wow, everyone just jumped all over your egoraptor example. I don't think you were attacking him as much as using him as an example that everyone knows. It's good he's having fun doing what he's doing.
though grocery shopping and tire changing isn't really much of a replacement for that lol - Video games are something a lot of users identify with, Egoraptor included. He enjoys them, so he made cartoons about them.
I totally see what you're saying about the film making thing. It's great for people like Swain who have great talent in having a story and vision and having great animating skills as well.
As for Emanhatten's comment about that guy quitting animating - that's silly of him. Just because people will love anything he does, that shouldn't stop him from wanting to continue improving. I wouldn't just crap out new animations - I'd want to get better. And doing it so much, you can't help but get better, I'd say.
Again, look at Ego, his animation skills have really changed since he started. Kirbopher is the same as well - he's studying animation and trying to use a lot of fbf more often. It's good for people to continue doing what they love and still learning and improving.
I think an animator doesn't have to be the best crazy fbf'er out there. It just needs to be someone with a vision and a drive to create something. Everybody's gotta start somewhere and eventually, you'll get better. Nothing's wrong with doing video game parodies or collabs or jokes - all that will help you improve.
farfenwaffle
hmmm... im an animator... defenately, i lack the ways of creating storie so i just make mindless violence until some randome person emails me telling me to animate something. im a neat freak when it comes to making the easing just right on my frame by frame and sometimes redo up to 100 frames jsut so i can re animate it so its awesome.
i think this is a great question.