GOALS:
PAINT REST OF BACKGROUNDS
DETAILED KEY ANIMATION
PREPARE DVD ASSETS
SCHEDULE:
PAINTING BACKGROUNDS/ PREPARING DVD ASSETS: DEC 13 - 31 (21 DAYS)
KEY ANIMATION: JAN 1 - 16 ( 16 DAYS )
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
BFA PROGRESS
I am almost finished with my finished still. I spent the weekend trying out different methods of painting to figure out what will be the fastest. Originally-2nd image--I was going to do an underpainting for each detail in the image to layout the various tones I wanted to show through the actual colors starting from dark to light. Since this approach takes too long, I decided on using a different approach. Instead--as seen in the third image--I decided what the overall tone of the image will be--blue--built the values up from dark to light from a darker hue of that tone. The areas I have applied this technique are in the sky and the bright turquiose parts of the house. This way, I am reaching my look at a much quicker pace. This still will be completed by next class.
NEW BFA BREAKDOWN
FINISH BACKGROUND STILL
FINISH IMAGINATION STILL
ROUGH KEY ANIMATION
GOAL FOR END OF THE SEMESTER: KEY ANIMATION COMPLETE AND BACKGROUNDS LAID OUT FOR SHOTS
50 BACKGROUNDS TOTAL
DAYS: NOV 15-DEC12
DO BACKGROUNDS (SO POSITIONING WILL BE CORRECT FOR ANIMATING) IN TANDEM WITH KEY ANIMATION.
PENCIL BACKGROUND FOR X SHOT AS I ANIMATE.
ANIMATION BREAKDOWN:
1) INTRO - NEIGHBORHOOD PAN - FRONTAL VIEW OF ECAFAY
2) WALKING UP STREET UNTIL TRANSITION INTO IMAGINATION
3) IMAGINATION FIGHT
4) OUTSIDE WORLD - ARCADE REVEAL - DISAPPOINTMENT
EXECUTION: 1 WEEK PER SCENE
NOV 15 - 21: COMPLETE NEIGHBORHOOD & IMAGINATION STILL
T W TH (17TH FIRST STILL DONE) F SAT SUN MON
NOV 22 - 28: KEY ANIMATION FOR SCENES 1&2
T W TH F SAT SUN MON
NOV 29 -DEC 5: KEY ANIMATION SCENE 3
T W (30TH END OF NOV) TH F SAT SUN MON
DEC 6 - 12: KEY ANIMATION SCENE 4 DONE BY LAST DAY OF CLASS
T W TH F SAT SUN MON
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
BFA and PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SELF CRITIQUE
So far I am happy with the way my BFA is looking, but I need to pick up the pace. I'm spending too much time revising my animatic and deciding my color schemes. Right now I am behind on my calendar, and I should be animating right now if I want be done animating by winter break. That is my goal for the semester. I originally planned to pick my colors in tandem with painting my backgrounds over the winter break after spending this semester animating, but deciding on color first is a better approach. Plus, I get feedback from the class. As a result of doing it this way, we've decided on a better color scheme for the main character. Figuring out the approach for executing each stage is important and is making this process a lot less difficult than what it can be. I really enjoy seeing everyone's progress on their BFA work. I can see how their ideas are being realized and I am motivated even more to push myself harder with meeting my goals.
I have not been spending as much time on my professional development as I have been on my BFA work. I know what I want to do, I'm just not sure of the best method for realizing y goals. Should i go to graduate school or try t get a job animating. Right now, I'll invest more time into researching jobs and graduate schools for animation while continuing to develop my personal work. I've emailed my revised resume, and will be having reviewed Friday. I have to make my demo reel shorter by cutting down one clip. Other than that, I can start considering how I can enhance my title cards. Meanwhile, I'll write down my ideal plan for my goals. This will help me decide how to approach meeting them. So far, writing has helped me stay on track with timing out key frames etc. I'll just apply that to figuring out how to go about reaching my goals for professional development.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
10 27 11 DEMO REEL REVIEW
CASTLEFORTE http://www.behance.net/gallery/Castleforte-2011-Demo-Reel/1340111
Castleforte
I liked how Castleforte's title cards are name tags. I could do something clever like that for my title cards instead of plain text. Like these demo reels, I should treat the title cards as an animation/piece as well. That way, my reel won't look less academic and dull. What also worked was having the title cards tilted which gives the artist character. It shows that he/she has personality. The title card should be handed like one is introducing their self to the viewer. It is the first impression of the artist and demo reel. There was a lot of interesting work in this reel, however, I felt it is too long.
Sean Martin
This is a solid demo reel, but I would like to include my name and what I do in the opening title card vs only showing that at the end. I will also try to edit my demo reel length to a time length close to this one. The length of all the clips are consistent with each other giving the reel a smooth, steady pace. I was also drawn to this reel because it immediately jumps into his work.
