Some Questions...

[Paul Fierlinger]

It's just that only now, now I'm planning to actually enter the field, animation apps come into view and I'm not quite sure what I should expect or what I should be looking for. Which app actually rewards hard work --

If you already have crates of drawings, my advice is stick to drawing and stay away from computerized shortcuts which are designed for those who are avoiding hard work -- and there is no other application so centered on drawing skills as TVP. You should also be able to search and find some pretty conclusive threads around here on how to conquer the Wacom tablet. I'd start with "wacom paperless" and go from there.

Paperless animation leads to accelerated speed in production and the joy of discovering a modern approach to handmade animation. If you decide to go this route, you won't need any other application besides TVP, a decent NLE and a basic sound application such as Audacity.

[slowtiger]

I agree with Paul. If you are already good in drawing, don't get yourself entangled into software issues. Did you already do animation on paper? Do you have a video camera? Then all you need is a simple Frame Grabber tool (FrameThief for Mac is actually Freeware - similar software is available for PC) to get your drawings into the machine and line them up in time. This will allow you to test your movements and get an overall feeling for animation.

I strongly advocate to first know your animation principles before switching to any software solution which tries to "help" you. (Yes, I'm very old-fashioned, much more than Paul.) ASP is quite a nifty bit of programming, but I am very fast in that program only because I did animation the traditional way for years before. I like the automated tweening between keyframes, and the puppet-like way to animate - but the program is only as good as the animator.

TVP is different because for the sheer animation process it doesn't offer you shortcuts. You still have to animate frame by frame by hand - which is a good thing. But after that it is very helpful for everything else - all the little tedious tasks which make animated filmmaking such a long and expensive process: colouring, camera pans, re-use and cycling, compositing etc.

As for using a tablet: find a good vendor in your area where you can test both a traditional Wacom tablet (did I say "traditional"??) and a Cintiq. Maybe you can even rent one for a week or so. I was using tablets for a decade, but never animated with them. Only after I bought a Cintiq I felt comfortable enough to really animate directly on screen. It is expensive, but for me it was necessary. In your case I think you might adapt to a different gripping position easily, because the Wavom pen is quite thick - you just have to test it.

I'd recommend TVP for learning. If you can afford it, get a Cintiq as well. It's one of the best combinations of hard&software I ever met.

[Debo]

Thanks again. Some really helpful stuff there.

Paul, I'll keep your advice in mind: TVP, NLE, sound app. I happen to have a couple of sound apps, like Audacity and Amadeus Pro, and as for NLEs: I have iMovie, but am looking at either Final Cut Express or Premiere Elements. Just whatever works, really. I'm sure both are fine. (By the way, and this is for slowtiger too: do you use TVP Standard or Pro?)

As for the tablet: like I said before, I'm sure I could learn to work with it. I can see the benefits of it and having tried out a few of the bigger tablets at the Apple Store today, I have to say it didn't feel as unnatural as I remembered. If indeed TVP and Cintiq are an ideal combination, that's probably what I'll end up buying. You suggested FrameThief: it's not freeware anymore, but it's not like it's expensive. I suppose PAP would work too. There are a couple like that. Having looked around a bit, I came across plenty of candidates and made notes. Fortunately most of them offer trial versions.

I haven't done animation on paper yet: that is, not seriously. Just a lot of training and scratching and practising and erasing, basic walk/run cycles, jumps, climbing, facial expressions, that kind of thing -- but nothing wild. I do have a video camera, and a flatbed scanner; working with those and doing basic animations are probably the logical next step.