Combining wonderful 3D renders with 2D animation and post production effects created in Adobe After Effects, animator Warwick Hays is pushing the limits of Cartoon Animator to create stunning animations and content for 2D animators.
In this interview with Reallusion, Warwick discusses both his current works and motivations behind his planned future projects.
“Cartoon Animator allows me to take the best of 3D and combine it to make the best in 2D.”
Warwick Hays – 2D & 3D Animator / Content Developer
Q: Greetings Warwick! It’s great to have you in our Reallusion Feature Stories. Can you tell us about the work you’re doing with Cartoon Animator 4 (CTA4) ?
Hi there! It’s nice to be part of the stories. Thank you for inviting me.
Essentially I’m creating assets for the 2D Marketplace for Cartoon Animator. Like most of us creating animation, we get an idea and then set out to make it a reality and sometimes have to alter the idea because we can’t find the right assets. I find that I can’t always find the type of asset I want or assets that work together, so I started making them for myself. I also like the challenge of figuring things out then streamlining the process into something simple. And I’ve found that makes things easier for everyone else too.
Q: You have done lots of great work in 2D. Why did you choose Cartoon Animator as the platform to create your content?
I had seen adverts for Crazy Talk Animator (the previous version of Cartoon Animator) online for some time and had thought to myself… “I really need to take a look at that, it looks easy to use and quick to animate”.
I started out in animation with traditional 2D hand-drawn animation so it’s very time consuming, and an effort to get your characters moving. Although the look of the animation with traditional is different to Cartoon Animator you can still get a great look and get your message across a lot quicker.
Q: You’ve created lots of different themed content. What’s your favourite genre to work with?
That’s a hard one, I have enjoyed them all but I think it’s more the style I’m enjoying… stylised cartoon. I love old school 2D cartoons and I’ve been trying to work out the best way to bring that look, with a twist, to the 2D/3D style of assets that I do. I think I’m pretty much there now and the assets I have coming look great if I do say so myself .
Q: Do you find the process of creating animated 2D characters and content for CTA4 easy and enjoyable?
Oh very much so. With animated 2D characters, I get to play around with the drawing side of things (which I have not done in ages so it’s good to exercise that muscle a bit). I keep it mostly digital these days but still love to sketch on paper too. I love the research and development process, trying different things until you get the best version of it. With backgrounds and other assets, I’m able to use the workflow that I would for any other asset I create. The only difference is I pay more attention to composition because it’s ending up 2D and will have characters and props interacting with it. Then it’s just a matter of setting up the layers for Cartoon Animator.
Q: What advice would you have for inspiring developers looking to break into the Reallusion Marketplace and sell their content?
Well, I started by trying to figure out what everyone would want… it drove me a little nuts! So I think you should just do what you enjoy and what you want to do for yourself. Look at the features of the 2D animation software and try to incorporate them into your assets. Anyone can make or Google an image and put it in the 2D animation software, but it’s those little bells and whistles that make an asset fun to have and use.
Q: Do you have plans for future content in the works?
Always! I have a very long list of themes and assets I want to create (it’s a little overwhelming sometimes haha). I am wanting to create another line of characters that take advantage of some of the new features in Cartoon Animator too…maybe Cartoon Animator users can help me out?
As much as I like to create what I want, I still want things to appeal to everyone out there, so before I jump into this next line of characters I’d really appreciate the communities input. I have a short survey that will help me to figure out what people would like to see, it would be great if everyone could run through it for me? It’s very short 🙂 https://www.surveypage.com/character-survey
Q: What advantages do you find Cartoon Animator gives you?
It gives me quick content creation as well as being able to rework and adapt content that maybe wasn’t meant for Cartoon Animator. For example, I can work with iClone 3D software, which allows me to bring in that content as media and combine it with Cartoon Animator.
Additionally if you know a little Photoshop or some other image editing software then you can make just about anything work. Being able to tweak and re-time your animation is a big help too.
Q: What projects have you most recently been working on?
I’ve recently gone back and looked at all my past backgrounds that have been created over the last two years and reworked them a little and set them up as Cartoon Animator scenes and props.
Just to make it a little easier for those new to the 2D animation software to be able to use them. I’ve also been working on a new workflow for creating a look and feel that I’m wanting to move forward with. I’m hoping that the different asset packs I make will be able to mix and match and work with one another as well as being able to sell some of them as 3D assets in the iClone marketplace so more experienced users can do more with them or 3D artists get to use them too.
Follow Warwick’s work:
Reallusion Content Store: https://www.reallusion.com/contentstore/FeaturedDeveloper/profile/#!/WTHanimation/All
Website: https://www.wthanimation.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wthanimation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRw9spS8Wbp5MBF-Yu6M6sg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wthanimation/
