Self-reflected account of your simulated work experience and professional animation practice

During this simulated work experience, I took on the background painting role for the project The Bartender. This experience allowed me to apply my skills, collaborate with a team, and receive constructive feedback. It provided valuable workflow, problem-solving, and industry expectations lessons, enhancing my animation practice.

-What where the roles you were given?

I drew some static backgrounds for The Bartender, like a steampunk London and a retro-future cosmic factory. It allowed me to explore different elements of style.

-Did you complete the roles and what feedback did you receive?

I was on time to submit my work and Kirsten was happy with the line drawings for the background. At first I missed emails, but I improved this in time and replies going forward were quick.

-How did you perform during this project?

My performance was decent, but I felt that I worked too slowly. If I had been faster, I would have had more time to refine the details in my backgrounds. The other group members were highly skilled, and while I may not have stood out, I valued the opportunity to learn from them and contribute to the project.

-What could you have improved on?

There are many areas I need to improve, like the extraction and application of visual elements. The project’s themes, such as steampunk and retro-future, have very clear characteristics. If I develop a stronger understanding of how to deconstruct and reassemble these elements, my work will better immerse audience in the narrative.

-Did you enjoy the experience?

Of course! The year 2’s were very friendly and patient, they had a very clear plan and schedule so it was a pleasure to work with them.

-How did you utilize the skills you have learnt so far on the course?

In the steampunk setting, I utilized the Reverse Fisheye Perspective to create an extended background, giving the scene a unique sense of depth and curvature. This approach helped exaggerate the scale of the environment, making the architecture appear more immersive and dynamic while enhancing the overall atmospheric effect of the piece.

-What would you bring into your practice from this experience?

Working with a group in this simulated project helped me learn how to adjust my style to match a shared vision, which is important in collaboration. In the future, I’ll use this experience to keep improving both my creative and technical skills.