Animation Film School for Lazy Animators...

[keyframer]

Hi fellow keyframers.
It was recently brought to my attention a new method of animating and lip syncing by a guy named Dan Burke. It was brought to me because of his articles on this website:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Flash-Lip-Syn ... id=2993868

Dan never consulted or interviewed me or even asked permission for the use of my comments in his article. Much of what he claims I have said and have done professionally simply isn't true.

But the point is, his article promotes his own methods which can be found here:

http://animationace.com/

Now, there's no way to even contact Dan Burke anywhere on the web (believe me I have tried). Also, his methods are not free - in fact they cost $150. His claim is that his methods will save thousands of hours and millions of dollars
So, as an animator using the same software (Flash) that Dan uses, and as an author, I'm very curious to find out what his methods are. But honestly, I do not want to give him $150 to find out. All of us are willing to share all of our secrets for free on this forum and blogs etc...so I am curious if anyone here has purchased his DVD and can maybe shed some light on his "Easy Sync" technique. I am not asking to get something for free - perhaps just a review as to whether or not it is as ground breaking as he claims. I would love to contact him if not to find out if he'd like to contribute his methods to one of my future books which would help promote his own product.

Anyone ever use his technique(s)?

Thanks

[FlashQueen]

Chris,

Very interesting. His YouTube Video isn't even there. Egads. I wouldn't give him a red cent. If anyone knows the short cuts to animating it would be YOU.

[keyframer]

Hi Diana!
Yup - it appears he has taken down both articles and the youtube video - I had commented on the video asking him to at least provide a mention the FLA source files were mine if he wanted to use them. He wasn't exactly doing anything "wrong" in my eyes - it just seemed a little misleading and to boast about having the best system for animating and making people give up $150 bucks to know how to use his methods was kind of slimy - felt like those info-mercials at 3am for a quicker way to dice vegetables

[RubberOnion]

is this the video you were talking about?

http://animationace.com/animationstudio.html

i like where he says "can save an animator 1000s and 100s of hours"... instant classic
oh also the "unregistered hypercam 2" in the upper left corner is fun haha

he's got the lipsync and perspective walkcycle breeze presentations you did up there. this time you should record that video or get it from your temp cache or something and just keep it on your harddrive... i felt dirty all over when i finished watching it.

also... HIS examples (which I can only assume are his) are teeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible!


[EDIT!!!]

I think I found the "articles"

http://animationace.com/reviewofanimati ... ators.html
http://animationace.com/lipsyncingflash.html

But what if you wanted an easy way to sync dialogue? Is there an easy way to sync dialogue without using a complicated system that assumes you are a FLASH expert? Can you sync dialogue without being an FLASH expert like Chris Georges? Yes, you can.

"Chris Georges"...

Yup...

ENJOY!


[DOUBLE EDIT]

he reviewed his own amazon listing
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Z8 ... dp_product

his profile... seems he's in FL
http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AK ... cr_rdp_pdp


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAnd...

he reviewed your book Chris:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great flash book., November 24, 2009
By Daniel Burke "The Figure Coach" (Orlando, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

THis is a superb FLash book. Lot's of info. Organized well and teaches some very cool stuff. Well worth the money. One of the best Flash books I have purchased, and I own them all.

And finally if you look at what HE'S looked at... seems he started with comics and animation (which he clearly stole and turned around to try to do whatever this is) and now... he's on to fitness... oh yes...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-rev ... iew&page=1

[keyframer]

Thanks for all of your detective work Rubberonion
I wasn't expecting him to take stuff offline like this - I personally dont care what he does or how he does it - it just seemed weird how he was leveraging me and my work for his own personal gain. I still want to know his technique out of curiosity.

[RubberOnion]

i would be hard money it's looping. if you look at his lipsync on his examples they're 4 mouth shapes at max (open, closed, mid, Oh)... usually an open, closed, mid, closed loop like some older anime series with an Oh thrown in every now and then for good measure

[danburke]

I see some ideas on this blog that need addressing. I apologize for not dropping in sooner to chat with the crew here.

Greetings. I am Dan, the animator, I see so much written about here.
I have nothing to hide. But I also spend long times offline, and so not manage the products I create. I spend my time making movies, and talking out loud.
That is my job. With the help of wonderful techs, I am able to bring my ideas to the world, via the net.

The Animation Film School is a personal project, I did over 6 months, while my wife was in the hospital, during that time, I completed the project and turned it over to the company that markets my products. But that is another story. It was a labor of love.

I want you to know, the product Animation Film School for Lazy Animators is unique and does not use the techniques you (Chris) or others teach. Of course, it has similar ideas, FLASH is FLASH, but, the it is nothing like your products or methods. Totally different methods to achieve the same end. Make a movie in Flash and so on.

