If you are interested in the nuts and bolts of animation, check out The Animation Podcast by Clay Kaytis. He's got 28 episodes of one-on-one interviews with a ton of Disney animators.
This week's episode is with Ken Duncan, who animated Meg in Hercules and Jane in Tarzan -- two of my favorite movies. They both have great music, strong well-rounded characters, fun and drama.
Unfortunately I can't draw worth a flip. Playing Pictionary once, I drew what I thought was an alligator -- but my team was pretty sure it was a cow! But I wish I could draw, and am certainly fascinated by the shapes and colors and style in each animated movie.
In addition to technical discussions about animation, there is a lot of behind-the-scenes tidbits from the various movie productions.
Check it out!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Friday, July 4, 2008
We're All In This Together
Jonathan's been posting a lot of details about his training plan, and I've posted a little about mine, and Rae gives us a lot of details about her training with Isabeau. And other Team Voicers share thoughts on training, and the ups and downs we all experience.
We're all on this same journey, but boy are we drastically different in our experience! There's some young, fast healthy Voicers, and there's some like me that will be perfectly happy (and relieved) to finish the race in 3 hours and 30 minutes.
We're all in this together, and a lot of our experiences are similar -- bad food days, missed training, mild injuries (except for Rae's arm), gas station mistakes (Hostess Ding Dongs for me)!
But, most of our training -- techniques, weekly mileage, longest runs, average pace -- are all vastly different, because of our physical/athletic differences.
But what's MOST important is that we are DOING THIS! And we've been doing it for almost seven months!
And honestly, for me, the fact that I will have worked for a year towards this goal is really more important than what happens at the race. I want to finish, of course, and I when I start to goof off at the gym, I think about the fact that I need to feel like I gave it my all.
But I have thought about not finishing -- what I will do, what it will feel like. But as awful as it would be, I know that I will also be really, really proud of my year of training and my year of being part of Team Voice.
And that will be enough ... almost.
We're all on this same journey, but boy are we drastically different in our experience! There's some young, fast healthy Voicers, and there's some like me that will be perfectly happy (and relieved) to finish the race in 3 hours and 30 minutes.
We're all in this together, and a lot of our experiences are similar -- bad food days, missed training, mild injuries (except for Rae's arm), gas station mistakes (Hostess Ding Dongs for me)!
But, most of our training -- techniques, weekly mileage, longest runs, average pace -- are all vastly different, because of our physical/athletic differences.
But what's MOST important is that we are DOING THIS! And we've been doing it for almost seven months!
And honestly, for me, the fact that I will have worked for a year towards this goal is really more important than what happens at the race. I want to finish, of course, and I when I start to goof off at the gym, I think about the fact that I need to feel like I gave it my all.
But I have thought about not finishing -- what I will do, what it will feel like. But as awful as it would be, I know that I will also be really, really proud of my year of training and my year of being part of Team Voice.
And that will be enough ... almost.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Rainy Run
Well, I had planned to make sure I did one long run in the rain this summer, as practice in case it rains for the big race. And I succeeded.
On Saturday when I headed out to the park under very gray skies, I did wear my older running shoes, just in case. It really wasn't supposed to rain until later in the day, so I wasn't 100% prepared, but at least I did think about my shoes!
I got in three miles before the rain started, so I figured I would do five miles instead of my scheduled 7.25 miles, since I would be back to my car at the five-mile mark. I happen to like rain, so part of me didn't mind it. It was interesting having to dodge puddles, my shoe grip was okay, and I had already taken my glasses off. I did have to put my runner's watch and my iPod in my pocket -- note to self, on a gray day take a small zip-lock bag for these items.
Now just as I approached the parking lot, the rain stopped and the skies cleared. So I thought, what the heck, my shoes are not too squishy, why not keep going? So I did, aiming for my 7.25 mile goal.
Unfortunately, at the 6.5-mile mark, the rain came again. And I got back to my car at 7.1 miles, and just couldn't make myself do another loop to squeeze out the remaining .15 mile! I know, how silly! But I had done my time in the rain, so I didn't feel too guilty.
The good news is I don't have to run in the rain again -- at least not on purpose!
On Saturday when I headed out to the park under very gray skies, I did wear my older running shoes, just in case. It really wasn't supposed to rain until later in the day, so I wasn't 100% prepared, but at least I did think about my shoes!
I got in three miles before the rain started, so I figured I would do five miles instead of my scheduled 7.25 miles, since I would be back to my car at the five-mile mark. I happen to like rain, so part of me didn't mind it. It was interesting having to dodge puddles, my shoe grip was okay, and I had already taken my glasses off. I did have to put my runner's watch and my iPod in my pocket -- note to self, on a gray day take a small zip-lock bag for these items.
Now just as I approached the parking lot, the rain stopped and the skies cleared. So I thought, what the heck, my shoes are not too squishy, why not keep going? So I did, aiming for my 7.25 mile goal.
Unfortunately, at the 6.5-mile mark, the rain came again. And I got back to my car at 7.1 miles, and just couldn't make myself do another loop to squeeze out the remaining .15 mile! I know, how silly! But I had done my time in the rain, so I didn't feel too guilty.
The good news is I don't have to run in the rain again -- at least not on purpose!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
My Disney Store Is No More!
I went to the mall today to get my second replacement for my original green iPod Nano. (Long story, but let's hope third time's a charm.)
I thought I would pop into the Disney Store to see what was new -- but discovered that my Disney Store was gone!!!
