Third year is coming!

Second year is done, and now spring holidays are coming to an end as well... Time goes fast, I am 3rd year already!

Regarding this two semester, I don't even know from what should I start! I learned so much and got so much experience, even if I'm not so good enough. I also have a really good relation with my animation teachers: I had the opportunity to visit a small indipendent animation studio, I went out with my character design teacher and other friends. At first I thought really difficult to talk with teachers and stuff, but then It wasn't absolutely like that, people are not what they appear to be.
The guy on the right is my character for character design class, I had to think about his personality and background, to create action poses and clothes and finally to make a short animation with the teacher's storyboard. Together with this, we had also teacher's character and we had to do another animation. It was really hard... but not only this class even perspective was difficult, but the teacher was really nice. I think that I improved, but just a bit, nothing more..

ツカレルナ！(Tsukareruna!)

On second semester I have started taking script class, animation script class and general script class. It was really, REALLY hard to write and read scripts in japanese. Most of the time I was really frustated because I couldn't read and understand everthing perfectly...Writing and explaining what you want to say is really complicated, ideas and images flow in the mind, but is really difficult to take them out. And think about doing all of this in another language...
For animation class I read a kind of light novel (the one on the left). It was difficult at first but It helps me a lot on improving my japanese. The story actually wasn't so bad (but I still don't like idol, bleargh), It was easy and with a simple structure. 
The other script class was more about talking with teacher and creating your own original story. The teacher was strict, but a really GOOD teacher. I think I have learn so much about story in this class, and I think I need to learn even more (I want to learn more!).
My story was actually something like old animation, Heidi, Romeo's blue sky.... the so called World Masterpiece Theater (世界名作劇場, Sekai Meisaku Gekijō), I love this kind of animation because is simple but well created, with a good balance of everything and a moral, a message inside. It's really difficult to find anime pure like these nowaday.
 
During spring holidays I practiced with anatomy, colours and other drawings. I'm also trying to create a story for a comic. I did some simple concept like characters and situations. The 2 characters on the right are an example.
I'm now creating the pages, but It's a bit longer that what I wanted to create, so It will take a lot of time to draw and complete everything^^"
Thanks to a friend I have tried a different ink and paper, and It was really good. Then I used tones that I bought back in Japan
I had to make my own light box because in Italy It's difficult to find a good one, and buying a new one is really expensive so....
The 2 characters on the light box are original as well, they are from a story I had created with my japanese friend. It will be nice to se them animated in the future....

Old good 2D animation

Second year first semester has started and I have so many things to do... orz @_@
I'm in the animation course, so this year I skipped 3DCG class. Actually It's not like I skipped that, because of some stupid rules I couldn't take the 3DCG class. I like 3DCG,  but I prefer traditional animation. Even if 2D animators life is tough...

Timesheet, at first worst enemy...but if you want to be an animator, you need to know this!

The teacher are really good. I like the way they explain us everything. Actually they are not real "professor" they are just professional people working in animation.

tracing and making nice lines is really important in animation

We have also a trace class, first 3 lessons we did the digital part, from lesson 4 everything is analogue. When you scan the drawings your linearts should be clear so you can instantly color the character. However you can also make the lineart on computer with different softwares.

Doodling in the caffetteria with friends

tables with white boards are the best!

Vyse is always the best!

I watched E3, not so much to say... about square enix, for me Nomura is an idiot, and he will destroy everything lol For Nintendo, X looks amazing, I believe in Monolith Soft for an original RPG beautiful as Xenoblade was.... ah and there is new super smash bros! WOW The new characters Megaman and the Villager are just amazing.

Creepy!

Let's fill the world with Skies of Arcadia!

Because you should know that I LOVE Skies of Arcadia, even if I played only Legends for Gamecube (unfortunately I don't have a Dreamcast). You don't know this game? Well, just google It or look on the internet, I mean we are in 2013 don't be lazy! :P
For graphic design class we had to create our own book, design, text, everything, so I decided to make a fanbook. I actually drew a short doujinshi (comic) for the Skies Of Arcadia Legends 10th anniversary Fanbook sold at Comic Market last winter.

