ATRG Advert with Music

So made the music to the animation last night, using Garageband. I think I like it, in my eyes this is now done I can now just tweak and play with it as much as I want to before the deadline, its a good feeling. Now today onwards I can concentrate on conquering my real weakness writing.

This is my ATRG Advert (with no tweaks):


Eventually I will add little ATRG signs everywhere, like in the sands of egypt, the cave paintings and Punk graffiti, but for now I have to just be done with it.

Pirate Camp - The Evaluation

Done! Here it is complete, so thus begins its evaluation;

When I first begain Maya, I expected to build everything in 3ds Max but soon realised how important it was learn Maya from the very beginning, no shortcuts. So everything has been created in Maya, it took a little while becoming accustomed to the interface and the loaction of all the tools, but i quickly was able to build my custom shelf and the Loft tool became my best friend. Below is a screen shot of my scene set up with the layers (also very very useful) along with the custom shelf I made for myself:

Anyway enough of modelling and Maya itself, I soon began my endeavour to understand dynamics and how it is used in Maya, and what a tool, some really very very interesting effects and they were so quick to master once you'd spent the time understanding it. I did spend a lot of time understanding it, I knew how really important it was to not just follow a step by step tutorial, but to understand why certain features affected the dynamics and what each element was. I did this with the help of Stuart Christensen and Pat Imier they didnt create tutorials for people just to follow and not learn, but more tutorials on helping you understand and learn why. This was so much more beneficial, and it shows, when I built the full scene, I built the fire right at the beginning with a step by step guide, I then came back to it and re created the fire again and added it later to my animation just to show my learning progress, you can really see the difference. The thing I am most proud of though is my shoreline, I know its not perfect but I made that from my own knowledge of particle dynamics, something I could not have done with the initial understanding. There are no tutorials, so guides, nothing, I could have chickened out and left it, but where is the fun in that. If I had more time I might have been able to play around a little more with it, but I'm happy with how it turned out, it isjust particles being emitted from a curve around the island, with a gravity and radial field applied.

The most fun to make was the opening sign at the beginning of the animation, making the cloth rip apart and flutter in the wind. This was the last thing to be made, and it really shows how much I had picked up by then, like the modelling of the rope around the outside, how the stretchiness affects a very poly filled ncloth.

Out of all of this, I now understand why the industry used Maya instead of 3ds Max, what it can achieve is fantastic. It is most definitely the thing to learn and i'm quite excited to do so, my crash course this week as been invaluable to me and to others that I've helped. I hope this short animation even with its unique twist, shows at least some of what I've learnt, unfortunately I couldnt fit it all in, I've learnt too much. For a first time go at the programe I can happily say I am quite happy with what I have achieved and I was still able to put a creative spin on it too, not just a boring scene walkthrough that just hits the criterias. But something a little quirky and interesting that brings it all together.

 

Fantasy Olympics - Burball

Tadaaa, it is finished, everything from the storyboard and sketches to the actual animation and music. It is currently just being uploaded to Vimeo, I have used four programs for this, LMMS, Photoshop, 3ds Max and the main one After Effects. The main task was to learn about After Effects and how to make 2d images look like they're in a 3d environment. I used the software mainly for they text as I feel that it is in this area it truly succeeds. I did make the 2d characters work in the 3d arena too, which I am very happy about, as I thought that was going to be the hardest challenge. Luckily once I got into it, I got the hang of it really quickly, I do like the idea of being able to animate with this software, and with me currently considering concept art and storyboarding as a career, this is a great software for storyboards.
Although I feel like the character animation section will eventual get better with practice, right now this is the best I feel I could produce, another year or so practice I will be able to make it look smother and as though it were part of the arena. That I feel is the only let down.
The idea for the sport was really good, so much so I'm considering to make it a free mini game online. I really thought out the characters best for the sport too, like their shape and qualities. At one point i nearly turned the advert into a documentary each with their won back stories, before realising the brief was just asking for an advert. I liked how it all came together, and the reason why I used 3ds max was because I couldnt get the right feel from After Effects and so i made a decision, I wanted to make a good advert and the mass majority of it is made up of After Effects animation the text and character sections anyway.
The ideas behind this advert are strong ones, even though the final outcome isnt as strong I got all my ideas across, in the advert i gave a good over view of what my sport was, the mood, and why it was being advertised. If i had more time I think i could have played around some more with the olympic logo, as over past day or so i came up with an idea to make it more intergalatic.
It may not be the strongest advert but the ideas definitly are, and ultimately that was my main goal. Its execution was just mainly about learning the program and what it was capable of, my main goal was to push my imagination and also start practicing character designs.
The task was to 'design a promotional advert for a fantasy olympic sport'. I think I achieved that.

