Blog Redesign Complete - Introducing Animation and Video LIFE

Something silly from an unfinished animation project.
With the redesign finished, Animation and Video Blog (i.e. this blog) is now Animation and Video Life to bring it in line with my other blog, which I recently rebranded as The Extraordinary Tourist Life.

Why the New Name?

The purpose of the new names (but same URLs) is to kind of distance both blogs from the term 'blog' and to reposition them as more online magazines. Which is really what both sites have always been - where as a blog is more of a diary or journal, at least in its original incarnation.

The addition of the word Life is very appropriate as I'll still be writing about my own projects and life inside animation and video, but it also extends to anyone's life in this field. Making it easier for me to have guest writers, should I choose to do that in the future.

Easier to Read and Navigate on Any Device

One of the main goals of the redesign was to make this site more adaptable to any size screen. Whilst the site looks best on a full size screen, it now adapts to your device, and is especially easier to navigate and read in vertical format on a mobile phone screen.

Navigation based on Topics of Interest

Another major change is the site menu. Previously this had links to pages and my online stores which wasn't particularly useful for recurring visitors. Now the menu consists of search tags that link you directly to the latest articles in specific topic of interest. For example, if you're following this site for articles specifically relating to CrazyTalk Animator, just select that option in the site menu and you'll be taken straight to the most recent articles.

More Affiliate Links

Over time articles will contain more affiliate links if they are appropriate to the subject. Clicking these links (and clicking on Google Ads) will directly help me keep creating new content, whether that be new animated shorts, or developing other creative content.

Affiliate links will always be relevant, and I particularly recommend clicking on any Udemy links to teach yourself a new skill. I particularly like and use Udemy because there's no monthly subscription fee, you only pay for the courses you enroll in (and many of them are often discounted to the cost of a meal at your favorite fast food restaurant).

Two Ways to Subscribe

If you just want to be kept up to date with new articles posted to the site, use the Subscribe link in the page header, enter your email address, and you'll be notified of new articles.

If you want the occasional, personal message from me, along with any exclusive special offers that may come up from time to time, then click the newsletter sign up button. You'll be signed up to my newsletter for this site only (The Extraordinary Tourist Life has its own newsletter and sign up form).

I will warn you that I'm not very consistent with sending out newsletters. I try for at least once a month but I'm often very busy with projects... so, if you just want to keep up with new articles, the subscribe button is the best option.

---o ---o--- o---

Those are all the major changes of note. I hope the new look and layout will improve your overall experience, to the point where you feel subscribing is worth your while.

I will get back into regular weekly posts now the redesign is out of the way, with plenty of new content along with project progress reports to come.

Let me know if you like the new layout and what topics most interest you in the comments below.

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