Advanced 2D module summary (part3)

This post shows the spider animation outcome and the reflection on the overall scenario of this module

Final outcome
This display shows the final edit of the animation with the name changed to 'Breeding cycle of spiders', formatted further with clean drawings and colour. For the most part I used TV paint's smearing paint tool after applying rough colour schemes on each frame. This would allow me to be3lnd the colour in and make it look more of the animation style of a painting. After it was further edited through Adobe Premiere, added with the music from the YouTube reference link which was slightly modified to suit the feel of the scenes within this short clip.
Click here to go to my uploaded version for better quality on vimeo.

'Breeding cycle of spiders'

Module evaluation and reflection

For this module, the main scenario was to learn and understand the ways of advancing 2D animation within the boundaries of software methods like TV paint and after effects; and drawing methods including cel animation and rotoscoping.

First I researched the main topic I would base the 30 to 60 second animation which was originally the life cycle of spiders but was changed over time to suit criteria’s requirements and suit the amount of time I can complete the outcome before the module’s end. This was eventually changed to the theme ‘Breeding cycle of spiders.’ Next I produced initial sketches to show my understanding of the theme. After that I started with the pre-production stages of storyboarding and animatic based on the research elements of the reference footage from YouTube. But like the titles, it was changed drastically to avoid doing too much work when in the production stage. Once I was in that stage, the main formatting and method I used was TV paint and rotoscoping based on comprised research footage, sliced and put together on TV paint to suit the story I want to tell from the theme.

Once the line test for the short spider documentary was done, I then proceeded to clean up the frames and add the suitable colour I wanted for the outcome. This was a great opportunity to let the audience understand each frame with the selected colour schemes to represent each drawing. For example, to know which spider is which, I decided to use the colour schemes of reds for the female and blues for the male. To make it feel less of a rotoscope, I decided to further use the TV paint features of blending the colours to look more like a painting, mainly using the smear paint brush tool.

Once the production stage was done I edited the footage with the sound on Adobe Premiere Pro. Once this was easily done, I exported it to an AVI file to be ready for publishing.

What’s worked best in this module is learning more methods and productive ways of using after effects, Photoshop and TV paint. Even though I’ve only used more methods in TV paint, it’s useful to have this sort of preparation and knowledge to help further my animation skills when put onto digital formatting in future.

One thing I would change is work better on my time managing skills to get the right results on time, produce the right length for the animation, planning ahead on research, tasks and stages; and produce the best out of the animation aswell as the other production stages when cleaning them up.

Animatics and other line tests

Line tests (mutliple scenes

This video shows multiple scenes I expereimented on the tv paint software to practice my skills and to prepare the best out of ther main scene I want for the main prodcution and the cleaning stage

Animatic

This post shows the pre-production stage of an animatic through the length I want the animation to be through static pictures. This has also been Combined with the soundtrack I want for the post production stage.

As you watch, the sketches are based on the footage I have found on the internet which have bern organised, cut and compressed together to form what I want for the outcome and be based on the storyboard at the beginning of the pre-production stage.

4th December 2014 character development presentation

Initial sketches

This section shows the initials I incorporated to produce ideas of how I want my character Margaret to look like, mainly to show off her vicious personality and show off her false exterior of thinking she is beautiful whereas she is actually ugly.

Head and Feature shapes

This slide shows the initial steps I had to produce to make my character more appealing, mainly shapes on eyes, mouth and head shapes. When I chose the right features and shapes, I experimented with facial expressions and poses to see if the features are suited and grounded to what my character should look like.

 

Body Shapes and General poses
This slide displays my experimentation of producing different body shapes to suit best for the personality I want for Margaret. Once I've chosen the best shape I further experimented with how the shape can do well with different poses.

Character Sheets and Turn Around sheets
This slide shows sketches of a turn around sheet which is comprised from different angles to get a full picture and perspective of the character. The other sheet of drawings display the sort of personality and characteristics she would normally display on screen to show what can see do when being portrayed with other characters and other setting she would be in.

Marquette Model
This slide shows the production stages of how I did the main figure of my character through a 3D modelling perspective through using plasticine modelling clay and carving equipment to produce all the shapes right before putting in the detail. For the face I simply created skull to easily stabilize the features especially when creating the cheek bones and eye sockets to look like a female face when the full head is produced. What these images also show is that I used simple equipment of pencils to wrap the material around to stabilise the shape when all parts are put together to avoid collapsing.

Concept Art
This last slide shows intitial concept arts I've produced to get an overall feel and visual development of the character mainly through colour schemes, styles, refining the detail and developing it through different perspectives to show characteristics and personality.

spider doc line test (clip)

here is a small taster on what I am doing for the Advanced 2D module which is based on small documentary about the life of the female spider. This tests shows signs that I have used rotoscoping which will be cleaned and coloured in a particular artist style to form that its my own piece and not make it just like a rotoscope.

Evidence and research into the 2 character creations

Vertaran soldier Carson 

website links to Carson personality research:

-Scarred, psychologically and psychically 

-secluded 

-change in mood and personality

-injured

-mental episodes 

• http://drhalloncall.com/dr-hall-on-call-blog/reasons-why-soldiers-have-difficulty-adjusting-to-a-civilian-lifestyle-after-serving-their-country/

• http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/themes/war/effects.aspx

Lady Margaret of the Dawn House

Real wives of Vancouver

-over the top 

-cruel 

-vicious

-self possessed 

-snobby 

-smug

-fake

-plastic

-false exterior that hides a horrible person 

- assumption they are glamourous and beautiful 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_Housewives_of_Orange_County

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Real_Housewives_of_Beverly_Hills

advanced 2D module summary (part 2)

Updated storyboard
This photograph shows a clear update to my themes storyboard. This creates a clear understanding with visuals and descriptions of what I want within the tv paint production of my short spider documentary.

 Clips, audio and Video References (YouTube

These web links show where I researched and found the footage I needed to use as rotoscoping reference to quickly sketch out what was needed for the animation's length in the criteria. These were also used within importing sections I needed on tv paint to be pieced together for fitting what's on the storyboard.

•  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jESKFHRU_Hc (national_geographic_super_spider_fascinating_spider_documentary_youtube)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8v6LD0YOs8 (writing spider making web close up HD)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG5E-STh4w4 (gogglebox_season_4_episode_5_10_31_2014_youtube) (last 10 minutes is what I would use in the production)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRnCeg-EWio (world_39_s_weirdest_deadly_mating_youtube)
•  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK3qXjcxTKI (Homecoming _John powell) mainly used for audio

advcanced 2D module summary (part 1)

Title: The birthing cycle of spiders 
short documentary on the birthing process of spiders and what transpires through the exchange between the female and male spider to when the eggs are encased by the mother.
The though process of this will be done through an animatic with inspiration from found footage to know how this be done within time length, camera angles and style in thew cleaning stage; tv paint in the production stage then edited through adobe after effect and adobe premiere pro within the post production stage.

Initial sketches
These sketches are just to show my small study in spiders around the shape and movement to get a clear idea on what I would be animating when done on tv paint.

Original storyboard
These photos show the original storyboard of this short documentary which had the themes changed slightly to fit the criteria of the module brief. These original titles were 'life cycle of spider' then 'the life of a female spider'. It was finally changed to the title and theme that is shown on top of this post.