Hayao MIYAZAKI

The following information about Hayao Miyazaki, is posted directly from the Nausicaa website:

Hayao MIYAZAKI is one of the greatest animators and directors in Japan. The entertaining plots, compelling characters and breathtaking animation in his films have earned him international renown from critics as well as public recognition within Japan. Disney's commitment to introduce the films to the rest of the world will let more people appreciate the high-quality works Miyazaki has given us.


A Brief Biography

Hayao Miyazaki was born in Tokyo on January 5, 1941. He started his career in 1963 as an animator at the studio Toei Douga, and was subsequently involved in many early classics of Japanese animation. From the beginning, he commanded attention with his incredible ability to draw, and the seemingly-endless stream of movie ideas he proposed.

In 1971, he moved to A Pro with Isao Takahata, then to Nippon Animation in 1973, where he was heavily involved in the World Masterpiece Theater TV animation series for the next five years. In 1978, he directed his first TV series, Conan, The Boy in Future, then moved to Tokyo Movie Shinsha in 1979 to direct his first movie, the classic Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro.

In 1984, he released Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind, based on the manga (comic) of the same title he had started two years before. The success of the film led to the establishment of a new animation studio, Studio Ghibli, at which Miyazaki has since directed, written, and produced many other films with Takahata. All of these films enjoyed critical and box office successes. In particular, Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke received the Japan Academy Award for Best Film and was the highest-grossing (about US$150 million) domestic film in Japan's history until it was taken over by another Miyazaki work, Spirited Away.

In addition to animation, Miyazaki also draws manga. His major work was the Nausicaä manga, an epic tale he worked on intermittently from 1982 to 1994 while he was busy making animated films. Another manga, Hikoutei Jidai, was later evolved into his 1992 film Porco Rosso.

Sketchcrawl this Sunday!!!

If you are intrested in some sketching this Sunday is the day to do it. Go global and get out there and start drawing!

For those of you in New York, there is a group meeting at Washington Square park.

For myself, I will be hanging in New Jersey and sketching around Montclair. Have a few people, including my wife, that will be joining. If you're in the area and intreseted, drop a line and I'll let you know where we'll be. If your planning on your own crawl, go to the forum and let everyone know!

Looking forward to seeing your sketchs. Make sure you post them on the Sketch Crawl Forum.

Interview with Dean Wellins

The Spline doctors recentley posted an interview with Dean Wellins the Head of story for Disney's "American Dog".


Dean Wellins interview

Find your vanishing point:

Simple examples, but they work!

The basics of perspective...
studio chalkboard


Quiz yourself...
Olejarz perspective

Corpse Bride Storyboards

Storyboard Artist Dean Roberts, recently started his own blog and was kind enough to post some of his work on Tim Burton's "Corpse Bride"...

Storyboard post 1

Storyboard post 2

Yacin the Fawn, from Spain

Here I present to you the work of Man Arenas, the very gifted production artist from Spain (or at least located, orignal orgins uncertain, for sure). Came across these beutiful drawings on his blog. I drop him a line to ask about using some of the materials he had posted. Man Arenas is a genius at setting mood and staging a theatrical productinon sauch as this, "Yacin the Fawn". Man Arenas informed me, "the thumbnails staging storyboard you've seen in my blog were made for the feature named "Lars2, der Kleine Eisbaer". It's a production Thilo Rothkirch / Warner Bros europe." As you can tell by the work he has earned the postion of "visual development, production designer and Art director". The movie has been released last september in Germany. Be sure to keep an eye out for this film.

"my only joy when I design locations
for movies or when I work on storyboards, is the
compositions of the scenes...also the work of lights
and shadows." -Man Arenas

What a great color study!


More info on the artist and on other productions within Dodecaden are worth investing your time.

All images are copyrighted and credit should be given to the artist Man Arenas.

Polly Pocket Thumnails

Here are some work in progress Thumbnails, packed full of action, direction, and scribbles galore. Remember, this is the time to think! The thumbnail stage is very malleable and it's the time to explore what works and what doesn't. Don't be afraid to draw outside the lines!

Ronnie del Carmen

Ronnie del Carmen is a great storyboard artist that works at Pixar studios, before then he worked on boards for the Batman animated series. You can see his work on the following links:

Batman Storyboard

Ronnie's Blog

Paper Biscuit

TIp of the day..

Are you struggling with your backgrounds? Can't find you horizon? Try using a grid to help ground you characters and place your elements. Todays drawings and helpfull tip are brought to by John Nevarez...