When starting this module, I knew that time management would be crucial, so I dedicated three days of the week solely for animation work (with one additional day dedicated to both 3D and 2D blogging). I noticed that this structure worked really well for me as it kept me focused without overwhelming myself. Working in groups was a positive experience, we had open communication and valuable feedback from everyone. I also had the opportunity to make some friends, which made the classwork much more enjoyable and less intimidating, knowing I had others to discuss everything with.

One important lesson I learned while working in a group is that different perspectives and skill levels need to be taken into consideration. While I might have liked certain ideas, it was necessary to put them aside if they weren’t realistic or didn’t contribute to the overall project. Although I sought feedback frequently, I realized that I could have asked for it even more often. I often found myself obsessing over one section for a long time, only to discover that it was fine or that others quickly identified the issue once I asked for their input.

Furthermore, I now recognize that I need to rely less on the select tool and instead try redrawing the drawings. I found that excessive use of the select tool made some actions appear robotic, and it was challenging to rectify later on. Additionally, I made a significant mistake by not taking enough references for animation, which resulted in confusion when trying to execute certain actions.

From my experience in Foundation art, I understood the importance of detailed storyboards, even if the sketches were messy. This time around, I focused on creating detailed storyboards, and it proved to be incredibly beneficial beyond my expectations and streamlining the process of making the animatic. However, I still struggle with timing. While I watched YouTube videos on the topic, I remain dissatisfied with the current appearance of timing in my animations. Given another chance, I would dedicate more time to focus on timing and spacing, as I now recognize those as my weaknesses.

Surprisingly, I found character design really enjoyable, and many of my designs were used or referenced for the final designs. I noticed that the characters that felt most alive were the ones that had expression sheets and/or action poses, in addition to their basic T-pose design (completed by other team members). If given another opportunity, I would focus on incorporating expression sheets and action poses into more of my designs, as I believe they truly elevate the overall design.