when I started, but eventually I broke through that wall. Then when I started craving food again, I took that as a sign that my body might begin to cannibalize itself. I love to eat meat, and the only meat available to my body was my own muscles.<br />
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Now I know what you're thinking... how much muscle mass can a scrawny animator have to offer? Well that's exactly why I scrambled to protect the little I have! I need enough strength to type and move a mouse, and if that goes away, I can't earn a paycheck!<br />
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You really have to ease into eating food again, so I started out eating some fruit, crackers, wheat chips, and other snack type foods. Eventually I got back to my normal eating routine in about 3 days.<br />
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I feel great and think the juice fast got me some nutrients I was lacking in my diet. I bought a super expensive juicer for my wife and I, so we plan to continue to juice as a supplement.<br />
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I am a healthy person, so I didn't expect to lose tons of weight, or to purge lots of junk out of my system. But I do believe I got a good toxin flush during the fast.<br />
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Long live real food!tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-15110247128048036882011-09-05T13:06:00.000-07:002011-09-05T13:06:19.623-07:0010 Day Juice Fast - Day 7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s1600/fruits-vegetables.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s320/fruits-vegetables.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.<br />
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<b><u>Breakfast</u></b><br />
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Fruit Drink - Grapefruit, Orange, Pineapple, Strawberries, Nectarine, Red Apple<br />
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Leslie made pancakes and eggs for the kids. It was difficult to throw away the leftover pancake even with my new favorite fruit juice sitting in my tummy.<br />
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<u><b>Lunch</b></u><br />
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Veggie Drink - Kale, Cilantro, Parsley, Red Cabbage, Cucumber, Beets, Tomato, Carrots, Mint, Lemon, Green Apple<br />
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The beets turned this juice to blood red. My son walked in and asked with a disgusted face, "What are you guys drinking?" I told him blood and he freaked out. He warned me that only vampires drink blood and asked me if I wanted to become a vampire. I agreed my plan was ill advised and revealed the true nature of the red juice.<br />
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<u><b>Dinner</b></u><br />
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Veggie Drink - Kale, Cilantro, Parsley, Spinach, Celery, Broccoli, Asparagus, Green Bell Pepper, Brussell Sprouts, Cucumber, Lemon, Green Apple<br />
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Tonight was the easiest nights of the fast. We took the kids to Whataburger for dinner and let them eat in the van while Leslie and I chatted. I had no desire to eat the kids' food.<br />
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<b>Weight: 172.8 pounds</b><br />
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weight lost = 0.6 poundtonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-21156579572489349392011-09-05T12:56:00.000-07:002011-09-05T12:56:01.428-07:0010 Day Juice Fast - Day 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s1600/fruits-vegetables.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s320/fruits-vegetables.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.<br />
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<b><u>Breakfast</u></b><br />
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Fruit Drink - Grapefruit, Orange, Pineapple, Strawberries, Nectarine, Red Apple<br />
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This is my new favorite fruit juice. This is a recipe I put together, and I will stick with it the rest of the fast. It tastes exactly like the Ruby Red Grapefruit juice you can buy in the store, but it's all natural. Since I am not working today I didn't save a snack for later. I just drank the whole thing for breakfast.<br />
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<u><b>Lunch</b></u><br />
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Veggie Drink - Kale, Red Cabbage, Cucumber, Carrots, Celery, Asparagus, Ginger, Mint, Lemon, Green Apple<br />
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This was my first full day at home during the juice fast and by far the most difficult. I was extremely hungry the entire day, and the hunger pangs would just get worse when the kids ate.<br />
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Just before dinner we went to the store to stock up on more produce, and on the way home we got the kids a pizza. My wife and I agreed it was the most beautiful cheese pizza we had ever seen. It smelled amazing and it was picture perfect. I have to admit, I almost caved and ate a slice.<br />
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<u><b>Dinner</b></u><br />
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Veggie Drink - Kale, Parsley, Cilantro, Cucumber, Broccoli, Asparagus, Celery, Ginger, Mint, Lemon, Green Apple<br />
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This dinner was even more disappointing since I watched the kids eat down the amazing pizza we got them. If I was going to quit, this would have been the day. It was the roughest, but I made it through.<br />
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<b>Weight: 173.4 pounds</b><br />
<br />
weight lost = 1.2 poundstonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-33614566606385606472011-09-05T12:39:00.000-07:002011-09-05T12:39:32.845-07:0010 Day Juice Fast - Day 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s1600/fruits-vegetables.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s320/fruits-vegetables.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Breakfast</u></b><br />