Front and cack cover

I decided to put the short comic inside the book, I wrote also a review, kind of a game description with all my opinions concerning the game. The most difficult part was actually write everything in japanese... well dictionary and internet helped me a lot^^

inside the book

I'm so glad I finish everything before the deadline...
If you have time and if you like RPG you should-no wait, YOU HAD TO play this game! Atmosphere, Story, Characters, setting, everything is just so amazing^^

Talking about games, I have recently bought a Ps3!
Tadaaaaan is Nino Kuni Special Edition!

Nyanko sensei not included

First thing I have done is... BUY JOURNEY. That's not a game, that's art! If you have a Ps3 you should buy It as well... BUY IT NOW.
Then I just try to play a psone game I bought the same day...

It works!!!

FFIX is another one of my favourite games. I like the cheerful world, and the funny characters in the game. Really unique in Its stlye, one of my fav FF with VI.
Playing the japanese version make me remember all the good memories I had when I played It many years ago^^

Anime Studio

So, this week I went to A-1 Pcitures Studio for a fieldtrip with one of my professors, a great opportunity and It was really interesting. You probably know this Studio, it has produced anime like Tetsuwan Birdy, Ao no Exorcist, Tsuritama, Idol Master, Fractale, Valkyria chronicles, Kuoshitsuji, Fairy Tail.... and their last works are Brothers in space, Sword Art Online, Magi and Shin sekai yori (btw this last one is one of my favourite anime right now). We took just a quick look at the studio because of course everyone was busy on the studio's next projects.
Well speaking about the studio, the building is brand new not really big, but the space is well organized and each department is divided in 3 floors. The animator's conditions and their working space seems good as well. You shoul know that when you talk about animators in Japan, you usally think of poor working condtions and a low salary(100￥ for 1 drawing), everyone know the sterotype regarding animators that eat instant ramen everyday because they can't afford more than that. My animation's teacher said that animator's life is hard, you have to work a lot not only for money but because the job is like that, you won't leave the studio until you have finished everything. Now she is working for Sunrise's Gundam Unicorn episode 6, and she said that the Studio is a 戦場 (senjou) which means battlefield LOL but she loves her work, and I think that only that is just amazing.
Well the people working there reassure us about that. We have also the opportunity to talk with one of the producers of A-1 Pictures, I ask him something about the character designer's job. It looks like chara designers have a lot of powers corning creativity, that's cool.

Anyway, I'm still working on 3DCG. I haven't really decided what to do in the future (except being character designer), but I want to study both 3D and 2D technics! I will try to do both next year, even if It will be difficult... But I must say one thing.... I'm starting loving 3DCG!

New character! This time no fat, but still a cat

His name is Baldassarre, an adventurer cat-knight you can find an artwork HERE.
I made this character for my 3DCG class on second term. It took almost 3 months for modelling, UV, textures and animation settings. Also I need to add coat and feather, they will take years to render ARGH. Well I didn't want to use him just like an homework, so I decided to make a short movie with 2 other friends. The main character is Baldassarre, 2 more kitties and... a dragon! Next project will be taking part in a contest next july, hope we will finish in time!

学園際 School Festival!

So at the end of October my university had the school festival!
If you had watched anime, dorama or read manga, you will probably know about school festival.
It is known as a national event called Japanese Cultural Festival 文化祭 (bunkasai) or 学園祭 (gakuensai), two different words with basically the same meaning. 
It was the first time for me to actually take part at something like that (last year I went only to see a friend's school). Well, I must say that I love the atmosphere about It, most of the students are damn serious about the festival! The school staff, the students even the teachers help with the preparations, and the day before and after the festival there is no class. I mean, wow! Back to my highschool we had something like that, called "open day" for people that wanted to see our school. At elementary school I have done something fun, but during middle high and high school we have done pratically nothing (in Japan seems to be the complete opposite). In my high school just a few people were serious about it, and thinking about taking one day, or just one afternoon for arrangements was something crazy.

