Congratulations and thank you for sharing your creative process with us. Beautiful and inspiring 
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Simply put, after a long buildup, hesitation, delaying again and again and again, I have terminated my long running business last week, Thalion Graphics eK., it accompanied me for 27 years, first while I was self employed as a software developer, and between 2014 and 2024 in 3D and CG video creation.
There are several reasons - one of them for sure that my talent as a salesman and connection builder is severely lacking, another probably that Iām just not skilled enough as an artist to prevail in that hyper competitive business, in particular as Iāve never enjoyed contests of any kind. But since genAI is on the market in force - and video genAI services have become available on top of that - Iāve observed a final, lethal drop in demand, in my little niche.
The great irony is, I thought being a true generalist would be advantageous - being able to design, draw, automate, manage large software projects, know about make and svn, know how to use library linking in Blender (hint hint, fellow Blender artists) all that stuff beyond 3D - I thought that would be perfect to make movies. And it was. Until no one wanted to pay for those clips anymore, and I was forced into specialist roles into productions of others - which, in itself, was a great experience, widened my horizon and all ā¦ but at the same time destroyed the initial idea we had (my wife was onboard too, but very quickly we reached the point where she couldnāt contribute much anymore, due to the nature of projects I was more and more forced to take - projects that I couldnāt divide, delegate parts to others, but had to work on myself ā¦ where, in many cases, I myself couldnāt play to my strengths anymore).
For what I can see, this market is overrun by unemployed and desperate specialists now, the larger studios using the opportunity to hire talent for no money, to take greater and greater bites from the cake, while the remaining generalists and freelancers are tied in a contest about whoās the earliest early adopter of new technologies, and who develops the speediest workflow to crank out stuff.
Not my world anymore.
Right now Iām just ā¦ tired, sad, frustrated. And - canāt deny it: angry.
My plan - the plan Iām already following - is to go back to creator owned work (which, in all honesty, is what I always wanted to do, and where I see my true purpose), and attempt to get along taking blue collar jobs that donāt steal and devour my brain. For that very reason: going back into sw development would be a complete nightmare ā¦
Of course I still hope I can give this a twist, and, in hindsight, call it a lost battle, and a tactical retreat preparing the successful counter offensive in 2025.
Anyway, for now, things are as they are. And thatās pretty sh*tty.
Only a while ago, I wouldnāt have posted all this here. But given the current overall situation, all the ongoing discussions ā¦ I think it might even help others if someone lowers the cover, and attempts to play with open cards for once.
Oh yeah, Iād like to have a Draakh friend too. 
A Dragon would be cool too ā¦ if it werenāt so hard to get along with them ā¦
Hey, of course! Would love to see your ideas ā¦
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Man, that sucks. Sounds like grief to me, and of course it does, parting with something that youāve put so much time, effort and soul into. While I donāt have anything useful to say, I think being kind to oneself in such times is the least you can do.
Blue collar jobs, while at first sounding like the completely wrong road to take, definitely have their advantages - being able to go home and spend the rest of the day or evening or night on your real endeavours can be a blessing. Of course, the struggle then becomes making your own stuff a priority and not getting lost in the āIām too tired after workā-game.
I would call it a ātactical retreatā no matter the outcome. Even if you decide to go on a new adventure, this time with a job that doesnāt have anything to do with your real passions and goals - everything is still aligned, you just have to take some time in the harbor, make plans and then set sails again.
Have you thought about documenting your process when working on your animations? Comics? Maybe a YT channel, giving people the chance to get to know your stories, building a community (sounds like advice I should give myself tbh) etc.
Anyway Iāll stop blabbering. 
Looking forward to sketch some Draakhs.
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Yes!
In my case, working a side job now, in agriculture (fruit growing, the logistics part). As poorly paid as can, however a whole new world has opened up to me: one of very kind people, caring and helpful to each other, no competition, no āIām the Greatestā career primadonna around. Many are multilingual to a humbling degree.
Also, itās a job thatās not geared towards making other peoplesā lifes harder, doesnāt manipulate, or increase āefficiencyā to eliminate peoplesā lifelihoods. Also, it doesnāt need complicated explanations to justify itself.
Instead it gets people fed.
Itās a much better fit to be run alongside creative endeavors than, say, high pay programming and all the corporate cr*p attached to it.
Also, in a weird way, it feels fitting, like the thing an āartistā should do ā¦
I have thought about it. However Iām painfully aware how much I suck at public relations.
Still, I might take another attempt. Next year.
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To finish this day in a pleasing manner:
I got lost in braids (apologies for the nudity).
Some context (for @good_omen, primarily): back in the jungle, one universe and big bang later.
CināThele realizes this world isnāt as peaceful and as much a paradise as she has initially thought. So maybe better donāt wear the hair open, and use some camouflage, for whatās coming up next.
Apart from that, I just liked the poses ā¦ and didnāt manage to come up with (or even start new) animated shots.
Fun fact, I rarely use reference, but for the above two I did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PeVRh6AoCs
I had no idea whether - let alone how - itās possible to braid long hair single handedly (well, strictly spoken, using both hands, but as a single person). Now I know more - and found out itās super pleasing to watch it being done.
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For sure, sometimes when things change you find something else you enjoy as much or more. I grew up farming and it can be very satisfying. You also now have the advantage of having a job that is very different from your artistic work. Who wants to work all day on a computer and then go home and do that same thing. Thatās the problem I have now. Hopefully this works out for you.
You have a good thing going with this project and who knows where that will lead. Iād say keep it up as long as you can. Things change. They always do and once in a while, even for the better. Best of luck.
As a side note. If youāre not good at something (sales, public relations etc.) get someone else to do it for you. Really, itās not hard and sometimes a very good idea. Yes it may cost some but hopefully bring in much more. I highly recommend it.
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Not easy to carry on at the moment, but Iām trying ā¦ the moment of final āgoodbyeā:
Ethelās moment is incomplete - I was so dissatisfied with the acting that I didnāt bother to clean up, or add the moment where he turns away.
Instead, after a walk with our dog yesterday afternoon, during which I attempted to slip into Ethelās skin and act out the moment for mysrelf , I started over and did a much more exaggerated version:
My wifeās comment: wil he be singing right now? 
In short, she prefers #1 ā¦
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To be honest, #1 feels a lot more natural to me, too. 
Love the animation!
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