This is the last pass of the Dragon Flight assignment that I submit to my mentor, and probably the pass that be in my showreel, unless there are some easy changes to make.
Showing posts with label Masterclass. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Masterclass. Show all posts
12 February 2013
03 February 2013
Animals & Creatures 2 - Week 5
This assignment was really starting to come together now. I'd managed trim it down by a substantial amount and have something fun to watch.
Final...
Final...
27 January 2013
Animals & Creatures 2 - Week 4
From Blocking to Blocking Plus I went through a TON of changes in this assignment! Fortunately I had a peer buddy who noticed that I had made my shot was 3 and a half times over the limit of the assignment - 29 seconds as oppose to 7!!
I had to re-think, re-structure and re-evaluate the whole shot. I asked myself questions like, should I carry on using this matchmove? Will the idea still come through if I cut it down by so much? I was quite stressed out by the whole thing because I know I had to get a lot done in a short space of time and I really wanted this to be a great shot to put in my reel - that's 95% of the point!
I made several versions in each layer, but to save time and space in this post I will just show the crucial versions of each pass...
Blocking 29 seconds version 1 Blocking 29 seconds version 2 Re-Block Version 1 Re-Block Version 2 Re-Block Version 5 Blocking Plus Version 7 I also made the necessary changes to my storyboard
I had to re-think, re-structure and re-evaluate the whole shot. I asked myself questions like, should I carry on using this matchmove? Will the idea still come through if I cut it down by so much? I was quite stressed out by the whole thing because I know I had to get a lot done in a short space of time and I really wanted this to be a great shot to put in my reel - that's 95% of the point!
I made several versions in each layer, but to save time and space in this post I will just show the crucial versions of each pass...
Blocking 29 seconds version 1 Blocking 29 seconds version 2 Re-Block Version 1 Re-Block Version 2 Re-Block Version 5 Blocking Plus Version 7 I also made the necessary changes to my storyboard
20 January 2013
Animals & Creatures 2 - Week 3
Following my mentors final notes on the flght cycle, I made changes and uploaded a revision.
The new assignment from last week now required reference footage to help guide me through the complicated choreography and mechanics.
The matchmove was a very nice plate of a helicam soaring over the cliffs of Hawaii - perfect setting for a Dragon! This was just the planning which gave an idea how the Dragon was going to use screen space and get from point A, to B and C etc.
13 January 2013
Animals & Creatures 2 - Week 2
This weeks assignment was to do final animation of the Flight Cycle following the penultimate notes from my mentor's e-critiques and to start a new assignment, planning a shot against our first matchmove plate.
I couldn't decide which matchmove plate I preferred to use, so I planned out the shots for both and sent them to my mentor for his feedback.
In the end we both felt that the second idea had more potential and used the plate more to its potential.
I couldn't decide which matchmove plate I preferred to use, so I planned out the shots for both and sent them to my mentor for his feedback.
In the end we both felt that the second idea had more potential and used the plate more to its potential.
07 January 2013
Animals & Creatures 2 - Week 1
I've had a fantastic break over the Christmas and New Year holiday and felt very excited to start the new and final term of Animals and Creature Master Class.
The first assignment (spread over 2 weeks) is to produce a vanilla flight cycle. For the first couple of days I spent a lot of time reading, researching and studying the various aspects that make up a flight cycle. Here is my first try:
I am pleased with my progress so far because I understand what's going on "under the hood" in this basic flight cycle. But of course there are a lot fo changes to make, which I will do for next week - and demonstrate my understanding more clearly.
Below is the reference video I compiled and the notes I made...
The first assignment (spread over 2 weeks) is to produce a vanilla flight cycle. For the first couple of days I spent a lot of time reading, researching and studying the various aspects that make up a flight cycle. Here is my first try:
I am pleased with my progress so far because I understand what's going on "under the hood" in this basic flight cycle. But of course there are a lot fo changes to make, which I will do for next week - and demonstrate my understanding more clearly.
Below is the reference video I compiled and the notes I made...
09 December 2012
AM Master Class Assignment 11
The final version of the final assignment in Term 1 of Animals & Creatures Master Class is now complete...
I have enjoyed working on this piece immensely. It's the first time i've been able to animate an angry character and an anthropomorphic character that can change from animal to human characteristics.
I enjoyed everything from the planning stage, watching practically every video of gorillas and chimps on youtube and reading The Naked Ape by Desmond Morris (to learn how I could incorporate human/animal traits). To blocking; creating the environment, getting the timing of his positions and the camera action the way I wanted. Through to blocking plus (adding the inbetweens), polishing and final animation. It's been a fantastic journey. Along the way i've had such great support from other students, a peer buddy, my mentor and the AM staff too.
I can't wait to get stuck in to the second term. There will be so much to learn. For starters i'll learn how to animate to a back plate, which I have done once before back in 2010, but I basically taught myself and haven't done it since. And I'm already reading Birds In Flight by Carrol Henderson, to get a head start on flight, because i'm going to animating this creature...
I have enjoyed working on this piece immensely. It's the first time i've been able to animate an angry character and an anthropomorphic character that can change from animal to human characteristics.
