John UM
Open Millepensee’s official website homepage (http://millepensee.com/), click on the relevant page of “Painting Recruitment”, you can see the eye-catching prompts of “Digital Production in the Workshop”, which shows Milleepensee’s digital The importance of the work
But the animation supervisor and performer 垣 坦,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,.
On the other hand, when it comes to accessing computers, board is considered to have some qualifications. As early as 1982-1983, when the PC was also called “My
Computer”, Banyan used the computer very frequently. However, until the beginning of the 1990s when Windows and Mac began to lead the PC trend, the board suddenly “quits” the computer dependence. This empty window period objectively makes it miss the opportunity to follow up the cutting-edge digital painting technology
As a person from the industry, nowadays, the board of the first line of digital production has a lot of feelings about the evolution of Heisei animation technology from analog to digital
In 1994, Banyan entered Telecom Animation Film. At the beginning of his career, he happened to catch up with the end of the all-simulation era of Saiying Animation. Therefore, Banyan saw the entire production process of using photography to complete the photography
After about 2 to 3 years, the company’s coloring process has been changed to digital work. For example, in the “Phantom Princess” where he participated in “animation production”, Banyan changed the color from the original artificial hand to the digital operation. After the film was completed, Banyan also deliberately ran to the theater to “see” the coloring effect. Of course, during the filming process, he could not tell the difference between the two colors
In the year of Banyan’s transition to freelance, in 2001, Telecom Animation Film’s painting process has completed a digital hardware transformation. At that time, I experienced a “flat hand-painted” board, and I was keenly aware that the traditional paper work would be replaced by “flat” sooner or later. However, what was called “flat” in the past is not the popular LCD panel, but the way users need to look at the computer screen and draw on the tablet. Because the tablet uses the same feeling as painting on paper, Will feel awkward, so the board immediately convinced that this technology will sooner or later become dominant. However, he turned to think, “In any case, when the time is ripe, it will usher in the unification of digital animation, why should we rush for a while?” Therefore, we foresee the trend of the general trend, and have not taken positive measures to promote digitalization since then
After that, I really let the board feel the digitalization is approaching, after he became a free man and joined GONZO. Around 2002, the name was also called Gonzo Digimation. At that time, digital photography applications were quite common. For example, it was possible to “process the flame of a candle with digital photography”. If a screen image appeared on the screen, it could also be realized by “screen image processing” technology. All of these things make the board sigh and admire the rapid progress of technology
According to the board analysis, digitalization was first introduced into the animation production process for improving work efficiency. The post-production process of animation production is often caught in the passive situation of overnight work due to various delays in the previous stage. Therefore, in order to speed up the progress of the work and shorten the construction period, the animation production process has been “returned upstream” and digital technologies have been introduced one after another. In addition, the more simple the process operation in the future, the easier it is to start digitalization
In terms of coloring, it is said that “the color is filled in the closed coil”, and this technology is also used by the “My Co” used in the elementary school of the board, but only with professional coloring. Computer equipment has several orders of magnitude difference in speed and number of colors
In addition, the popularity of Photoshop in the field of background art has also unexpectedly progressed rapidly. Photoshop, like the name of the software, was originally designed for photo/image processing. Functions such as replacing some parts of the real material, or doing some local fine-tuning like “pre-trimming bangs”, or adjusting the hue of the overall picture. At first, this software also used the use of maps and the like, and later gradually used for “painting.”
