Friday, December 19, 2008

Dialogue

Here's my spline animation for a dialogue shot, with limited facial controls - work in progress.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Blocked Dialogue

Here's my blocked animation for a dialogue shot.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Class 3- Animation Mentor

Here's my blocked animation for a 2 beat acting shot.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Progress Reel

Here is my Progress Reel from Class 2

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Dive

Here's my splined animation for the Dive.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Dive

Here's my blocked animation for a Dive.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Jump

Here's my splined animation for the pole Jump.

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Jump Block

Here's my blocking animation for the pole Jump.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Ballie 180 degree turn

Here's my polished animation for the 180 turn.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Animation Mentor Class 2

Well, I started back up AM two weeks ago. Here's my first blocked animation for the 180 turn.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Wall•e


I saw wall•e at the midnight showing. It was incredible. Wall•e is totally an ET meets Johnny 5. The movie was superb; the animation was incredible especially since the main characters don’t speak much. I definitely give it two thumbs up, go see it. Don’t forget to see Kung Fu Panda too, another great film this summer. I think it’s one of Dreamworks best films.

Friday, May 09, 2008

Thesis Defense

Well, I passed my defense. It was so nerve racking. There are still a few things I would like to fix.
Here are the suggestions of the panel:
The credits - do a dissolve. Scrolling text has bugs in after effects.
Fix the lights
Bring the animation to that polished level (more movement)
Watch the cuts- on the one the guy’s arm should be in the shot

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Thesis Due

I handed in my project about hour ago. I had so much trouble burning my dvd. Idvd keep taking the sound from the previous projects. It's finally in and done

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Update

I got most of my shots rendered yesterday except for two and I still want to redo the occlusion pass. I want to tweak the animation on shot 4-20 a bit today. I’m also going to do the 2-d skeleton, tweak the color and fix the glow effect. The book is pretty much done; I’ll get it bound tomorrow, and burn the two disks than as well.

Monday, April 28, 2008

What I still need to work on

Three days left and I still need to:
Fix the animation for Shots 3-20 and 4-20
Re-render out the shots with new render layers
Composite and fix colors
Motion Blur
2-D skeleton
Fix the Book
Burn the DVD and Data CD

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Update

My first shot has been taken 12 hours just for the beauty pass. The others seem to be ok. As I was compositing, I realized I set up my render layers wrong. For example I had the dog on a separate layer than the table, I thought that would work for the motion blur. Now the dogs hand is under the table. My lights need tweaking too. At least I should have a sample to show Mike tomorrow. I’m going to have to start re-rendering everything tomorrow and fix my layers and lights. I also want to fix the animation on two shots yet. My plan is to start re-rendering tomorrow on one computer. To fix the animation on another as well as fix the 2d skeleton for the electrocution shot. Rendering tomorrow night as well as I’ll have to fix my book. Hopefully I can work on compositing, and the motion blur on Tuesday any maybe burn my DVD on Tuesday night

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Render Update

Well, my renders were quick. Now that the characters are smoothed out, the renders are taking much longer. My first shot has been rendering since 10:30 this morning and is still going. Luckily the lab is quite so I look over two more computers, one to render with and one to animate with. I got two more shots rendered and set another for tonight.

Animation Update

Well I'm still fixing four shots. My goal is to have everything ready for Monday to have Mike look at it and let me know what last minutes fixes I should make.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Things I need to do

Well it’s less than a week left, and I still have a big to do list.
Notes to self:
My shots I have to fix are two, five, ten and eleven
Shot one- tweak animation if time and render
Shot two- tweak animation and render
Shot three- tweak animation if time and render
Shot four- tweak animation if time and render
Shot five- tweak animation and render
Shot six- tweak animation if time and render
Shot seven- done :)
Shot eight- tweak animation if time and render and fix the 2-d effects
Shot nine- done
Shot ten- tweak animation and render
Shot eleven- tweak animation and render
Credit- make sure audio ends ok
Let not forget the book and DVD

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Meet with Patricia

I meet with Patricia today, here's what I need to work on:
-More facial overall
-Shot two effects on his hand, blur, and add to the dog. Too stiff. Maybe tap fingers.
- Both characters to stiff
- When the light bulb goes out- more reaction from the dog, thinking, tilt of head
- Add to the frame when man in reacting with light bulb, have dog go out of that frame.
- When the man gets the light bulb, have him move bit more at the end, and facial look up, eyes. In the next shot, stiff all the animation keys
-Have action move from one to the next in cuts
-During electrocution, dogs are is to stiff. Shake the lamp
- Facial most at end, especially in dog, he's pissed- strain in ears and eyelids
-End Shot, bit more tilt on old man - grin
More emotion

Motion Blur Test

I used reel smart motion blur on the dog, here's the first shot.

