Donatella's 3D Computer Animation Blog

My 3D Computer Animation Progress
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2.2 Week 2 Design for Animation

Week 2: Research Activity – Choosing a Topic

Title: How Inclusive Storytelling and Character Design can Promote a More Diverse and Equal Environment in Video Games 

Key words: Representation in Video Games – Storytelling – Character Design – Gender Roles   

Introduction:  

Over the past decades, there has been a tendency to portray women in video games as a supporting character rather than the protagonists of their own story and not only are they prone to be oversexualized but also underrepresented.  

In this context, the aim of this research it to analyze to what extent inclusive storytelling and character design can have an impact on the perception of gender roles and how they can be used to create a more diverse and equal environment. For this purpose, the main focus will be on the video game sequel Last of Us which had a controversial impact when it comes to reinforcing gender stereotypes.  

Bibliography:  

  • Wells, P., 2007. Scriptwriting. Lausanne: AVA Academia.  
  • Wells, P., 2006. The Fundamentals of Animation. Lausanne: AVA Academia. 
  • Fernández-Vara, C., 2019. Introduction to Game Analysis. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge.  
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1.2 Week 2 3D Animation Fundamentals

Week 2: Shark Animation

Introduction

This week, we learned about Maya’s Content Browser, which ennables us to work on preexisting rigs and scenes. Our task was to create a shark animation and for this purpose we used a preexisting shark rig.

3D Modelling

First and foremost, we modelled in more detail the shark rig and added eyes, teeth and changed the shape of the mouth.

3D Animation Path

Secondly, we learned how to attach objects to a motion path and how to animate different body parts by using deformers, for instance, the sine deformer.

Motion Path
Sine Deformer

Shark Animation – Progress

Thirdly, we also learned how to set up cameras so that they follow our animated characters.

However, what I need to fix is the film secquence editing, as the shark should not move into opposite directions.

Final Shark Animation

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1.2 Week 2 3D Animation Fundamentals

Week 2: Swinging Pendulum

Introduction

This week we got feedback on our bouncing ball animation and learned about pendulum movements. We were given the task to first plan a pendulum animation and then start working on the animation itself.

Pendulum Animation – Planning

For my planning, I took into account that the parts of the pendulum are moving at different rates.

Furthermore, I defined the amplitude of the pendulum oscillation and how it decreases over time.

Finally, I illustrated the offset animation of the different parts in order to create overlapping actions.

Pendulum Animation – Progress

First Outcome

In my first draft, the offset animation of the different parts seems to be smooth.

However, I need to keep on working on the end since the pendullum movement stops abruptly.

Second Outcome

My second animation does not look satisfying at all.

Even though I tried to add some oscillations at the end, it the movement still stops abruptly.

Third Outcome

The pendullum animation of my third draft seems to be much smoother than the previous ones.

However, I noticed that I need to lower the maximum height of the pendullum oscillation.

The movement should not exceed the height of the upper part of the pendullum

Swinging Pendulum – Final Animation

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1.1 Week 1 3D Animation Fundamentals

Week 1: Intro to Maya

Introduction

On the first week, we got familiarized with Maya’s user interface, toolbars and key controls. We also learned how to create polygon primitives and how to edit the amount of subdivisions in order to modify our shapes smoothly using faces, edges and vertices.

References

I decided I wanted to model a Susuwatari, which is a small and furry spirit that lives in the darkness and appears in Hayao Miyazaki’s movies.

In this way, I practiced how to create polygons, snap elements together and edit colors and textures of materials.

I also had to take into account what type of textures, cameras and lights I used so that the Arnold renderer would recognize them.

3D Modelling

Render of a Susuwatari
Susuwatari placed on a HDR Background (https://polyhaven.com/a/fireplace)

3D Breakdown

Extrusion of faces

My Susuwatari is holding a star shaped object and in order to model it, I edited the number of subdivisions of a sphere and extruded different vertices to create irregular patterns of spikes.

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1.1 Week 1 3D Animation Fundamentals

Week 1: Bouncing Ball

Introduction

This week we had an introduction to the 12 principles of animation and we were given the task to plan and animate a bouncing ball going from left to right.

Bouncing Ball – Planning

Since this was my first time planning an animation, I learned that I had to take many things into account:

  • The position of the ball in the X and Y axis.
  • The number of frames it takes the ball to actually move.
  • The speed of the ball is given by the number of frames. In this way, when the animation is slower, we need more frames, whereas when it is quicker, we need less frames.
  • The stretch and squash of the ball when it is bouncing.

Bouncing Ball Progress

First Outcome:

My first outcome was not so successful because at some parts the ball did not actually hit the ground.

Even though I added some stretch and squash to the ball, I had some issues with the timing.

Finally, the ball looks as if it is sinking into the ground at the end.

Second Outcome:

For my second draft, I needed to change the view from perspective to left.

The animation turned out better than my first attempt, however, I need to keep on working on the arc movement at the end.

In addition, I may add some tiny bounces at the end because the ball falls to the ground abruptly.

Third Outcome:

For my third draft, I worked on adjusting the squash effect taking into account that the first bounce is the one with the most significant squash effect.

Furthermore, I added a last bounce at the end and made the animation longer so that the ball kept rolling some frames more.

Fourth Outcome:

The animation of the bouncing ball seems to be smoother, however, there are still some stretch frames I need to fix.

Bouncing Ball – Final Animation

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2.1 Week 1 Design for Animation

Week 1: Unit Introduction

This week we had our unit introduction where we learned about the outlines of our course and also about our assignment brief.

We were also given a general explanation on how to develop a relevant research topic, how to organize our ideas and what academic resources can help us elaborate our critical report.

We also worked in groups and thought of potential fields of interest. Some of them are:

  • Representation in animation taking into consideration gender roles, idealization and appearance of characters.
  • Immersive media as opposed to real life.
  • The importance of animation and how it is developing for modern audiences.
  • AI technology and how it can be perceived as a menace to artists.