Finding inspiration.?

So I'm planning on animating a basic simple series since I'm not that good at animating. I already created a storyline, but the problem is. I just don't know how to start my series. Like I know what how I want my series to be, but I just don't know how to start it lmao. So, I was thinking, maybee I need inspiration? I tried looking at other videos to see if any ideas popped up in my head, but nothing did! Soo, what should I do? :baaw:

Try thinking about some of your favorite TV shows or movies and see what they do in the first couple of minutes to get your attention. Come up with different scenarios and choose what works best.

Kvn11 said: (post #328608)

Wing it.
...but if you never get to the animating part, you'll eventually forget about the series and never get around animating it.

I cannot relate to this enough LOL
I was so uncertain about starting out my series 6 years ago -- I thought I had to script the whole thing, add symbolism to each character/object, create all the maps beforehand, gather all the sound effects, etc. It got so overwhelming that I literally was like "screw it" and just did whatever. I still look back on my first few episodes and I cringe... But I never would've been where I am now if it wasn't for them. I learned so much about the program I was using and story-telling; I also met a lot of people who ended up helping me out (of course, I had to ask x'D). Unless you have experience from making a prior series, chances are your first episode will be something you look back on and be "omg, wtf was I doing," but really it's all part of the learning experience. Sometimes you gotta run before you can walk. c:

In terms of actually getting the motivation/inspiration to start working on your series, I agree with the others -- watch your favorite series (anime, Maple, etc). For some people, watching epic stuff gets you fired up. (x When I first started my series, I watched a lot of Harry Potter, Bleach, Soul Eater, Naruto for inspiration xD
What I usually do is try not to force myself because then it feels more like a job than a fun hobby. If I have any kind of road block, I don't hesitate to take a break (unless I'm trying to meet a certain personal deadline).
It's hard to describe each person's motivation, but everyone's different. Remember to stay confident in your series and keep looking at it to add stuff/remove stuff that doesn't make sense.

#1 rule: please don't mix up you/your/you're/yours and they/they're/there/their xDD

Tra-La-Tracey said: (post #328614)

I cannot relate to this enough LOL
I was so uncertain about starting out my series 6 years ago -- I thought I had to script the whole thing, add symbolism to each character/object, create all the maps beforehand, gather all the sound effects, etc. It got so overwhelming that I literally was like "screw it" and just did whatever. I still look back on my first few episodes and I cringe... But I never would've been where I am now if it wasn't for them. I learned so much about the program I was using and story-telling; I also met a lot of people who ended up helping me out (of course, I had to ask x'D). Unless you have experience from making a prior series, chances are your first episode will be something you look back on and be "omg, wtf was I doing," but really it's all part of the learning experience. Sometimes you gotta run before you can walk. c:

In terms of actually getting the motivation/inspiration to start working on your series, I agree with the others -- watch your favorite series (anime, Maple, etc). For some people, watching epic stuff gets you fired up. (x When I first started my series, I watched a lot of Harry Potter, Bleach, Soul Eater, Naruto for inspiration xD
What I usually do is try not to force myself because then it feels more like a job than a fun hobby. If I have any kind of road block, I don't hesitate to take a break (unless I'm trying to meet a certain personal deadline).
It's hard to describe each person's motivation, but everyone's different. Remember to stay confident in your series and keep looking at it to add stuff/remove stuff that doesn't make sense.

#1 rule: please don't mix up you/your/you're/yours and they/they're/there/their xDD

Thank you haha! I kind of got it. Also, um, the difficult thing for me is mostly just the map making part for series. I was wondering, how did you like plan out your maps? I have a lot of resources of items and maps, but it just gets too difficult for me to think about it lol (T.T)

xXMora said: (post #328616)

Thank you haha! I kind of got it. Also, um, the difficult thing for me is mostly just the map making part for series. I was wondering, how did you like plan out your maps? I have a lot of resources of items and maps, but it just gets too difficult for me to think about it lol (T.T)

Maps are so frustrating -- whenever I animate my series, I am happy 90% of it takes place in one freaking building xD

It's good you have a lot of resources ready! And yeah, I can see how that can be super overwhelming.
Think about each scene that you have to animate, what do you want it to look like? Are there any objects that your characters will interact with? What is the purpose of that map? What are you trying to relay to your audience about that map/location?

