User Stories

Steve Garrett

You recently created a fantastic music video for the artist Caitlin Hart using Anime Studio, can you tell us a little about it? What was your inspiration?

I was given lots of latitude when I landed the gig. So, given the subject matter, my idea was to lampoon as many of the recent disaster movies as I could in 3 minutes or so, then ending with the sun burning out. Then, I took real-life Caitlin and Jake (her producer) and gave them the Scooby-Doo treatment. I was going for a madcap, Hanna-Barbera style, musical romp.

What was your biggest challenge in making this video?

The biggest challenge was rendering out all the moving parts into separate bits. And then, recompiling it all, checking it out, going back to the source files for changes and starting all over again – solo, on a laptop! On some days, I could hear my graphics card whimper…

Why did you choose Anime Studio for this project? What problem did it solve?

For vector-based character animation, ASP is both the most cost-effective and the fastest solution from design to final, animation I have found.

How long have you been using Anime Studio and how did you first find out about it?

I have been using Anime Studio Pro since 2007. I was given a copy by my employer at the time to see what I could do with it.

What was your first project with Anime Studio?

I worked for Vergence Entertainment on their Pipsquakz project. This was to be a brand of characters for kids that is still in development.

What is your favorite feature and why?

Anime Studio Pro’s bone rigging and animation system is by far the best out there.

Do you use any other software with Anime Studio?

I use Adobe’s Photoshop a lot to create my backgrounds, as well as Painter. I have also integrated 2D animation from ASP into 3D scenes created in Blender.

What is your favorite project that you created in Anime Studio?

They are all my children, my tiny snowflakes … kidding! I am proud of “Seven Minutes” and the product video I did for the software Nero KwikMedia.

What are you currently working on?

I am storyboarding a feature length film that may use Anime Studio Pro for the character animation. But, that’s quite long term. I am also developing another music video. However, this one is much darker in tone and subject matter and is not for a current artist at all. Stay tuned …

What other kinds of art arenas do you play in, if any?

I am a musician, I was a world champion Swing dancer in 2005, and I have been practicing Kung Fu San Soo for thirty years.

Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

Yes: Get out of your chair. Go see the sun. Breathe fresh air. We artists sit staring at the bloody monitor, soaking in the LCD radiation and forget that art is about life. Ya can’t do art if you don’t live life.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I am excited to see what Anime Studio brings us in the coming years. I of course have a few items on the wish list. But, over all, I find that I keep returning to ASP again and again.

Where can we find you?

My YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/stevebgarrett23