Sound and Storm Update

Well here is the updated animatic with the edited sound and storm effects for the first shot. I'm still fixing the animation; I hope to be done with it on Sunday.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Background Images

I finished the background images that go into the picture frames today.











Stormy Weather Effect

Well, I worked on the weather today for the first shot as the camera dollies through the window. It didn't come out bad.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Sound Update

Here's the new version of the sound with Michael's voice.

Things to do this week

1- Refine Animation, and start refining final shots – I’d like to have all the animation done by next Sunday, that will give me a few days to but everything together
2- Fix any last poses for the images.
3- Fix the effects
4- By Sunday – start compositing and fixing the book

Paperwork Update

Only 10 days left, the countdown begins. I have all the pre-vis stuff together and some of the thesis documents. I'm going to work on some paperwork today. I need to make sure this is all in order.
Final Deliverables

1. DVD, encoded
1.1 This DVD should contain your final thesis project and play on regular consumer DVD players.
Its primary purpose is to present your final piece in front of a panel/audience. This will be the DVD played during your presentation. Double check that it works and is labeled!!! A DVD handed in presentation day will not be accepted and viewed for presentation.

2. Printed Documentation of the Production Process
2.1 Thesis Statement and Thesis Synopsis (Updated if different from PreViz)
2.2 Faculty Critique Report and copies of Evaluation Criteria Forms
3.3 Industry Critique Report and copies of Evaluation Criteria Forms
2.4 Additional research materials including images and text references
2.5 Additional or changed production design elements, modified visual script
2.6 Post Thesis Self Critique
2.7 Acknowledgements, Production Credits and Clearances
2.8 Bibliography & appendices as it applies

3. Printed Documentation of Thesis Previsualization
3.1 One printed color copy of your un-edited pre-visualization booklet
This document will NOT be graded! It is an important part of your oral defense to the panelists.

4. Data DVD/CD
The data DVD is required for archiving purposes. It should contain all major components of your project such as:
4.1 Quicktime DV version of your thesis project
4.2 PDF data file of your complete Previz Thesis Documentation including text and images
4.3 PDF data file of your complete Execution Project Thesis Documentation including text and images
4.4 Showcase Catalog Image 720x540 or HD hero shots for promotional purposes (see spec sheet)
4.5 Additional stills at least 720 X 540 of your final project for promotional purposes
4.6 Important reference materials, additional pictures, text files and video clips etc.
4.7 Animatics
4.8 Additional Proof of Concept Tests, animations, models etc.
4.9 All digital elements of your previz submission: animatics, proof of concepts, reference

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Animation Update

I worked on 4 shots this week, and I feel like I brought them up another level. One I consider done for now. I’m going to bring the other shots up to that same level this week. I also got some of the effects working. I’m leaving tonight with a test render of the motion blur.

Animation Reference - Speedy

The witch meets speedy. The witch actually has some nice touches like when she speeds off, her hairpins fall out. The short has some good reference for motion blur which I’m working with on the dog. It also has some nice samples of smoke which, I might add to Flash, if I have time.

A -Haunting We Will Go
A-Haunting We Will Go. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 16 April 1966
Director: Robert McKimson

Voice Over

I meet with Michael and Alistair last night to record the voice over. Michael did a great job; I can't wait to hear the final cut.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Sound Update

I got Michael Schultz to record/act out the voice of the old man and dog for me. So Michael, Alistair and myself will meet up on Friday Night and record the sound.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Animation Update

I have one shot left to spline, which I’ll work on today. I worked on the take yesterday. I think it looks ok. My goal is to get all the shots up to that level within the next two weeks. Then if I have time, go back and tweak them all again.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Animation Reference - Speedy and Slowpoke

Both shorts are great reference for the timing of my piece.

Mexican Boarders
Mexican Boarders. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 12 May 1962
Director: Friz Freleng

Mexicali Shmoes
Mexicali Shmoes. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 4 July 1959
Director: Friz Freleng

Monday, April 14, 2008

Animation Critiques

Notes:
Well we had an animation meeting today.
Squash dog more on jump off the stool
In the first Shot, keep the one foot and opposite hand at the same time
Electrocution – more/bigger glow, start in chest not at the lamp
Electrocution – tone actually body to the color of the glow
starting with the color than go to white, then the opposite color
Electrocution – make sure light come from lamp.
Don't change animation at this point

Lightning Shot 3_70 Test

Working on the lightning effect. In AFX it doesn't have that rough edge. Here is a test.
Lightning Test

Electrocution Shot 3_70

Here's a test, I think it's too fast.
Electrocution Test

Sunday, April 13, 2008

first pass on sound

Well, we can hear that Alistair had fun

Actually he got it really close to the reference.
As a reminder, here’s my sample:
Quiet Please!

