GENE McGUCKIN FLASH ANIMATION REEL

[thisistotallylife]

You are awesome. I wish this show was still on the air. Very inspiring.

[MindOfCreativity]

Are you sure that is Flash?

[TheFlashprom]

Is there anybody know how to contact with Gene McGuckin ?

[SpiderWolf76]

@TheFlashprom :



I'm right here.

[SuperDemokrati]

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[SpiderWolf76]

@SuperDemokrati :

Try to at least speak in some sort of Earth language.

[Melazee01]

Hope it's not swine flu! Thanks for watching my animation, it's been getting a lot of interest in Deviantart at the moment, I woke up this morning and had 32 messages in my inbox! :O

I haven't even started Uni yet, and already I'm hoping to start my own animation studio. Is that too big an ambition too soon? :S

Hope you get better! :)

[SpiderWolf76]

If it was, the swine is gone finally.

Starting your own animation company huh? Well, I suppose the biggest thing you need for that is money.

If you do start your own animation studio, I wish you the best of luck.

[Melazee01]

Wow I really like this! This program really annoyed me, but I love how fluid the animations are. I use Flash for animation too, I'm working on my own anime series at the moment which is on my profile. Do you use a lot of motion tween when you animate, or is it all frame by frame?

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks Melazee01!

As for using motion tweening or not--it depends on the show. For "Fosters", yeah, they wanted allot of motion tweening. But for the other show I did in Flash, "The Mr. Men Show", it was mostly frame by frame.

[Melazee01]

Ok! What qualifications would I need to get into professional Flash animations? Any tips on the best way to go about this? I'm studying my A levels at the moment.

[SpiderWolf76]

Well, what I did was learn Flash the best I could--then made a short animation to show to Cartoon Network. I sent it to them and they gave me a test. I passed it, and was working on "Fosters." I actually didn't even understand motion tweening at the time. Had to learn on the job. Also, make sure you understand the basics of traditional animation (squash n' stretch, smears, ease ins/outs, follow through, anticipation, etc.). If you already know that stuff--your already on your way!

[Melazee01]

Oh ok! My animation teacher is a bit rubbish to be honest, everything I know on Flash is self-taught. I live in England, but I think the best companies are in America (or Japan, because I love anime!) I would really love to work on Storm Hawks though, but Maya was way over my head. Did you animate the whole series on your own, or on a team?

Could you possibly take a look at my animation please? It starts off a bit rubbish because the beginning was made when I was getting used to Flash.

Thanks!

[SpiderWolf76]

Sorry it took me awhile to reply--I'm coming off some flu bug.

Anyway, I checked out your animation. It looks like you have the anime style down nicely. I also like the composition of the characters and the dog run is nice. Good work.

As for your question, on "Foster's", there was a team of us working on it. Around 12-14 animators at the time.

[cataplos]

Really cool staff!! Congratulations!

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks cataplos!

I really appreciate it,

Gene

[SpiderWolf76]

Yes! It works that way! I tried it on Google and it's the first website!

I'd really appreciate it if you all would check out my Blog and make comments if you'd like. It has animation and various drawings I've done over the years.

Just type in Google: Gene McGuckin Blog

Thanks,

Gene (SpiderWolf76)

[OfficeOfCoffee]

How is that chicken called which's head is a thing like you go home from the super market :D

[SpiderWolf76]

I have no idea what you are talking about.

[GR4C3W]

is that your cartoon serie???!

i watch it all the time.

You're sooooooooOOO good.

i hope i will get my own animation serie later. (sorry for my bad english, cause i'm dutch and 15 years old.)

i also want to be an animator!

i've got some few short video's i've uploaded.

i hope i become a good animator as you are!

[SpiderWolf76]

Thank you so much GR$C3W!

No, it isn't my cartoon series--I don't own or create it. But I did animate it.

Thanks again for you're comment,

Gene

[zarenejadbugz3]

actualy fosters is made in toon boom

[SpiderWolf76]

While if it's made in Toon Boom, it's for editing (after all the animation is finished in Flash). At least that's how it was when I was working on it. Maybe things changed for the couple of seasons it went for after I left. I only used Flash--and Illustrator at times to get that rugged line they had.

[kerodean]

SpiderWolf, ive been using flash for a while but Ive always wondered how the lipsyncing is done. I understand its in a nested symbol, and the nested symbols have turn arounds on each frame, do you do key poses then break apart the angles you want and then duplicate the head symbol and do the lipsyncing within that one symbol?

also do you use any plugin for flash like the "tween to keys"?

[SpiderWolf76]

Yeah, the mouth movements are in a symbol, within the head symbol. I guess that's called a 'nested symbol.' As for breaking apart symbols, no. We do layout out the key frames, but each head view (front, 3/4, side, ect.) has it's own set of mouth movements with it.

