If there has recently been a topic like this then feel free to delete. I am extremely sorry if so.
What made you the animator you are today? Did it start with stickpage? Has it always been a creative influence?
Feel free to chat and share your life with all of us. I'd love to hear!
An example:
When I was a little boy I used to take stuffed animals and cut holes in them to make puppets. After doing so I’d take my family's video camera and create little plays with handmade backdrops, props, etc. I did all the voices, and did my best to keep every single one of them happy as can be. One show in particular I created was “Moosey” using a stuffed cow that I thought was a moose. Around the same time I discovered Stop-animation, in which I became extremely interested in, and began to do my own. Since I didn’t own a camera at the time, I used the same family video camera to create each frame. I created a frame by clicking the record button, then as quick as possible click it again to stop the recording. This as you may already be thinking, took quite some time; not to mention all the clay sculptings, characters, backgrounds, and movements. My first full fledged “movie” was named “Kirby’s Adventures” starring the little pink ball himself, since I couldn’t make much else at the time. The second, after much determination was “Luigi’s Mansion” starring everything made from clay, to paper, to cotton cobwebs. These were two of my most treasured films. As soon as it was possible, I burned all of the video clips on to DVD’s and watched them with the family, friends, and my church. Later I began to take pieces of paper and draw in every frame in pen, those then were scanned into my computer one by one, (It took hours) then compiled onto windows movie maker. These involved snoopy mostly.
Later on my mom bought me my very own camera. This would be the start to a long line of broken cameras due to me either getting clay stuck in them or just breaking them due to the numerous pictures i had and shutter speed I was using. When I was compiling my pictures into the computer, I realized that paint could add effects to them! This was so amazing to me. No more would I have to add in clay muzzle flashes and other effects. This widened my traditional skills into digital. Then I stumbled upon stickpage, the site that would change my life forever. I wanted to be one of the greats. I immediately searched up free stickfigure animation programs and downloaded pivot. I made all sorts of animations. All very long and very intricate, trying to add stories, excitement and action. One of which I made was a WW2 animation which I believe got to 4000 frames or more. I’d post it here but I believe it is long gone. It wasn’t until many years after I actually realized what a forum was and that stickpage had one. I joined up quickly and was amazed that I was among all these incredible animators. There I encountered Zed, who showed me the way of pivot from the beginning. These things all lead me to the animator I am today.
Today I’ve been put on youtube by the dojo, almost sponsored by stickpage, and am selling my artwork for money (I know I didn't expound on my artwork at all, but it's something this forum has helped me get better at). I couldn’t have done it without the support from my family and all of you. I just want to express my love for each and every one of you for inspiring and helping me along the way.
My art background is simple. I'm self taught (for the most part) and have always loved to draw. Although being recently sedated due to medications and having an extreme art block, I'm back.