Donatella's 3D Computer Animation Blog
My 3D Computer Animation Progress

Author: Donatella Mikulasch

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3.14 Week 14 Advanced & Experimental Project 2

Week 14: Body Mechanics Spline Animation

Introduction

This week, I focused on converting my body mechanics animation from blocking into spline. To do so, I focused on cleaning the keys from my graph editor.

Spline Animation Process

In order to start converting my stepped animation into spline, I divided the sequence into manageable parts when the character:

  • Looks at the balloon.
  • Makes the first jump.
  • Takes two steps.
  • Catches the balloon.

First Outcome

For my next draft, the first thing I need to fix is the timing of my balloon animation.

I also need to improve the arm rotation at the end of my animation and improve the arm overlapping throughout the sequence.

Second Outcome

Even though the arm movements look smoother, there are still some rotations I need to improve.

Furthermore, I need to work on tracking the arcs of my waist at the end of my animation, as I have stretched the leg and it affected the position of the waist.

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3.14 Week 14 Advanced & Experimental Project 2

Week 14: Animated Artefact – Previs & Retiming Reference Videos

Introduction

This week, I created my previs animation of my animated artefact and imported my reference videos into my Maya file.

Creating my Previs Animation

My animation will take place indoors, so before working on my previs animation, I created simple props (bed, table, pictures) to setup the environment.

Previs Animation

In order to start planning the timing of the movements, I created a previs animation.

I used some basic volumes to represent both: the character (in red) and the creatures (in green).

Importing Reference Videos

Creating New Expressions

Importing the reference videos was a huge challenge as they all started by default in frame 1 even though I moved them in the graph editor.

In order to fix this issue, I had to manually change the expression of each image plane and write on which frame I wanted the sequence to start playing.

Retiming Reference Videos

Retiming Reference Videos

After having both my reference videos and previs animation, I combined them into my scene.

However, I needed to retime the reference videos according to the previs animation.

In this sense, my reference videos will guide me on how the character is moving and the previs animation will help me understand the timing of each movement.

Further Thoughts

Now that I have my previs shots and reference videos, I can start blocking my animation. Furthermore, in the following weeks I will replace the placeholder props with smoother 3D models.

Categories
5.14 Week 14 FMP & Thesis Thesis Proposal

Week 14: Research Question

Introduction

This week, we had one-to-one tutorials and showed Nigel our progress regarding our research topic and bibliography.

Research Question

Old Question: To what extent do film semiotics play an essential role in world building and characterization within the horror genre?

As regards my research question, even though I have defined that I want to explore Tim Burton’s movies and his use of the horror genre, I felt that the term ‘film semiotics’ was too broad. For this reason, I wanted to narrow down the topic and formulated the following title.

New Question: How does Tim Burton balance horror and empathy in the characters of his movies to create an emotional impact on the audience?

In this sense, I will specifically focus on the characters of his movies, and I will still conduct my study from a semiotic approach as I will analyze the characters as signs that convey meaning.

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3.13 Week 13 Advanced & Experimental Project 2

Week 13: Body Mechanics Blocking Plus

Introduction

This week, I focused on creating my blocking plus draft for my body mechanics animation with George.

Blocking Checklist

Personal Blocking Checklist

Blocking Checklist

Before working on my blocking plus, I created my personal checklist based on the feedback George gave to my classmates:

Create balanced poses, keep silhouettes clear, avoid clipping, rotate the body towards the camera.

Blocking Process

First Outcome

Even though I added more breakdown poses and moving holds to my animation, the main issues I need to work on are:

  • The timing when the character stares at the balloon.
  • Push the poses when the character is about to fall from the edge.
  • Improve the overlapping action of the wrists.

Second Outcome

For my second draft, I edited the poses of my character and exaggerated the tripping sequence at the end.

Furthermore, I also learned how to include the frame rate counter into my playblast.

Third Outcome

After working on my last corrections, I am now ready to start working in spline and cleaning the keys in the graph editor.

Furthermore, I will also work on the lightning effect once I polish my spline animation.

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3.13 Week 13 Advanced & Experimental Project 2

Week 13: Animated Artefact – Character Rig & Reference Videos

Introduction

This week, I defined what type of rig I wanted to use for my animation and I also started shooting some reference videos to help me pose out my character.

Customizing my Character Rig

Original Rig (Animation Mentor)

I downloaded the Steward Rig from Animation Mentor, as I was looking for a friendly and cartoony character.

The rig I chose has limited facial expressions, since I wanted my animated artefact to specifically focus on how the body can communicate an idea and feeling.

Customized Rig (Mime)

I edited the textures and colors to convey the idea that the character is a mime as they are known to use their body to express an idea.

To do so, I had to unlock the geometry layer and select the faces individually to change the colors.

Shooting Reference Videos

In order to start blocking my animation, I created some reference videos based on my animatic. In the following recordings I only focused on the movements of the main character.

Part 1

A creature appears out from a bucket and gets the attention of the character. However, when they inspect the bucket it is empty.

Meanwhile, a creature appears from the back and when the character sees it, they start running into the next room.

