My Graphic Design Services

As well as animation, I also work as a graphic designer - either designing bespoke artwork, logos or images - whatever is needed, really.

This summer, I helped a sensory brand development agency with ideas for their rebrand.

I was given a brief asking for something dynamic, simple, yet bold. They also requested hints of a tiger. They also liked stencil-like and single lines, as well as something geometric. Colour was also important for them, they requested for red to be involved, however, the business name itself couldn't be red.

Being one who likes a challenge, I created some various designs...

When given a rather open brief, it's important to liaise with the client about their thoughts on the ideas, thus far created.

I needed to find out which designs they preferred, so I could keep creating designs along a path of their choosing. Can you guess which design they liked the best?

I was also encouraged to be playful and modern with colour - easing up on the red aspect of the brief. So, the previous set of designs, then took me to these...

Further to this, I was asked to create additional designs that were more geometric and focused on a star shape, that wasn't too recognisable as a star.

I used contrasting colours to those I had already used and chose to keep the text as simple as possible.

This is what I came up with...

What do you think? Which ones do you like the most?

Hope you enjoyed seeing how my ideas and designed developed, following guidance from my client. Pretty interesting, right - to see how an idea evolves and moves forward.

Y'see, as an animator, I like to think I have a few more strings to my creative bow - or at least that's what people tell me.

I'm happy to quote for my services as a designer, if you think I might be right for the project you have in mind, that you need someone who's nifty with photoshop and a few ideas for some good graphic designs.

Cheers,
Marc :)

Animation Tutoring

As my wedding is now out of the way now, I've been able to find the time to jump back onto the bloggy wagon. I thought I'd tell you about something I briefly mentioned in a previous post... I've been working with my very first animation tutor, Alex Williams, with his online school, Animation Apprentice.

For a couple of years now, I've been working with him to create the school's newsletters and update our twitter account with the latest news and updates from Alex, but more recently I've joined the school as an online tutor too.

When Alex approached me to help him in the Facebook classrooms, I wasn't sure if I was ready. Had I been animating long enough to help others? After I thought about it, and taking Alex's own advice into consideration*, I took the opportunity. What the heck! I know the animation fundamentals, so let's see how it goes (...it was also really lovely to have a fellow professional and someone I look up to, believe in me so much to invite me into their business).

I was surprised at how easily I was able to offer insight. I could spot improvements in the work of the students quite easily. It's really rewarding too; being able to offer suggestions and support on other people's shots. I feel like my eye is developing an extra level of critique, which can only be a good thing to help me if ever I become a Lead Animator, or Senior within a team. It can be challenging when you see someone's shot, and you know it's not very good, to deliver the feedback in a caring and supportive way to help them, and not make them feel belittled or foolish. I feel I'm pretty good at that, but you never know, some of the students might disagree...?!

If you're keen to learn animation, come aboard. It's where I started, so who knows where you might end up.

Cheers
Marc x


*Something along the lines of: "Take every opportunity that comes your way"

My Updated Animation Reel

Hello!

The past weeks have been bonkers! Not only have I had my birthday, bachelor party, played through the Crystal Maze (I won 3 crystals, just sayin')...but I've also been planning my wedding (4 weeks to go!). In the middle of all that, I managed to update my reel.

I created my new reel for 2017 a couple of months back, but I've added some different shots and changed some bits around...so here it is...

Marc Godfrey. Animation Portfolio 2017 from Marc Godfrey on Vimeo.

You can check it out at my vimeo channel, or on my website.

As always, ping me a message with your thoughts on it, or just say hi (that's always good too)...or tweet me!

Cheers
Marc x

The Crippling Self-Doubt of an Artist...and Overcoming it

It can be hard, finding your way as an artist. One door closes, and you wait for the other to open. Whilst you wait, you're in that strange void-like, uncomfortable space. It's up to you to maintain your talent and artistic spirit by creating more work, and keeping yourself sharp for your next job.

Whilst putting together final plans for my wedding (8 weeks...stop-bloody-counting-the-weeks), I'm taking a breath to reflect on the work I've done so far in my animation career, and look to the advice from my teachers, seniors and peers.

My first animation tutor, Alex Williams, always said to us that we need to have skin like a rhino. Being an animator, is like being an actor. You'll get rejection, for many different reasons, but the most important thing is that you pick yourself up and keep going. You need thick skin.

