6 minute read
A Mother’s Prophetic Dreams
Kang Min Kim talks about his haunting, personal, Ottawa Prize-winning short KKUM.
Amother prays for her son after having prophetic dreams in Korean director Kang Min Kim’s latest short KKUM, which won the Best Narrative Short prize at Ottawa last month. The L.A.-based director says he based his haunting black-and-white stop-motion short on his own mother’s dream. “I have made short flms (38-39°C, Deer Flower and Jeom ) based on real experience of my family. My new flm, KKUM, is based on my mother’s dreams, which have always been strong premonitions for important moments in my life. I rely on her dreams more than any religion. I can’t count how many dreams she had for me. I had to pick three lucky dreams and one nightmare for this short.” Otherworldly Dreamscapes: KKUM is inspired in part Kim, who handled almost all aspects of by the flmmaker’s mother’s prophetic dreams. the production, from design, story, fabrication, camera, animation, editing and post, began work on the short in July of 2019 and fnished animation in two months. He wrapped up the sound and music, which were handled by Barrett Slagle, in December of last year. Kim used Dragonframe, After Effects, Photoshop and Lightroom to produce the short. His mother actually provided her own voice for the project. “KKUM is the most personal and strangest ect when he was a graphic design student in mated short format? “I think that flmmaking flm I have made,” he admits. “But I hope audi- South Korea. “That project changed my life,” he is not mathematics. It doesn’t have an answer,” ences enjoy my flm from the opening to the recalls. “I realized this is real communication he replies. “So, I can explore my world withending. I want audiences to take a different that I want to have between designer and au- out any boundaries. This is why I was able to feeling, texture, and emotion from this short diences. So, I moved to L.A. to study animation change my style, material and technique with flm. It would be great if my flm makes them at CalArts. My animation idols are Yuri Nor- each one of my projects. I think short form is perfect for telling who I am, where I came ‘My new flm is based on my mother’s dreams, from and what I love.” which have always been strong premonitions for Now that he has won the Ottawa International Animation Festival’s most prestigious important moments in my life. I rely on her award, Kim is in the perfect position to prodreams more than any religion.’ vide helpful advice to newcomers in the feld. He offers, “I would like to say one thing to stu-
— Writer/director Kang Min Kim
dents: Making a thesis short is the last chance you can do whatever you want without presthink about their mother.” stein and Igor Kovalyov. I try to fnd and follow sure. It is a special vacation in your life. Enjoy The animation director says he knew he new flms made by directors who are working and make your beautiful thesis!” ◆ wanted to pursue a career in the feld when hard these days.” he used stop-motion for a music video proj- So, why does he love working in the ani- For more info, visit studiozazac.com/kkum.
Training the Next Generation of Animators
Point Park University’s acclaimed animation program offers a great mix of in-person instruction with virtual classes.
At Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa., the animation program sets itself apart from its competitors by having students start animating their very frst semester. “Animation is all about practice and experience. This early start gives our students an extra year of animation that most other programs do not have,” says Jonathan Trueblood, associate professor of animation at Point Park U. “We want our students to experience as much animation as possible before they graduate. Our students can choose to focus in 2D animation, 3D animation or motion graphics. During their frst two years at Point Park, students take two courses in each of these
areas to help them decide which path they would like to focus on. Additionally, they will take other courses in drawing, cinematography, and visual development to help bolster their creative skills and become more well-rounded artists.”
Point Park students also get to learn industry leading software packages like Toon Boom, Maya, Adobe Creative Suite, and Cinema 4D. In their junior year, students take Character Animation and Analysis 1 and 2 where they can focus on their preferred type of animation and software. These classes emphasize acting and animation on top of further honing their technical and foundational skills. By their senior year students already have had three full years of animation experience. This experience leads their senior thesis projects and demo reels to stand out upon graduation.
“Our students’ favorite classes are as diverse and different as the animation feld is these days,” says Trueblood. “Our ‘Fundamentals of Motion Graphics’ class, which
has been taught by an array of our wonderful instructors, is often an unexpected favorite with our students. Most students come into this class unsure what motion graphics is and often leave the class considering this as a potential new career path.”
According to Trueblood, the “3D Character Animation” class is another favorite. “This is our second class using Maya for character animation so we take the training wheels off and let our students have a lot of fun,” he explains. “Assignments include things like animal walk cycles, facial animation with lip sync, and the student favorite cartoony animation project with lots of smears and multiple limbs. Professor Morrison really focuses on the nuances of the performances and pushes our students to develop better workfows that enhance their output.”
Professor Trueblood’s “Visual Development” class continues to be a student favorite. “This class teaches them how to
take their ideas and build them into worlds. Each week is a new project that culminates into a fnal visual development portfolio at the end of the semester that is ready to be sent out to studios,” he notes.
Like many schools in the country, Point Park has incorporated online learning with in-person instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This semester we started using SyncSketch since we are both on-ground and online,” says Trueblood. “SyncSketch has been an incredible tool for doing class critiques, work in progress check-ins, and an avenue for feedback and discussion for our students. Knowing that some students will be online this year the school also purchased XP-Pen tablets for all animation majors that they can sign out and use. We’ve tried really hard to make sure that all the software we use on campus is available to those working remotely as well. The students have really done a great job this semester and their work continues
to be incredible despite the hurdles that have been caused by the pandemic.”
The good professor has some helpful advice for students who are considering being part of the program. “I think one tip I would give is to be more than just a fan of animation — be a student of it,” he says. “Understand early on why you like a cartoon or style other than saying ‘It’s cool!’ What are the principles of animation and art that make some flms or shows more successful? Study flms and art and practice making your own. There is a wealth of information, tutorials, books, videos, online courses, and more that are at your fngertips like never before!”