we sell postcards and pins with our 3DCG club's characters!  Then one of my senpai was playing the old Mother on the pocket famicon, it instantly got my attention lol

The festival was full of events. We had a japanese speech contest for exchage students like me. I created a small animation video for my chinese friends that were taking part in It, and one of them actually won the second place, cool! Then we had cosplay contest and photoshop-illustrator explanations and tutorials done by one of my senpai.
Since I've joined the 3DCG club, I stayed in the room for the 2 days of the festival and help with things. We also showed our short movies during the festival.
I created my short movie in like 1 month and half, 4 weeks for animation and the rest for modelling... I just realized that working on 3DCG is to damn hard, especially if you are alone.





Man, lighting is so baaaaad rofl And everytime I moved the cat I had all sort of problems lol
Next time I'm gonna work with other 2 friends from the 3DCG club, and we are going to make a short clip for a contest next year, gonna do my best!
Right now I'm creating another cat, a knight cat for my 3DCG class, I have just discovere mudbox and MAN I LOVE IT. I have loved 3DCG since i was a kid watching the CG cutscenes in videogames like FFIX (I will never forget the opening and the opera scene), but I like hand drawing animation as well.
I'm studying 2D animation too, It's difficult as hell but I love It... and that's also because of my teacher, she is amazing and really LOVES her work. Even if the pay is low, the work hard, LONG, and she usually doesn't sleep for 2 days, she keep doing It because she likes animation, and she is proud of that. Even when she was young and animation studios said "we don't take women because they will get married someday" she kept her dream and realized It, she didn't give up. I really admire, respect her.. and all the good animators around the world.
Aaahh, but someday I will have to choose between anime and 3DCG.. T_T
Well, now I go back to work, I'm way too busy.. lately I have done also a short comic for a Skies of Arcadia 10th anniversary anthology (It's an old game for dreamcast and remake for gamecube, one of my favourite games EVER) because the founder of the project asked me,  It will be sold at comiket this winter^^
So, see you next post for updates ;)

helloooooo, summer holidays are almost over and that's really sad... especially when you had exams on the first week of August, geez -_-
I finished my first 3DCG project....THE FAT KITTY PROJECT


Is nothing special at all, but It took me like 3 weeks, many hours for rendering... and I'm proud of It!

Actually I need to thank my senpais because they help me a lot during this project, they were amazing really, I couldn't do It alone.
Also, when I created the video I opened everything in After Effects, that was a BAD IDEA- the problem is that AE is made almost for special effects, there a lot of different settings, and of course I got lost with all of them lol

simple concept for the fat kitty

Anyway, I'm glad that I finished my project in time,  I can't wait for the next one ^^

大学生活〜 University Life

A wild Pikachu appeared at the third campus!

Finally I have time to update this blog! YAY
I always promise to update as soon as possible but I always fail. Oh, well whatever lol
Probably you are wondering why I'm writing in english even if I'm italian. The fact is that english is the most common language and "usually" everybody can understand It... that's why I'm writing in english, so that everyone around the world can understand my blog. However my english is not so good, so I apologize for errors/mistakes and other stuff ^^"
Talking about University... well, It is quite hard, because everything is in Japanese. And when I said everything, believe me, I'm talking about E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G : reports, questions, books, homeworks, rules, notifications... sometimes even japanese students don't understand, you can imagine how difficult is for a ryuugakusei (留学生), an exchange student.
Anyway, I said difficult, but actually university is really cool. I can finally choose what I WANT to study. Of course you need to take some classes like japanese, entertainment, digital comunication, but the good thing is that you can also choose other classes.  For example, I'm taking 3D Computer Graphic, rough sketch class, and human anatomy. The last one It's really hard. Of course you have to draw human body, bones and so on, but the real problem is that you have to memorize all the name in japanese... and the funny thing is that sometimes I don't even know the name in my language lol