Update

I plan on working more on my book today, and maybe some 2-D things I need to finish. I need a break from Maya.

I got some good suggestions this week. I had Chris a first year look at my piece for a fresh eye. He gave me some suggestion that could be quick fixes for the animation. John a graduated student also game me some easy fixes. One was to have two glows, and have them switch into each other, maybe even two different colors.

My Plan for next week:
Spline/Fix/Refine Animation
Play with Render Occlusion Passes
Work more on the Effects- Glow (Transfer of Powers) Rain/Thunder, Skeleton (Electrocution)
More Images for the Wall
Fix Paper/ Book Updated

Progress

Well this week I wanted to spline all my shots. I didn’t block them out as well as I would have liked to, but I know from experience that every time I go from blocked animation to spline my timing changes. I felt that I would spline this week and than fix the splined animation. This week I got to spline most of my shots excepts the last 4, put I had blocked them some more in the beginning of the week, so at least every shot was worked on this week. I spoke with Alistair this weekend; he’s going to start working on my sound.
Here’s my updated animatic:

Saturday, April 12, 2008

More Problems

Well I was working with the constraints again today. I was having so many problems. It might be because I’m just so tired that I can’t focus. I’m going to try Michael’s suggestion again on Monday. But for today, I animated the object and the model. I just feel as though I can’t progress forward, since I keep falling into problems.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Picking and choosing my battles

I find that at this point in production. I’m picking and choosing my battles. I’ve been working though my shots again this week. I left the lab Thursday night and set some renders and everything was fine. I walked in this morning all my textures and animation on the guy were all messed up. I wound up having to revert back to an older rig with less facial controls. It was either that or redo the animation on everyone of my shots. Today I’m playing with constrains. I need to constrain the light bulb to the characters hand. The problem is that the control on the hand when it moves, separates from the wrist, and with constrains the object follows the controller. I’ve tried a few different ways; I’ve even tried parenting it to the bone. Another animation student, Michael gave me one-way by working with parent and orient constrains and animating the constraint controls. I’ll give it a try again.

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Greg's comments

Well I had emailed Greg Rizzi one of the industry members from the animation panelist. Since I had trouble with my rigs I didn’t really have any animation to show them. He wrote back to me today, He found some of the story unclear.
1) There are a few things that are unclear. I am not sure why the flipping of the light switch and the changing of the bulb switched the two characters' powers. Is it because the man tries to put the new bulb in the socket before the dog turns off the light switch?
2) Perhaps you should think of a better way to show the two characters being electrocuted. Maybe have a close-up of the man's hand going into the light socket.
3) Also, a close-up of the blown bulb right after it blows might help clear that up.
4) If the dog turns off the light switch, why does he still get electrocuted?
5) Perhaps, simplifying the idea even more is best. Maybe the piece should simply be about the two characters playing checkers where the dog is really fast, but the man is slow and more thoughtful about how he plays. The dog is so quick to move his piece that he doesn't realize he's made the wrong move. The man realizes it and makes one final agonizingly slow move to finish off the impatient dog.
6) These are all things to think about. They are not concrete things that you must do in order to complete your piece. It's all about keeping your ideas simple, and most importantly, clear to your audience. You may ask several different people and get several different ideas of what to change and how. Part of becoming an animator is realizing what you can do and what you have time for. It can be difficult to sort through critiques, but I hope these things help you along. Lots of luck. I'd love to see it when it's further along.
So I decided in the shot were the man is screwing in the light bulb, to not have his arm go up as high, I think this might read better. I hope once I add my 2-D effects for the electrocution scene, It will read a lot better. I feel I have to work on the dogs slide better too, to help it read.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Meeting with Patricia

Well I meet with Patricia today.
Her comments were:
to get the secondary animation in. (especially the wheelchair)
Let the dog’s body move more.
Make sure the dog is in frame for the action shots.
Transfer of power is not clear yet.
Exaggerate the guy even more, and make sure his personality comes across, plush the slow factor
Also detail the end a bit more

Flexman Rig

Well I go the final Flexman Rig, with all his facial controls. So I’m on my way.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

List of things to do this week

Another pass of Animation – I wrote Nick, Mark and Greg for feedback on what I have so far. I’m hoping this will help
Play with Render Occlusion Passes again
Effects- Glow (Transfer of Powers), Skeleton (Electrocution), Fix Rain (lighten)
More Images for the Wall
Fix Paper/ Book Updated

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Animatic Update

Well, I almost got through all the shots again this week. I have to fix the last 24 frames on the electrocution shot and than go through them all again.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Animation Update

Well, I'm working on my second pass of blocking the animation. I hope to get through all my shots by Saturday. My plans are to go each shot again next week. We have less than a month; I know I should leave a week to render and composite. Although I got somewhat caught up, I still feel behind.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Rain Effect

I found a rain plug in for after effects. It works quite well.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

List to Do this Week

Block more Animation
Play with Render Occlusion Passes
Effects- Glow (Transfer of Powers) Rain, Skeleton (Electrocution)
More Images for the Wall
Fix Paper/ Book Updates

Animation Reference - More Looney Tunes

Run and slip Slide
This is great reference for Flash when he's running to help Flexman.