<br />
Fruit Drink - Strawberries, Pear, Orange, Pineapple, Cantalope, Watermelon<br />
<br />
I'm not a big fan of the melons in my morning fruit drink. I'll probably change it up tomorrow. I saved half of my breakfast for a late afternoon snack again.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Lunch</b></u><br />
<br />
Veggie Drink - Kale, Tomato, Celery, Carrots, Spinach, Cucumber, Ginger, Mint, Green Apple<br />
<br />
Closing out the work week, but I don't feel much different when it comes to how hungry I feel. I did 2.25 miles on the treadmill and burned off 230 calories.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Snack</b></u><br />
<br />
I didn't get hungry at the same time today as the rest of the week. It didn't really hit me until almost 5pm.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Dinner</b></u><br />
<br />
Veggie Drink - Kale, Spinach, Carrots, Cucumber, Egg Plant, Ginger, Mint, Lemon, Green Apple<br />
<br />
Friday usually entails me picking up food or ordering a pizza for the family. Tonight I came home to a veggie juice. It's amazing how little you know your own habits until you try to break them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Weight: 174.6 pounds</b><br />
<br />
weight lost = 0.8 poundtonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-35502291254908309482011-09-05T12:29:00.000-07:002011-09-05T12:29:40.649-07:0010 Day Juice Fast - Day 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s1600/fruits-vegetables.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s320/fruits-vegetables.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Breakfast</u></b><br />
<br />
Fruit Drink - Nectarine, Red Apple, Pear, Pineapple, Watermelon, Cantalope<br />
<br />
I saved half of my breakfast for a late afternoon snack.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Lunch</b></u><br />
<br />
Veggie Drink - Carrots, Red Bell Pepper, Mint, Cucumber, Collard Greens, Spinach, Celery, Green Apple<br />
<br />
My stomach still thinks a meal is coming at lunch and complains when it doesn't. I feel hungry most of the day, but I have plenty of energy. Did a mile on the treadmill and burned about 100 calories today.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Snack</b></u><br />
<br />
I finished up my fruit juice saved over from breakfast. I am surprised that I still stay as hungry as I do throughout the afternoon.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Dinner</b></u><br />
<br />
Veggie Drink - Kale, Celery, Cucumber, Calabasas Squash, Asparagus, Parsley, Mint, Green Apple, Lime <br />
<br />
We are pretty well stocked up with veggies for a few days, so I got to go straight home and have my dinner. Walking into the house and smelling the food my wife has made for the kids makes my stomach go crazy.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Weight: 175.4 pounds</b><br />
<br />
weight lost = 1.4 poundstonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-62505127567795875022011-08-31T19:44:00.000-07:002011-08-31T19:44:17.814-07:0010 Day Juice Fast - Day 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s1600/fruits-vegetables.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s320/fruits-vegetables.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Breakfast</u></b><br />
<br />
Fruit Drink - Strawberries, Grapefruit, Red Apples, Peach, Pineapple<br />
<br />
Fresh juice in the morning is the best part of this juice fast. I saved half of my breakfast for a late afternoon snack again.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Lunch</b></u><br />
<br />
Veggie Drink - Kale, Celery, Cucumber, Brocoli, Tomato, Carrots, Ginger, Green Apple, Lemon<br />
<br />
Today was similar to yesterday. My stomach griped around the same time, and I drank my afternoon fruit juice snack. I didn't exercise today since I was pretty darn sore from yesterday. I'll get back on the treadmill tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Snack</b></u><br />
<br />
I finished up my fruit juice saved over from breakfast. I actually got hungrier in the late afternoon. The day felt so much longer today. <br />
<br />
<u><b>Dinner</b></u><br />
<br />
Veggie Drink - Kale, Celery, Cucumber, Calabasas Squash, Asparagus, Parsley, Mint, Green Apple, Lime <br />
<br />
I stopped at the store on the way home and picked up some some more veggies and some mint. The mint made the drink refreshing, and it didn't taste as bad as the previous veggie drinks.<br />
<br />
I still felt hungry after having my dinner juice. Every time I walk near the kitchen my brain says, "hey let's get some chips." It's not that I want to eat food, but since I am hungry it's a habit to think about grabbing a snack. <br />
<br />
While cutting watermelon for the kids I instinctively grabbed a piece and started to put it in my mouth. Fortunately Leslie caught me and yelled as if I was about to swallow a flaming sword. Fortunately the watermelon only hit my lips and did not reach my mouth. Juice fast saved at the last second!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Weight: 176.8 pounds</b><br />
<br />
weight lost = 0.6 pound tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-85252947414206288932011-08-31T14:01:00.000-07:002011-09-05T13:21:12.278-07:0010 Day Juice Fast - Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s1600/fruits-vegetables.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s320/fruits-vegetables.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Breakfast</u></b><br />
<br />
Fruit Drink - Strawberries, Grapefruit, Red Apples, Peach, Pineapple<br />
<br />
Fresh juice in the morning is the best part of this juice fast. I actually decided to only drink half of the juice in the morning. I diluted it a bit with water to make the serving a tad larger. I saved the other half for a snack after lunch to help pull me through the day.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Lunch</b></u><br />
<br />
Veggie Drink - Celery, Cucumber, Tomato, Spinach, Carrots, Collard Greens, Ginger, Green Apple, Lemon<br />
<br />