Timbuktoons
The transition into the boy's hand into the next shot worked well. Incorporating more transitions like that to connect each of my separate works in the demo reel will make it stronger and unify the pieces. I was drawn to this reel because it is a 2d animation reel.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
SELF CRITIQUE ON PRESENTATION
In the presentation I said I started drawing when I was bored around the house. I will won't say that again. I sold myself and drawing short by saying that. That statement diminishes the passion I have for drawing because I didn't draw only when I was bored. I drew all the time for fun! I wasn't bored because I was flooded with ideas to draw! 80% of my free time was spent drawing. That was like telling a horrible lie on myself. I will never say that again.
Also, there were moments where I was at a lost for words trying to explain my thoughts and constantly said sort of. Next time I will not say sort of so repetitively. Instead, I will pause just pause, and recover smoother. I will also try to avoid saying like too much.
I will remember to engage the audience throughout the presentation by making eye contact with everyone in the room, and showing confident body language. If I show that I am comfortable with sharing my content and ideas then my audience will be more engaged. After doing these presentations I am understanding how the speaker and the audience play off of each other emotionally, and because of that, there is a lot of potential for one to direct an audience through a presentation and make them feel as passionate about the content as the speaker.
Next time I will make a smoother transition to showing my personal work. Instead of waiting until the later part of the presentation to click through preview, I can have the images in a slideshow or have a still already full screen at the beginning of the presentation.
I have to shorten my demo reel. In the critique the class suggested shortening the pixellation fight scene. I will cut some of that. I may also shorten the 1st clip on the demo reel as well.
Monday, October 10, 2011
QUALIFICATIONS:
team player/ willing to learn/passion for animating
storyboarding
character design (turn arounds, 3rd qrt/profile etc.)
hand painted stop motion animation: Toonboom/paper
3d stopmotion
backgrounds/environment
animatic
can draw/color/paint from observation
can use variety of mediums: acrylic/oil paint/conte'/charcoal/pencil/ink/scratchboard digital painting (photoshop)
EXPERIENCES:
meet deadlines
completed 3D stopmotion animation (built armeture) using i stopmotion sculpted & baked/painted parts using super sculpty
hand drawn/painted using black and white acrylic paint, and conte' in i stopmotion
2D cut out animation in Toonboom & After Effects
edited video footage in Final Cut Pro & AfterEffects
used Maya Autodesk 2008 3D demo reel/camera animation/key framing/basic modeling animation (key framing)
Photoshop: penciling/inking/coloring/digital painting/animating/exporting video & gathered images
installation: animation loop projected on wall covered in layers of cardboard in 90s room
promotion of installation show
shooting/taping footage
setting up 3 point/lighting on sets
storyboarding/character designs/ animatic/ key animation/in-betweening for
own/collaboration
built DVDs/setting menus & buttons using DVD Pro
Myrtle Powell Bowld EuropeanTravel Fellowship Brainstorm#2
I would like to study with Ankama Animations in France.
work with mode 2 (learn more about graffiti/ graffiti overseas/ doing murals/ using aerosol/ improve in drawing/ working w/ Mode 2 will improve hand drawing skills
do 2d/hand drawn animation/ they use Toonboom. There I can expand my Toonboom skills while getting hands on experience on animation projects and observe and work in-house at animation studio.
What draws me to their work: Ex: How they mastered combining 2D cut out w/ hand drawn characters w/ outlines. I struggled with that in my previous classes.
Amazed by how they fit so much detailed animation into a 28/30 min show
work with stopmotion crew BLU
WHAT I WANT TO LEARN AND IMPROVE ON:
learn how to do: effects animation (smoke/ water/fire/wind blowing something/explosions/debris scattering/lightning glowing (special effects)
I mainly want to work on key animation/inbetweening/hand drawn & 2D animation
become better/faster at drawing & animating
understanding of how long each process takes--though they vary, I would like to know a specific estimate for a (30 min show/short/feature film--so I can better pace myself when working on my own stuff w/ industry time frame/constraints
I eventually want to direct/animate my own films. Understanding and getting hands on experience in each step will put me closer to becoming a better animator. By attaining these skills, I will one day be able to lead a team through the production of an extremely cool animation.
I want to come back being able to animate at extreme levels of detail w/ fluid movement in which viewers can feel weight etc. of the moving characters using hand drawn animation, and do so at a fast pace.