Eatin' on the Cuff or The Moth Who Came to Dinner. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 22 Aug 1942
Director: Robert Clampett

Reaction and Run
This is great reference for Flash. They have a nice reaction than a take off to a situation.

Polar Pals. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 3 June 1939
Director: Robert Clampett

Run and Slide
This is great reference for Flash when he's running to help Flexman.

What Price Porky. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 26 Feb 1938
Director: Robert Clampett

Animation Reference - Looney Tunes

Finger Tap
This is great reference for Flash. The impatient finger tapping

Buckaroo Bugs. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 26 Aug 1944
Director: Robert Clampett

Finger Tap
This is great reference for Flash. The impatient finger tapping
the Take
This is great reference for Flash, on the take, when he flips the switch
High Speed Run
This is great reference for Flash, great anticipation with a high speed run

Hare Ribbin. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 24 June 1944
Director: Robert Clampett

Old Age
This is great reference for Flexman, old age.
Old Age 2
This is great reference for Flexman, old age.
Old man (Bugs) Walk
This is great reference for Flexman, old age.

Old Grey Hare. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 28 Oct 1944
Director: Robert Clampett


Overlapping Action
This clip is just a great example of how Overlapping Action works.

The Bashful Buzzard. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 15 Sept 1945
Director: Robert Clampett

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Updated on Animation

Well as of today, I posed out all my shots for the animation. I don't consider it blocked, but a place to start from. One month left, the pressure is starting to sink in. At least I put AM on hold, so I’ve opened up a lot of time for thesis.

Flexman Rig is done

Well, today I got the final Flexman Rig with facial controls. Here he is posed out.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Update Animation

Well I’m still tying to get very basic blocking done in my animation. I figure I’ll just keep building up each of the shots as I go along, so it’s all at least at the same level by the end. Working in the lab has helped. John introduced me to Tradigitool, a Maya plug in that helps you animate in-betweens. It was created by an Animation Mentor teacher. I bought it, even though I’m not up to that part yet.
Check out Tradigitools Website

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Last Animation Mentor Class 1

Well last night was my last class of basic foundations. It was a great class. Our mentor Chris Chua gave really great critiques and was very specific in how to fix the animation. The class itself was so helpful on giving advice once I posted a public review. I’ve decided to postpone class two till the summer term, in order to focus on my Thesis.

My Progressive Reel

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Update on Flexman Rig

Well Hunter gave me the skinned Flexman Model today; I’m just waiting on the blend shapes. So I can start poses him out too.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Update on Project

Well I’ve been starting to block out my animation. It’s so late in the game to start this and it’s taking so much time. Everything has been taking so much time, it seem once a week is done, I think to myself that’s all I got done within all that time. I’m going to continue blocking out my animation. I’ll work on my effects and images for the frames on the days the lab is closed since my computer at home is getting a bit slow when I’m animating with the files that contain a lot of geometry and textures.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Meeting with Mike

Industry Review Write Up

Faculty Review Write Up

Showcase Catalog Image-

Animation Thumbnails

Just some quick thumbnails to give me a starting point for animation.




Texture Sample

Here's a sample of the texture and lighting, It still needs a few tweaking.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Animation Reference - Looney Tunes

Red Riding Hoodwinked
This is great reference for Flash. It has a run and a skid, good for when Flash is coming back to save Flexman.

Red Riding Hoodwinked. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 29 Oct. 1955
Director: Friz Freleng

Wolf Motion Blur
This is great reference for Flash. The character moves so fast all we see is the motion blur
Wolf Run Cycle
This is great reference for Flash. It’s a really cool run cycle.

The Trial of Mr. Wolf. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 24 April 1941
Director: Friz Freleng

Tom Thumb
This is great reference for Flash. Tom slips on a bar of soap. IIt has a run good skid for when Flash is coming back to save Flexman.