Once again my stomach was complaining pretty good around lunch time. I drank my lunch and decided to get some exercise. I jumped on the treadmill in the building gym. I jogged/walked 2 miles and according to the machine burned off over 200 calories.<br />
<br />
After the run I felt pretty darn good. I didn't feel hungry until 3pm which was an hour later than the day before.My stomach actually didn't give me as much of a fuss as Monday. One thing that helped was the snack I brought along for the day.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Snack</b></u><br />
<br />
I finished up my fruit juice saved over from breakfast. It was a good strategy. I was able to focus on work much easier.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Dinner</b></u><br />
<br />
Veggie Drink - Kale, Celery, Cucumber, Calabasas Squash, Broccoli, Tomato, Spinach, Carrots, Collard Greens, Ginger, Green Apple, Lemon<br />
<br />
I stopped at the store and picked up some more greens, so we added them to the mix. It wasn't a pleasant dinner, but I handled it. Once again I got hungry pretty early, so I went to bed around 10pm.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Weight: 177.4 pounds</b><br />
<br />
weight lost = 2.0 poundstonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-9366665444698609512011-08-30T15:13:00.000-07:002011-09-05T13:20:58.750-07:0010 Day Juice Fast - Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s1600/fruits-vegetables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl38Pwx7NzY_gYTrODZ3EKzP0OcRn-mbO9flAc5U8twnEdivVYLHZz5CMUC7lxmrdjvVDhxZoUt18mzzPd1UI4KZVnVD7Ht1Nipb9v0h89YUfnqQ4X1TucL9v8RBh5c7yjSe3_/s320/fruits-vegetables.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Monday I embarked on a 10 day juice fast. This basically means I eat nothing solid, and replace my meals with freshly juiced fruits and vegetables. I want to chronicle the whole crazy mess here.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Breakfast</u></b><br />
<br />
Fruit Drink - Strawberries, Grapefruit, Red Apples<br />
<br />
I don't usually eat breakfast, so the freshly juiced fruit drink, lovingly prepared for me by my wonderful wife, was a welcome break from the norm.<br />
<br />
I walked out of the house thinking the juicing thing was gonna be a nice change of pace.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Lunch</b></u><br />
<br />
Veggie Drink - Celery, Tomato, Spinach, Carrots, Ginger, Red Apples<br />
<br />
I was super hungry when lunch rolled around. So I pulled my veggie drink out of the office fridge and slammed down what I can safely say was the second worst drink I've ever had. The worst was a concoction my wife got that was designed to help the body fight the flu. <br />
<br />
Around 2pm my stomach began growling again, and I was feeling the hunger pangs. I drank plenty of water to help me through the torture, but it wasn't easy getting through the rest of the work day.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Dinner</b></u><br />
<br />
Veggie Drink - Celery, Tomato, Spinach, Carrots, Cucumber, Collard Greens, Green Apples, Lemon<br />
<br />
I was really craving food by dinner time. My stomach hadn't stopped begging for a good burger since lunch time. I felt fine, but my stomach was in utter disagreement with the rest of my body. Knowing I wouldn't be eating dinner, but drinking it rather, wasn't much of a consolation driving home.<br />
<br />
After dinner I played with the kids and headed to bed early. I am a late night person, but I wanted to get to sleep as fast as possible so I didn't have to deal with my griping stomach. It was a tough first day.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Weight: 179.4 pounds</b>tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-20135446161861192602011-08-08T10:08:00.000-07:002011-08-08T10:08:38.895-07:00Missing Family Attractions - Magic Kingdom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZMzY1hkBD-SjL4Ld44hLr6CrLDISPobSJpZiu8ujEnVVvQiOuDCFPkU_eWTx4i_do78-zhCnFVRdemJaNtF9DT7U7UA_4T__LYGwrP1CroLhGCQdUS-eh7broI0KVcxdcljU/s1600/buzz_lightyear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZMzY1hkBD-SjL4Ld44hLr6CrLDISPobSJpZiu8ujEnVVvQiOuDCFPkU_eWTx4i_do78-zhCnFVRdemJaNtF9DT7U7UA_4T__LYGwrP1CroLhGCQdUS-eh7broI0KVcxdcljU/s320/buzz_lightyear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So I left some really good, and also some really popular "family friendly" attractions off of my Top Ten list in my last post. I wanted to do a breakdown as to why certain attractions were omitted. Keep in mind I really enjoy most, if not all, of these attractions, but I am offering critique from the perspective of a parent of 3 little ones. With that in mind I have to consider comfort and convenience with every hour we spend in the parks. So, by alphabetical order I'll address that here.<br />
<br />
If you feel the need to see the ages of our children for reference, scan down to the bottom of the post. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>MAGIC KINGDOM</b></u></div><br />
<b>Astro Orbiter</b><br />
The line for this attraction is usually longer than I'm willing to wait, and the ride is too short. If you have any kids that are afraid of heights it may be a little too stressful for them. This ride has a pretty amazing view, unfortunately that view is constantly changing, which is why I'd rather ride the TTA.<br />
<br />
<b>Country Bear Jamboree</b><br />
This is definitely a fan favorite, but I can only bear (pun intended) this show once every few years. The length of the show puts strains on the attention span of my little girls, and the giant bears aren't all that inviting to our 2 year-old.<br />
<br />
<b>Dumbo the Flying Elephant</b><br />
The line is too long, the ride is too short, and there's very little shade to shelter the kiddos from the scorching Florida sun. I am looking forward to the new iteration of this attraction coming with the Fantasyland update.<br />
<br />
<b>The Enchanted Tiki Room</b><br />
At the time of this writing the "Under New Management" is being removed and the attraction is being restored to its former glory. I personally enjoy both shows, but the original holds more sentimental value for me, being a fan of Walt Disney the man. With that said, there isn't any real reason why this can't be on my Top Ten Family attractions other than I ran out of room.<br />
