Export a Movie File in Adobe Premiere

In this short video tutorial we show how to use Premiere Pro to export a movie file from a batch render of images.  Let's say you are animating in Maya, lighting and rendering your scene with Arnold.  Arnold will not render out a movie file (such as a avi or mov) directly from Maya; instead you must render still images in a render sequence (to see how, read this blog post).  To turn those rendered images into a movie file, you need Premiere (or some other editing software). Here is how to export your images from Maya, import them into Premiere, and export them as a movie file.

How to Create a Render Sequence in Arnold

In this super simple tutorial we show how to export a Render Sequence in Arnold, in Autodesk Maya. First watch the tutorials on basic lighting setups, such as Lighting in Arnold with Physical Sky, or Lighting in Arnold with Sky Shader, and then watch this video to see how to render out a series of images that can be imported into Adobe Premiere or Blender - or any editing software - ready to export as a movie file.

Last Call for ToonBoom Harmony on 6 Feb 2024

Our 2D Animation part-time online evening class in Toonboom Harmony returns to Escape Studios on 6th February 2024.

Learn the fundamentals of 2D animation over 10 weeks, one evening a week using Toonboom Harmony, one of the leading software packages for the creation of 2D animation.

Producer Max Howard Visits Escape Jan 31st 2024

Max Howard

Tomorrow Wednesday 31st January Escape Studios at 11am Escape Studios welcomes animation producer Max Howard to talk to our second year animation students about producing animation.

Max has many years of experience of animation production, having run animation divisions at Disney, DreamWorks and Warner Bros Feature Animation.

Industry talks and feedback and feedback at the heart of what we do at Escape Studios; one of the Five Pillars of the Escape Method.  

Our second year animation students will soon begin working in groups on their short film projects, part of Module PR5001. 

"Infestation" Wins "Best Sci-Fi" at 1st Film Fest

Congratulations to the makers of "Infestation", the latest animated short created by our third year animation students at Escape Studios, which has won the award for "Best Sci-Fi" at the 1st Monthly Film Festival.  

Directed by Thomas Husband and produced by Hugo Whitworth,  Infestation tells the story of a distant space station - HMSS Archimedes - with a big problem. 

Netflix Summer Internship Deadline 9 Feb 2024

Apply now at https://lnkd.in/dYvpZCyF 

Calling all VFX students at Escape Studios (at least, those with US citizenship) - Netflix is now accepting applications for their Summer 2024 VFX Studio Internship.

If you're an undergraduate student with a passion for visual effects, this could be your gateway to a thriving career. 

To be eligible, you must be authorized to work in the USA and have an expected graduation date between December 2024 and May/June 2025.   

Applications close on February 9th.  If you're eligible, don't miss out on this chance to gain valuable experience with one of the industry leaders.

Why Animators Should Avoid a Flat Horizon

Flat horizons are one of the curses of 3D animation - nothing gives the game away faster than a blank, flat ground plane extending into infinity. One of the most common mistakes made by junior animators is to animate a character on a flat ground plane - the sort of situation that occurs only in 3D - never in nature. After all, in life, our horizon lines are broken up by landscapes, buildings, trees - the jumble of modern urban and rural life.  Watch the short video above for some tips on how to avoid the curse of the flat horizon. 

New Houdini Tutorial from Mark Spevick

How to Simulate a Small Fountain | Introduction from SideFX Houdini on Vimeo.

Escape Studios' Houdini tutor Mark Spevick has created a new tutorial in Houdini, working with Houdini creators SideFX.   In this tutorial Mark shows students how to break down a flip simulation into smaller parts to create a simulation - with limited resources.  Mark also look at wedges tests and the new whitewater tools for Houdini 20, to simulate a small fountain in Houdini.  You can find the free tutorial here at the SideFX website:  https://www.sidefx.com/tutorials/how-to-simulate-a-small-fountain/

How To Create a Shot Camera in Maya

In this short video we show how to create and animate a shot camera in Autodesk Maya.  If you were on a live action set, one of the first things you would do is set up your camera and decide what the shot was going to look like. But in Maya, because we get a Perspective View for free, animators often forget to create a shot camera. This is a mistake - we want to make an early decision on what the audience is going to see. Watch this beginner's video tutorial above to find out how to create a camera in Maya and lock it off. 

How to Use Infinity Curves in Maya

In this short video we show how to turn on and use Infinity Curves in Autodesk Maya. Infinity Curves are a powerful tool that enable animators to smooth out looping cycles, such as a walk cycle, run or similar, smoothing the motion so that there aren't any frustrating clicks, bumps or mistakes.

The Four Week Feedback Rule

What is the "Four Week Rule"? The Four Week Rule is the rule at Escape Studios that students should not wait for more than four weeks for formal feedback on their assessed work.

