Sneak Attack - Client Project

Sneak Attack, this is a short character Animation I did, I emphasize short because I had to speed things up and cut things out to fit it within the time frame allocated. I'm pretty proud of it as I did not have very long to animate it at all. Its a bit clunky in places because of that but next time I'm going to make sure I allocate more time to animating. Also I had three characters to take care of, I did try and minimalize the amount of animation the sheep and farmer had, although it was important that they didn't look lifeless either.
I think the animating process should have at least 2 weeks, that is something I have learnt and could maybe have down with on this project. I also wish I had been able to spend some more time on the facial rigging, but in the story it wasn't overly necessary.

There's only two close up shots and so I made do with what I had. Maybe I'm being too critical on myself considering the time I had and the personal things I've been going through at home, but this is actually the best I could come up with in two weeks, from modelling, to texturing, to rigging, to animating and finally rendering. Talk about sleepless nights, today is the first time I've slept properly and I have spent most of the day asleep, anyway that is not the point. 

Sneak attack is my first steps into Maya, its been a rough ride at some points, wasted days trying to find solutions to ridiculous unexplained problems and great days seeing my characters come to life. Least I know I can animate a decent animation within about 5 days. 

Process

 Thought I'd upload some of the stuff I've been working on. Below is my character process, from designs to modelling and rigging.

Its a bit like Tex Avery meet Shaun the Sheep, well that was the rendering style I was going for. I've learnt a lot in this process though, I mean about Maya. This is my first time using Maya for character animation, the last time I used Maya was last year and that was just for Dynamics. 

Above is a shot of  the model, then its rig and then textured. Texturing was a bit of a long process, but making sure it all fit means I can stretch the limbs, and have the wolf character in exaggerated poses.

This image I though summed up the whole idea and story, sleeping farmer, un-bothered sheep and sneaky wolf. My actual animation for the Client project had to be sped up and cut short in places, but more of that later.

Pre-Term Jitters

So been fighting off nerves for about a week now, but finally managed to rip my head out of the sand and get on with it. I am using Maya, and again somehow have managed to throw myself in at the deep end. Tried to start off as easy as possible. Get to grip with the basics again, and boy have I fallen in love with the program. Simple once you get to grips with it. I've also been blessed with the tutorials from Animation Methods on youtube. SOOOOO useful I cant even begin to describe. Anyway below is my little sheep character I'll be using. Modelled, Textured and used blend shapes, 20hrs worth of learning and work. Mind is a bit frazzled but all good now.

Location, Location Complete

Welcome into the dark and eerie cottage of the witch, now you know what it looks like on the inside of the sweetie cake covered house from Hansel and Gretel.



So it has started....

I have now huge respect for those who are involved with lighting in the industry, hardest thing to accomplish, I think it is going to be my biggest accomplishment once achieved. Still have a while to go yet.

latest Updates on Still Life

So sorted out the glass thank goodness!! And kinda sorted the Knife blade and spoon. Just have the handle also going to re-do the lid I think, as I copped out and was lazy with that too. I'm gonna finish this right I've decided, I'm so close why be lazy now?!! Anyway here is the latest:

Also tweaked the background again too. It is getting there, just everytime I redo something another element needs tweaking. Anyway I've got a lovely cold so think I'm going to have a lie down and get on with some sketches.

Still lifes background

Here is just a quick update, I've sorted out the background, looks a better already now that I've spent sometime on it. I was being lazy and Roma picked up on it straight away and made sure I worked on it, I should have done it in the 1st place rather all slap and dash. Still need to sort out the reflection on the Knife and of course the glass Jar. I'm not sure how to go about the jar, and I should have finished the background properly before showing Roma as she would have been able to see what needs tweaking etc. Oh well onwards...

Practicing materials

Thought I'd have a little play around with materials, get some practice in. Its not quite realistic yet, its too clean and precise. I'm going to make the bread more uneven, and the slices different sizes, the jar needs to look sticky and less plastic. I've not really begun on the spoon, knife and chopping board just yet.

I like the lid, its just like the ones my family uses. My next model will be the jam in the jar, thought it would be better to create them seperate giving me more control again when in comes to material sode of things. I kind of like the bread, its just to "clean" bread isn't perfect shaped and thats what i've modelled.
Right I'm done for the evening been working on this all day practically, just messing around. Its nearly 12 here so off to bed, travelling nice and early in the morning. Hopefully I'll remember to take clearer pictures of the kitchen tomorrow.

Perfect

Found this online whilst thinking about composition and the style of my piece. It has all the elements that I wanted to include in my still life, although this one is very crisp and clean and I want my to feel more realistic, then a set up. This is still a good reference, and something i will keep referring back too, especially the strawberry jam. I will change the chopping board though, add a few crumbs, a tile bakground and granit surface. Perfect, just texturing the loaf now, here is the basic model I have done in 3ds max:

Getting there bit by bit, just need to find the right texture for it, might have to wait and make a loaf myself once I get back to the uk and take pictures of it. Will keep searching.

Decided to just stick to modelling for the time being and collect my materials all at once, the search was fruitless online so going to compile my own. It will be done, hopefully i'll figure out the uwv unwrapping thing too.

i think i need to re-do the knife still 50/50 on its actual basic model, but so far so good