Tom Thumb in Trouble. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 8 June 1940
Director: Chuck Jones

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Flash Rig Done

Well Koichi sent me the Flash Rig today. I'm so grateful to him, I didn't want to have to scrap my model after spending all that time on it. Here's a simple pose, he's 100 percent better than what I had.
007

Animation Reference - Enchanted

Reference for the Character Personalities- Here is a scene that has one character acting out two different personalities. Even thought there is no dialogue, it works so well.
Personalities

Enchanted. Dir. Kevin Lima. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2007

Animation Meeting

The character animation students meet for the first time yesterday to go over each other’s work. Unfortunately I didn’t have anything for the to judge yet. However, I can see how theses weekly meeting are going to help us out.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Update

Well, I finished all my textures expect for the two characters; I’m waiting for the final rigs. Koichi is working on Flash and Hunter is working on Flexman for me. I so grateful, I’d still be rigging or have to ditch my characters and use online rigs by now. I also have three copies of my pre-thesis book all printed out. I’m still working on the images for the wall. Once I get the rigs, I will only need to animate and do the few effects: Work on Rain, Glow Effect, Motion Blur, and Electrocution. Maybe tweak things. It’s also my last week of homework from Animation Mentor; I’m going to take a term off to have more time finish my Thesis. Even though it was a lot of work doing the two schools, I feel I learned a lot about animation from AM that I can apply to my thesis.

Lighting Sample The Incrediables

Well I was going though my animation reference, and found a great lighting reference. It actually has a similar setup to my room too.

Animation Reference - Smallville - super stretch

Reference for Flexman- Pete gets the super stretch ability:

Stretch Arm
Stretch Arm for an Object
Pete saves Kara

Hero. Smallville. The WB Television Network, Los Angeles, California. 13 March 2007

Revised Thesis Statement

During all of the reviews, I was getting back on my papers, marks that suggested my thesis statement matched my project, so I revised it to have it match the characters personalities.

A Character Animated Short with an emphasis on timing and poses that showcases the conflicting personalities between a retired superhero and his sidekick dog in a cartoon style.

Title Design

Polly worked on my Title Design, and It came out great.

Animation Reference – Underdog - The Big Shrink

Reference for Flash- Fast Run, showing how the sound effects and motion blur really adds to it.
Fast Run

The Underdog Show
The Big Shrink, Part 2. The Underdog Show. NBC Network, New York, New York. 1, Dec. 1964

Monday, March 17, 2008

Animation Reference – Underdog - The Great Gold Robbery

Reference for Flash- good anticipation before a run, Nice pose:
Anticipation Run

The Underdog Show
The Great Gold Robbery, Part 3. The Underdog Show. NBC Network, New York, New York. 1, Nov. 1964


Reference for Flash- Running and Skidding when he sees Flexman getting electrocuted:
Run and Skid

The Underdog Show
The Great Gold Robbery, Part 4. The Underdog Show. NBC Network, New York, New York. 1, Nov. 1964

Animation Reference - Underdog -The Gold Bricks

Reference for Flash's Ears- good for when he hears the electrocution:
Ears Up

The Underdog Show
The Gold Bricks, Part 3. The Underdog Show. NBC Network, New York, New York. 1, Oct. 1965

Industry Review Paper

Industry Review Write Up

Friday, March 14, 2008

Horton Hears a Who

Well a few of use at NYU went to see Horton today. It was more exciting to see it since we had teachers that worked on the film. It was great. It would actually have been great reference for my project. First of all Morton, is extremely fast, much like I want Flash to be. There is one scene in the movie, where the Mayor had got a Novocain shot in his arm by mistake. That was originally how I wanted Flexman to be when he loses the elasticity in his arm. I’ve now cut that part out of the story to save time to be able to finish it.

Meeting with Cushny

Well I meet with my advisor today about the review. I’ve decided instead of cutting my story to the checkers game as the panel has suggested, I would edit my story down. I cut out part of the short taking into consideration what the Industry panelist concerns where. I feel I’m in a better state.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Industry Review

Their Advise:
Mark Harris, Blue Sky Animator
- Models more expressive
- Animate; don’t get caught up in other stuff
- Story clarity, animation clarity
- Find 1 or 2 shots in the story to animate
- Shorter film
- Great reference, ideas
- 70 frames per week –try to hit
Show characters contrast- that’s the point of your story

Gregory Piizzi, Blue Sky Animator
- choice one idea that’s simple and realistically achievable
- Use poses in layout to convey idea
- Make sure your idea is clear
- Keep your idea down to one or two shots
- Good real is about quality, not quantity

Patricia, NYU faculty
- Redefine thesis point
- Take the opportunities to shit down and animate characters traits rather than characters action

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Getting Ready for the Industry Review

Well I'm still trying to block out animation with Rigs that aren't done, it doesn't work well. I can't get the Flash (auto rig) model to scale. Flexman is breaking since his rig isn’t skinned yet. I think I am going to wind up have a mixed 2D and 3D to show. Nothing is going right for me. I'm tired, stressed out and rushing to get it done, a bad combo. I just wish the review were after spring break. I don’t like the idea f getting feedback from the industry professionals when I’m not at the point to receive animation feedback.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