At the end of each module, our undergraduate and graduate students will submit their portfolio and (where applicable) written work.  Within four weeks of submission, they will receive marking grids with their grade, including comments and suggestions on how to improve the work.  

Julien Rashti To Teach Animation & VFX Students

Julien Rashti

Animator and 3D layout artist Julien Rashti is returning to Escape Studios this week to help teach our third year animation and vfx students as they join forces on a joint animation & vfx project, part of Studio Project Module PR6001.

Julien comes to us from MPC where he contributed to a number of animated films including as "Pinocchio", "Disenchanted" and Disney's "Snow White".

Why Animators Need Sine Waves

Sine waves are the friend of the animator, especially when you are working on a walk cycle.  Not because we are good at maths (it was my worst subject at school) but because in 3D animation, a sine wave typically shows that your animation is smooth and flowing, without bumps or mistakes.  Watch the very short video above to see how to look for a sine wave in your walk cycle. 

An Evening With Paul Franklin 23 Jan 2024

Calling all currently enrolled students at Escape Studios - join us for "An Evening With Paul Franklin" on Tuesday 23 Jan 2024 at 5.30pm. 

Paul Franklin is an Oscar winning VFX supervisor who has supervised the visual effects on films such as Dark Knight, Inception, and Interstellar. 

Franklin has won two BAFTAs and is the co-founder of the global VFX powerhouse Double Negative.  

Franklin is an artist who knows VFX inside out, and he offers our students a unique insight into how big budget visual effects movies get made, and what a visual effects supervisor actually does.

Animate a Basic Walk with "Heavy"

Animate a Basic Walk with the "Heavy" Rig

Every animator needs to know how to animate a character walk. 

In this short tutorial, we show how to animate a simple walk cycle using the "Heavy" rig. (free for download at Creative Crash).  The video tutorial is recorded in Autodesk Maya, and is aimed at animation beginners. 

The tutorial uses simple thumbnails that show all the main poses in the walk.

"Roupell St" Wins "Best VFX" at Makizhmithran Fest

Curiosities of The Ruthless Roupell St"

Congratulations to the makers of the short VFX film "Curiosities of The Ruthless Roupell St", which has won "Best VFX" at the Makizhmithran Film Festival Awards. 

Directed by Oliver Chenery and produced by Victoria Arraez, "Curiosities of The Ruthless Roupell St" was a collaboration between VFX students at Escape Studios.

"Curiosities of The Ruthless Roupell St" has won many festival awards.

Double Bounce Walk Tutorial with Monty

Double Bounce Walk with Monty

Every animator needs to know how to animate a character walk.  In this tutorial, we show how to take a basic walk cycle using the marvellous "Monty" rig (free for download from Creative Crash) and give Monty a sunny, upbeat personality with just a few clicks.  

The video tutorial is recorded in Autodesk Maya, and is aimed at animation beginners.

Join The Escape Studios Alumni Group at Linkedin

Escape Studios Alumni Group at Linkedin

It's time for all our Escapees and also currently enrolled students to join the Escape Studios Alumni Group at Linkedin. 

The Escape Studios Alumni Group at Linkedin is a great way to stay in touch with Escapees, and it's also where we post jobs - often aimed specifically at Escapees.  Join The Escape Studios Alumni Group at Linkedin.

3D VFX Short Course & MA Returns on 19 Feb 2024

VFX at Escape Studios

Our  Short Course and Masters' Degree in 3D VFX is back - returning to Escape Studios on 19th February 2024.  Taught by VFX veteran Dan Shutt,  the Short course in 3D VFX teaches the art and craft of 3D visual effects. 

VFX sits at the heart of Escape Studios, it's what we started doing over twenty years ago when we first began to train talent for the growing visual effects industry.  VFX remains our core mission, with thousands of 3D VFX Escapees populating VFX houses in London and beyond.

How To Make a Playblast in Maya

This short video (just a few minutes long) shows how to use Maya's Playblast Tool. The Playblast tool is one of the key tools in Maya for learning 3D animation. A Playblast is a desktop render, which creates a video of our animation, playing the shot at the correct speed (usually 24 frames per second) so that animators can quickly check their timing and spacing.  Animators use the Playblast tool frequently to check that their shots are working as they should. 

How To Use The Graph Editor in Maya

This short video (just a few minutes long) shows how to use Maya's Graph Editor Tool. The Graph Editor is the key tool in Maya for learning 3D animation. For students who have never encountered 3D software before, the Graph Editor is likely to be confusing at first, so it's important to learn how it works.  After a short while, the Graph Editor will become your best friend. 

