Animation Mentor: Can you tell us about FORCE Drawing? Where did the concept come from?Mike Mattesi: My personal love of film, comics and entertainment inspired me to draw excitement and drama! This interest connected me to the teachers I had and the career path that lead to FORCE. FORCE evolved from a combination of many things starting with my mentors—they shaped my thoughts and skills and taught me to see and think about the world around me.
Mike’s FORCE Drawing Books
Then, my experience in 2D animation at Walt Disney Animation presented me with drawings moving and acting over time. Finally, I taught drawing for about a decade, experimenting with how to approach FORCE drawing. I created a system for it and experimented across many classes until it all worked.
AM: What type of drawing skills would benefit a 3D animator?MM: I think of drawing as a language, a way of seeing and thinking about the world, and I believe this serves everyone! Specifically for 3D animators, seeing and understanding the abstraction of FORCE is extremely helpful for animating. Drawing FORCES creates an opportunity to understand and plan the actions of characters to generate great performances. It allows you to see these actions in abstract terms instead of getting mired in the details.
Drawing FORCES creates an opportunity to understand and plan the actions of characters to generate great performances. It allows you to see these actions in abstract terms instead of getting mired in the details.
AM: Do you have any tips for building those skills?MM: Become an observer of life and study it, be curious about it—the physics of the world combined with the drama of human existence. Why do we do the things we do and act the way we do? Discover the answers and use them in your work.
AM: What is the most common misconception people have about drawing? How can they overcome it?MM: Most people think they do not have the talent to draw. Anyone can draw! First try blind drawing: draw while looking at your subject, not the paper, and align your eyes, mind, and hand. Be patient, take your time, and do not worry about the outcome of the drawing but instead the exercise of tying the prior three elements together into one. In time, you will learn to see, then you can look back at the page. The first step is training your mind to accept what you can see with your eyes.
The first step is training your mind to accept what you can see with your eyes.
Expressive figures drawn by Mike
AM: What’s your favorite animated movie that you’ve worked on?MM: I worked on one film, The Lion King, when it comes to films. I also worked on many advertisements, TV show openings, and video games…lots of video games. Not to mention, three of my own businesses and five books. Curious to see what the next ten years hold. 😉
Designed for artists of all levels, from beginning storyboarders, to intermediate modelers, to advanced animators, our workshops offer new skills for everyone!
To start, check out 2D Animation for Beginners taught by Disney veteran Jay Jackson, or Storyboarding Fundamentals with the talented Mike Kunkel.
https://youtu.be/lLwSeEYoaeE In this free workshop, Senior Animator Paul Allen goes over some of the basics of the software Autodesk Maya. Topics covered include: Interface overview Object creation Transform tools - including Move, Rotate, Scale, Quick tool settings...
We’re so excited to share something special with you! Animation Mentor is partnering with The Lighting Lab to bring an amazing new element to our students’ learning experience. This collaboration will transform the animation learning experience by pairing Animation...
https://youtu.be/zWAMLrlPL-Y In this free workshop, Senior Game Animator Luke Madden discusses his best practices on how to craft a "game-ready" showreel. Topics covered include: How to think like a game animator Checklist of basic animations to include on any games...
Victoria Hauser Meet Victoria Hauser, a talented animator whose journey into the industry wasn’t a straight line but one full of exploration and discovery. From studying law to working in retail, Victoria discovered her passion for animation and, after graduating from...
https://youtu.be/FKeMvZNloPE Walking is an important bio mechanic and locomotion to master in animation. Human walks are considered biped walks (upright 2-legged walk) while animals that stand on all four legs have a quadruped walk (4-legged walk). In this workshop,...
The field of animation is becoming more popular with each passing year. As the demand for unique and entertaining content grows, the demand for skilled animators is also on the rise. But there’s a catch: this sector is also remarkably competitive! That’s especially...
Just a few of the films on Shawn Kelly's IMDb page Shawn Kelly, Lead Animator at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Animation Mentor Co-Founder educates us on why you need more creature animation in your demo reel and reminds us that we are all animators. Sit back,...
So, you've secured a demo reel review at a convention, job fair, etc., but it's not just about the work! You want to make a good impression too. There are definitely do's and don'ts to abide by when getting your demo reel reviewed—learn what they are from Image Engine...
Image from Francisco Ucke's 2018 Student Showcase Shot! At Animation Mentor, we know demo reels are the most important asset you have when looking for your dream animation job! In fact, we dedicate an entire class to teaching our students how to build their own...
Heading to CTN—or any other convention—this year with your demo reel in tow? First, read these pro tips on what to bring, how to get your reel reviewed, and more from some of our own mentors and reel reviewers who have seen it al! The annual CTN animation expo in...