<br />
<b>The Hall of Presidents</b><br />
I love my country as much as the next person, but I just can't get behind anything political in DisneyWorld. I have experienced this attraction once in my many visits to the park, and have no desire to revisit it again.<br />
<br />
<b>The Haunted Mansion</b><br />
I really don't think an explanation is necessary but, just to be safe... This ride is just too intense and scary for children. My 9 year-old son still avoids riding this attraction.<br />
<br />
<b>The Magic Carpets of Aladdin </b><br />
The line for this attraction is not usually as bad as Dumbo or Astro Orbiter, but the ride is just as short, and again there isn't much shade to be found in the queue.<br />
<br />
<b>The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh</b><br />
This is a fun attraction and even though I am sad to see Mr Toad be replaced, this attraction is better suited for children. However, the line is usually quite long, and I can't justify using a Fastpass on a Fantasyland ride other than Peter Pan's Flight.<br />
<br />
<b>Mickey's Philharmagic</b><br />
This is a fun show, and I enjoy waiting in the fully air-conditioned queue. The big drawback for me is the fact that it's a 3D show and I have two little girls that refuse to wear the ridiculous 3D glasses, so the experience for them is a blurry movie. Anthony and Kyra both hold their ears while watching, which prompts me to hold Kaylie's ears for her since she is too young to do so. Not the most exciting experience for the whole family.<br />
<br />
<b>Peter Pan's Flight</b><br />
This is the only Fantasyland attraction I will get a Fastpass for, but only if there are still some available by the time we make our way to Fantasyland. I won't wait over 25 minutes in a line, so if the Fastpasses are all gone, then we don't ride this attraction. Therefore we rarely ride Peter Pan's Flight. <br />
<br />
<b>Pirates of the Caribbean</b><br />
I don't really consider this a family attraction based on the simple scare factor involved. However, we do take the kids with us. With my 3 kids, there seems to be a range from about 2 to 4 years-old, where the children are spooked by the combination of the dark, immersive environment and creepy music. We only have one in that range right now and she buries her head in daddy's chest most of the ride.<br />
<br />
<b>Snow White's Scary Adventure</b><br />
This Fantasyland attraction is pretty intense for the little ones. The dark environment and the cackling, crazy-eyed witch combine for an all too real and frightening experience for my kids. We all rode it on our last visit to the Magic Kingdom just because we know it's on its way out of the park. Now, many years from now when this ride is but a distant memory, my kids can boast they have ridden it.<br />
<br />
That about wraps up the Magic Kingdom. Next post will include Epcot attractions that didn't make the list.<br />
<br />
<u>Tonymation Family Age Reference:</u><br />
Anthony: 9 years-old<br />
Kyra: 2 years-old<br />
Kaylie: 1 year-oldtonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-81191075484878898562011-06-22T15:04:00.000-07:002013-05-12T16:20:23.364-07:00Top Ten Family Attractions of Walt Disney World<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPw5RZ1fMCtRAEqvT7L3U8C00O4v7nMZnoQUHW9apbVieBHnEamXrUsPzS355ilG4-5k1Mn53ED42xwoTDzAoM7iEZj_hkZ2VDbuHN610YZxj_6yHw7-jhjBhNfLjkPJqjSuUa/s1600/wdw_dumbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPw5RZ1fMCtRAEqvT7L3U8C00O4v7nMZnoQUHW9apbVieBHnEamXrUsPzS355ilG4-5k1Mn53ED42xwoTDzAoM7iEZj_hkZ2VDbuHN610YZxj_6yHw7-jhjBhNfLjkPJqjSuUa/s320/wdw_dumbo.jpg" width="267" /></a> </div>
<br />
So I have listed my favorite and least favorite attractions at Walt Disney World. Now I point out what I think are the best attractions for families.<br />
<br />
In this list, I am considering several factors:<br />
- Height Requirements<br />
- Ride Intensity or Scare Factor<br />
- Wait Time vs Ride Time<br />
- Comfort of Queue<br />
- Appeal<br />
- Tonymation Family Opinion<br />
<br />
<b>Tonymation's Top Ten Family Attractions of Walt Disney World</b><br />
<br />
<b>10. Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros</b><br />
I love the atmosphere inside the Mexico pavilion. Throw a boat ride into the mix with the Three Caballeros celebrating Mexican culture with vintage Disney style, and you have a great recipe for a fun family attraction. This is one of the few pavilions we make sure to visit every time we visit Epcot.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Mad Tea Party - Magic Kingdom</b><br />
The entire area around tis attraction is shaded due to well-grown trees, and the attraction itself is covered, unlike the Disneyland counterpart. This is one of those classic attractions that is easy to get on rather quickly. It's also a plus that we can usually get some really cute pics of the kiddos on this ride.<br />
<br />
<b>8. It's A Small World - Magic Kingdom</b><br />
This relaxing boat ride around the world will undoubtedly etch into your memory just how small the world is after all. The lines to this attraction are rarely long, and the ride is smooth and comfortable.<br />
<br />
<b>7. The Seas with Nemo and Friends - Epcot</b><br />
This attraction has a really cool queue. Overall it is a really well done dark ride. Being a 3D animator I appreciate the animation they employ to enhance the experience on this attraction.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress - Magic Kingdom</b><br />
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the air conditioning in this lazy attraction. This one holds a special place with me because it seemed to embody the idea of Disney World on my first trip. Plus, I was able to escape the summer heat for such a long time and actually re-energize myself. I can't count how many naps that catchy tune has lulled me into.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover - Magic Kingdom</b><br />
This is pretty much a walk on attraction at any given time of the year. I love how relaxing it is, and the view of the park. It's a good place to recharge your batteries and cuddle the little ones.<br />
<br />
<b>4. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin - Magic Kingdom</b><br />
