James Lee Animation
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PLANET NOX #02: A Little More Behind the Scenes
🕑 Added 2022-10-21 06:47:16 +0000 UTC
Well, this is the first Planet Nox post since launching the Patreon, and I gotta say it’s going pretty damn good so far. Having a decent number of you all in here has meant that I can put more into the rewards themselves. The latest VFX breakdown video did great on here, and thanks to all the new signups who came from Twitter.
The Nox Update videos have been an interesting experiment, seeing if I can get something more spontaneous out quickly. I tested out a different production pipeline on both of them and am pretty satisfied with how close they turned out to the regular Nox vibe. They may become an official tier reward at some point. We’ll see.
For those on the Badass tier still waiting for your credit, I’m back to working on the main channel videos and should have something new out this month. Thanks for waiting patiently, I think I got something cool cookin’.
Above: Actual footage of me viewing my Patreon stats
Can you describe a bit more on how you get that sweet sweet juicy Nox look?
The movement is achieved via filming myself at a slower speed, and then speeding it up again in post to match the audio. There’s some speed ramping involved to finesse certain gestures, and extend the holds.
For the glowing glasses, I stretch a matte white mesh over the lenses, and Illuminate them via blue light. In post production I correct the illuminated blue areas to make them white.
The technical components only get me about 50% of the job. For the rest, I need to move in a way that’s going to sell the idea that I’m a pseudo limited-animation character. So that means holds, overlapping action, arcs, squash and stretch etc. Early on, I was focussed on getting the movement to be as appealing and ‘animation-ey’ as possible, whereas these days I’m more concerned with playing the character in a convincing way. Once I felt confident in selling the movement, I started to be more mindful of little gestures and actions that ‘break’ the character.. Especially in the earlier stuff, there’s a lot of little actions where I now think “Oh, he’s not Nox there, there’s too much James in that”.
Art direction glues it all together. What you emphasise, and what you don’t. What you make clear, and what you remove. Nox’s motif is ‘high contrast’. Black and white. All or nothing. His voice is crushed, the colours are crushed, the movement pattern is linear and crushed. It’s not a strict rule though, more a guide for my creative choices.
Will you ever make a fully animated film again?
Yes I think so. If I feel like taking a break from Nox for a little while I think I’ll make something that’s pure animation. Or maybe a comic. For a while I’ve been wanting to make something less internet-focussed, and more self-contained.
Who is Nox? What is he?
Certain lore and messaging aspects I like to keep close to my chest ;)
But I’ll say that I created Nox as a means to make shorts and content under a consistent umbrella. There were certain qualities I felt I had to hit to make it in the online space at the time, and Nox was my best attempt. ie: a potent brand or persona that draws attention. But he’s like a format as well. A new canvas, with some grit and hazy details preloaded. There’s enough of a skeleton structure there, that I’m not starting from complete scratch every time.
How did you learn to animate?
I started using a pirated copy of Macromedia Flash 4 when I was about 13 or so. I’d always liked drawing, and it blew my mind that animation was something that I could do on my computer. I loved watching animation on Newgrounds and it took me a good while to make something that didn’t get blammed off the portal. The experience gave me a leg up in uni, where I learned animation formally. This was during the peak of puppet/Flash animation. To this day, I’m much stronger at rigged animation than traditional.
Have you considered doing an animation series?
For sure something larger has always been the goal. Nox from the beginning has always been a development project for some kind of unknown bigger thing. Whether that be in an online form or a more traditional series format.
Gotta question you’d like to ask? Hit me up, maybe I can answer.
Here's a few old pics off my hard drive. A few of these were visualizing what NOX might look like in a game.
Doing:
- Blocked social media on my phone. Feels good. Thinking of doing the whole dumb phone thing.
- Bought a Sony Discman to listen to CD’s while drawing. Loving the vibe
Listening to:
Reading:
Playing:
- Overwatch 2
- Toejam and Earl
Watching
- Nothin’ this month
Realised that:
- There’s no point working extra hours if it takes from the next day
- I gotta get back into meditating
That's all for now. Thanks for supporting my Patreon and I'll see ya next time.
Comments
Dr. Nuclear Prototype
Overlord Nox would never forget his loyal subjects…
MrMelons
Thanks for this comment! :D
Laharl
MrMelons, I think we will get fixed in the next one. Love you James!!
MrMelons
Update: I’m pretty sure my comment was deleted off of YouTube for an unknown reason. Could be YouTube doing so because I included my Patreon username? Very confused rn lol.
