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Timbuktoons is an award winning pre-production and 2D animation cloud based studio with customers all over the world. We have produced over 60 hours of original creative content and specialize in creating family-friendly media for the broadcast, education and gaming industries.

Thanks for a great year of fun projects!

Project: concept development, premises, scripts, visual development, art direction, character design, motion graphics, animation

Description: Timbuktoons helped develop a series of fun animated “how-to” videos to help encourage, inspire and train officials on new reporting procedures for helping former military in their educational endeavors.

Client, Project: Catholic Stewardship Consultants, Inc., concept development, premise, script, visual development, art direction, character design, animation

Description: CSC’s consulting services help parishes encourage stewardship in their communities. Theywanted a way to encourage those virtues in children too since giving back your time, talent and treasure is not an “adults only” message. Timbuktoons was asked to develop a show concept that could be used to entertain and educate children about stewardship as a way of life. We of course said…wait for it…robots!

Stewart Ship is a bored tween that questions the purpose of just about everything. That is, until he receives a mysterious gift that opens his eyes to making a difference in the world by sharing his God-given time, talent, and treasure with others.

Time for some relaxing in the shade and laying in your hammock. Unless, of course, some rats have taken over your watergarden!

Thanks to all of you for your excitement (and patience!) with the Fuzz Feud Pilot episode. We are currently finalizing a schedule to get this thing finished (stay tuned for the date). After starting full production (and right after moving the studio!) Timbuktoons unexpectedly was contracted to do several large projects…which we are just about to finish. So now we’re pulling on extra Flash animators to help us get production wrapped up.

We’ll have info on an official wrap date in the next couple weeks, so stay tuned!

We just finished moving our studios and the boxes are slowly disappearing…one day I’ll find our stapler. We’ve posted a few Fuzz Feud updates on our blog over at Timbuktoons.com and we’ll have more in the coming weeks.

We completed visual development of our “rat people” a while back and I wanted to give you just a teaser of that below. The rat people are Kickstarter backers who contributed $100 or more- thanks a bunch! They get to be an animated extra in the short…as rats!

The big news is that we’ll be completing the first pass of rough animation for the short next week!

What does that mean? The rough animation will help us know where we have to adjust timing and action sequences so we can move on to the polished pass.

My favorite scene so far? “Face Attack!” That’s all I’m gonna say.

More to come soon so be sure to keep an out for us online:

• Timbuktoons.com
• @Timbuktoons (Twitter)
• Facebook (search for “Timbuktoons”)
• And coming soon: UndertheOasis.com- our behind the scenes studio sketchblog!

1. Know Thy Script.
At Timbuktoons we typically write our own and our client’s animation scripts, so we’re familiar with the concept and characters. In cases when we’ve hired a writer we still developed the concept, characters, tone, and story beats before pulling them onto the project.

This helps greatly when it’s time to direct voice actors during a recording session. You need to know the characters and the story well if you want to give the actors/actresses good direction.

2. Don’t Be Shy. Direct!
Don’t assume the actors have the same vision or understanding of the characters that you do because they don’t. You hired them to act, not self-direct. Several years ago I learned a valuable lesson when I hired a fairly experienced stage actor to voice a few characters.

I gave him a one line description of a character, handed him the script, then let the sound tech start recording. I didn’t like the takes but didn’t want to say anything out of respect for the actor’s experience.

After several lack luster takes he said, “You’re the director!…Direct!” I learned a valuable lesson that day. Actors act. We direct. Give them what they need to do their best work. They feed off the direction you give and they understand that it’s your vision that they’re working on. Have confidence in your idea and direct with no inhibitions.

3. Go Deep
Explain the emotions the character is feeling. Describe what led up to this line…what this line is setting up…etc. Pick an analogy or relatable story to help put the voice actor in the characters head.

Refer to character types, or even specific famous characters. Use expressive words to describe the character. Show them the character designs. Your job is to make them that character.

4. Think Through the Logistics
Send beforehand all of your forms, intructions, directions to the studio, script, etc. to prep them. Put yourself in the actors shoes and think through what they need to know and make it a smooth ride for them so they can focus on acting.

5. Don’t Forget to Record the Incidentals
Even if you don’t think you need it, go ahead and record a few laughs, giggles, grunts, breathing,…and maybe even a burp or two. Do it while you have the talent there. Once your project is in post, you’ll be glad you did!

6. Do Several Takes
Even if they nail it on the first take. It’s always better to have too much than not enough. While trimming wood for house projects, my Dad used to say, “I cut it 3 times and it’s still too short!” So, make sure you have more wood than you think you need!

7. Calm Their Nerves
Climbing into the booth to record your lines in front of the director, sound tech and other actors, can make even a seasoned actor a bit uncomfortable. Joke with them. Have them take a deep breath or two when they need it. Have some bottled water on hand incase their throats get dry.

Frame your corrective direction in an encouraging and disarming way. The more relaxed they are, the more you’ll get a fluid and natural voice session from them.

8. Go With Your Gut
Don’t analyze too much. Pay attention to the nuances of each line and go with your gut. If something doesn’t feel just right, think about it for a second and give some direction, or have them do a couple more takes.

9. Invite Happy Accidents
Leave room for the actor’s interpretation. Cast your vision and have them record specific takes but allow them to run with it. You might be surprised what happy accidents occur. Animation is a collaborative art form from start to finish so invite creativity at each phase of the process.

10. Have Fun!
Last but not least, you must have fun at a recording session. No one likes a stuffy, boring session. If you and the actors are having fun it will come out in the dialog! Don’t forget why you first became interested in animation, because you loved it and it was fun!