Capture from YouTube

Animators always need reference material, and one of the best places to find that is YouTube. not only does the animator need good reference, but they need to go over the action sometimes again and again, so moving through a clip frame by frame is very useful.

So once you find a clip on YouTube that you like, you need the ability to grab the clip and save it to your hard drive. for this task I recommend using an application called Clip Converter http://www.clipconverter.cc/. This application is easy to use and very stable.

After you have the clip, you need to be able to step through it frame by frame, for this I recommend purchasing Quicktime Pro http://www.apple.com/quicktime/extending/. This is the best solution that I have found for viewing frame by frame, plus there are a number of other features in Quicktime Pro like file conversion and compression, looping, file trimming and a bunch of other stuff.

With these tools an animator can quickly get reference and use it to help nail down that action they are attempting with their characters.

Camtasia by TechSmith

In todays fast paced society people need things that save time, that is why I am posting about Camtasia Studios. This is a great tool for all computer users who are seeking quick answers to software related issues. With this screen recorder a person can give specific details about the issues they are having using on screen examples, this aids the viewer on the other end to see exactly what the issue is and offer advise.

What a time saver!

Link: http://www.techsmith.com/camtasia.html

Free 3D Models for Maya

Here is a great site for character models to use in Maya and other animation programs. There are a bunch of characters that have apparently come straight from games ( I have no idea how this is done) and are ready to rig.

Please keep in mind that there may be legal issues involved with pirating content and I do not endorse stealing. These models should be used for personal projects and never for profit, there are thousands of man hours involved in the creation of these models so give them credit for their hard work.

Link: http://tf3dm.com/3d-models/characters