Tight schedules are a common gripe, and it hasn't changed in the 25+ years that I've been working in the animation industry, but it seems when the talent pulls the rabbit out of the hat and makes the schedule work, the next schedule asks us to do it faster and with a few less people. It's hard to describe what it's like at production ground zero with the many extra hours it takes or the physical and emotional toll on the crew. It doesn't matter if you use paper, or some digital package, it still takes what it takes for each process, especially if you want to pretend to have some sort of quality. You always have to weigh the needs of the production against what you can realisically do, but it feels like compromise seems to be the new creative mantra. Often, it's the only way to make the schedules work. It may seem like an oversimplification of production reality, but the toll it takes on the people always worries me. Again we're being asked to pull another rabbit out of the very battered hat. To date I have been fortunate and worked with some very dedicated people who have done the what we thought was impossible and made these schedules work and with some level of acceptable quality, but this time ... sigh ... the schedule truly sucks.
To stay sane I always keep my ball point pen and drawing board handy, and I'll doodle while the machines and networks save and process the digital info that make up modern animated shows. These drawing time-outs are are my moments of repose in a endless series of hectic days. Enjoy.
A worm.
An Egg.
A bunch of guys.