Part 2

The character enters into the room next door, and when they think they are safe, they realize there are more creatures observing them.

Part 3

The character crawls back into the main room and looks around to see if the first creature is gone.

After inspecting the room, they feel relieved as they think it is empty.

Finally, the character leaves the scene, failing to notice that a creature is attached to their back.

Further Thoughts

In the following weeks, I will import these reference videos into my Maya file and retime the clips I recorded. I will also create a previs animation to integrate the creatures into my scene.

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5.13 Week 13 FMP & Thesis Thesis Proposal

Week 13: Organizing our Bibliography

Introduction

This week, we watched some useful videos in class on how to read the appropriate bibliography in an efficient way.

Things to Consider when Reading a Journal

  • We need to learn how to identify what our key papers are going to be.
  • We also need to establish which papers are going to be our supporting bibliography.
  • Looking up the keywords will save us a lot of time and help us organize the bibliography according to different topics.
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3.12 Week 12 Advanced & Experimental Project 2

Week 12: Body Mechanics Blocking

Introduction

This week, apart from working on my blocking animation, George gave us an overview of some aspects we need to apply on our animations.

Blocking Process

First Outcome

In order to create my blocking sequence, I added my reference videos into the Maya scene.

This helped me to create the key poses and breakdowns of my character.

Even though I added the squash poses of my character, I failed to add the stretch poses.

Second Outcome

For my second draft, I added some stretch poses when the character jumps off and lands on the ground.

The main aspect I need to work on for next week is to change the last jumping sequence as it is quite repetitive. In addition, I need to work on adding more breakdown poses.

Blocking Plus

Blocking Plus

We learned the concept of ‘moving holds’, which is a slight movement we need to include when a character has to stay in the same pose for a long time.

We also have to think of how many breakdowns we need to include in our animations and make sure to track the arcs.

We should also work on anticipations (pre-movement) and overshoots (post-movement) to enhance our animations.

Further Thoughts

For next week, I will try to apply the new concepts we learned in class into my blocking sequence and make sure I track the arcs of my character.

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3.12 Week 12 Advanced & Experimental Project 2

Week 12: Animated Artefact – Idea Presentation

Introduction

This week, we held a presentation of our animated artefact and showcased our concept, storyboard/animatic and pictures in development.

Concept

I will create a body mechanics shot, emphasizing on the idea that the body can be perceived as a powerful medium of expression. It will be heavily influenced by silent films as they convey the narrative visually and the characters communicate their feelings only with their body.

Narrative

Synopsis: The character in the story has the feeling they are being observed by creatures and it is their fear and obsession that leads them into a paranoid state of mind.

Animated Comedy

Cartoony Techniques: I will implement cartoony techniques into my animation, as I want my animated artefact to be an animated comedic short film.

Sketching my Storyboard

Storyboard 1/2

Introduction

  • A mysterious creature appears from a bucket.
  • When the character inspects the bucket, it disappears.

Main Body

  • A giant creature pops up from the back.
  • The character runs to the next room, however, more creatures start appearing (climax).
Storyboard 2/2

Conclusion

  • The character crawls back into the main room.
  • Looks around to see if they can find the huge creature.
  • No creatures are in sight anymore.
  • They leave the room failing to notice that a creature is attached to their back (plot twist).

Creating my Animatic

  • Animatic: I converted my storyboard into an animatic, as it will help me in the future to pose out my characters and record my reference videos.
  • Key Poses: I will also use it as a reference to create the key poses of my character.

Work in Progress

  • Environment: My animation will take place in an indoor environment, and I will use Buster Keaton’s interior spaces as a reference.
  • Visual Language: I want the environment to be displayed in grayscale to suggest the idea of silent films. However, I want the characters to be in color, so that they stand out from the background.
  • Characters: For my main character, I will use a cartoony and friendly character as my animation is targeted to a younger audience. Ideally it will not have many facial features as I want to only focus on body mechanics. When it comes to my creatures, I want to incorporate one-eyed monsters, as I want to tell the story of how my character has the feeling they are being observed.
Categories
5.12 Week 12 FMP & Thesis Thesis Proposal

Week 12: Quantitative, Qualitative & Mixed Methods

Introduction

This week, we were introduced to different research design approaches which we will need to include for our thesis proposal.

Research Design

  • Quantitative: Focuses on a numeric analysis.
  • Qualitative: Focuses on a descriptive analysis.
  • Mixed Methods: Combines both a quantitative and qualitative research method.

Quantitative Method

Even though I am still working on adapting my research question, I am confident that I will adopt a qualitative research method as I will analyze Tim Burton’s movies and the relationship between the characters and the emotional impact on the audience.

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5.11 Week 11 FMP & Thesis Thesis Proposal

Week 11: Thesis Proposal Structure

Introduction

This week, we got an overview of the thesis proposal we need to submit by the end of this term. In the following weeks, I will use the following headlines to start planning the sections of my thesis.

Thesis Proposal Structure:

•         Research title or question

•         Draft Introduction

•         Key words searched

•         General outline of each chapter

•         Draft literature review

•         A draft chapter

•         Indicative bibliography