Storyboard
An original story for the final project of the semester.
Our class chose the prompt, "How Did I Get Here?"
We went through with the beat boards, to the storyboards, to Leica.
There are multiple passes/WIP sessions before the pitches. I chose not to incorporate all of the suggested changes even if they may have added more amusement to the story, mostly in the interest of time. In the end, suggestions are are only one way amongst many possibilities to better the boards.
These boards were used to make our first Leica reels/animatics. We chose an instrumental music track ('scratch track') to time our boards to- setting the pacing of the film, and sfx. We made corrections to the initial storyboards or added some to better the flow, in the leica.
I won't be posting my finished leica as the music used is without permission and only for the assignment.
Since we're on break, I will get to uploading our assignments. Never got around to making the second pre-reading week post so just posting everything in batches.
Character Design
Weight lift & toss character
Contrasting design characters, for walk & run
Expressions, using characters from caricatures
Caricatures
Animation
Wave-boat-sack: our first assignment that is more of a review of concepts; squash&stretch, s&c curves, hang time, overlapping motion, consistency/proportion/perspective... etc. We learned a bit of timing (when the boat is tossed from the water- and not look like it's jumping out), and simple effects (water adhering to boat, splash, surface detail).
Weight-lift-toss: Unconscious expression changes, planting of feet, hand grips, making things appear heavy & subsequent tightly-spaced drawings, anticipation, equal effort to lift translates to the throw. We learned in anticipation, the body will naturally move the opposite direction first from the intent, before engaging. With the heavy lift, the hips lead the body and the arms with the weight carry over last. I didn't have enough drawings for the throw or the action before it. I just traced the box over and over because I was running out of time, hence its jarring movement.
Walk-and-run: Two contrasting character designs with a run and walk cycle, and interaction. Little Mingming takes 8 drawings for two steps and is set to 1's, running; Grandpoops takes 16 drawings for two steps and set to 2's, so a 32 frame walk cycle. This assignment I worked more with different levels than in first year.
Character Expression: showing thought process of character through their emotions. Animation is all about acting/pantomime so it must read clearly and be recognizable to audience. I chose an idea in second last week and started animating 3 days before deadline, so I am happy for finishing despite simplicity. What helped me get through this quickly was drawing a character I enjoy. LOL
3D animation. I don't have video or flash of all assignments but these are my better ones.
Quadruped walk
Final assignment, walk down stairs and chair seating, with an sfx.
Been meaning to update this blog since school started again; Here's a few of the first half of the term's assignments so far.
Painting
Exterior study... this year seems to focus more on drawing the viewer to focal points, despite how lighting the scene may be contrary to how one would go about it technically/intuitively!
I used gouache again, but more for its watercolour properties like usual.
I liked the feedback the prof gives us on our individual assignments too, it's helpful to see what to be wary of.
We also got to play with masking fluid in-class :)
Layout
Every layout class is basically like a prep talk and influence session, it's great.
Chairs and cars!
those who know me better... hahahahaha--
Castle assignments! We were given thumbnails to work from; It was my first time working with markers too, and really fun! My drawing and toning leaves much to be desired but half the process was researching about castles and who doesn't enjoy learning new things?
Storyboard
We were given two poems to make story beats from.
oops this lizard one should be 'After the Bath' ...
We then expanded on the better of the two into a 16+ panel storyboard!
It was an interesting process since the boards were then pitched by another classmate to determine how readable it was, since if anyone has trouble getting through boards, how would that appear on screen...?
The rest of the first pre-reading week work I'll be posting sometime later!
Animation, Digital Tools
Forgot to post my head turn. Put it off too much lol, relatively boring assignment. Sir Pelinore from The Sword in the Stone
Final assignment, flour sack! Mine is kind of goopy and hyper; but I was surprised it turned out better than I expected it to, considering I animated most of it ( 120 out of 160 frames) straight ahead and without pencil-testing. How lazy can I get? lol. It took around the usual 10 hours, but with one hour devoted just to shooting and the exposure sheet. Detest those things fsdfgh
Digitools, cut-out character jump. Making and setting up the character in toonboom was a pain, but the actual animating was kinda fun. Dorky as it is;
Character Design
Used another character (anthropomorphised) of mine for this assignment... /hit
prof said to have at least one eye showing.
Layout
Did even worse on portfolio this time (re: I had nothing) but I had a few doodly scenes I did to get some practice with the whole graticule and field guide stuff. Ahahahaaa welp
What is effort
Too lazy to put up life drawing assignments and stuff so I guess that's it for this term!
All of these assignments are so last-minute, it's embarrassing LOL
Just gonna toss up a few...
Digital Tools
Multiplane walk cycle. I handed it in a whole week late!! But the professor still marked it. I'm grateful.
Animation
Chose a fox. Had trouble making it trot, so it just walks slowly.
Adjusted the legs multiple times... I thought it was interesting what little differences do.
Foxes keep their backs relatively straight and don't wag their tails much (though I made everything too straight). I goofed on a lot but ran out of time to fix before deadline lol 8)
Character Design
bad lines, wasn't thinking in the animation mindset oops
Painting
how do paint...
Ficto-planet
Measured and cut the wrong paper size. It killed my thumbnails, but I didn't want to bother again.
Novel Interior
I was trying to do a fireplace scene.
oh, what's that? Must be the sound of an all-nighter--
casually... hides face in shame.................h-hahahahaha
I never learn my lesson oh my goodness but anyway, just shows that I desperately need to practice my perspectives and buildings and stuff... And time management. Yeah 8)
