The Button Update

Here is another 5 second section added on to the animation below, the switching on of the  UNBEATABLE computer. I really want to show a range of movement in this animation, fully use all the techniques I've never been able to do before. I think I've set it up nicely now that I can begin actually telling the story, the intro is over once the computer says "good evening".

Opening Scene Extended

This is the extended version of the opening which i will be using. It sets the scene better I feel, as it shows the whole chessboard, the hands, and the computer. It also does justice to the reflections, and is a little longer so audience can digest it better. I prefer it, its now 15sec worth of video, and doesnt feel so rushed, and it opens nicely into my next scene: The hands waking up.

Metallic Material

So I just wanted to show my metallic material, the above shot is a reflection off of the left shoulder, I might have to use that shot as an opening in my animation. I like that its all metallic, suits the theme of the robot, but I think I need to lessen the reflection on the pieces and even the board. Although the board only has a reflection off of the black squares, really I want the board to be more see through, yet I'm worried that the black surface below will make the white bits seem black too. Guess I will have to keep playing, anyway the pieces have been modelled, had help from Andy on the horse but its still my design and I've tweaked it since. I'm actually quite impressed with it, it does give off a futuristic feel, and it does keep in with my robot arms. I've yet to finish the computer just add some more buttons and make the mini animation "Checkmate" for it. Then I can actually begin the film. Sorry I haven't added my sketches and storyboard yet, need to get my hands either a camera with batteries or a scanner that for some reason needs ink to scan to computer (flaws in the Kodak all in one printer).

Above is my overall scene, and the set up, getting the hands right I think is going to be fiddly as I dont want them to clash with other pieces. What I love about it is that its just grown, piece by piece, section by section. I wasnt quite sure what my overall scene would look like, I am actually thinking a wooden table but worried it would lose the theme. A lot of it is just playing around, and so far my playing has paid off.

Hmmm... Chess Pieces beginning

This is just a progress render of my pieces, they still have a lot of tweaking left to do. Basic shapes are there but I am not happy with them yet, maybe material will help and more detail. Although they are supposed to be just Metal representations of the chess pieces rather than the standard ones. I'm also building them from scratch as I feel everyone is probably just copying a online tutorial, and I'd like my animation to stand out a little more. Anyway also to add... the chess computer has now been built it just needs detail like buttons, the black rectangle is when the words such as "Check In 10" will appear.

HAH!!!!!!

I win, took me hours but I win!! I have made two seperate (seperate being the key word) movable arms. They can be aniamted individually so yes animating may take longer but the overal story will be successful. I can believe how long it took me, I was stumped after fully completing my 1st arm, naively I thought I could clone and rotate it, but noooooo!!! That probably is possible and there might be a shortcut I need to learn to get round re building the hand and each of its fingers. BUT HAH.... I did it, now I can make my chess board and pieces, I'm thinking of designing my own just because everyone else seems to be copying tutorials online and they'll all look the same.
I could cry with relief. Tonight I will also discuss and show my initial designs for the hand. Anyway here they are:

I have not added any kind of material or lighting just because I've only just literally finished the modelling.

Update:

With one omni light and and chess board, plus few materials.  I just needed to get a feel for it so I can ponder about it over the weeked. Finally my vision is coming to life