classroom at early morning... in front of Yodobashi-Akiba

For me is the first time at university, so this system is all new. But I must say that I kinda like It. The thing that Iike the most, is that you have to organize your own time. You are free, but you have responsability, kind of mature ;)
I have also made a lot of friends, most of them are Chinese, but there also guys from Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Taiwan, one from Costa Rica, one from Spain, another one from German... I have some japanese friends as well. About japanese students, I must say that isn't so easy to talk with them, they are rather shy. Maybe because at first they are a bit afraid of foreigner... well we gaijin are not going to eat you, so take It easy guys^^"
Talking about a different topic, when I have free time I read the book series "A Song of Ice and Fire" by Martin, and usually talking with one of my friends at university. However, lately I have been playing a new 3DS games: Fire Emblem kakusei (ファイアーエムブレム覚醒). I thought no one know Fire Emblem, but here in Japan It's pretty famous. I won't spoiler the game, but let me say a few opinions. The gameplay is basically always the same-I like It, A LOT- also they added some interesting stuff like double-attack, and change-camera button during battle. Playing It is really fun. However I don't really like the story. I mean, It's not so bad, but at the same time not so cool as I thought before buying the game... It's so-so (maa maa まあまあ〜 ). The CG movie are cool, but I still don't like the character design, I'm sorry to said that but It doesn't suite Fire Emblem series... I prefer the other one used for Path of Radiance ad Goddess of Dawn, way more beautiful and original than this.
Another thing that is "maa maa" are the characters: the idea of making your own character is interesting, but the other characters are way too stupid, and usually act like stereotypes from anime/manga. Also their discussions are really poor. Well sometimes are quite funny, but still stupid.

Kuromu-sama: he, I'm nakeeeeddd!!!!

My character "accidentally" found prince Kuromu naked.
Next time they will add high school students with uniform and then we'll get the perfect "medival fantasy school drama". Urgh, don't wanna think about that...!

大学 University

皆さん、お久しぶりだね　(´∀`）
やっと大学が始まった！実は、1日から〜6日まで一年生のガイダンスだけだった。。。が、その週間に色んな事があって、ずっと忙しくて、ブロッグで新しいポストを出来なかった。本当にごめんなさい　(´・ω・`)
月曜日から授業があるけど、その日から一所懸命頑張ります！ブロッグのため、もちろん勉強のためにも！

Hello! Finally University has started, YEAAAH!  From April 1st to April 6th I had the school guidance: course presentation, informations, and stuff.. of course all in Japanese @_@ Even if It was a "guidance", I was quite busy with lessons and other thinks... like buying furnitures for the apartment, buying textbooks... That's why I wasn't able to update my blog, I'm really sorry for that (´・ω・`)
Next monday I will have class and starting that day I will do my best! Not only for school, but also for this blog hehe :P

とりあえず、新しい絵を描いた！　(・ω・)
Anyway, let's talk about something else... for example, drawings! I have a new one that I did last week

ポケットモンスターのシゲル  -  Gary Oak from Pokèmon

最近、時間があれば（例えば電車の中でとか。。（･∀･)　）ゲームをやっています。イラストはＮｉｎｔｅｎｄｏDsの『二ノ国　漆黒の魔導士』というゲームなんです。私はスタジオジブリと久石譲の大ファンですから、このゲームをやると思っていた。英語のバーションがないので、全部日本語でやると思った！やっぱり、勉強にななってしまいましたね（；´∀`）それに、ゲームだけではない、必要な本もあるし。どうして？もちろん、魔法指南のため！これ、面白いですね。本の中で絵がすごくきれいと思う。大好きです。

Also, when I have time (on the train lol) I'm playing a really nice game for Nintendo Ds: Ni no Kuni! As a great fan of Studio Ghibli's works and Hisaishi Joe's music, I really had to play this! Unfortunately, this game hasn't come out in Europe or USA... but I know that they are going to translate the ps3 version, check this out!!!! . However, the most interesting thing is that you need a "magic book" to play this game! In fact, everytime you have to draw a macig spell, you need to check the special book included with the game! I think It's really original :P And the drawings inside the book are so beautiful!

ゲームと本  -  Ni no Kuni and the book