This is a fun ride that is interactive, in that you get to shoot stuff. Any ride I get to shoot stuff is alright in my book. The Disneyland counterpart, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, is a far better attraction, because the guns are not mounted to the car, and you don't have to spin the car to face targets. Also there is an audio-animatronic Zurg that is sadly missing from the DisneyWorld version.<br />
<br />
<b>3 Jungle Cruise - Magic Kingdom</b><br />
From the fake hippos to the corny jokes, this ride is good family fun. Where esle can you take a boat through the jungle and see a teenager weild a gun without being completely terrified.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Spaceship Earth - Epcot</b><br />
The one attraction that still reminds me of the Epcot of old, is Spaceship Earth. Even after the update, this ride still pushes my nostalgia button. It was a trip to Walt Disney World that inspired me to actually pursue my dream of being an animator, and every time I ride Spaceship Earth I get a little hint of inspiration to form a brighter future for the Tonymation family. Go Epcot!<br />
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<b>1 Monster's Inc Laugh Floor - Magic Kingdom</b><br />
This is an interactive show located in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kindgom. It never fails to entertain the Tonymation family, and for that I applaud the only Disney attraction to have a touch of Tonymation magic.<br />
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Please be aware that this is not a complete list of all the attractions that are family friendly. I actually plan to address why certain family friendly attractions did not make my list on my next post.tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-84658278774994759772011-06-07T17:24:00.000-07:002011-06-09T15:03:36.415-07:00Ten Best Attractions of DisneyWorld 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcroYMokqZcSucs43iYQ5AlsZXL2XOOjDfSh7jRTIUSO6XWDh5T4gTJHzSPim6qqPUyO_9dOvKx9StDZWAa5tcxXTl_CcRitdgKRGN8PExzGzkc2A8bID14pEF91AEywFb1NH/s1600-h/WDW_castle2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117226200053209426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcroYMokqZcSucs43iYQ5AlsZXL2XOOjDfSh7jRTIUSO6XWDh5T4gTJHzSPim6qqPUyO_9dOvKx9StDZWAa5tcxXTl_CcRitdgKRGN8PExzGzkc2A8bID14pEF91AEywFb1NH/s320/WDW_castle2.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a>As promised here is the updated list for my top ten favorite attractions at Walt Disney World.<br />
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I figured if I were to rip ten attractions apart, I better praise ten attractions... after all, Walt Disney World is my favorite vacation destination!<br />
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I found it stragely more difficult to come up with the Ten Best list than the Ten Worst list. Not that there aren't enough good rides, it's just hard to rank them. But here I go anyway.<br />
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<b>Tonymation's Top Ten Best Attractions of Walt Disney World</b><br />
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<b>10.2 Monster's Inc Laugh Floor - Magic Kingdom</b><br />
As you can see I am cheating. I couldn't bear to bump Jungle Cruise or Laugh Floor off of the list, so they get to share #10. This is definitely a controversial pick. However, I worked on this attraction, so I bribed myself to put it on the list. This is an interactive show located in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kindgom. It never fails to entertain the Tonymation family, and for that I applaud the only Disney attraction to have a touch of Tonymation magic.<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Dropped down 1 spot from #9</span><br />
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<b>10.1. Jungle Cruise - Magic Kingdom<br />
</b>From the fake hippos to the corny jokes, this ride is good family fun. Where esle can you take a boat through the jungle and see a teenager weild a gun without being completely terrified.<br />
<i>Remained #10 kinda </i><br />
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<b>9. Spaceship Earth - Epcot</b><br />
The one attraction that still reminds me of the Epcot of old is Spaceship Earth. Even after the update, this ride still pushes my nostalgia button. It was a trip to Walt Disney World that inspired me to actually pursue my dream of being an animator, and every time I ride Spaceship Earth I get a little hint of inspiration to form a brighter future for the Tonymation family. Go Epcot!<br />
<i>New to the list</i><br />
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<b>8. Expedition Everest - Animal Kingdom</b><br />
This coaster seems to be the only reason I go to the Animal Kingdom. As far as coasters go, this is a short but fun ride. The fact that the ride is such a quick trip is what pushes it so low on the list. Other than the length, the coaster is a smooth and thrilling adventure. The theming is top notch from start to finish.<br />
<i>Dropped down 1 spot from #7</i><br />
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<b>7. Haunted Mansion - Magic Kingdom</b><br />
Here is a classic that lands on my top ten list for showmanship alone. I am not a big fan of all things scary, but Disney did this ride with class and style. The Disneyland counterpart is far more entertaining, but I prefer the Mansion design at DisneyWorld. It's obvious that this attraction is an Imagineer favorite, because it seems to have new updates every time I visit the park.<br />
<i>Dropped down 1 spot from #6</i><br />
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<b>6. Rock 'n' Rollercoaster - Hollywood Studios</b><br />
This coaster stars Aerosmith, a familiar band that I grew up with. I'm not a big fan of timestamping a Disney attraction with something like a popular band that will be outgrown and need replacing. But, I still think this coaster is the most exciting in any disney park I have visited. The magnetic propulsion is crazy cool, combine that with gravity defying corkscrews, and loops, and you have a great Disney coaster. I think more impressive surroundings during the ride would help this be a stronger coaster, however.<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Dropped down 4 spots from #2</span><br />
