Not many people understand me when I tell them I am a background artist. Basically in Hollywood terminology I am the guy with the props. You won't realise my presence until I am no longer present. I provide the secondary scenes for every animation. I am the backdrop guy.

My Work

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Basically my work is quite progressional. It consists of several steps and when combined you get a full picture. Here are the steps that will help anyone understand the process of animation.

You start with each individual props. These props will add depth to the entire backdrop.

Then there are several designs for each individual houses to be placed accordingly in the picture.

A basic house can be drawn but the details will be a play of tonal temperature to give it the edge and touch of realism.

Sometimes you will notice if you pay attention enough that some designs are similar and is a direct replica but because it is our secondar focus, we fail to notice it. What the animator did was merely to give it a different colouring. These are time saving techniques.

I show you one trick that if you are not attentive you will miss it. The first and second house on the right are from the same design but layered differently, coloured differently and sized differently. This is again a time saving technique that we always use to avoid designing countless of props.

The process after this is quite standard. Basic colouring.

Detailing.

Finer detailing.

Final Backdrop

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So the final result is actually a manipulation of props, layering of each prop, colouring and manipulation of perspectives.

I hope that the little that I share helps shed some light in our dark world of animation. You wont realise my presence until I am absent.

I am the one on the right and my trusty partner and buddy @rambai.