Oh and yes, I use "tween two keys" sometimes. Fosters's did allot of 'motion tweening' though. On the show I'm working on now ("The Mr. Men Show" season two), I never use motion tweens for character animation.

[AmberMist84]

I'm the 10,000th viewer!!!!!!

[SpiderWolf76]

That's great!  Way to make the 10,000 mark.

[DeanBurrito25]

Man...I wish I was THAT good at Flash animation.

I have a question: for camera zooms/pans do you put all of the animation inside one symbol then tween that symbol around?

Other than that good work.

[SpiderWolf76]

Yeah, you do all the animation, and have all the BG's inside one symbol you can call "animation" or what not. Then you do all the camera moves outside of that symbol.

Thanks for your comment DeanBurrito25!

[DeanBurrito25]

Sounds hard.

And no problem, you put alot of effort into this.

[mattpartridge]

Ah wow love it!

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks Matt Partridge!

[ageshero]

YOU, YOU ARE THE CAUSE FOR ALL THIS TERRIBLE ANIMATION, WHY!!!!!!!!!! there are damn 40 year old people, drawing crappy fan art of fosters home,

-cough- sorry..... Flash animation, the exact reasons its not as good as hand drawn.

1: its quick

2: its easy

3: its cheap

4: its not hand drawn animation.

5: it lacks Charm.

May i remind you.... people are sodomizing this series. i cant believe why they do...its freakish.

but anyways, your probably not the creator, but regardless.

[zer0se]

flash animation definitely has its uses and benefits. hand drawn animation is a different, generally more complex skill. i think flash works for this series really well. i think fosters is a far better example of flash animation and there's a lot of very bad examples out there.

[SpiderWolf76]

I totally agree that traditional animation is more complex. For one, everything has to be drawn. I did 4 years of it on various projects before Flash was popular. I actually hated Flash back then. I also worked as a Layout Artist for "The Ren & Stimpy Show: The Lost Episodes" (all hand drawn stuff--no Flash).

[zer0se]

i was actually trying to defend your work to someone saying hand drawn is superior to flash and that your flash work was worthless... i really love your work and respect both flash and hand drawn as a student studying animation.

[SpiderWolf76]

I didn't take what you said as an offense at all. I was trying to say how I have a long background in traditional animation before even learning Flash. And it's actually true that I didn't like Flash (years ago). Sorry for the misunderstanding. I'm honored that you have nice things to say about my work and defending me against that someone. Anyway, I'm glad that's cleared up, and thanks for your comment.

[dezpool]

Nice work. I really like the style that was used for this show.

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks dezpool!

[AwesomeGirl86]

Hey, what's up?

[wolfeleader1]

Foster sucked!

I never like Foster's Home bullshit because the show was fucking retarded!

and the show is for retards! come on!

Imaginary friends??? WTF???!! fucking retards!

[SpiderWolf76]

Well for one, the show was meant for little kids who may have imaginary friends--and for two I didn't write the the show, just animated it. Now if you think my animation is "retarded", I would take offense. Do you have a reel to show?

[MarionetteKazuko]

Yet you're watching a video on youtube about the show you supposedly "hate". Unless you're hiding your true feelings about it ^ _ ^

[mysticanimation22]

It's great you were able to work on Fosters. That was a great show, So origional. Animation looks awesome. I work more in 3D but I'd like to get back into flash. Were all those characters riged for flash? Either way it's awesome work!

[SpiderWolf76]

Yeah, they were all rigged for Flash. All the main characters already had mouth movements and walk cycles. Though I did do have to do some walk/run cycles if it was a main character like Mac, when he was in pajamas, or a miscellaneous character. Thanks for your compliment mysticanimation22! These days I've been working for "The Mr. Men Show" which also has allot of the rules from the old school of animation. I will produce another reel once we finish second season.

[hunchbak01]

lol fosters was animated by flash? no idea

[El1t3N00b]

well, look at happytreefriend, thats made by flash, but that and fosters mustve took about 100 people to complete it

[dunkley2006]

Cool, I'm Leo too!

I doing flash animation at college. Maybe you could give me some tips. :)

Great work. I love fosters

[SpiderWolf76]

dunkley2006-- Well I always do my character animation within scene 1/in the background (in Flash). Also, of course make a seperate symbols in the head symbols for the mouth and eyes-- so you make several different expressions to choose from; not to mention lip-syncing.

[technochook]

wow thats awesome!!

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks technochook!

[stephenstudios]

Hey man, you're a good animator. Reel is a bit long, you should only post the best of the best and try and keep it to a minimum. Just a suggestion.

[SpiderWolf76]

Hey Stephen,

Thanks for the compliment. I totally agree that I should've made it shorter. An ex-Disney clean-up artist told me the same thing. At the time I guess I just got carried away.

