Curate, connect, and discover
OMG I will be checking out those links! (I struggle so much with research you'd be surprised)
Lately I've also been doing some studies based on artbooks and similar I have (I got a new one as a gift recently and I'm so excited to study that after my study I started with some of the 2003 Astro Boy character design sheets I got access to recently), as well as working on commissions and a couple gifts. I had a realisation recently that the process is my favourite part, and a lot of my block I had before that melted. I guess I found my love for it again through that. I appreciate you offering to share your favourite animators, and I definitely gladly accept.
Also the 2003 version is my favourite version of Astro Boy, and it isn't the first series of Astro Boy I've seen, but I will mention that the English dub has some.... choices regarding censorship (Astro is not allowed to say father and they censor scenes related, and replace the word with "my creator", among other related things, to summarise some of the situation on that). I'd say 2003 is the most friendly for new viewers overall, and I enjoy it the most.
With the anime release of Naoki Urasawa's Pluto (which you definitely should watch if you haven't already, it's a seinen retelling of the Pluto arc of Astro Boy), I see many people interested in starting Astro Boy and I worry about what some may jump to based on convenience, especially based on what's accessible streaming service wise, so I'll mention this now: The movie is a poor representation of the story and I do not recommend it. There's a lot I can go into about that, but advice wise, do not make it your intro to the series if you haven't seen it already, or bother to watch it at all. Also my feelings on the movie are a bit more personal due to it releasing on my birthday on a year that was important for me. Birthdays in general are complicated for me, so it really stands out a lot. I do laugh from time to time about the dramatic differences in vibes for 2003 Tenma and 2009 Tenma.
Astro Boy is one of those things that has been around my whole life and I was introduced to really early (before the 2003 one even came out, not to mention aired in the US), and has been a huge inspiration for me. I was so overjoyed to see Atom in a 2023 anime. I think out of all of the things that has impacted my life, entertainment/art wise, I would say the only thing that comes close would be the visual novel Our Life Beginnings and Always.
Anyway, I could talk about these things all day, and there are people who could back this one up, haha. I've had a few moments on Discord specifically of a conversation drifting towards something related to Astro Boy and before I even start typing, someone sending something about me being about to talk about it, or me being pinged/mentioned if I wasn't already present. By all means, reach out to me if you'd like to about Astro Boy, or anything else really.
I wanted to say, I felt so happy to see the "woah this is so cool and smooth" I got from you, like it made my day, cause that's the second time I've animated something and I was so nervous posting it. I plan to learn more on how animation works, and wanted to say that reactions like that motivate me so much, I'm very thankful.
Waaa I'm so glad!! Please, be proud so of it <3 <3 You did such an amazing job! It flows so well and the movement is so nice (shaking your shoulders at his blinks). He's totally the type to read that fast HAHAHAH (pls look at him during ep 7 - the surgeon present threatening case one)
A while back I got really interested into animators (cause stick figures/Hyun's Dojo) and their processes but I haven't gotten the courage to do one yet actually... The last ones I did was a pixel animation many years ago haha but that doesn't really count. If I ever motivate myself to try it, I'll dedicate it to you!
Some animation resources I'd recommend watching is the 12 principles of animation by Alan Becker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDqjIdI4bF4 His animation series of Animator vs. is so fun!
And Crowne Prince: https://www.youtube.com/@CrownePrince/videos Her series Scribble Kibble also breaks down various animations and highlights and teaches techniques. It's great for learning and discovering cool animations: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYDh8mMwv-pPM8DPu-LsG6MQeIkKsHByb
Feel free to chat more if you want me to share some of my favourite animators and/or animations haha. I haven't really been that interested in animation for a while though so my memory right be a lil spotty
Cheers to our art journeys <3 <3
(Also, It's nice to meet you!! ^-^ Feel free to chat anytime. I also think it's funny how I'm planning to start on Astro Boy and you're starting on DCMK HAHAHA. Well it's more of a side thing rn but it might change - what anime would you recommend to start on? I was thinking the 2003 one. It's actually so gorgeous and I've heard good things about it)