Vote for Future Character Packs

I’m in a polling mood. And although Justin and I have already decided on the next Character Pack, I’d like to see how well I know my audience…..

Also we’d love some suggestions too. Comment away.

One day Toon Boom sale is today!

I just found out that Toon Boom is having a 1-day sale. Animate for $299.99 instead of $699.99 ! Sha-Shing! Check it out!

Toon Boom Animate Office Bods Templates!

Justin Cook has just finished the first of many Toon Boom Animate Character Pack Templates!  This Office Bods collection includes: Roy, Hobby, Arthur, Dana and Lincoln.  All of which are fully rigged up and ready to be animated. These are perfect for quick or lengthy animations, Flash games, iPhone or Android apps, banner ads, and more!  And since they are royalty free, you can use them in your personal or commercial projects.

Check ‘em out and be the first in your office to get these new workers. They are only $25 for all five or can be bought individually for just $7.50…

Some dude makes 10k a month off an Android app

Okay, here they come. The first (I’ve read) of many inevitable articles to come about dudes or dudettes making serious coin off Android apps. Check it out, and shed a quiet tear that this isn’t an article about YOU. I know I did, which is why I’m gonna move onto something less sad, but also very sad…

I just read about this cabbie in NY that got knifed. He lived, and I know there’s far worse crimes that go unmentioned here, but this hits home a little because I lived in NYC for 4 years and always had a great time talking with cab drivers. Its a tough business to be in, and from what I gathered it was like an indentured servitude where these guys come over here and don’t realize how little they’re gonna make.  Also I’m a School of Visual Arts grad, and I’m embarrassed that the kid who stabbed this driver was attending SVA. Now, many SVA students ARE crazy, but not hate-crime crazy. I don’t want to be the old guy that blames the violence of the young on scary  druggggs, but dagnabit, that might explain something like this. Is there a stabby new drug or what? And if so, where’s Robocop already.

In better news, I’ve got some fun stuff to show off later today. So stop back by later. We can tell Robocop stories in the comments section.

Code Cheat Sheets!!

Alright, here’s my kind of non-video-based learning: cheat sheets. And this site QuicklyCode.com has plenty. They take user submitted cheat sheets and users rate the best. Which really is a fantastic idea for a site. Its like Am I Hot or Not for homework.  So there’s a whole variety of approaches to remembering that one thing you never can. And if you have a printer, you can print a ton out, paste them on the walls and start making abstract connections among them to uncover elitist conspiracies… (seriously do that, you’ll find something)

Also I’ve mentioned this before here, but  I’m still using a fantastic app called Snippet for remembering code. Worth checking out if you’re on a mac.

Now of course nothing beats high definition video training . Ughghh (Krusty groan). Its shameless I know, but hey, I gotta work on my SEO some of the time here.

If you couldn’t afford a Smithmada painting before, you’re in luck…

Many CartoonSmart students are familiar with Adam Smithmada’s work because I’ve used images of his paintings in many tutorials, and now he’s got a ton of signed prints for sale on Etsy. And they are only $30!  Of course, no one needs to know you only paid 30 for these beauties. Most art prints of this quality sell for $100 on up, but Adam told me he’s letting these go cheap to get them seen by as many people as possible. And speaking of which, for all of you in the dating scene, “wanna check out my art”, is the new “wanna come in and have a cup of coffee”. Start the art tour in the living room, and be sure you have at least one piece in the bedroom.

Also Adam is a great friend, rising star in the fine art world, and Iraq War vet, so I’d love it if you guys would check out his work. Click the pic below for his Etsy site, or here for his main website.

Web Site Staging Area.

Well here’s a really cool idea for a site which specializes in cool ideas for other sites. Check it out… Area 51, Stack Exchange . So someone proposes an idea for a site, and then other people commit to using it. When a proposed site reaches 100% Commitment (I’m not sure how many people that is) it goes into the Beta stage, where the site actually gets a temp domain and people start contributing real topics.

Also there’s no shortage of cool graphics throughout the site.

Gutsy Animation

Gutsy and bloody. And has a shamefully low view count (371) at the time of this posting. If Jet Blue hires back Steven Slater, this is probably how they’ll be using him…

Nice work, Matthew!

Iconic Poster Design

Our super-friends over at GoMedia have put together a great 30 minute tutorial on their 18th vector package. Have a looksie…

Also I’m a big fan of their Vector Packs. They are very useful in a pinch. Or when you can’t draw at all =)

There’s a god game genre?!

Thats news to me after watching this game trailer…

Looks like a pretty cool game for a Life Science class, what with all the action packed eroding going on. I want my character to be a volcano. I would slowly ooze up on so many natives that came by.