For example: I need to make a classroom that takes place in a Hogwarts-looking/castle setting. It's gonna have desks and chairs for students to sit. There needs to be a place for the professor to talk/give lectures -- so add chalkboard, books, desk, maybe? Since it takes place in a castle, the walls should be made out of stone, and maybe look a little old. Now that I have all the necessities for what a classroom has, I think to myself "Is there anything else I wanna add?" I look at Harry Potter as references a lot (since my series is about a school for mages LOL) and I noticed in the classrooms and halls there are pillars and banners, so I added those. Putting it all together:
[ATTACH=full]177[/ATTACH]
(Now... this probably isn't the BEST magic school classroom map, but it gets the message across xD)
I could add more books and I guess lamps or magical-lookin' contraptions, but I don't want to make it so overwhelming xD. I think it takes a lot of being familiar with what you have and knowing how to use your resources wisely.

There are usually two ways I go about tackling maps, and this doesn't just apply to series strictly. I either make a map in a photo-editing program (Photoshop or Paint.NET are my favorite) or I put the images I want in Sony Vegas and make it there. The downside to making maps in Sony Vegas is you can't really zoom in/out unless you wanna resize all the images again (which is not a problem in Flash since you can create a map in there like you would with Photoshop/Paint.NET and animate your characters in there while using a v-cam). The reason I like making my maps in Sony Vegas is 'cause I can add many effects (blurs, shadows, color corrections) and edit them easily.

I think the main thing when making maps is not overwhelming it with unnecessary stuff. Everything you show on your screen has a purpose and sends a message. If you get that message across, then your map is good. c:

Sell your soul to Lewis, that worked for me.

I get your problem. I have it problems starting shit non-stop.

You have a script and can't start? That's bs m' lady. Script's the overall animation with technical shit in it. (Frames etc). Before making any series. Re-look Derek's Tut 999times. To get the overall grasp. Look at one animation you like( has to be short), and try to re-do it. Ser the video on 0.5 and pause on certain parts to see how it's been done, that way you will learn how to skew, v-cam, trasnition places etc.

(Please note. That's how i started, i always plan out my shit till thee end)

Relating to the map thing, i never had such a problem. But yeh. Tracey's maps are really fucking small, but give a little tension to them. First of all, think which genree -> Medival, School, Strip Club, KFC. Anything you want, then try to find certain parts in Goates farms or Bannedstory. Try to re-produce it as much as u can. At a certain point you will have alot of ideas to make.

Tra-La-Tracey said: (post #328617)

Maps are so frustrating -- whenever I animate my series, I am happy 90% of it takes place in one freaking building xD

It's good you have a lot of resources ready! And yeah, I can see how that can be super overwhelming.
Think about each scene that you have to animate, what do you want it to look like? Are there any objects that your characters will interact with? What is the purpose of that map? What are you trying to relay to your audience about that map/location?

For example: I need to make a classroom that takes place in a Hogwarts-looking/castle setting. It's gonna have desks and chairs for students to sit. There needs to be a place for the professor to talk/give lectures -- so add chalkboard, books, desk, maybe? Since it takes place in a castle, the walls should be made out of stone, and maybe look a little old. Now that I have all the necessities for what a classroom has, I think to myself "Is there anything else I wanna add?" I look at Harry Potter as references a lot (since my series is about a school for mages LOL) and I noticed in the classrooms and halls there are pillars and banners, so I added those. Putting it all together:
[ATTACH=full]177[/ATTACH]
(Now... this probably isn't the BEST magic school classroom map, but it gets the message across xD)
I could add more books and I guess lamps or magical-lookin' contraptions, but I don't want to make it so overwhelming xD. I think it takes a lot of being familiar with what you have and knowing how to use your resources wisely.

There are usually two ways I go about tackling maps, and this doesn't just apply to series strictly. I either make a map in a photo-editing program (Photoshop or Paint.NET are my favorite) or I put the images I want in Sony Vegas and make it there. The downside to making maps in Sony Vegas is you can't really zoom in/out unless you wanna resize all the images again (which is not a problem in Flash since you can create a map in there like you would with Photoshop/Paint.NET and animate your characters in there while using a v-cam). The reason I like making my maps in Sony Vegas is 'cause I can add many effects (blurs, shadows, color corrections) and edit them easily.

I think the main thing when making maps is not overwhelming it with unnecessary stuff. Everything you show on your screen has a purpose and sends a message. If you get that message across, then your map is good. c:

Oml, thank you very much lol. I thought about what you said, and it pretty much brought ideas to my head. Thank you! ~