I enjoyed everything from the planning stage, watching practically every video of gorillas and chimps on youtube and reading The Naked Ape by Desmond Morris (to learn how I could incorporate human/animal traits). To blocking; creating the environment, getting the timing of his positions and the camera action the way I wanted. Through to blocking plus (adding the inbetweens), polishing and final animation. It's been a fantastic journey. Along the way i've had such great support from other students, a peer buddy, my mentor and the AM staff too.
I can't wait to get stuck in to the second term. There will be so much to learn. For starters i'll learn how to animate to a back plate, which I have done once before back in 2010, but I basically taught myself and haven't done it since. And I'm already reading Birds In Flight by Carrol Henderson, to get a head start on flight, because i'm going to animating this creature...
04 December 2012
AM Masterclass Assignment 10
I made a couple of changes from the original blocking after some new ideas suggested by my mentor. And once I got into the swing of animating after being ill I noticed a couple of areas that could be pushed further.
One week left to go!!
28 November 2012
AM Masterclass Assignment 9
This week I wasn't very well, so I only managed to work on the walk cycle. Next week you'll see a HUGE update to my current assignment, so be sure to check back and leave comments.
Only 18 days until this first term/class has finished!!
13 November 2012
AM Masterclass Assignment 7
Final...
That's the end of the Tiger assignment now. However, I have some more notes from my mentor that I would like to address which will improve the piece by a long way. I will try to upload an updated version next week.
For the next 4 weeks I'm going to animate the Ogre creature in a Gorilla/Chimp way, demonstrating walking, anger, running down uneven terrain, jumping, making himself big and roaring to ward off a threat on his territory.
I've definitely gone for the most challenging animation I could think of and have spent a couple of days searching for good reference footage. Here is what I have compiled so far...
For the next 4 weeks I'm going to animate the Ogre creature in a Gorilla/Chimp way, demonstrating walking, anger, running down uneven terrain, jumping, making himself big and roaring to ward off a threat on his territory.
I've definitely gone for the most challenging animation I could think of and have spent a couple of days searching for good reference footage. Here is what I have compiled so far...
26 September 2012
Animals & Creatures Master Class
This morning I attended my first class on the Animals & Creatures program with Animation Mentor. It was an exciting hour as my mentor Leigh Rens gave an introduction about himself, getting to meet the other students from my class (really talented animators from all over: USA, Spain, Belarus, S.Africa) and to delving straight into basic animal anatomy.
I'm really looking forward to learning as much as I can from this opportunity. Tomorrow I am going to Whipsnade Zoo for some inspiration and to fill a few pages in my sketch book.
This will give me the chance to update my blog more often so check back once in a while to see how i'm doing. Adiós!
19 December 2011
05 December 2011
Bill Plympton Masterclass
On the 28th October this year, I attended a Bill Plympton Masterclass at Wolverhampton's FLIP Animation Festival. There were many great events taking place this year and I wish I could've attended them all, but I only managed to go to this one, but was well worth it!
The evening began with a two hour Q&A about him and his work.
Bill is drawing the character for his next feature film called Cheatin. It is still a WIP but it looks really cool. There's lots of typical Plympton style crazy perspective drawings and cross shading. I can't wait to see it.
In this photo Bill is drawing a caricature of my super talented friend and colleague Mike Blackman.
Here is the caricature Bill did for me. I really like it, but when I show it to people they don't think it looks like me!
I decided to buy Idiots & Angels because I knew it was a great film and I didn't want to go away empty handed. I even got it signed which is pretty cool.
Mike, Bill and I pose for a photo! Bill's expression is somewhere between normal and smile for the photograph
Towards the end of the evening, Bill gave a longer talk about his work and we got to watch a lot of them on the projector. My favourite was The Cow Who Wanted To Be A Hamburger and another short (very short at about 30 seconds) about a woman who waits on a cliff overlooking the sea for her lover to sail back to her, which leads to a sort of blinding agony.
When he spoke about Guard Dog Global Jam, he asked if Mike could go up on stage to talk about his own experience with this unique animation experience.
It was a good night and really good to finally meet Bill Plympton.
The evening began with a two hour Q&A about him and his work.
Bill is drawing the character for his next feature film called Cheatin. It is still a WIP but it looks really cool. There's lots of typical Plympton style crazy perspective drawings and cross shading. I can't wait to see it.
In this photo Bill is drawing a caricature of my super talented friend and colleague Mike Blackman.
Here is the caricature Bill did for me. I really like it, but when I show it to people they don't think it looks like me!
I decided to buy Idiots & Angels because I knew it was a great film and I didn't want to go away empty handed. I even got it signed which is pretty cool.
Mike, Bill and I pose for a photo! Bill's expression is somewhere between normal and smile for the photograph
Towards the end of the evening, Bill gave a longer talk about his work and we got to watch a lot of them on the projector. My favourite was The Cow Who Wanted To Be A Hamburger and another short (very short at about 30 seconds) about a woman who waits on a cliff overlooking the sea for her lover to sail back to her, which leads to a sort of blinding agony.
When he spoke about Guard Dog Global Jam, he asked if Mike could go up on stage to talk about his own experience with this unique animation experience.
It was a good night and really good to finally meet Bill Plympton.
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