Just to remind myself, here are some lovely blog posts, he has written about me:

The Animation Student Who Created His Own Job in The Theatre

Marc Godfrey Animator at Blue Zoo

Marc Godfrey Takes the Magic of Disney Animation Tour at Disney World

I must be making an impact with Alex, has he has asked me to help him with support for the new students at Animation Apprentice, with feedback to help improve their shots... Marc Godfrey Joins Animation Apprentice! (All that aside, it's nice isn't it, to reflect on successes... Y'know, instead of listening to that voice in your head, trying to convince you, you suck!)

Alex also wrote this about me, on a different blog. It's funny to scroll to the bottom, and to read, and take in my own advice... Escapee Success Stories - Blue Zoo Animator Marc Godfrey

I've also looked at a couple of Recommendations I've received on Linkedin, from some past Directors. Ahhh.

So, whilst I feel renewed, confident and ready to approach all challenges coming my way, I'm going to get on with a freelance logo design project (which I've nearly finished, I'll write a blog about it soon). As well as designing more stationary and order of service handouts for our big day.  

Remember - be a rhino!

Love Marc x

New Animation Reel for 2017

Marc Godfrey. Animation Portfolio 2017 from Marc Godfrey on Vimeo.

I've been playing around with a new animation reel to start the year off...and here it is. It includes some of the work I've been doing on the new Cbeebies series Numberblocks, as well as some of my Tree Fu Tom work.

You can check it out at my vimeo channel, or on my website.

Drop me a tweet and let me know what you think :)

Cheers
Marc x

Numberblocks!

Good news! The new show I've been working on with Blue Zoo, Numberblocks, is going to be shown on Cbeebies. It's part of the Alphablocks family, so if your kids liked that, they should like this too.

12K Views! Impressive, right?

It's cool that Cbeebies used an image from one of my shots as the holding screen for their Facebook video.

The series starts on Monday 23rd January, twice a day, 10:20 and 14:00. So tune in, to learn how to count, and helps little ones understand their numbers a bit better.

Tweet me @AnimatorMarc and let me know what you think.

...and whilst browsing through the comments section of Cbeebies Facebook page, couldn't help but raise a smile at this one...

Thanks to my fellow animators for pointing it out to me. Ha!

Cheers
Marc x

2016 is nearly over! Bring on 2017!

2016 has been a dark year. Even the most positive of optimists (and I include myself amongst them) can't fail to see how this year has proven to be the most miserable in at least, the last 10, if not more years.

We lost a great deal of talent. A very sad loss to their industries and fans - David Bowie, Victoria Wood, George Michael, Caroline Aherne, Alan Rickman, Carrie Fisher and Prince amongst those who left far too young. We also lost some who had a few more years on them, but will be still missed by many, including Terry Wogan, Carrie Fisher's mum Debbie Reynolds.

It was also the year anniversary of one my best friends passing.

In the political world, we lost a young politician, mother and wife, who was brutally killed for just doing her job, Jo Cox. Not forgetting the many victims of terrorism and violence - Aleppo, France, Belgium, Turkey, Germany, as well as the countless shootings in America from Orlando, through to Ohio State University. When will the USA ever tighten up their gun laws?

We had Brexit. The less said about the better...unless anyone can give me any actual facts, about what 52% of the UK voted for. Even still, no one knows what "Brexit means Brexit" means! We have a new Prime Minister, put in place after all the politicians responsible for the referendum and the scare mongering of the nation, did a runner!

We have Trump. Some how he became President of America. The chaos of the US election puts even more people into a greater state of WTF-ness. Things might not be so bad, if someone could just deactivate his sodding Twitter account!

2016 also saw random crazes like the Mannequin Challenge, Killer Clowns and the bonkers Deconstructed Coffee...and of course, who hasn't heard the mighty power of Pokemon Go!

Looking on the positives...I got engaged (I become a husband in 2017, how cool is that??)...and I finally got to see long awaited stage "sequel" to the Potter books, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I worked on 6 projects with Blue Zoo, became a BAFTA guru-pro and finally got to go Annecy Animation Festival. So, although 2016 was crappy for many, it wasn't all bad.

Wishing everyone a very successful 2017! Although its unlikely we'll get a BrexitEXIT, or a DumpTrump, I hope all your wishes for the new year come true.

Cheers
Marc x