Anyway, thanks again,

Gene

[khetto4life]

Whoa, i had no idea this cartoon was made on flash, cool

[SpiderWolf76]

Yep,

I gave things some squash and stretch--and smears and mutliple imaging for fast movements to have it look a bit traditional.

Gene

[dondestastomas]

great i admire your style

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks dondestastomas, that's nice of you to say.

[AwesomeGirl86]

Hey, how are you?

[SpiderWolf76]

I'm fine thanks. You?

You might of meant to say "how old are you?" Well, I just turned 32 on August 12th. Go Leo's!

[AwesomeGirl86]

Oh, cool! Happy late Birthday! :D

Btw, I read on the Wikipedia that they said that Foster's is gonna end on it's 6th season. Is that really true?

Just curious.

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks AwesomeGirl86!

I'm not sure about Foster's. I've been working on different projects since then. Right now I'll be working on The Mr. Men Show 2nd season.

Gene

[SHAD0WB0LT3]

He used Flash to make his cartoon?

[SpiderWolf76]

Yup.

[thejooch]

you are a loser,,,, eat some shit please,,,,

[thejooch]

we are all now retarted for watching this go die

[SpiderWolf76]

I think you were the way you are before coming here. First off, you can't spell the word "retarded"... Second, you don't understand what a comma is.

I don't think you're retarded though, just stupid and angry. A person who is retarded can't help it, you're just a waste of sperm.

Just do me a favor and not pollute the earh with any kids. Get neutered and save us the trouble of dealing with other wastes of sperm like you.

Sincerely,

Gene

[SpiderWolf76]

Oh that was for "thejooch" by the way.

[AwesomeGirl86]

Oh, btw, check out my demo reel.

[SpiderWolf76]

I checked out your demo reel, looks great! I made a comment on it. Nice job!

[AwesomeGirl86]

That's awesome!

I have 2 more questions to ask. Do you guys use a li'l bit of 3D animation & put it into flash? B/c in the episode, "Just the Two of Bus", when Bloo decides to take the scenic route, you see the bus, but the bus looks like it was made in 3D!

2nd question, I have experience of using flash, but what I was wondering how you guys zoom in & out on the characters & on the background scene? Do you do it by selecting all the layers & make them bigger?

[SpiderWolf76]

I think they might have used 3D for the parts of the bus scene. They probably used cell-shading on it to make it look 2D.

The easy way to do zooms or pans in Flash is to have only one layer in "scene one" with the BG in it. Then click inside the BG and make all the layers you want for characters, props, BG elements, etc. That way you can do all camera movements on one layer.

[SpiderWolf76]

But yeah, then you would select the BG (with everything inside) and make it bigger for a zoom in. Or smaller of course for a zoom out.

For Fosters, they had editors for the final editing, so we just made the field guide bigger or smaller for zooms--then they did the work in After Effects. Of course for my reel, I had to go back into the Flash files and manually make the zoom ins or outs in the actual scene. And I also just guided out the Field Guide.

Gene

[blindsight77]

Why not use the vCam?

[SpiderWolf76]

What's the vCam?

[DeanBurrito25]

The vCam is a "virtual camera" designed by Flash programmer Sham Bhangal.

Basically it's a Movie Clip but you put it on its own layer and tween it/scale it across the stage and it works like a real camera.

The vCam is even Quicktime compatible so when you export your animation to .MOV the camera effects are there!

Search "flash vCam" on Google.

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks DeanBurrito25. I've never heard of it before, until it was mentioned on here.

[AwesomeGirl86]

Hey, what's up?

[SpiderWolf76]

Nothing much.  Now I'm working on "The Mr. Men Show" (second season). I also worked full-time on the 1st. I haven't made a reel of that stuff yet though.

You?

[AwesomeGirl86]

I'm still helping my parents with church errands & the church radio. Plus, I'm also still job searching.

[SpiderWolf76]

That's nice that you're doing things for your church. My Mom works as church treasury for the church in my hometown. Good luck with the job searching.

[AwesomeGirl86]

Thanks!  I'm also making a website for the church as well. Anything new happening at CN?

[SpiderWolf76]

That's great AwesomeGirl86! As for Cartoon Network, nothing new that I know of, except of what I'm working on ("The Mr. Men Show" season two).

[AwesomeGirl86]

Thanks. :)

Before you came to CN, where did you first start at?

[SpiderWolf76]

First place was called Funnybone Int. in Canton, CT. They were a division of Vivendi-Universal. That was from 1998-2002.

[AwesomeGirl86]

Were you an animator there, too or did you do something else?

[SpiderWolf76]

Yeah,

Animator, Character Designer, Storyboard Artist, Conceptual Artist, etc.

[AwesomeGirl86]

Cool. :)

[AwesomeGirl86]

Thanks!