MrMelons
Hey sorry to be a bother. I just wanted to ask something. I’ve been a $14 patron for two months now and didn’t receive credit in your most recent video. (Good Vibes and 90’s Anime) This might be because I had a two day gap in-between the redemption of my Patreon and that could’ve messed the crediting process for my account. My username is MrMelons. I’ve also left a copy of this comment on your most recent video. Once again, sorry for any troubles this causes. I absolutely love the content, amazing stuff. Just want to know if I accidentally messed something up. ❤
Laharl
Chills down my spine... "I want to grow..."
SlamHammer
These are some words to live by: "There’s no point working extra hours if it takes from the next day"
MrSerious
Yeah where are the nuts
Tony Black
All I want to know is where the hell are my goddamn peanuts that I was promised? And where the hell is my chicken that I was promised? Sir I need you to deliver on your promises!
Jamiethecomic
Please don't make Nox Updates a separate tier. At least keep it at the current Middle Teir.
Ash Ley
great stuff james lee just fantastic, i really love seeing your art if you ever were selling a book full of all ur sketches and other art i would totally buy it faster than sonic from sonic adventures 2
Jack_Wolfe
wait. what was that? did i hear the crinkling of limited edition shirts? Is that.. --SNIIIFFFS-- fresh prints of N0x air i smell?
Mr. Howell
Whoa, I had never considered a comic from you but that would be dope!! Maybe even some signings if you physically publish? ❤️ beautiful work, and I can't wait to see the next steps for you
Jeff
It took me several videos to figure out that Nox wasn't fully animated when I found your channel, so you definitely achieved that goal!
SaitoVonHiraga
Ever consitter a patron tier for small background characters?
Sally Branch
Do you have/will you create a Discord for us cult members? Also what's your favorite game of all time? <3
LightlessFilms
Thank you for these fun updates and behind the scenes videos
Scott Phillips
A little like Max Headroom but with way more style and intelligence.
James Lee Animation
I was huge Jim Carrey fan when I was a kid. I think a lot of that found its way in even though I didn't pick up on it until someone else mentioned it.
James Lee Animation
That's the plan eventually :)
Brad Phillips
I'm definitely loving all the updates and getting to know little things about you James. The soul reason I have a Patreon is to support amazing talent and creativity that you have. Always looking for more, and again much love. ❤️
ThatDovahkiin
Nox being a pseudo limited animated-character makes sense, you cracked the almost uncanny valley nature of him. Looks humans enough and acts human enough but through certain events the physicality changes, movement is warped and the voice gets more rough and distorted. It's very good and I can't wait to see where you take him or that style next. Also, was there inspiration for how Nox acts and moves? Because he reminds me a lot of Jim Carrey.
Slip_VA
You use a Discman? That's crazy! My Grandpa, before he passed, left me a Spongebob CD case with a Discman inside. I still use it for the good vibes. Love the insight into your work!
Shawn Holmes
Playin’ TJ&E. My man. I certainly hope bigger and better things occur with Nox, and I’d love to see a little web series with him. Like a 10 or 15 minute episode here and there.
The Mystery Commenter
Being able to know more about the past of our "cult" leader James has definitely solidified the bonds with the man behind the madness. Sometimes the human side of content creation is glossed over and neglected so its wholesome when aspects of personality are shown. Alway happy to here from you regardless of what it is! Forever cultist#666
Wrinklycat
Honestly I like how chill this post is, just answering questions ,and then adding the little 'What you've done in your free time' section is very interesting!! Hope everythings going well mentally , blocking social media is the best thing someone can do lmao
The Senate
I been sucked into playing overwatch 2 as well...been trying to play doomfist alot despite how weak he is atm
James Lee Animation
I wonder if the pandemic has fueled peoples' need for tangible objects. Like you I just woke up a few months ago and missed my trusty old blue discman. I'm just bummed I threw away all my burnt CD mixes from highschool
Splinters
I happily wait as long as it takes. Don't feel rushed just because this whole thing is here now. We are here for what you have done after all. I really feel the discman line as well. In a sudden burst of nostalgia and midlife crisis I got a minidiscs recorder. The original reason was for music making, but then I sat there making mixtapes(discs?) for hours. Keep going and have an excellent time
James Lee Animation
I love that. It sounds crazy until ya try it. I've been rummaging through relatives old stacks of Cds. I've regained the ability to appreciate whole albums again
DrBagPhD
Just wanna say the content you produce is so fukkin impressive. Legitimately love it.
Icy-Roulette
Man I felt that with the sony discman line. I just recently purchased a portable dvd player to take to my job at the airport so me and some ABM friends can watch the original g1 Transformers cartoon DvDs together
