CompuServe Messages

Michael, I agree that it's a waste to just throw in computer animation for the heck of it. And on your last comment about people who think computer animation looks too "computery". Lack of shadows is one item to point out, but that's also a factor of bad lighting. The more cinematic approach would be to use lighting to accent the scenes and characters. Better lighting is something I find many computer animations crying out for. Many are way too bright. The colors are also too bright. More "life-like" characters would help matters immensely, too. Many of these animations have chrome "beings". The quicker we can get to better skin textures, the better off we'll be with reactions. Of course, many of the animations alluded to are 2 – 3 years old, so it would kind of be expected that the knowledge then didn't allow for what can be done now. I also wonder about the conversion to video and 30 frames per second. Maybe that looks too electronic. I'd love to experiment with a film recorder. Anybody lurking out there tried that? I know it's not cheap, but I'd like to hear what some veterans have to say. Slide 4000 line film recorders are now around 6-Grand. Do motion picture film recorders run much more…and can you rent 'em? I also think less technology in the animations would get rid of some of that "computery" feel. More realistic settings can be done. We don't really need tons of sparks, chrome fighting robots, etc. There's some neat stuff on some of the Computer Animation Festival and Mind's Eye video that could be pointed out as good to emulate… "Locomotion" comes to mind…and "Rod's Head" and "Balls & Blocks" on the new Hash demo tape come to mind. "ReBoot" has proven that "life- like" human characters can be done (neglecting the blue and green skin -but what the hey, they are pioneers!), I'd personally like to see more in that direction. The reaction I get from regular folks when they see those I just mentioned is one of amazement and comments about how life-like they are…and "How could a computer do that? Are you sure it's not real?!" Kevin