How I made my first CalArts film

A peek behind the making of “Enemy”, my first year film at CalArts.
• Production time = 6.5 months
• # of unique drawings = 683
What’s missing from this video are the conversations that helped me shape and reshape the story, art, and animation for the better.

PROGRAMS USED:
Photoshop (storyboard, backgrounds)
TV Paint (animation)
Maya (3D modeling)
After Effects (compositing)
Premiere Pro (video editing, sound, final export)

DRAWING TABLET:
Cintiq (provided at school), Wacom Intuos (Medium) after lab shutdown

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MUSIC
Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0

VIDEO CLIPS

[alystdesign]

every art student working on their thesis: "I said goodbye to sun and to sleep"

[smithhenke]

Thank you for making this behind the scenes video! As an aspiring animation student, it was very informative + interesting!

[Zephirite.]

‘Dog Studies’: *pans to cat*

But seriously, this is beautiful. Thanks for sharing your behind the scenes!

[jenniffermeng]

Even as someone who's not an animator, this was so informative and incredible to watch. It's so fascinating to see your process work and watch the film come together. GAHHH SO INSPIRATIONAL. Also that pan from dog studies to your cat was amazing and is exactly the content I signed up for XD LOVE YOU <3 <3 <3

[sinqin]

Not only did I absolutely love your "The Song of Achilles" character designs, but I'm just amazed at how good this animation is. It's smooth, you can really see the expression and emotions on the character's face, and the story might be a small one, but I was engaged and loved it. I can't believe this is your first film! You must have great teachers and be such a skilled student.

[fukurokun]

Its really amazing only knowing about the restrictions, could talk about the one week film and 48h film too pleeeease?? Im really amazed with the calartians hoping one day i would be able to study there and now taking the online classes. Saw ur film too the animation is SUPER smooth and amazing! Perspective r amazing too!!

[Anya-fhni]

as an sophomore illustration major learning animation as a hobby and looking to work in vis dev, this was so informative and helpful! Thank you so much for the insight into the process of a short film. I can't wait to attempt my own :) ( also i love the song of achilles and absolutely geeked out over your character designs, i think they were so well done and accurate!)

[soup]

How you point out and show the ways of you form anatomy with animals, objects and beast really give the characters fear, joy and really show the amazing sense of emotion. I've gotta say though. That dog reference for the antagonist spooked me. I got bit by dog with the look. And it was today!

[gunrodoplu]

3:40 is amazing to me as an architect! I tried to imply such an understanding of perspective in my own projects but mine are nowhere this good at getting the job done, 'disorienting' in your own words. Great great job.

[Squirreled_Studio]

This is such an amazing story, I like the idea a fear making you the very thing you were afraid of, and the use of shadows to portray that. It goes really well with that black and white style you were talking about. Then there's all the work put in to put that story into such a gripping animation.

[SunnyIsAlive]

This is amazing! Your animation is very inspirational :) Keep up the good work, can you do video about how to improve storyboarding and creating story in general? i have many stories in my head but its hard to create storyboard.

[pixelatedgirl]

This is so incredibly fascinating, I love your attention to detail and anatomical accuracy. Not just that, accuracy in general as well.

[denissereyes]

wow, i cannot thank you enough for making this. I have been in an art slump for months and felt so unmotivated for the longest time, and felt overwhelmed for the course ide be taking for my senior year of high school. But when I found your channel something just lit up inside me again and I would like to say thank you for that and your art is truly beautiful.

[minayewilson]

Thanks for sharing this. I appreciate it because even though professional animators give u a process video, its really good to see someone at a similar level giving their thoughts and inspiration. So thank u for showing us that anyone can animate.

[franklingaldino]

Your videos are a must for animation students, and probably for artists in general. Always learn a looot from them and get so much inspiration for my future animations. Thank you so much for the content!

[helloalexandraa]

Ahhh I just subscribed the other day after finding your song of Achilles video and I’m so happy I did! Quality content whether you’re an artistic viewer or not!!! Love the work you put into research and how much effort you put into sharing your process so that it’s easy to digest.

[trishaamps]

This is so insightful for someone like me who wants to learn more of animation and it's process. Your work is really great and I hope to see more of your future films and process breadowns.

[chaaaargh]

this how im tryna be in the near future, i really admire the amount of thought and effort you put into this !! what an inspiration !! also love love love the way you edited this video <3

[DzineFever]

Your entire series of videos showing your beautiful talent along with your soothing voice are genuinely something special! LOVE all of it. It is inspiring. I wish you well in all your future endeavors.

[BrooklynKitty]

The quality of your work is really great! I'm excited to see what your future projects will be...