Here are some photos from the
Animation Workshop and the
Drawing Academy here in
Viborg, Denmark. Along with an international community of students and professors there's also the program we're in called "
Open Workshop" where outside professionals within the world of animation can come and use the facilities and create within a supportive environment while crafting their own projects. These photos document our time here within the school and amongst our fellow Open Workshop comrades.
The Animation Workshop Campus! Converted Danish Army Barracks.
The building where we do our thing.
A sports stadium lies beyond the horizon with huge night light towers.
Brad's room. (Remember: Converted Army Barracks!) Nice and big. Nice and sparse.
Aaron's Room. Lovely, gentle lighting.
Our workspace.
Aaron begins animating! Just look at all
that sweet Scandinavian floor wood. It's like working in a forest!
Fine, detailed work using FLASH.
A well earned break to chat with other Open Workshop creators. It's a good vibe.
No boss....beers will pop.
The Kitchen. Tea is key.
The other Open Workshop folks are working on fantastic projects. Everyone is here for different lengths of time. We're only here for a couple of weeks while some are here for a number of years working on their projects and teaching at the school. They've shared their work with us and it's all top notch.
Henrik Malmgren, from Sweden, is an animator/illustrator currently creating a beautiful, 6 minute, 3-D short.
Salvador Simo, from Spain, is also progressing with his 3-D short as well as teaching 3-D animation to students at the school.
Salvador transitioned from 2-D to 3-D a few years
back and has created wonderful animations in both formats.
Uri Kranot and Michal Pfeffer from Israel are a peaceful, powerhouse of husband and wife talent. Travelling the globe creating project after project and attending the many festivals for which their original and moving, 2-D films have received enormous acclaim. Uri also composes the music for their shorts. Day after day they work side by side illustrating and animating. It's nice to see how they look from the back but.....
Here's how they look from the front...away from the computers in front of nice Thanksgiving candlelight. They cooked all of us an amazing meal for which we were indeed...Thankful!
There's art everywhere as you walk the halls. Characters, storyboards, keyframes, doodles, etc.
Lots of good gatherings. This one was for Mathilde Schytz Juul's (far left) going away party. Mathilde has been the head of the Open Workshop department but is now returning to her lovely Copenhagen to be a producer at the
Fabulab animation company. We've only known her for a short time but she's been incredibly kind and helpful and when she laughs, it's like listening to an angel sing...after a few drinks!
Champagne and sandwiches to help say "Good Luck and Thanks Mathilde!"
High talent from the USA in the house here in Viborg. Animation Directors Aaron Blecha and
Tod Polson. The school here is one of many international stops for Tod to teach and work on his productions.
Lotte's second cousin Andreas who's a fantastic drawer was able to visit us for a couple of hours to see the school, meet some students and teachers and learn more about a world of animation just an hour and a half from his home!
He brought a camera and clickety-clicked on all the art he could get his lens on!
Happy Thanksgiving 2006 from the Open Workshop in Viborg, DK.
Aaron and I went for a fine Sunday stroll around Viborg's North Lake where
we got a nice view of the Viborg Cathedral from afar.
The Danish "Watch Out For Me!" sign warns
motorists that children are playing in the area.
Cool Boats on the lake. Some filled with water and some filled with air.
The front of the Viborg Cathedral.
Upon entering the church we saw Lotte, who drove down to
surprise us! Thanks!
When in Denmark...One is GUARANTEED to party with real TROLLS!
(Especially when they're in the town square rehearsing for their upcoming Christmas performances!)
Gorgeous "Winter Smoothies" with just the right amount of ginger
were enjoyed at the Cafe Morville where we dropped in for a delicious lunch.
The animated music video I created and directed for the Danish rock band Figurines, which Aaron Blecha animated will screen at the 2007 Odense Film Festival at 4pm on Tuesday, August 28th at Cafe Biografen. (It will run again at 1AM on Friday, August 31 at Cafe Biografen 2).
