Guest- Workshop

Today had to be the most interesting lesson so far, we where introduced to production animator from Electronic Arts James Hobart who has currently been working on the Harry Potter franchise of Games although other than that James has also worked on Mainstream games such as Gears of War. What intrigued me the most was his story about trying to get into the Game industry Naughty Dog, a challenge of proving yourself in less than three days. Seeing another perspective of what it is like to show companies, clients, businesses about who you are and what potential your out for !

My Goal post in life, Hard as it seems, is to aim to work for Pixar! but not just as an animator but as a creative engine or designer, farming the idea to make it work. Though this is only a dream its my goal post in life. Dream Big, Aim BIG!

Anyways back in focus at the moment keying in main poses with in the walk cycle based upon Richard Williams cycles (he is my saviour!) working on frames 1- 25 but when looping it will become 1-24 frames.
Also Scrubbing the legs to make a more smooth operation within in the knee joints.

http://www.jhobartanimator.com/

Heres the link for this main page which shows his demo reel that features many of his creative animating !

Productive yet cautious day as working straight from key frames rather than the biped to key all my poses.

Though thill next week lets kill some locusts !!

Reference Footage (rotoscope)

Stepping Stones 

With a run cycle motion i aim to present a sprint motion that involves Push, Step and Balance. Jumping from stone to stone in XSI will be challenging as the movement has to time well as not loosing stamp an pressure within the legs.

The idea of stepping stones is a classic example of clearing gaps and keeping balance. When reviving my old playstation 1, I had to re live a glory day of playing Crash Bandicoot!, simple and fun platforming levels that seem to be timeless however much i played the original. Though one level caught me out for keeping balance. "upstream" basically is straight forward lillie pad jumping spree avoiding obstacles such as jumping fish and man eating plants. This level has inspired me to animate in XSI a 3-4 part stepping jump finishing with a losing balance and falling.

Woody Falling 


In Toy Story 3, the opening sequence to the film involves Woody trying to save a train robbery but ends up in a backflipping action fight which Woody almost loses balance and falls of from the back of the train after free styling away to avoid the wrath of Mrs Potato head. As he is about to fall he slightly maintains balance until he is punched off. The way woody swings his arms in this sequence is over exaggerated but animating would be quite fun picturing a toy in in real life having this motion in its body.

 For my reference footage i aim have a person almost fall forward in motion instead of backwards.
Here are two rough examples of captured footage of my friend pretending to step stones as we could not find a good old british summer stream.

1.

2.

Next update will involve more technical drawings into the cycle its self. 

Heads will fall.....

POTATOES

My attempt at manipulating a rig character in XSI.

Though it s quite not clear in this image, i have attempted ago at building the potato head rigs but with a twist, Mrs potato on the right turns on a desk fan. to blow away the parts of her husband. The rig took 4-5 mins to pose but the dest fan took me a good 10 mins as still learning the software!

Funny Short cut on the keyboard , when pressing M on the keyboard the geometry saturation blends in to this smooth almost like a card cut out affect.  

Conte-Animation

Hey All
Today still configuring the walk cycle on XSI making a smooth operation on the snapping and breaking on the leg joints. Though wanting a simple Richard William style movement, i have already begun thinking about what kind of exaggerated stepping and arm thrust i should have within in the Cycle.

Looking into a Disney style thrust movement but at the moment quite complex, as only in basics!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mu1FfFNmgVA

As i could not find a origin walk cycle from disney this animator here has referenced a scene from Pinocchio. Only a rough drawn piece but the leg movement is what i aim to achieve!


So coming across the Rota-scope found and interesting hand drawn Animator who worked with a dance Team for a narrative Inspiration. Ryan Woodward who has worked on big Block busters such as Spiderman 2, The Iron Giant and Space Jam.
His solo project 'Thought Of You' is an inspiring piece to come across, its outcome looks straight forward and simple but effective at the same time. Though i cant interpret the story well, my view is that is connects the two worlds between life and death. The ending is quite powerful but makes the short narrative complete and the fluid movement times well with the song.
In mind for the Rota-scope i aim to base a movement similar to a dance and exaggerate this movement in Soft- image.

http://conteanimated.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBk3ynRbtsw


Balls!! but literally are starting well but after an hour of physically playing the game of badminton and failing miserable, I'am thinking of animating my mistakes that happened during my clumsy mistakes, not including whacking my friend in the head !
Here are quick sketches of how the badminton action scene should take place.....

 

Rough example of what i aim for !

Dskills2

Today working on 3D ball slide an roll movement in Soft Image XSI  working fraction by fraction using the dope sheet and F curve Editor, creating a smooth path for the ball to roll.