To Do List

Things I need to do for during break after blocking out my animation for the review.
1- Block Animation
2- Fix Rigs/ Blend Shapes
3- Finish Texture
4- Work on Rain/ Glow Effect/ Motion Blur
5- Images on the wall
6- Refine Animation

Animation

Well I got my Animation Reference from filming myself or from the reference I've collected from movies. The Rigs stills need a bit of work. Flash needs to be tweaked and Hunter will finish Flexman over the break for me. I'm ready to start to block, a bit late since I need it tomorrow night. I hope to get caught up over the break; I'll have a bit more free time not working.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Update Rigging

Well, I'm still trying to fix the weights on Flash. I think I'll have to start blocking out my animation tomorrow in order to have something done for the review on Wednesday. Hunter's still working on Flexman. He said the Skelton is done, so I might just do a quickly paint weights for the review. I'm so looking forward to Spring Break to get caught up on my work.

Friday, March 07, 2008

Blendshapes

Well I worked on the blend shapes. I've never used them before, there actually quite easy. Here's a tutorial I found.
Blend Shapes
I’m still working on my Rig.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Animation Reference - Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four Richard Reed was great animation reference for Flexman.

This was good reference for how the stretch ability reacts with the actor’s expressions
Finger Stretch

This is great example of how the different body parts stretch when not always affecting the whole body
Dance Scene

This is great example of the body stretchy being pushed to it's max.
Extreme Stretch

All are these are during the fight scene when the one character has all four powers, but there is some great stretch effects.
Stretchy 1
Stretchy 2
Stretchy 3

Both of these are great examples of the transfer of power. They used a similar effect to the glow effect Nick told me to do.
Power Transfer 1
Power Transfer 2

Fantastic Four. Rise of the Silver Surfer. Dir. Tim Story. 20th Century Fox, 2007

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Rigging Update

Well I meet with Hunter yesterday and the stretchy rig he’s working on is coming along great. I’m working on Flash the dog and want to have his rig done and animation blocked out by Monday. On Monday Hunter will give me the Flexman’s body rig, I hope to have his animation blocked out by Wednesday, the Industry review. Hunter said he could get the face ready for me later, which I’m fine with.
Here’s the test for the arm of Flexman:

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Modeling

Finally- All my models are complete. It took so much more than I expected. But having a cartoon style made it hard to find models that I could buy. I modeled all the elements for my project. Now I’m on to texturing them after I finish rigging.

Blend shapes

The Basic Targets I need:

Lips:
Pursers
Open Jaw
Lower Lip Tight
Upper Lip Tight
Grimace
Smirk Right
Smirk Left
Sneer Right
Sneer Left

Eyes/ Eyelids:
Squint Right
Squint Left
Left Furrow
Right Furrow
Left Front ails
Right Front ails
Left Eyelid Close
Right Eyelid Close
Left Eyelid Open
Right Eyelid Open

Saturday, March 01, 2008

Animation Reference - A Troll in Central Park

References for Flash, in shots were his tail isn't seen. I need to show his excitement through his ears or hands.
Ear excitement

Reference for Flash, in the shot where he's running pack to help Flexman. This scene has nice poses for the run.
Running

Reference for Flash, in the shot when Flash realized he screwed up, and turn the switch on too soon. This has good nervous facial expressions.
Facial Expressions

Reference for Flash, in the shot when he Flash realized he screwed up, the take. This scene has two nice takes.
The Takes
The Link to Victor Narones
The Take

A Troll in Central Park. Dir. Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. Don Bluth Animation, 1994

Friday, February 29, 2008

Sound

Well on Thursday, I got some of the sound effects for the intro from Alistair, my sound guy. He’s been working on my music and it’s much harder to create than I knew. So it’s taken a bit longer.
Sound 1
As a reminder, here’s my sample:
Quiet Please!

Rigging

Well on Thursday, I meet Hunter. He is going to help me with the rigs, which is great since I’m terrible at it. He also gave me suggestions on adding more lines in certain parts of the face, in order to have good blend shapes.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Progress

I feel like I’m not as far along as I’d like to be. Everything seems to be taking a lot longer. I have to finish modeling, texturing and rigging this week. I have to start animating by this coming weekend.
List for this week:
1) Rigging
2) Finish Modeling
3) Finish Textures
4) Have every scene with the lights
5) Start to animate

Monday, February 18, 2008

Camera Angels

I’m playing with my camera angles; they’ll probably change once I start animating.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Lighting my Scene

Christian sat down with me on Friday and started to light my scene. Here’s the result so far:

Animation Reference - More Dastardly & Muttley

Reference for an solid color background with colorful background, like Mark had suggested:

