Well, its been a while!

I went to Tokyo over the new year and had an excellent time as usual. Ill post some pics when i get them uploaded to a public space.

When I got back from my trip, i still felt bored and uninspired at work - even after the long time off i had after my dad died, and a 2 week holiday. I was thinking of my life and how others i know have moved on to bigger and better things, on cooler projects with bigger teams, and decided i would force myself to do a similar thing in order to keep me happy, as i dont feel happy and fulfilled with life at the moment.

As a result, rather than become lazy, comfortable and complacent, I recently quit my full-time job of nearly 4 years at the Charactershop, in order to take a long break and recharge my creative juices. I need to find the love for the job again, to feel inspired and entheusiastic about 3D as an artform in itself. Right now i feel drained and like a total change of career, though i know that would be a silly waste of my skills.

Im taking a long break now, to focus on living, getting some personal work done such as my showreel and long-underworked short film. I will eventually perhaps take on the odd freelance job from my old employers, and from outside sources, but for now, im not looking for work at all - just loving a break and having all the time i need to re-inspire myself.

So, hopefully, when im ready, ill emerge into the world looking for work with a shiny new showreel, more entheausiasm, a bigger ambition and better skills!

In other news, i was blown away to find that my portfolio was ranked 7th (or was it 8th? I forget!) most viewed in the world! That was a massive confidence boost for me, and further egged me on to force myself to change for the better.
Thanks to everyone for your continued support, and i hope i can show you some new work when i get some done!

Well, its not good news this time.

My Dad died on the 20th of November, and we are all shocked and gutted that he was taken from us of a sudden heart attack at the ripe age of 57.

I need to look after my mom for the time being, and be there for my remaining family. Dont think ill be on my computer much for a while, let alone get any work done.

Not even sure if im going to Tokyo anymore. Its already been paid for in full, cant be cancelled, and im sure my dad will want me to go, though it wont be the same ringing in the new year knowing what has happened.

Just a quick update - ive not been around for ages!

Not really been up to much. Been doing a bit of misc work here and there which has been eating up a lot of my time for personal projects. I started (trying) animation on my short film, and have got a few shots done. I hope to finish the ruddy thing some day!

Ill try and upload a few pics of some things ive been working on.

Oh yeah, im going to Tokyo (not again!) for the 4th time on the 27th of December! Should be ace ringing in the new year in another country.

Cheers for all the support and views so far :-)

Been back from my latest Tokyo trip for about a month now.
Me and 2 friends stayed for just under a month, and loved every minute of it!
Living / working there is now an ambition of mine in the future - theres just so much to do, and their society is great - so friendly, safe and helpful. We met some great people there.

Anyhoo - took LOADS of pics and vids, but have managed to cut them down to about 420 for public viewing!
You can see them here (copy & paste the link)

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/5415210

If you click the slideshow mode, they load much faster, and you can browse them by setting a timer, or just clicking the image. Hope you enjoy them!

As for my personal work? Its pretty much none existent at the moment. I have a few ideas in my head, and i STILL want to get my short film animated, but home time is paramount right now, and i dont fancy messing about with polygons after being paid to do it all day :-)

Cheers.

Andy.

The TV series i spent the last 2 years working on is now being broadcast on the CBBC channel (freeview and Sky/ cable) in the UK.
I was lead character modeler on it and made hundreds of them for the full run of the production. A lot of them were variations of other characters though :-P
The first 6 or so episodes were pretty rough round the edges from a character point of view - they pick up later though.

We (the character shop) made the 3d sections, whereas a Korean studio made the 2d sections at the start and end - really nice quality of animation on those for a kids program. Well done to them!
Annoyingly, me, and most of my other colleagues are not mentioned in the credits. I can imagine that because of the sheer number of people who worked on it (especially the 2d section) would be impossible to fit everyone in on the credits. Ah well.

Anyhoo - give it a watch. It can be a bit 'Rodd and Todd Flanders' at times, but as kids programmes go, its pretty high quality.

Oh yeah - its on at 12:00 - 1:00 on the CBBC channel starting Monday 12th March (today!) and its on every day i think.