New Books for the Animation & VFX Library

The Visual Story by Bruce Block

We have more new books for the Animation & VFX Library on the 11th Floor at 6 Mitre Passage, our new home in North Greenwich.

New books include the The Visual Story by Bruce Block, an important work on the visual language of film, and a compendium of British Illustrations from the last century, - inspiration for the visual style of animated films. 

How To Use Maya's Motion Trail Tool

 

This short video (just three minutes long) shows how to use Maya's Motion Trail Tool. The Motion Trail Tool is very useful for smoothing out the kinks and bumps in your animation, to ensure that your arcs and paths of animation are as smooth and flowing as possible. Bumpy animation curves will create pops and bumps in your animation. The Motion Trail Tool is one way of overcoming these problems and giving your animation an extra polish. 

Animate a Head Turn with "Monty"

Animate a Basic Head Turn with Monty

In this basic tutorial for animation beginners we show how to animate a simple head turn with a basic character - Monty The Green Pea, who you can read about (and download) here. 

The idea is to learn how to do a basic head turn without making it stiff and lifeless - dip the head slightly on the turn, and also close the eyes - Everyone blinks when they turn their head.  

Introducing "Infestation"

Introducing "Infestation", the latest animated short created by our third year animation students at Escape Studios.  Directed by Thomas Husband and produced by Hugo Whitworth,  Infestation tells the story of a distant space station - HMSS Archimedes - with a big problem. 

Time to Apply - UCAS Deadline 31 January 2024

UCAS applications for Escape Studios for September 2024 are open - the deadline to apply to study with us next academic year is January 31st 2024.  

If you are thinking of applying to Escape Studios to study the Art of 3D Animation, Games or Visual effects, it's time to get your application in through UCAS. 

We are now welcoming applications for the sixth intake of our integrated BA/MArt in Animation, Games and VFX, and also our new Bsc MSci technical courses. 

"Roupell St" Wins Best Short at London Movie Awards

Curiosities of The Ruthless Roupell St

Congratulations to the makers of the short VFX film "Curiosities of The Ruthless Roupell St", which has won "Best Super Short Film" at the London Movie Awards. 

Directed by Oliver Chenery and produced by Victoria Arraez, "Curiosities of The Ruthless Roupell St" has won many many festival awards.

Time to Join Escape Studios Union

Escape Studios Union

It's time for all our Escapees and also currently enrolled students to join Escape Studios Union. 

Escape Studios Union is a Facebook Group with thousands of members. It's a great way to stay in touch with Escapees, and it's also where we post job opportunities - often aimed specifically at Escapees. Join the Escape Studios Union and be the first to find out. 

BBC Ignite Seeks Animation Pitches

BBC "Ignite" deadline is 8 February 2024 at 2pm

BBC Children’s Animation are seeking submissions for fresh, bold and innovative animation ideas. The scheme is called "Ignite" and the deadline is 8 February 2024 at 2pm. 

For all our students at Escape Studios who have been working on short films - or developing ideas for series (such as in Module PR4001) - this is a perfect opportunity to pitch your materials to the UK's biggest broadcaster.

Introducing "When Life Gives You Lemons"

We're delighted to introduce "When Life Gives You Lemons" - the latest animated short created by our third year animation students at Escape Studios.  Directed by Sirisha Mutty and co-directed by Maye Liu, When Life Gives You Lemons was produced by Annabelle Leuschke.  

Introducing "VOID"

Introducing "Void", the latest short film from our third year undergraduate animation students at Escape Studios.  "Void" was directed by Kaya Akinci, edited and produced by Luis Yarroll.  The short animated film is currently being entered into film festivals around the world.

"Lux Mediae Noctis" Wins Hon Mention at Art Awards

"Lux Mediae Noctis" wins Hon Mention at AFA

Congratulations to the makers of "Lux Mediae Noctis", the VFX short film created at Escape Studios by our graduating class of VFX artists, which has won an Honourable Mention in the category of "Best VFX" at the First Monthly Film Festival.

Produced and directed by Henry Claud N'Guetta and Enrico Vaccari, Lux Mediae Noctis was a collaboration between 2D and 3D VFX Students.  

This is the latest of many awards for Lux Mediae Noctis. 

2024 New Year's Resolutions for Animators

Happy 2024

Happy New Year to everyone at Escape Studios.  The New Year brings new opportunities as the animation and VFX industries continue to thrive, with new government-led incentives like the 39% tax credit.  

We confidently predict that in 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) will continue to be the biggest talking point in our industry. 

So this year, top of our list of New Year's Resolutions, is to experiment with the new AI tools, such as ChatGPT, OpenAI and MidJourney.  AI is changing the face of the animation and vfx industries, offering fresh challenges - but also new opportunities.