Dastardly & Muttley In Their Flying Machines
Ceiling Zero Zero. Dastardly & Muttley. Hanna-Barbera Productions, Los Angeles, California. 22 Nov. 1969

Reference for Mutley's Personality and Tail wag:
TailWag
Dastardly & Muttley In Their Flying Machines
Lens a Hand. Dastardly & Muttley. Hanna-Barbera Productions, Los Angeles, California. 15 Nov. 1969

Reference for an frustrating finger tap- good for during the checker game:
Finger Taping
Reference for Run and Slide:
Slide
Dastardly & Muttley In Their Flying Machines
Stop Which Pigeon? Dastardly & Muttley. Hanna-Barbera Productions, Los Angeles, California. 22 Nov. 1969

Reference for Flash- good reach and turn around:
Turn Around
Dastardly & Muttley In Their Flying Machines
Who's Who? Dastardly & Muttley. Hanna-Barbera Productions, Los Angeles, California. 29 Nov. 1969

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Flexman Model

I finally got second character finished. Rigging Begins

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Flash Model

I finally got one Character finished. I didn't think it would take that long being they are simple in design. I was wrong.

Thursday, February 07, 2008

Faculty Critique

Well finally a critique that I didn't walk out of discouraged. Last night went quite well. Nick and Mark had some great suggestions and I’m going to take a lot of their advice. Some of which was to keep the background to maybe one color, like greens. This way the focus is on the characters. They want to make sure I have Flexman really rounded/hunched and slow, while Flash sits erect and is not only fast, but also anxious. Like his tails always wagging. Then once the powers switch to have Flexman taping his foot before he gets up. They suggested doing away with slow motion scene and dealing with more of their personality. Like a close-up shot of flash getting impatient. They feel I have a lot of animation and might not get it all done. They suggested to try and simplify it. They suggestion I block all the animation out first, And then work on refining the money shots. If time allows work down they line. They said you could always fix it afterwards.


3-D Animatic (6.1MB) - Just setting up the shots

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Sound

Well I have Alistair who is working on my sound for me. The sample music I gave him was from 1945 Tom and Jerry.
Quiet Please!

Sunday, February 03, 2008

Getting ready for our Faculty Critique

I’m getting ready for our Faculty Critique on Wednesday and I'm trying to but together a blocked out 3D animatic. I’m so use to play blast with animation; I get a bit slow when it comes to rendering and camera animation.
1-Fix my main layout yet.
2-Maybe add a bit of light?
3-Fix my shots
4-Render out

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Animation Reference - The Tick Loves Santa!

Tick looking sad
This is good reference for when Flexmans arm loses elasticity, he will be upset, assamed

Santa gets electrocuted
Santa gets electrocuted and also their is some motion blur
Santa gets electrocuted
These are all get reference for the electrocution scene

The Tick Loves Santa!. The Tick. FOX, Los Angles, California. 25 Nov. 1995

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Animation Reference - Uncle Sam Magoo

Donkey scratching head
This is a great idea for a secondary animation. Instead of thinking using his hands, Flash can use his ears.

Uncle Sam Magoo. NBC, New York, New York. Sept. 1970

First Day of Class

I had my first day off Thesis class yesterday and I feel much better about it. I was getting so worried since there were so many incompletes last semester. I'll gust give 100 %, that's all I can do.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Animation Reference - Looney Tunes - Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century

Duck Dodgers
This is great reference for my project. It short that is similar to a superhero short. Yet again it starts daffy duck done in the Looney Tunes style. This is exactly what I need.

Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 25 July 1953
Director: Chuck Jones

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Rigging

I headed back into the lab today. I'll be splitting my time between home and the lab. I'm working on finishing up my characters model and environment. I was worried about Rigging. Seon gave to me a good website with abAutoRig 1.8.2.
supercrumbly.com

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Animation Reference - Looney Tunes - Stupor Duck

Stupor Duck
This is great reference for my project. It short is about a menace superhero, daffy done in the Looney Tunes style. This is exactly how I want my thesis to be like.

Stupor Duck. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 17 July 1956
Director: Robert McKimson

Monday, January 21, 2008

****** The Principles of Animation******

1:Timing
2:Squash & Stretch
3. Slow In and Slow Out
4: Anticipation
5. Follow Through / Overlapping Action: -Follow Through, Breaking of joints, Drag, Lead and follow
6. Arc
7: Straight Ahead / Pose to pose
8. Solid Posing
9. Secondary action
10. Staging
11. Exaggeration
12. Appeal

Friday, January 18, 2008

Animation Reference - The Incredibles

Awards
Past Awards
Example of how Pixar showed the Glory Days

Dash - Speed
Dash facial expression
Here Dash is upset on a car ride home. This is a similar look that I can use for Flash when he is waiting for Flexman to make his checker move.
Dash running in the Jungle
Dash on a high speed run, great reference for Flash.
Dash running on water
Dash on a high speed run over the water with a skid, great reference for Flash when he slides.
Dash running on the track
Dash running on at a slower speed.