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<b>5. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - Magic Kingdom</b><br />
This coaster beats out the shiny new Expedition Everest for its ability to deliver an experience worth waiting in line for. The ride lasts long enough to satisfy, and the complete immersion in the theming is undeniably top notch. It is obvious why this classic coaster still deserves praise.<br />
<i>Remained #5 </i><br />
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<b>4. Splash Mountain - Magic Kingdom</b><br />
This is one of the few rides that is superior to its Disneyland counterpart. I thoroughly enjoy this ride, even though I detest getting wet on attractions. I always enjoy the amount of detail that was put into this attraction. From beginning to end you are immersed in the theme. Way to go Disney!<br />
<i>Remained #4</i><br />
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<b>3. Pirates of the Caribbean - Magic Kingdom</b><br />
Here is yet another attraction that is so much more fun at Disneyland. The ride makes more sense and had much more money put into it upon its most recent update, over at Disneyland. However, the queue at DisneyWorld is so freaking great. If they could take the DisneyWorld queue and the Disneyland ride and marry them somewhere... why that would be enough to bump this ride up to number 2 on my list.<br />
<i>Remained #3</i><br />
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<b>2. Star Tours - Hollywood Studios</b><br />
This attraction has always been a staple ride for the Tonymation family, but never would I have anticipated it breaking into the Tonymation Top Ten. Not only did it make the list, but debuts at number two! What an amazing ride this has become. I've been telling my wife that they should have multiple destinations for Star Tours since the first time I rode it back in 1998. Now all I have to do is sit back and wait for my Imagineering check to show up in the mail.<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">New to the list</span><br />
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And my number one attraction of DisneyWorld is...<br />
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<b>1. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Hollywood Studios</b><br />
This attraction has it all... immersive theming, interesting story, amazing attention to detail, multi-directioinal dark ride, and thrilling drop sequences. The imagineers must have been drinking genuis juice the day they created this ride. My hats off to you gentlemen!<br />
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Next round of Genius Juice is on me!<br />
<i>Remained #1</i><br />
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If you haven't already, be sure to check out my updated Ten Worst Attractions list.<br />
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Also, check back later to see a brand new list: Tonymation's Top Ten Attractions for Families..tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-74731171689306572932011-06-03T09:59:00.000-07:002017-07-05T18:42:28.524-07:00Ten Worst Attractions of DisneyWorld 2011<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1cBEdmnAZpEBy5m30SKiNa24SZw82IsrKeiQwCpvLsbBDQ88Xc0urgNIB3EwFEL2-C2WfI7c-f0enOzF10JyQOa-agAiwW4Eg52Ps-VUYkbr48AIsxh6DvRY-L1By9pvLDzo/s1600-h/wdw-mk-mickey.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117169270261700914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1cBEdmnAZpEBy5m30SKiNa24SZw82IsrKeiQwCpvLsbBDQ88Xc0urgNIB3EwFEL2-C2WfI7c-f0enOzF10JyQOa-agAiwW4Eg52Ps-VUYkbr48AIsxh6DvRY-L1By9pvLDzo/s320/wdw-mk-mickey.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a> The Tonymation family just returned from another grand Walt Disney World vacation. Mickey was happy to see the family had once again grown since last we visited him. I was joined by my wife, son, two beautiful daughters, and we brought my youngest sister along as a graduation gift.<br />
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I posted my top ten favorite and least favorite attractions in the parks about 4 years ago. I thought it would be cool to revisit the lists and update them.<strong><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;">I reference my old list from 2007, and track where the attractions used to be in comparison to the new list.<br /></span></strong>Be aware that this is just my humble opinion and I'm sure will not line up with the opinions of every WDW fan.<strong></strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span><br /><br />Tonymation's Top Ten Worst Attractions of Walt Disney World</strong><br />
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<strong style="font-weight: bold;">10. </strong><strong style="font-weight: bold;"></strong><span style="font-weight: bold;">American Idol Experience - Hollywood Studios</span><br />
I have to be honest. I have never experienced this attraction. But, that being said, I have no desire to EVER visit this attraction. This says volumes about the attraction as an idea. It was opened after the show it is based on, had peaked in popularity, and it will only become more dated and irrelevant each year that passes.<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">New to the list</span><br />
<strong><br />9. </strong><strong>Voyage of the Little Mermaid</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Hollywood Studios</span><br />
I love this film, and I used to love this attraction back in the day when it was what the imagineers intended it to be. Now, it has been shortened down to fit more showtimes per day. An entire song was removed, and the entertaining spotlight on Sebastian featuring a puppet of his likeness, has been reduced to a mere cameo. In fact, the show is just a hodge podge of cameos of the characters in the film. Half of the attraction is footage from the actual film. It's a shame.<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Moved down 4 spots from #5</span><br />
<strong><br /></strong><strong>8. Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour - Hollywood Studios</strong><br />