How can that be? It's a nice mall that is doing very well and is full of lots of popular stores -- Apple, Aveda, Bebe, Hollister, Sunglass Hut, Macys, Lord & Taylor, etc.
My Disney Store has been there forever, since the stores were first created. It was there when the store staff were "cast members" and wore those cute sweaters and skirts. It was there when Disney Stores had collectibles, like watches and cells. It was there in the heyday of animation, when I would pre-order a VHS tape and show up at the store before the mall opened to pick it up. It was there when all the stores had a big pile of plush in the back of the store, with a video screen showing Disney movies.
But now, it's not there. I can't believe I am now in that group of consumers that doesn't have a neighborhood Disney Store. My sister's been in that group for years -- but not me -- I had a Disney Store. And now I don't.
This is not good.
I thought I would pop into the Disney Store to see what was new -- but discovered that my Disney Store was gone!!!
How can that be? It's a nice mall that is doing very well and is full of lots of popular stores -- Apple, Aveda, Bebe, Hollister, Sunglass Hut, Macys, Lord & Taylor, etc.
My Disney Store has been there forever, since the stores were first created. It was there when the store staff were "cast members" and wore those cute sweaters and skirts. It was there when Disney Stores had collectibles, like watches and cells. It was there in the heyday of animation, when I would pre-order a VHS tape and show up at the store before the mall opened to pick it up. It was there when all the stores had a big pile of plush in the back of the store, with a video screen showing Disney movies.
But now, it's not there. I can't believe I am now in that group of consumers that doesn't have a neighborhood Disney Store. My sister's been in that group for years -- but not me -- I had a Disney Store. And now I don't.
This is not good.
Friday, June 27, 2008
The Okay Movie Ride
Wow, I last blogged on Sunday. Hard to believe I couldn't think of anything to say all week?! I'll try to be a little more talkative in the future!
I've been thinking about the Great Movie Ride. I think because I heard some ride audio on a podcast recently. It's not a favorite ride of mine - not a must-do every trip. And the seats are too stiff for it to be a good "A/C rest/nap" ride.
It sure could use some updating. Which scenes would you keep or delete? Personally, I'm all for putting some more Disney movie references in the pre-show, post-show and in the ride.
I think I'll put a post up on the forums, so we can go wild re-designing the ride!
Hope everyone has good weather this weekend, and takes advantage of an opportunity to do a long run!
I've been thinking about the Great Movie Ride. I think because I heard some ride audio on a podcast recently. It's not a favorite ride of mine - not a must-do every trip. And the seats are too stiff for it to be a good "A/C rest/nap" ride.
It sure could use some updating. Which scenes would you keep or delete? Personally, I'm all for putting some more Disney movie references in the pre-show, post-show and in the ride.
I think I'll put a post up on the forums, so we can go wild re-designing the ride!
Hope everyone has good weather this weekend, and takes advantage of an opportunity to do a long run!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Lucky 7
Today was my weekly long run. I survived 7 miles, in 1 hour and 40 minutes -- about a 14.5 minute pace.
It was fabulous Michigan weather! Mid 70s, great breeze off the lake at the metro park I run at, lots of shade, but some sections of sun. Perfect!
I had added two new songs to my iPod Shuffle that I use for running -- the music from Soarin' -- very cool. I visualized the parts of the movie as the music played.
The other song was Clocks from Coldplay. Get it, clocks? Time? Half marathon? Actually, I didn't put two and two together until I heard it while running -- I just like the song!
My iPod Shuffle has about 30 songs that either give me energy or make me feel happy when I hear them -- just what I need to get through a long run!
Some of the others are songs from High School Musical and the Jonas Brothers. Also a couple from Barenaked Ladies, Guster and Kevin Hearn. And several from one of my new favorite bands, Carbon Leaf.
Let's have a good week of mileage and breathing hard!!!
It was fabulous Michigan weather! Mid 70s, great breeze off the lake at the metro park I run at, lots of shade, but some sections of sun. Perfect!
I had added two new songs to my iPod Shuffle that I use for running -- the music from Soarin' -- very cool. I visualized the parts of the movie as the music played.
The other song was Clocks from Coldplay. Get it, clocks? Time? Half marathon? Actually, I didn't put two and two together until I heard it while running -- I just like the song!
My iPod Shuffle has about 30 songs that either give me energy or make me feel happy when I hear them -- just what I need to get through a long run!
Some of the others are songs from High School Musical and the Jonas Brothers. Also a couple from Barenaked Ladies, Guster and Kevin Hearn. And several from one of my new favorite bands, Carbon Leaf.
Let's have a good week of mileage and breathing hard!!!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Time To Ramp It Up!
So I'm back in the real world this week, and back to the gym. It hasn't been too bad getting back on track.
We're now halfway through our year of training. Before my Florida trip, I had run 6.75 miles, half of the race. So on the one hand, I've made good progress so far.
But, on the other hand, the SECOND 6.50 miles is going to be tougher than the first!! And in the second half of the race is when we are really going to feel the Florida heat and humidity.
So it's time to RAMP UP my training -- tougher muscle work, more cardio work, and more running.
We're all in this together! Let's go for it!!!!!
We're now halfway through our year of training. Before my Florida trip, I had run 6.75 miles, half of the race. So on the one hand, I've made good progress so far.
But, on the other hand, the SECOND 6.50 miles is going to be tougher than the first!! And in the second half of the race is when we are really going to feel the Florida heat and humidity.
So it's time to RAMP UP my training -- tougher muscle work, more cardio work, and more running.
We're all in this together! Let's go for it!!!!!
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