Elastigirl - Stretch
Elastigirl Stretch to lamp
A good example for flexman stretching at the lamp
Elastigirl arm Stretch
A good example for flexman stretching
Elastigirl arm Stretch while vacuuming
A good example for flexman stretching
Elastigirl Multi arm Stretch
A good example for flexman stretching
Elastigirl Full body Stretch
A good example for flexman stretching
Elastigirl Stretch Up
Here's elastic girl stretch her body too, this is good for when flexman changes the light blub
Elastigirl Stretch- different shape
A good example of what Flexman’s arm losing elasticity can look like

Dash and Elastigirl
Many Super powers
A good example of speed and stretching

Mr. Incredible - Bad Back
Oh my Back
A good reference for Flexman's first chess move

The Incredibles. Dir. Brad Bird. Walt Disney Pictures, 2004
Link:http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/incredibles

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Animation Reference - Looney Tunes - Buccaneer Bunny

Bugs Take off
Here Bugs takes off quickly and creates dust. This is good reference for when Flash discovers that Fleaman has gotten electrocutes and runs to him.

Buccaneer Bunny. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 8 May 1948
Director: Friz Freleng

Monday, January 14, 2008

Animation Reference - Looney Tunes - Ali Baba Bunny

Bugs Thinking
Thinking pose. Great to use for reference for the checkers game.

Ali Baba Bunny. Looney Tunes. Warner Bros. Pictures, Burbank, California. 9 Feb. 1957
Director: Chuck Jones

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Venting

Lately it seems I just can’t get a break to get going on my thesis. First I get sick, and then my sister had foot surgery so I need to help her out. Now my dog ginger passed away yesterday. My dogs are my inspiration for my thesis, that’s way I wanted a Wallace and Gromit type of story. I just feel like I keep getting set back.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Animation Reference - Tom and Jerry: The Fast and the Furry

Walk - Run (no sound)
Run (no sound)
Good Reference for Flash:
The first Jerry has a nice character walk which turns into a run. It's a nice shot when Jerry runs to us, but I don't know if that's something I can add in.
The second run Tom has a nice way of starting out into a run.

Tom twiddling his thumbs (no sound)
In this shot Tom twiddling his thumbs, this good is good reference for flash while waiting for Flexman to make his next chess movie.

Tom being impatient (no sound)
Here Tom gets impatient while sitting at a penguin crossing. I love the expression he has especially when he has his head in one had and taping his fingers on the other,

Tom and Jerry: The Fast and the Furry. Dir. Bill Kopp. Warner Home Video, 2005

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

My first Animation Mentor class

I had my first Animation Mentor class tonight. It was great, their are people from all over the world in class with me. Our mentor Chris Chua said something that really stuck with me "We can't have animation without living life." Life is our inspiration, yet especially now with thesis we become so bogged down with sitting in front of the computer wanting to get it done. We have to remember to take some breaks; you never know you might find something that really inspires your work for your thesis.

Animation Reference - Geri’s Game

Close-Ups
I was actually thinking of starting my Thesis with an extreme close-up like this instead of coming through the window. I also think I need to make cuts to the hand like they do.

Settling/ Sitting
This is great reference for the slow moving elder man and how the animation settles as he sits.

Walk
This is great reference for an old man walking.

Cuts
This is great reference for Cuts and also the anxiety of making the next move. I think I might make my cuts a bit faster.


Geri’s Game. Dir. Jan Pinkava. Pixar Animation Studios, 1997
To see more about this short visit this Link: http://www.pixar.com/shorts/gg/index.html

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Animation Reference - The Cricket in Times Square

Lean - Walk (no sound)
This pose has some great leaning poses, a great charter walk cycle and great facial expressions

Shoulder Shrug (no sound)
Great Expression for a Shoulder Shrug

Thinking (no sound)
Great Thinking pose, I like the touch of the finger taping- this would be good before my chess moves

Sitting with Style (no sound)
The mouse has such character just sitting

Dialogue Piece
Get expression, it has the thinker like poses

Camera Angles
I love the Camera Angels in this shot and how smoothly the cuts work.

Walking into an object (no sound)
I don't know if I actually need this for my thesis, but it's a great reference for walking and a flatten

The Cricket in Times Square. Dir. Chuck Jones. American Broadcasting Company (ABC), New York City, New York. 24 April. 1973

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Character Model Sheets for Flexman & Flash

I’m starting to model the characters first since they need to be rigged.
Flexman’s reference modeling sheet

Flash’s reference modeling sheet