Studio Ghibli season on Film 4

Over the years, movies produced by studio Ghibli continue to keep popping up on Film 4, including films such as Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Ponyo, Kiki's Delivery Service and many more.

I'm not bashing Ghibli films in any way, lets get that clear. I love the animated films they've produced, the animation is realistic, detailed and captures the 'essence' of the characters, the backgrounds are intricately designed and in many of the films the camera angles and movements are so fluid it could almost have been shot in live action.

Even 'Tales of Earthsea', which didn't exactley have the best of plots (it followed a general storyline, but was full of unneccessary twists that would mislead the audience, and seemed unable to really communicate the characters individual stories to the audience in a way that made you really -like- them) was stunning to look at, and is a film I'd definately recommend for others to see purely so they can better understand what I mean when trying to describe how the other Ghibli movies are so amazing.

Kiki's delivery service: So endearing!

One thing I love about Ghibli films is that regardless of whether they're 'my thing' or not, they still have the ability to make me sit still and actually watch them the entire way through. I'm mostly drawn to fantasy adventure as a genre for my 2D animated films, as I feel the medium really helps to give an idea of the 'world' each storyline is based in, without making you pause and think 'this wouldn't -really- work in the real world'.
To summarise, I feel it helps create the 'suspension of disbelief'. This is what I feel most Ghibli films achieve.

Kiki's Delivery Service is a great movie to relate to, while it seems to primarily be about a young witch establishing herself,  I found myself relating to Kiki on many more levels, the whole witch thing was just a fact to accept the real experience was about this girl setting out into the world by herself and how she learns to become a young woman. She faces hardships yet eventually overcomes them, becoming a stronger, kinder individual.

I'll probably add more to this as the Ghibli season goes on, but I seriously recommend watching the rest of the Ghibli collection, the studio has created an art form that I feel can't be replicated.

I HAVE PERMISSION!

Got in contact with a friend of my sisters who went to my highschool, shes a really good singer, and shes written a few of her own songs that shes put up on her youtube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZS6L7pTReo&feature=youtu.be

Have a look, its pretty cool. Anyway, shes given me permission to use one of her songs for future showreels!!! Meaning I won't have to fear the dreaded copyright! I like how much more relaxed the songs are, a nice contrast to the last one I chose for my first showreel.

Also, I was inspired to make an animation based on Hollies song, 'Falling'. It must be a sign....

Life Drawing (mega upload)

Ok, heres my fav pieces of life drawing from last semester. I'm proud to say there is a definate improvement over time, though still a pretty long way to go in regards to getting the proportion and perspectives right.

The reason I didn't upload this lot earlier...I was in denial. I'd lost the cable to my camera that I'd been taking the pictures on, and it took this long (and much raiding of my flat) to admit defeat and grab another one off ebay, so here they are:

The earliest pieces-

As you can see, focusing more on curves and definately struggling with the proportions.

The next batch-

Bit more experimental and varied, with focus on proportions and breaking the body down into segments. Also, loved the ink painting, looks very caveman!

Final favourite drawings of 1st semester-

I loved the charicatures!!! Was great fun. Definately wanna do it more. Also! Perspective drawings....with perspective! That aren't horrifically out of proportion (except for the guys foot which I realise in hindsight should be a whole lot bigger)!