It is undeniable that in terms of operational efficiency, digital coloring can immediately smash the traditional craftsmanship of “need to wait for the pigment to dry”. But to be fair, Photoshop is not a special tool for pure drawing. In Banyu’s view, the reason why Photoshop is still the main drawing software for background art, the reason is nothing more than in the art department, following an unwritten, newcomer who wants to pay attention to art supervision as a teacher. Strict system of mentoring and inheritance. Once you get used to the various tips on Photoshop’s painting skills from the master, it’s hard for newcomers to switch to other software
Talking about the past and the present of painting technology, I am quite impressed by the fact that the “artisans” who used to walk the rivers and lakes with one hand have been forced to fade out of the industry. For example, in the era of celluloid animation, those who paint by hand are relying on the hand, and there is a popular “thin and imperfect” finished product index. That is to say, the pigment must be applied extremely thin and evenly under the premise of ensuring no leakage, otherwise, if the pigment is thick, it will form a clear shadow when the overlapping cymbals are photographed
In addition, there was a class of people who were good at making “color designation” with the naked eye, but in the era of digitalization, everyone can easily complete it with the help of machine identification, and thus it is insignificant
Then there is “photography”. In the early days, some of the difficult CUTs that were “long-term and super-competitive in the combination of cymbals and cymbals” can only hold the top masters of the most stunts in order to hold. Nowadays, the life of these most people who have been difficult to cultivate in their lifetime has become a piece of cake without a foot in the rush of the digital tide
As a result, many skilled craftsmen have quietly left their original posts. There is a lot of colleagues in the industry who know each other well. Every time I read it, I feel degraded…
Sentimentally sentimental, but after the simplification of digital technology, the broad prospects that have been born have also brought inspiration for more new forms of expression
The topic goes back to “Digital Painting”. Ban Yi believes that the current “painting” is still in the transition period. Among the painters who know him, some people have threatened to “coexist with ‘painting on paper’ in their lifetime.” Some people also said, “If the company is digitalized now, it will turn to a company that has not yet been digitized.”
Ban Yi believes that the industry has been fully digitalized for a while. In fact, the end of the Heisei era did not let the paper follow the farewell animation industry. Because, at the forefront of today’s paintings, it is up to the super-class master animators who have cultivated in the era of painting on paper. In particular, the film-sharing scenes of the large-scale theaters, as long as they are from the hands of the elites who are turning the paper, then the paper will not withdraw from the historical stage
But Milleepense is clear when recruiting people to recruit animators who are willing to use digital for painting. Some of the candidates have been able to master the technology, but even those who are not at the beginning will let the company In the first time after joining the company, he switched to digital work and learned while he was used to it
According to the board observation, the biggest bottleneck encountered in the introduction of paperless digital jobs is their own “paper generation”. Every time I encounter a performance with my own contemporaries, I emphasize that “I only use paper”, which makes him feel a headache
It is rare for young painters to draw pictures with digital paintings. However, they only have to use the pen to make corrections on paper during the performance and supervision. Therefore, they have to print out the digital manuscripts. Time and again, the young painters put the digital drafts on paper, put them on the punch marks, and then submit them to the supervisors… Looking at the industry, most of the painting scenes repeat the above steps in a repeated manner. Fortunately, the performances and supervisors of the studio where the board is located are directly using digital software to make painting corrections. Even the oldest employees in the whole society have clearly stated that “they also use digital operations”. Therefore, the company avoids other companies like “friction”
However, under the pressure of the current TV series production schedule, it is inevitable that some painting tasks need to be outsourced. In this case, the rules must be printed according to the rules of others, and the digital manuscript will be printed out. Posting a hole mark… Conversely, all the words made in the company will be paperless
Ban Yi believes that no matter whether it is used or not, there is no essential difference between the two pursuits. Therefore, he does not care much about the artist’s painting methods. Besides, he himself was also supervised by the painters of the analog era. He loved his paintings from the bottom of his heart, stood on his own side, and tried his best to maintain the interests of the painters. However, it is precisely for these people’s long-term fundamental interests to consider, it is even more suggestive that the painting staff should accept digitalization as soon as possible
Take a typical PC drawing tool CLIP STUDIO PAINT as an example, as long as a bunch of mode options are set in advance, you can almost achieve personal animation. If the board is in the middle and primary schools, there is such software available on the market, he will definitely try to use it
In other words, nowadays primary and secondary school students are the generations who have grown up with these digital painting tools. Imagine that one day, this small group of children who are trying to brake painting alone will grow up. When volunteering to participate in an interview, some people will mention in their self-introduction, “I have already uploaded works on YouTube when I was in high school.” (often readers of animated information magazines are also likely to crouching.)
