I finished the 2nd page of the fan manga of the fanfiction Erased Potential. After the complete failure of my last art project, this is the only success I've had in making a drawing so far this year (and it's almost 1/4 over soon). Adobe Animate is really slowing me down. I mainly used Animate to make animations and vector art. However, I can't make the detailed hatching that I wanted to add in this page or custom create the lines in the program. The small, detailed hatching's a crucial part of any manga art style. I'll have to switch back to Krita for all digital art in the meantime.
My true goal in life was to make a special type of animation and I thought that Animate could've helped me do that. I even feared that it was the only one that could with its shape tween function for cut out animation models. I'm going to try Toon Boom Harmony, but I've already hit a snag when I installed it. When I create a scene, nothing else happens. The program simply closes I click the button. I can't seem to make even the simplest of animations without it being done by frame by frame with any kind of technology. I thought that it'd be possible to make complex animation and motion in cut out animations by now. I can't program my own animation software to make a modern digital animation process that won't break everyone's back, like it always requires a blood sacrifice for any and all animation projects. I know that it can be done and I can see how very clearly. I went out of my way to work with whatever was already there in Animate. It just really wasn't possible at all for what the process and end results needed. It just seems that technology will always get in my way and not be good enough no matter what.
I'll most likely have to find a full-time job again until I can fully work out what type of art to do for freelance for now. I really wanted the unique animation process to be the main focus and other digital art as a side piece for my animation studio. I had wanted to fill up my portfolio with original character animations showcasing complex movement in cut out animation to show what's possible. I had also wanted all of the preproduction aspects of animation for services, such as storyboarding and concept designs. Until I can find the proper tools, the business plan is scrapped.