It's Decemeber

Well I'm on the last stretch of this advert I just have to tweak one little bit of it and add music, then it is finito. I've just uploaded the begininng of the piece, so you can get a feel of where I am heading with it. Alll the other bits of animation are done, I've just got to add a high impact sequence for the name, then I'll have it all done by thursday I think, depending on how long the music takes me to do. The after effects animation bits aren't great and it does need cleaning up, but that only comes with practice and me getting into it. I think though I'll use after effects mainly for title sequences, becuase i really really enjoy doing that, and this project has taught me so much more than when I used it for the Chess animation. All these skills now are just adding up.

I also can't believe it is decemeber, so the next few blogs will be a bit sparse but will be to do with the next project; The Still Life piece. Little bit nervous to begin it as I know it has to be precise as well as materials being spot on as well, plus lighting. It is a composition piece, and you can't hide things going wrong through moving pieces like in animation. Maybe a christmas miracle will happen.

Plus this christmas I will begin designing my two characters in the Silent comedy animation I'll be doing. I've already got the idea. characters and sequences playing out in my head. Just got to start drawing, downside to that is at my parents home they don't have a scanner. So it will be after new year when the sketches will loaded up unless I take pictures, but they never come out any good.

Teaching Myself After Effects

So with little knowledge I had of After Effects I set out to make a scene that is going to be in my advert. For a first time it's not too bad, and I've tried to remember animation basics. Its actually really fiddly, but once you get it, you're sorted. I know it can be better and less basic cartoony but be gentle its my first time. I like it because once the giant velcro balls attach, Octi slows down and it looks heavey, exactly the feel I wanted.
Weaves in and out, collects the big black 100 then ends up collecting a load more and starts getting weighed down.

Gonna finsih the Slithering scene tonight and hopefully put it all together tomorrow, going to try adding a fast blur effect to the slithering scene.

Arena Animation

This is a quick over look of the arena, in the advert I'm going to show them floating up from the floor, gonna be awesome. My advert is I think all about the power and impact of it, its not very subtle.

Spinning olympics

So this is test number one for a simple olympic design, it just spins but its short and sweet and straight to the point. Which I like but I have a few more things still left up my sleeve, for the design of this, once I've finished all the sketches i'll upload them onto here.

Olympic Branding

Thinking about making my own brand for my fantasy olympics, which is to be held in 3024. I was just gaining inspiration from past designs and posters. Most important bit is the five rings. Branding is a major part in this advert and I think I derailed a bit going off into each story. I've come up with a more advert based idea, rather than an episode. Anyway here are some of the designs I'm being inspire by;

 Unfortunately the 2012 olympic poster didnt make it on here because I just don't like it. It's not a likable image, and I don't feel inspired or excited for the olympics when I see it. Also the simpson reference makes me dislike it further. Oh well tomorrow I will have my own design, I will make it to my preferences and see if I can portray the mood of hope and that feeling of togetherness, those are elements that I think are important elements for the olympics.
Wish me Luck.

The Arena

 So here is a quick little arena I made in 3ds max, not sure how to replicate this in After effects. It won't be as glossy or reflective, it will have move of a cartoonish feel. Although I might have the 3d balls from this scene, and add points on them, so the audience knows that each equals points, though not sure how in going to show that these weighted. We'll see!

Above From the start line, below a close up of the 50 point ball.

The Contestants

Here are the main 3 contestants I am going to have in my advert:

Slithards

These slithering creatures main strength in Burball is the fact they're so snake like and can just slide to the point balls it wants. It weaves in and out collecting as many points before the finish line.

Three times Gold champion in the past two decades, collecting a handful of silver and bronze medals along the way.

They're one to watch out for as a flick of they're tail can send a bunch of weighted balls your way.






Octi

The mass point collector, spreading its 8 limbs out at the perfect moment accumulating as many points as possible betore the finish. Its light weight body keeping it from being to heavy to the touch the floor, enforcing the fact that it has never been desqualified.

Has never gotten less than 2nd place in the past two olympics, although if they get third its a gaunrantee you'll never see them again!

They maybe quiet, but they are quick calculators and may just beat you past the finish with all the points.




Gelatinous Blob

There has been a lot of controversy over the past few centuries with these guys, as they couldn't wear a uniform. They hadn't figured out a suit that could fit they're gluppy bodies. It wasn't till the past three olympics they were allowed to participate, as one of their leading scientists discovered a way to make the suit so elasticated it almost mimicked the structure of their own bodies.

There is an obvious natural talent that these guys posses, yet they can't seem to break into the silver medal league, always given bronze or even being disqualified. No one can forget the disqualifiction of 3016 olympic game, it was down to just one spec of blob that let the side down.

Anyway although they haven't won gold, they are considered one of the top three comptetors in the universe.


They each have a small profile as I am considering adding a small portion into my advert. Stuff like the year they were born and they're strengths and medals. Maybe I'm still 50/50, it just depends on how much time I have left over in my 30 second add. Anyway tomorrow i will upload the deasigns for the arena.

Character Sketches and Ideas

So here are the sketches to my Fantasy Olympics adverts. It is designs and ideas for each of my characters involved in Burball, each one with their own traits and strengths for the game.