Here’s the animators dream tool: Animation Paper
Animation director/producer and entrepreneur Niels Krogh Mortensen is set to create the worlds most responsive, intuitive and powerful software, for doing one thing, and one thing only: Hand drawn animation.
“With this we can revive hand drawn animation. We can get the fun and ease back into 2D.”
Niels has a clear vision with Animation Paper. First of all, it is to be kept simple, light weight and effortless to work with. Niels calls out to the community:
“I want to invite animators to help shape our software. Sign up to show your support, help spread the word. I want to hear your requests, your good ideas on what makes the most awesome tool for your needs”.
But not to be forgotten: The No.1 feature of Animation Paper is – the limited number of features.
Here’s the basic list:
• Super fast responsiveness – while drawing, while flipping, while everything
• Quality lines – built on high speed, high resolution input from your tablet (like a Wacom)
• Small to large format frames
• Realtime smooth rotation and zooming of the view
• Light table (onion skinning – fully customizable)
• X-Sheet. Easy intuitive timing. Colored layers
• Cutouts (efficient repositioning and manipulation of drawings)
• Import and export of video and frame-stacks
Animation Paper must be used with a tablet and pressure sensitive stylus, such as a basic Wacom, a Cintiq or other brand tablet. As an artist you will experience the freedom in drawing and animating by hand, like it was the old fashioned pencil on paper, sitting by the animation desk.
This, however, will be the modern, efficient and easy way to do it. The magic will be in the way it is all implemented. Very well thought out, a dream to use – and fun
Not only for traditional animators – Niels explains:
“This tool will help animators and professionals of all techniques and media tremendously. Not just traditional 2D type animators; but (Maya-, Max- or other 3D-animators, live action film makers, visual effects artists, stop motion animators, storyboarders and artists of many kinds. They will benefit from being able to quickly rough out ideas and plan in Animation Paper before going back working in their own medium of choice.”
Animation Paper is software in development. First to be released on Mac OS X, then Windows and iPad. Right now, you are encouraged to sign up at the front page of the website to get first access to Animation Paper when it is finished. Sign up this month (within the end of March 2014) to be eligible to the early bird discount. No purchase necessary.
Learn more, and sign up, at the Animation Paper website: http://animationpaper.com
Jake is a Researcher and Interactive developer at Wonky Films and the face behind all of Show Me The Animation’s online platforms and website. So if it breaks he’s probably to blame! Aside from running the SMTA online, Jake make’s interactive things for Wonky Films.
