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My 3D Computer Animation Progress

Category: 3.16 Week 16

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3.16 Week 16 Advanced & Experimental Project 2

Week 16: Lip Syncing – Reference & Planning

Introduction

This week, we started planning and recording some reference videos for our lip-syncing animation. I downloaded an audio, then I wrote the script, recorded some reference videos and finally drew some thumbnails.

Script

Script

I downloaded an audio from the movie Network (1976) by Sidney Lumet.

I intentionally chose an audio from a movie I did not watch, so that I would not be influenced by the actor.

Then, I wrote the line down and underlined the words I needed to emphasize on in my recording.

Idea

I will use this quote out of context and showcase how an older person is struggling with his computer (the rendering process failed).

Reference Videos

I recorded two different variations for my lip-syncing animation — angry and mentally disturbed — and I finally decided to use the former as a reference for my thumbnails. I initially recorded my video from a front view, however, I was advised to record it from a 3/4 perspective.

Angry Version

In this version, I wanted the character to be furious at his computer.

He would scream at the computer and finally leave the scene.

Mentally Disturbed Version

In the second version, I wanted the character to hysterically laugh to portray the idea that he is mad.

Thumbnails

Sketching Poses

I sketched some poses I wanted to include into my animation based on the angry reference video.

I want the character to get closer to his computer and start yelling the lines, so I will have to work on a torso animation.

I was advised not to include pointing poses as I need to express my ideas whilst acting.

Categories
3.16 Week 16 Advanced & Experimental Project 2

Week 16: Animated Artefact – Room Modeling

Introduction

This week, I focused on modeling my environment (the interior room assets.

Modeling

Sketches

In order to start modeling my room assets, I started sketching the furniture.

This helped me to plan which features I needed to use to model them in three dimensions.

Apart from creating extrusions, I also decided to use the bevel tool to smoothen the edges of my assets.

Bookshelf

I created a the bookshelf and books by extruding the edges of some cubes.

Then, I displayed the books asymmetrically on the bookshelf.

Bed

First I created the bed structure and then I added the matress, pillow and duvet.

Creating the duvet was the most challenging part, as I needed to learn how to simulate cloth in Maya.

Cloth Simulation

I used the nCloth tool in Maya by assigning the duvet as a nCloth and the matress as a collider. Then, I had to include a gravity field into the scene.

I also edited the stickiness of the duvet on the matress and once I was ready, I extruded the plane to get some volume.

Finally, I had to delete the history and therefore the animation of the duvet.

Door

Finally, I modeled the door, doorframe and doorknob. I included some hinges and changed the pivot point of the door on top of them.

Further Thoughts

Now that I have modeled my room assets, I can replace them in my previs animation. In the following weeks, I will need to work on texturing these elements in order to create a grayscale background.