This attraction has been gutted thanks to the Lights Motors Action Extreme Stunt Show. It has been reduced to the pre-show, and ride through an alley they call a "boneyard", their props and wardrobe building, and the catastrophe canyon. For those that rode it in its original state, it is a sad skeleton of what it once was.<strong></strong><strong></strong><strong><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">Remained at #8</span></strong><br />
<strong>7. Stitch's Great Escape</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Magic Kingdom</span><br />
What used to be a pretty intense attraction called Alien Encounter, is now the tame and eventless attraction starring Stitch. I wasn't a big fan of the original attraction, but at least it was entertaining. I could recreate this attraction at home by merely turning the lights off, blowing on your face, and spritzing you with a water bottle. I love Stitch, so let's give him a more worthy attraction please!<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Moved down 3 spots from #4</span><br />
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<strong>6. Ellen's Energy Adventure - Epcot</strong><br />
If the goal of an attraction is to be long and boring, this one has hit the mark. Hey everyone, come in, sit on the floor and watch Ellen dream about being a stupid contestant on Jeopardy. Bill Nye the Science Guy shows up, and after you ride the endless and tiresome attraction, she's a genius. The end.<strong></strong><strong><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">Remained at #6</span></strong><br />
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<strong>5. Dinoland in Animal Kingdom</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Animal Kingdom</span><br />
Yes, this entire section of Animal Kingdom makes my list of worst attractions. You have an entire section of this not so interesting park devoted to a carnival theme. Who was in on this meeting?!!! The poster child attraction, Primeval Whirl, is a jerky ride that, by centrifugal force, slides you back and forth into your neighbor so you can get up close and personal with perfect strangers in the hot sticky Florida sun.... yay.<strong></strong><strong><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">Moved up 2 spots from #7</span></strong><br />
<strong>4. Journey Into Narnia</strong>: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Prince Caspian</span> -<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Hollywood Studios</span><br />
Disney, let's face it. You let Harry Potter slip through your fingers, and missed out on Lord of the Rings. This was a knee-jerk reaction to capture the fantasy audience that appeared to be spending money on any and all fantasy IPs. Well here's the deal... you managed to make one of my favorite book series look lame on the big screen by skimping on the costume design, and changing characters that were already well written. Then, you blame it on the Narnia IP and let it go to FOX. Let's all just forget the whole thing ever happened, and close this attraction.<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Moved down 1 spot from #3</span><br />
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<strong>3. </strong><strong>O' Canada</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Epcot</span><br />
This is one of those 360 degree "circle vision" movies, and it was recently revamped to be hip and edgy. The older film had no celebrities in it, and made Canada look like a nice retirement home for the elderly. Now they spiced it up by adding Martin Short as host, and some new clips of extreme sports, to make it look like a dream vacation for a teenager. My main problem with it is that you have to stand up through the entire show. When I go into an attraction, I like to enjoy air conditioning and take a load off of my feet. The imagineer that thought it would be a great idea to cram a bunch of sweaty, smelly, hot, exhausted people into a standing room only theater to watch a film about a country, must have been either insane, or just loves to torture tourists<span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><span style="font-style: italic;">Moved up 7 spots from #10</span><br />
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<strong>2. Journey Into Imagination with Figment</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Epcot</span><br />
Let's be honest here... this ride is supposed to be about imagination. Tap into that brain of yours and create, people. This is the inspiration for the attraction. Yet, we see bland walls that are supposedly an imagination lab for the first half of the ride. The premise gives this ride the potential to be one of the coolest attractions at DisneyWorld. Unfortunately, it is one of the dullest. The imagineers that created this ride should be ashamed of themselves. Where is the creativitiy!<strong></strong> This attraction makes it so high on the list because of what it COULD be.<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Moved down 1 spot from #1</span><br />
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And my number one worst attraction of Walt DisneyWorld is...<br />
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<strong>1. </strong><strong></strong><strong>Sounds Dangerous</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> - Hollywood Studios</span><br />
I'm honestly surprised that this attraction still exists.<br />
Summary: you listen to a not so interesting story unfold in a pitch black room. Did I mention it stars a comedian that has no acting ability? Seems like somebody at Disney thought it would be a good idea to create a comfortable place for teenagers to make-out.<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Moved up 8 spots from #9</span><br />