I see on a thread that people are considering the product “poor” and contains “stolen” information. That is complete nonsense. Flash is a complicated beast. This products makes it so a 10 year old can watch this movie and then animate in FLASH. I know this is a fact as I have shown it to 10 year olds who have then SUCCESSFULLY aimated in FLASH.
The animation Film School for Lazy Animators is not for experts like you. It’s for people that don’t have time to become an expert like you. I stand by the product, and by FLASH. I am sorry we used you and your video tutorials as examples of expert work. That was our error and we fixed it. However, I stand by the product. It’s unique, and has nothing to do with the way you teach FLASH. And that is the fact. To show you we have nothing to hide, I will have a unit shipped to YOU, so you can watch it and (show it to a 10 year old) and decide for yourself if I am telling you the facts. I have nothing to hide. I wish I had a product like the Animation Film School 10 years ago…it would have saved me 100,000 hours of my life. It’s a great product for people that want to use FLASH, in a simple way, to make complex animated films for their own pleasure and enjoyment.

The video clip of Chris' tutorial:

We are sorry for using your video clips to show the current state of animation. No harm was intended to Chris or Adobe inc.

The animation techniques in The Animation Film School for Lazy Animators are not those of Chris Georgenes. They are in fact different. A different way to approach the same issue. Animate in Flash.

When I was contacted by Chris,via e-mail, that his animation tutorial, was being used without his permission we removed it from Youtube within the hour.
Out intention was to show an expert tutorial on lip sync and walk cycle, as used by Macromedia/Adobe. I was told it came from the Macromedia/Adobe tutorial site. We had no idea it was Chris Georgenes’ video.

These Youtube tutorials were shown to contrast the information taught in The Animation Film School of Lazy Animators. To show what the School is not. These techniques are not part of The Animation Film School of Lazy Animators library of lessons. That should be clear. Chris Georgenes video was used by mistake in the Youtube and we fixed it.

Yes, the video, was used to create interest in the site and The Animation Film School for Lazy Animators, not to steal the intellectual property of Macromedia/Adobe or Chris Georgenes.

The clip, used within a clip, about 60 seconds long, included a lip sync and walk cycle tutorial, created by Adobe Inc. ( Chris Georgenes) and was used by error. We regret the mistake and once contacted, we acted to fix the issue.
It was never the intention to say that Chris uses, teaches or endorses the product.
Once again, when contacted by Chris these materials were removed from the web and so on.
I apologize for the issues.
The Animation Film School is unique product that teaches a fast way to make flash movies. It's not for the purist. It's not for disney, maybe. But it works, and anyone can use this system and be a success at making an animated film using the methods of taught in The Animation Film School.
I apologize for not dropping in sooner to talk about this. I am shooting a film and have been busy.
For those that have purchased the product and contacted us, it's been a 100% success. Not many products can teach a novice the complexities of movie making in 2 hours and 22 minutes.
I believe there is no better product on DVD, that teaches the workflow of Flash, et all. If there is, I would like to buy it. Not to "steal" the ideas, but ot learn.
I consider myself a lifetime student of art and animation. Always learning.
The Animation Film School teaches a workflow system I have developed over the last 10 years. It is in fact, my system.
Thsi movie took close to 6 months to create, it is NOT a fluff, fly by night product. It is a fully animated (in my crappy non disney style) 2 hour film, that actually teaches animation so NON animators can get it.
And yes, for 30 years I have been an athlete. When I was 5 I was in the Olympic training camp for swimming. Yes, I am an athlete an an artist.
I have competed in sports for 25 years. In 2005 I took second in the Mr. Florida. I can lift much more than a pencil. But that does not make me less of an artist. I went to art school. I love art. It loves me..so so...but I am working on it.
I realize that the Animation Film School is a simplified appraoch to Flash meant for ages 8 to 80. It's the SIMPLE way to do it. It's not for the FLASH ninja that lies awake at night scanning inbetween drawings. It's for LAZY animators.
It may not be FOR everyone, and I respect that. I hate spinach. Not all things are for all people.
For those that want to chat, complain, and so on I can be reached at several places. http://www.blogcomics.wordpress.com
http://www.attackearth.com.
I also do a weekly radio show about art. With the help of web savy people around me, it is on the web, and I-tunes. It is called the Art Studio. We do lots of chats about animation. I am a little behind on the RS feed technology and so on, but is is available widely on the web, as far as I know.
So if you want to reach me, use the blog, and leave a message. That is what I look at.
Peace to all and keep animating.

[RubberOnion]

ok you know what... that just tips it. that was the longest bunch of bull crap i've read in a long time.

i know when i'm listening to a salesman, guy, and you are very much a salesman... a bad one... but a salesman (one tip: lay off the ridiculous use of hyperbole)

you think this (http://www.attackearth.com/bart.html) is a revolutionary approach? i can tell you where to send that video... you send that bad boy to me an i'll pay full price if your technique isn't looping.

ok so i looked you up... this is you then:


right?... you're responsible for the info on this site? http://www.figurecoach.com/figure/figureguide.html
sounds like your voice on THIS podcast: http://figurecoach.com/free.html
as well as THIS podcast: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/ta ... 818&cmd=tc

yup

[milchreis]

this weird story gets just another crazy twist whenever I visit, I'll stay tuned.