It’s said that the network ecologically popular “under the gram” rule, once this batch of talents flow into the industry, if today’s generation of veterans are being squandered by the younger generation, “how the predecessors used the same software they played with my elementary school, but they could only draw “The original paintings,” I am afraid that it will be awkward. In such an era, the correctness is really coming towards you and me. Therefore, in order to prevent today’s people from prematurely falling out of the differences in operating tools, all the peers, including painting, should face the wave of digital transformation with a more positive attitude
From this point of view, Banyan is quite admired for the extraordinary initiative of Xinhaicheng to supervise the single-handedly. The success of its case has directly subverted the industry’s long-term default. Newcomers have entered the animation company, worked diligently for several years, and stepped into the supervision position. Only then can they begin to fully plan the promotion system of the first work of life. Since the launch of Xinhai Supervisor in 2002, the launch of “Sound of the Stars” has opened a new chapter in “Personal Production.” This made the world realize that with the use of digital tools, the creators can achieve the potential of not being inferior to the completion of commercial works by their own power, and at the same time let Xinhaicheng become a supervisor from independent production and promotion. Pioneer
Ban Yi pointed out that if the next theatrical version of Xin Haicheng’s supervision, it would still be like “Your name. “The sweep of the global craze, then the newcomers who entered the animation company will probably say, “I am thinking of making animations because I worship the New Sea.” But it is more likely that young people in the future will not enter the animation company at all
Now, on YouTube, there is a lot of videos that teach “How to use CLIP STUDIO PAINT to create animations.” After watching the video, if you want to be animated and want to be an animator, you should have a person who uploads the work and then gets paid by the click volume. After reaching a certain scale effect, you can also get advertising revenue. The leader in the middle is also very likely to be explored by investors. Under the background of individual exhibitions that can be instantly spread around the corner of the world, aspiring young people will no longer want to go under the doors of various studios. Excellent animation creators, through the network, can completely make groups in groups.
Recently, the trend of singing the industry is prevalent, but it has never been pessimistic about the future. According to him, although Millepensee has been recruiting people from outside, the company has not made the goal of “strengthening the team and expanding the industry”. As far as the current status of the industry is concerned, the number of people who produce animations is already excessive relative to the production efficiency. Presumably, the income of animators is generally not optimistic. If you want each painter to get enough work to make a living, you have to push back
For example, suppose that the single-season TV animation series can raise nearly 200 million yen in production expenses. At that time, if you do not outsource at all, and the internal 40 employees work together to digest, you can easily calculate the average per capita of 5 million. Annual income
The question is coming. How can I make a single season TV series with only 40 people? It is definitely necessary to make a fuss about the effective use of computers and digital technologies in the production process. Therefore, Millepente actively introduces the relevant “automatic cut” (the middle sheet between the original painting and the original painting is called “medium cut”, and the technology that automatically generates the medium cut by AI calculation is called “automatic cut”). And approved some of the paintings completed by CG. With regard to the drawing of “animation”, new methods and countermeasures are also being studied. As for the part of the animator’s “sensibility”, it still follows the training ideas so far. In addition, after the “automatic cut” operation, “animation” becomes a liquid work, so part-time staff will be hired to do this part of the work, the company only needs to pay a reasonable remuneration. That is to say, for the sustainable development of the animation industry, Millepensee is exploring various feasible solutions for the effective use of digital technology
In summary, the digital technology that has matured in the latter half of Heisei is, in a broad sense, no longer from the technical level, but from the production system, the way the works are published, etc. A far-reaching impact. As digital technology continues to evolve and become more popular, it will provide more branching options for businesses and individuals
The board’s point of view is that for these extra options, you should not only focus on digital replacement of existing hardware technology. Then, it is just to convert the cost of paper and pencil into electricity. It is to explore the potential of cost savings in digital technology in the painting process and process. Therefore, at this stage, it is a transition period in which the production system is rebuilt using digital technology including AI. Moreover, combined with the general trend of children in the aging society in the future who need to care for their parents at home, digital technology will also play a significant advantage in home office
Here, Banyan reiterated that digital technology was developed and improved during the Heisei period. Entering the order and the times, after graduating, he went to the animation company, starting from the bottom and honing the skills of making animations, is no longer the only advanced option for contemporary animation enthusiasts. At this point, every active person in the industry must always remember it. This also means that it is difficult for various studios to absorb the “fresh blood” if they don’t show their talents
Standing on a personal standpoint, Banyan is welcoming to animators who are willing to join the organization or who like to go it alone. Because, if you can’t find a sponsor to vote in the next day, Ban Yi feels that you can’t go home and engage in “self-employment.” After all, the online platform is open to everyone who wants to publish a work
The progress of science and technology is changing with each passing day, making “when you like animation, why not make one yourself” is no longer a casual talk. Banyan is looking forward to what kind of newcomers will be born in this environment. In the end, he did not forget to ridicule, since the year number has been rushed to change, he has to grasp the new method of making animation
References:
- “Animage” May 2019