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Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for my top ten best attractions list coming soon.tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-26576740959624672302008-12-04T10:21:00.000-08:002013-02-14T15:00:07.859-08:00Blue Sky, Robot Chicken, and Heroes...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43GsNrh9lo8z2JNXAhJ5e6nddMmRYh0eaUztRlHabKo9Ym609k2l7fcAs6QrhO9NCoko9_qstrvpMBK8XEOvpIdCEZu68ZRVY-iQf3q002k38H5fXzUbQDtveeeY6jdW1-46Q/s1600-h/seth_matt.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276007129536002386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43GsNrh9lo8z2JNXAhJ5e6nddMmRYh0eaUztRlHabKo9Ym609k2l7fcAs6QrhO9NCoko9_qstrvpMBK8XEOvpIdCEZu68ZRVY-iQf3q002k38H5fXzUbQDtveeeY6jdW1-46Q/s400/seth_matt.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 350px;" /></a>Seth Green and Matt Senreich, the creators of Robot Chicken, visited Blue Sky not too long ago. It was a treat to hear their story and how they achieved every guys dream of getting paid to play with action figures. They brought along with them the soon to air, second Robot Chicken-Star Wars episode. They must have read my mind, because there are more crazy good Boba Fett sequences.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMhPKkgKX8t9Xqu6JKz5QMvOsBfZ4haoKKcY1oo_JqM8ECxSEWqSEwrFco_FwMDPuVevE6mMafcXVx2vrFc3A9ZUiVlknyh_b-emw8BV9wrIxwixbpEOoiZoJ8bDAw42dz_uA/s1600-h/rcsw.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276002244169526178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMhPKkgKX8t9Xqu6JKz5QMvOsBfZ4haoKKcY1oo_JqM8ECxSEWqSEwrFco_FwMDPuVevE6mMafcXVx2vrFc3A9ZUiVlknyh_b-emw8BV9wrIxwixbpEOoiZoJ8bDAw42dz_uA/s400/rcsw.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>After their presentation they toured the studio for a bit. Unfortunately, I was unable to snag a pic with them. I was really bummed about it, but they did walk right by me, and I was like, "Hey there's Seth and Matt! You guys make me laugh... a lot! Can we be friends?" That was all in my head, but had I said it out loud I bet they both would have been like, "Heck yes man! That's really why we came to Blue Sky anyway!" Yea... I felt a connection with them in that brief 2 seconds when they passed by.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGsaxeH44gG_mwB742HvMzg7gHHMPAaM4L1qDBpWxzEDwdcoha5qWj6IRnaSIUqRhqu4SJzAroYKdN8EA4a8dvFV7bFU43EVE_zPLI7sDI-Px0WQNLAPkdCua5RiHNOrtcYTW/s1600-h/Seth_Breckin.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276007499306453138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGsaxeH44gG_mwB742HvMzg7gHHMPAaM4L1qDBpWxzEDwdcoha5qWj6IRnaSIUqRhqu4SJzAroYKdN8EA4a8dvFV7bFU43EVE_zPLI7sDI-Px0WQNLAPkdCua5RiHNOrtcYTW/s400/Seth_Breckin.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 241px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Not a week goes by when I see Seth and Breckin Meyer (Actor, and writer for Robot Chicken) on one of my favorite television shows, Heroes. Seth and Breckin were working in a comic book shop. I know this all can't be some simple coincidence. I think Seth is sending me some kind of coded message...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsy4sUcHvde5zfyhZMDQ1nFt6L9h4yxaBcpXRGtdJH6Ag542v0pK5YPkUJnUTWo6qu1GHF1ZpbKPZvjR0H0WE9lyQkizEjdkE21XxZXmgCxNoCr5fxU8TodmrKOF8Hb8n7iHL/s1600-h/Heroes+resized.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276008140036959986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsy4sUcHvde5zfyhZMDQ1nFt6L9h4yxaBcpXRGtdJH6Ag542v0pK5YPkUJnUTWo6qu1GHF1ZpbKPZvjR0H0WE9lyQkizEjdkE21XxZXmgCxNoCr5fxU8TodmrKOF8Hb8n7iHL/s400/Heroes+resized.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 349px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 323px;" /></a>Stay tuned... I'll post an update when my decoder ring arrives in the mail and I figure out what Seth is trying to say to me.tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34483243.post-85981792040005319612008-11-12T20:53:00.000-08:002013-02-14T14:59:15.616-08:00The Great Brian Henson Caper<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKNGLHyFDodlkIs7r7B3QOWaV1jYrUytQxPMx6ZQJcVLRg1HtwsenggwrWVYRnYv3CQ1pq38aAGBkqA3bmn3ElrmbKRsCYFy-TpZI9IzmBapNiESvbW9EUXUeqL7to5hEKuUM/s1600-h/Armadillo_Puppet.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268001662151892562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKNGLHyFDodlkIs7r7B3QOWaV1jYrUytQxPMx6ZQJcVLRg1HtwsenggwrWVYRnYv3CQ1pq38aAGBkqA3bmn3ElrmbKRsCYFy-TpZI9IzmBapNiESvbW9EUXUeqL7to5hEKuUM/s400/Armadillo_Puppet.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 274px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
Brian Henson, son of Jim Henson, and Co-CEO of the Jim Henson Company paid a visit to Blue Sky today. Brian gave a presentation on the history of the company as well as the Jim Henson style of puppeteering.<br />
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Brian showed up in disguise (image above) which confused me at first. Eventually, when he felt it was safe to do so, he removed his disguise. Immediately after the presentation, Pete Paquette (an animator at Blue Sky) pulled an imaginary finger gun on him. The crowd thought Pete was trying to mug the unsuspecting Brian, but after Pete was maulled, and cuffed by the muppet police, he explained he was merely trying to shoot the guy behind Brian, who was obviously planning to choke him with an extension chord. Pete's sharp eyes and quick thinking almost saved Brian from a most unfavorable situation. Unfortunately, Pete couldn't finish his heroics, being at the bottom of a five foot pile of muppets.<br />
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Not all was lost... I acrobatically and gracefully disarmed the would be villain. Afterwards, I was awarded the muppet medal of honor. Of course Brian was very pleased with me, and offered to give me a job as his personal body guard. I, being recently unemployed by my very own muppet creation, jumped at the opportunity. Unfortunately, somebody from Blue Sky's HR department realized I no longer worked there, and had me whisked off the premises before I could accept Brian's generous offer.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268001085605965154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFFbD9LhAl0-qCvzcwqNuX_S-No_TcXa2K1l0TfdMB-4Pm54WjW4q2pFlMWWVzSoLDXnNEHgv2B4INUoCqIBNfIoiuA9Fw5MWnH9hByTPgDNMoYqsnupC_wLbFhfgmVU42FOB/s400/SD534822.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>
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tonymationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12250932261236786663noreply@blogger.com0