[SpiderWolf76]

No problem.

[AwesomeGirl86]

That's cool!

I know this show is made in Flash and in After Effects, but how do you guys transfer the animation of a character into After Effects without the background made in Flash?

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks allot, AwesomeGirl86. We animators actually didn't use After Effects--basically just Flash and at times, Illustrator to get that 'pencil drawn' line effect Foster's has. I'm not sure if it's used in compositing later, possibly. If your wondering how we animated without a BG, it was basically just winging it. Sometimes we'd make a simple BG with shapes and give it to our Background Designer, if we needed the BG to exactly match our animation (like for doors, windows, etc.).

[jagglex]

Check out 6:33

[SpiderWolf76]

Oh I see. Sorry about that. Thanks. Yeah, making Cheese do the "Curly from the 3 Stooges type" running around in a circle was a difficult animation. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[hellogonc]

lmao 6:32 yeh :P

[ferganator659]

6:32 lol

[SpiderWolf76]

What do you mean by "6:32?"

[internetstarz]

the scene at 6:32

[RoxieGirl121]

Wow! Awesome!

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks RoxieGirl121.

[chriscoooley]

this is awesome, i suck at flash

[SpiderWolf76]

chriscoooley?! You a Washington Redskin's fan also? I sure am! I grew up in Northern Virginia, so I've always been a fan of the D.C. teams--and the NFL is my favorite sport to watch.

Don't worry about it if you think you suck at Flash, just keep practicing... Landing a Flash job is the best practice, because you can learn from fellow animators instead of merely a book; which can be boring.

Anyway, thanks for the comment.

[chriscoooley]

yup im a huge skins fan. i dont own flash or anything, i tried it once cuz my friend trialed it or something, it was fun, i bet if i owned it i would spend a lot of time getting better.

[SpiderWolf76]

Awesome. Yeah, I remember I first started messing around with Flash when I got a trial copy. I basically just tried to do what I wanted to do in Flash--and looked in the book when I was having trouble.  To get the "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends" job, I messed around at home animating my version of "The Trial" (from Pink Floyd's The Wall). I sent it to them, got a test, and eventually the job.

But yeah, you can't expect to be good at the program until at least a year of practice.

[Jonibett]

This isnt his flash animation.. this is off a frikkin TV show FHFIF its called

[SpiderWolf76]

You're half right. It is off a TV show called "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends." You're right about that. But guess what? I animated on the 4th season--and all this animation was done by me.

Gene McGuckin

[Jonibett]

=O.. no wayyyy... did you use flash?

[SpiderWolf76]

Yep,

All us animators on the show used Flash and some of Illustrator for certain effects.

After this project, I animated in Flash for "The Mr. Men Show", which also comes on Cartoon Network.

[Jonibett]

o.O I wish i could use flash better.. But it messes up big time, and i cant draw in flash; They look horrible, Oh well ill keep practicing. =)

[SpiderWolf76]

Drawing in Flash can be pretty difficult, especially if you don't have a Syntec Monitor (not sure if that's spelled correctly). It's a monitor where you can draw directly on the screen.  I'd like to get one some day, I think they're $2500.

[Jonibett]

=S thats alot.. i no what one is though, =)

[SpiderWolf76]

Yeah, it is a good amount of cash. It's still not as good as drawing on paper--but it beats drawing on a Wacom Tablet--or a mouse (which is like impossible).

[ferganator659]

yeah right

[ferganator659]

read the freaking description!

[crackedcoconut]

thats great man id realy like to learn flash pretty. i think flash animation has come along way in the last 5 years and thats def some of my favourite stuff keep it up man

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks crakedcoconut,

Your correct about that. I didn't even like Flash back in the mid-late 1990's. I was all about traditional animation. It's nice that's it has been getting better over the years. In in the future is should get even better. I've embraced it since around 2005 when I worked on it at Nickelodeon (NYC).

Gene

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks crakedcoconut,

Your correct about that. I didn't even like Flash back in the mid-late 1990's. I was all about traditional animation. It's nice that's it has been getting better over the years. In in the future is should get even better. I've embraced it since around 2005 when I worked on it at Nickelodeon (NYC).

Gene

[kylewilson2]

How did you do that?!

[SpiderWolf76]

A mix of years of animation study (since 1996) and learning the program Flash. Learning the program Flash takes allot less time. In particular for this Fosters stuff, we used motion tweens for the main action--then modified it for secondary/follow-through action.

On "The Mr. Men Show" (not on here) I didn't use motion tweens. For example, a few frames held on 'twos' for slow actions, and smears on 'ones' for quick actions. Then of course secondary/follow-through where needed.

[SpiderWolf76]

Thanks Aniforce.

Gene

[Aniforce]

Great animation. Flash animation can be yet simple and yet so effective.