Elemental Magic Volume 2

Joseph Gilland's second book is out, and it's fantastic! This series is the only one of its kind, it explores many tips tricks and techniques for creating 2D Effects Animation. Buy it here.

Smoke, Fire, Lightning, Explosions, and Liquid Animation Tutorials by Terkoiz

2D Effects Animation Course by Adam Phillips

Here’s what you get in your first month for just $24 at BCA FX:

Wk 1: Lightning – Wk 2: Small Flame – Wk 3: Smoke Ribbons – Wk 4: Gravity
Every article is split into sections of physics, design, timing and treatment, so you not only learn how to animate the effect, but study the physics that drive its behaviour. Each week is packed with explanations, diagrams, example files, reference images, video demonstrations and lectures.

The climb steepens in month 2 with:
Wk 5: Ripples – Wk 6: Wave Motion – Wk 7: Dust – Wk 8: Surface Tension
You may cancel at any time and retain access to what you’ve paid for. For $24/month you get weekly articles, demonstrations, examples, illustrations and videos. PLUS exclusive access to the ultra-sssshh secret BCA dark arts FX club for FX wizards with FX hats.

Month 3 gets crazy with:
Wk 9: Flame – Wk 10: Reference – Wk 11: Steam – Wk 12: Light & Shadow

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Sign up now!

Gobelins Students' FX Animation

FX exercises made in 3 weeks by groups of 5 students in 2nd year at the french Gobelins school.

Oni - by Cyrille Chauvin, Augustin Clermont, Guillaume Dousse, Adrien Gromelle, and Thibaud Petitpas.



Brütal Vacances - by Clément De Ruyter, Eve Guastella, Juliaon Roels, Pierre Rutz, and Gaspard Sumeire.



Mad Scientist - by Chloé Nicolay, Yoann Bomal, Christine Shin, Laura Pannetier, and Emmanuel Asquier-Brassart.



The Red Light - by Karina Gazizova, Estelle Chaloupy, Sarah Colmet-Daâge, Maël Jaouen, and Hélène Leroux.



Soap - by Wyckens Manddy, Marthe Delaporte, Lea Justum, Guillaume Arantes, and Jeanne-Sylvette Giraud.

Stuck in the Sound - "Brother"

An awesome display of killer effects animation.

Made by se7en

"Varfix" by Kotaro Tanaka

"This music sounds somewhat monophonic, so this video was made such as polyphony in contrast.
Animation can make events not only simple but easy to understand. Each elements used in this video
separate from the meaning which they have originally, they are used for only representing something dynamic."

Michel Gagné's "Sensology"

Sensology was handdrawn (painted) with a Wacon tablet at first, and later, a Cintiq, using Adobe Photoshop. The drawings and frames were then composited and manipulated in a 2D software called Animo. There is no vector animation at any point in the film.

It wasn't done in Flash, but the timin and visual style of the experimental/abstract FX animation are awesome inspiration.

Effects Animator Profile: Mark Dindal

Mark Dindal has been contributing to the art of animation for the past 20 years in a variety of artistic capacities and receives his second feature film directing credit with The Emperor's New Groove. He made his directing debut in 1997 with the Warner Bros. animated feature, Cats Don't Dance. Born in Columbus, Ohio, Dindal grew up watching Disney animated classics and knew early on that he wanted to pursue a career in animation.

He studied his craft at the prestigious CalArts animation program before launching his professional career with Disney in 1980. Starting as an effects inbetweener on The Fox and the Hound, he went on to work on The Black Cauldron, Mickey's Christmas Carol, and The Great Mouse Detective. Following a brief hiatus to pursue outside projects, he returned to Disney in 1987 for a stint as visual effects supervisor on The Little Mermaid followed by work on The Rescuers Down Under. His other credits for the Studio include visual development for several projects and a stint as effects animator on Aladdin. Additionally, he directed the animated segment for the live-action film, The Rocketeer (shown below).



Listen to this great interview with Mark Dindal from the TAG blog - Part 1 and Part 2.

Effects Animation Filmography

1. "The Little Mermaid" (effects animation) (2 episodes, 1992) (effects consultant) (1 episode, 1992)
       - Eel-Ectric City (1992) TV episode (effects animation)
       - Beached (1992) TV episode (effects animation)
       - Whale of a Tale (1992) TV episode (effects consultant)
2. Aladdin (1992) (effects animator)
3. Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992) (effects animator)
4. The Rescuers Down Under (1990) (effects animator)
5. Happily Ever After (1990) (special effects animator) (as Mark L. Dindal)
   
6. The Little Mermaid (1989) (visual effects supervisor)
7. Oliver & Company (1988) (effects animator)
8. BraveStarr: The Legend (1988) (special effects animator)
9. "BraveStarr" (special effects animator) (65 episodes, 1987-1988)
       - Strength of the Bear (1988) TV episode (special effects animator)
       - Shake Hands with Long Arm John (1988) TV episode (special effects animator)
       - No Drums, No Trumpets (1988) TV episode (special effects animator)
       - The Blockade (1988) TV episode (special effects animator)
       - Nomad Is an Island (1988) TV episode (special effects animator)
         (60 more)
10. Pinocchio and the Emperor of the Night (1987) (special effects animator)
11. The Brave Little Toaster (1987) (effects animation consultant)
12. Sport Goofy in Soccermania (1987) (effects animator)
13. Basil, the Great Mouse Detective (1986) (effects animator)
    ... aka "The Great Mouse Detective" - USA (original title)
    ... aka "The Adventures of the Great Mouse Detective" - USA (reissue title)
14. The Black Cauldron (1985) (special effects animator)
15. Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) (effects animator)

Skip ahead through this clip to 3:40 to see just a bit of his old work: