Meta: How To Properly Use Reference

Several collegues have asked me why I include so much material in the database that isn't directly animation related... Like the work of Ernst Haeckel, George Petty, Boris Artzybasheff and Owen Jones. The reason is, the animators of the golden age weren't just influenced by animated cartoons... they studied magazine illustration, live action movies, fine art, comic books, design, music, vaudeville, architecture, humor- a wide range of creative and popular subjects. The problem with animation today is that it is inspirationally inbred... recycling the same formulas and designs and movements over and over. It's a huge world! There's no reason that every damn animated feature should end up looking, moving and acting exactly the same!

I briefly touched on this subject back in March in a posting called The Application of Inspiration. Since then, I've been urging John K to write an article on the importance of using reference properly, and he's finally done it. It's a massive post that provides a million pointers to study topics for young animators. Read this one carefully... print it out. Track down all the names he cites. It'll get you a LOT farther than studying that same old Milt Kahl hand model sheet in "The Illusion of Life" for the umpteenth time!

The Importance Of Having A Lot Of Influences

It's only natural to pattern yourself after someone. If I wanted to be a painter, I might think about trying to be like Van Gogh, or if I was an actor, act like Laurence Olivier. If I was an architect, there's Frank Gehry. But you can't just copy somebody. If you like someone's work, the important thing is to be exposed to everything that person has been exposed to. Anyone who wants to be a songwriter should listen to as much folk music as they can, study the form and structure of stuff that has been around for 100 years. I go back to Stephen Foster. -Bob Dylan

John is wonderful at focusing on a subject like a laser beam. But his frame of reference isn't the only valid one. If you are an artist, share the names of little known artists who have inspired you in the comments below. Let's create a googlestorm of fresh ideas in the animation community!

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Would someone like to volunteer to make a bookmarks list of web resources related to the artists John K mentions in his post? There are plenty right here on the ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Archive site! If you would be interested in creating a jump page organized by artist's name, email me at sworth@animationarchive.org.

Stephen Worth
Director
ASIFA-Hollywood
Animation Archive

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