European travel fellowship options
Link to list of animation and video game developing companies throughout Europe.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
UPDATED bfa completion calender
FALL SEMESTER: OCTOBER 1 – DEC 12 /DATE: 10/25/11/ DAYS LEFT IN SEM: 51
DAYS LEFT UNTIL NEXT PART: 19
OCT: 1-31
ANIMATIC
KEY ANIMATION
NOV: 1-30/DAYS LEFT IN MONTH:21
FINISHED STILL OF NEIGHBORHOOD
FINISHED STILL OF IMAGINATION
COLOR PLAYER 2
FINISHED STILL OF NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER IMAGINATION
DRAW AND COMPLETE FLATS ON BACKGROUNDS
DEC: 1-12 LAST DAY OF FALL CLASSES (12 DAYS)
ALL BACKGROUNDS DRAWN COLORS FOR SHOTS DECIDED
WINTER BREAK/ DEC 13 – JAN 16/ DAYS TOTAL: 37
DEC: 13 – 31 (21 DAYS) JAN: 1-16 (16 DAYS)
ANIMATE
PAINT BACKGROUNDS
SPRING SEMESTER/JAN 17-MAY 7/ DAYS TOTAL: 105
JAN: 15-31 (16 DAYS) + FEB: 1-29 (29 DAYS) = 45 DAYS TOTAL
COMPLETE POST PRODUCTION:
EFFECTS ANIMATION (EX: GLOWING)
SOUND
TITLE CARDS-OPENING/END
PREPARING DVD-DESIGN MENU/ BUTTONS ETC.
FEB: 29
BE DONE WITH POST PRODUCTION
Thursday, September 15, 2011
BFA REVISED CONCEPT
Elevator Line:
An aggressive escapist determined to crush all challengers at his local arcade shadow boxes through the streets of uptown New Orleans.
Theme:
Escapism/Arcades/Video games from the mid to late 90s/Nostalgia
Central Point/Objective:
Artist: Homage to "Fun Arcade"
Show appreciation for arcades and underrated games
Main character: Mentally prepare himself to defeat other gamers. Fantasize about having same abilities as characters in arcade fighting games.
Conflict: Imaginary Opponent/"Arcade Cheeuh!!!" is shut down
Central Goal:
Go to the Arcade
Short Synopsis:
Ecafay is on the way to the last arcade in the city "Arcade Cheeuh!!!". During his journey he engages in shadow boxing to prepare himself for future opponents. Will his passion and wild imagination be enough to overcome what's lying ahead?
Theme:
Escapism/Arcades/Video Games from the mid to late 90s/Nostalgia
Central Point/Objective:
Artist - Homage to "Fun Arcade"
Show appreciation for arcades, and underrated video games
Theme:
Escapism/Arcades/Video Games from the mid to late 90s/Nostalgia
Central Point/Objective:
Artist - Homage to "Fun Arcade"
Show appreciation for arcades, and underrated video games
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
DEMO REEL REVIEW
The 3d reels with the acting feel too unfinished and are boring. Finished 3d clips from completed projects are more interesting to look at and are more original than tests with sampled material. It's also repetitive because so many 3d reels consist of that. The bland colors also make those reels boring to watch as well, and the models feel unfinished. However, the character design and rigging reels are cool because they are well executed and feel complete. It's also interesting how those reels show close ups of intricate details such as textures etc. The reels with majority of lip syncing and acting feel too academic.
So far Headless Productions has the best demo reel because there was more of a variety of work, and they were unified by the overall style which gave the reel an identity. We see different clips from the same animations throughout, but they are edited in a way that appear as though there is more work than there really is which is a brilliant strategy. The clips are just from different parts the same pieces. The title cards in most of the reels feel as though they are just tacked on instead of integrated into the reel. For example: black screen & title card w/silence, then reels plays. The title cards should feel like they are part of the reels. The viewers should be carried in and out of the reels. At the end of the day, the demo reels is a stand alone piece as well.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
REELS
2D Animation Demo Reel 2008-2009, Justin Bowen from Justin Bowen on Vimeo.
Mike's 2D Demo Reel from Mike Rodriguez on Vimeo.
PRODUCTION REELS
Monday, September 5, 2011
Critique Review 9_5_11
I was critiqued by Professor Root. The critique was helpful. I was reminded ahead of time of specific details to be aware of before getting further into the project. Some of the suggestions included not adding too much detail in a single frame, figuring out the size I will draw my images so they fit the proper frame ratio when imported into toonboom (to avoid distorting the sizes to make them fit the screen). She also suggested I order chromacolor 12 field guide paper, and start figuring out what style and methodology I will use to complete the animation. We agreed that I animate a short clip of how the finished piece will look so she can provide further insight. In 2 weeks we will meet again to review the tests.
NEXT TASKS:
complete final character designs for bystanders
test animation clip in two weeks (to fig. out what style of animation will look like)
figure out what environment of Ecafay's imagination will look like (fight scene)
test animation clip in two weeks (to fig. out what style of animation will look like)
figure out specific methodology to work efficiently (troubleshooting)
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