[danburke]

The Animation Film School for Lazy Animators.
www.animationace.com
I am not sure why my response made anyone upset. Maybe transparency is confusing.
I am not sure what the problem is with making a product that teaches simple animation? It is not a scam. It's a teaching film. What is the deal?

What is the anger about? I am not sure what is objectionable about all this? But the web is a place for people to attack others without consequence.

My suggestion is focus on your artwork and become the best artist you can be.
If the existence of this product angers you, ignore it.

I don't think anyone here is producing movies about Digital animation, so there is no "competition". If you are producing your own films, I am sure there is room for all of us, in this world.

Most important to me, and my company are the people that have actually purchased the movie, and have loved it. That is important for me and the people that paid to produce this film and the people that paid to own it. It is successful, and really does teach what it says it does.

We tested The Animation Film School for Lazy Animators on classrooms of 4th graders (before its release) and then tested it on adults (that had no background in animation) to make sure it was clear what we were teaching. Everyone got it.

Before you say it's all a "lie" and so on, stop. Because that is liable and I will sue anyone that lies about me or my products. You can say it sucks, even if you have never seen it, but do not call me a liar. That won't fly. And if you want to test me, you can find out my resolve. Don't hide on a forum, don't write me messages from fake accounts, write to me, tell me your issues, real name and address, and I will settle it. I can prove what I say is true, and without great effort to do so.

There is a copyright on all my products for a reason. To protect myself and the companies that license and sell my work. This is not a game. To sell a bogus product, would shut down a business very fast in this TWITTER world. Customer satisfaction is what it's ALL ABOUT. Burning people would bring about the demise of a company quickly. I have been making successful teaching movies for years. That is a documented fact.

I am an athlete with paid endorsements. That is a documented fact. My good reputation is one of the ways I make a living.

I get a 1099 each Feb to prove it, and I pay the IRS a ton of tax each year, to help run this country. I am thankful for all of it.

If you want to say "It's all a lie", think again. Like the IRS, I take money, and my job that feeds my family, very seriously.

If you are going to say in a public forum that I am lying, and other untruthful things about me or the companies I work for, or my products, get ready to back it up. Get ready to prove what you are saying is truthful, if in fact you have the balls to do so without hiding. Just like your self, I won't tolerate people slandering me.

The people that use The Animation Film School for Lazy Animators as a teaching tool find it very valuable. I know it's hard to believe sitting there at home, but this product does in fact cover the production of an animated film from sound design, storyboards, and final edits in movie making software, ET all. That is an indisputable fact.

It is a fully animated 2 hour 22 minute film. That is an indisputable fact. Please, naysayers, send me the teaching animated films YOU have produced. I would like to see them. And I won't review them till I see them, just to be fair.

The Animation Film School for Lazy Animators is a well rounded look at all aspects of producing an animated digital film. Flash techniques, are but a small part of the puzzle when creating a modern digital film. The film shows the entire work flow, so that a child can grasp it.
Again, this is a fact. Not an opinion, a fact.

Animation as a digital workflow, in my opinion, it takes several apps to make a good animated film. Trying to make a film totally in Flash would be problematic at best. But none of this is news to FLASH experts. How many apps does it take to make an animated film?
Sound design apps, animation apps (like Flash or Toon Boom) and movie making apps like Adobe Final Effects and so on. Then if you make DVD's or Blueray, you need a DVD creation app, on top of all the rest. Flash or any 2-d app, is only part of the puzzle, when sitting down to produce an animated film on a computer.

This product teaches the entire work flow of a modern digital animated film, not just the FLASH part of making a digital animated film. Flash is about 25% of the film. Toon Boom or FLASH both are good options for 2-D animation.

I think that before you pass judgment on me or The Animation Film School for Lazy Animators you should actually view the product and meet me. I think that is only fair. That would lend more credence to your opinion about this product or who I am.

I invite people to listen to my podcast about animation, art and comic creation. http://www.talkshoe.com show ID 48818. It is on Itunes also.
The show is called "The Art Studio", and we are year two and show 110 this week. We always cover an interesting topic related to art, comics and animation.

[RubberOnion]

oh man you pile on the crap when you write

you should review what libel and fact mean... and since you're post no one said "lie"

what i said was you send that movie over to me and if you don't teach lipsyncing by looping i'll pay the full 60 bucks. you're not an animator, you're a motion graphics guy... and if you don't know about a technique before you stumble oops-backwards into it that isn't a discovery and it isn't revolutionary.

i don't speak for everyone, but i would say with full confidence i probably speak for those you've conned because your claims are right up the line with a con artist (and i use artist liberally). i appreciate you giving it a shot but you're not selling it here... i nor anyone else is going to stop them if they want to buy it, but i believe people here are a little to smart for you.

don't bother posting back because this is the last validation i'm personally giving you and i won't be posting in response to you again unless you'd like to send me your video so i can review it properly.

oh and i've listened to the last 6 shows you've done on the podcast and i just had to stop... they're terrible. consider that your first review. no animosity... no anger... it is what it is: terrible.