22.4.2022 - 26.7.2022 (Week 1 - Week 14)
Chung Yi Ki / 0345014 /
BDCM
Major Project
Task 1: Design Proposition
Task 2: Project
Management
Task 3: Project Presentation
Task 4: Final Project
Lecture
Week 1 / Project Topic Brainstorming
Ways to think of topic:
- Take a look at dissertation topic and consider if it's viable to pursue as a final year project
- Go and find an actual client, but the client needs to be approved by the teaching team
- Find any topic and start from scratch, but the topic needs to have 1 or more of the following requirements:
- What is the purpose?
- Who will benefit from the project?
- What problems are you solving?
Tasks
Task 1: Design Proposition
For week 1 - week 5, we are tasked to create a proposal for our project. As
mentioned by Mr. Asrizal during week 1 of our module briefing, we can either
start our project from scratch, find a client or relate our project with our
dissertation findings.
Week 2 proposal slides
Fig 1.1 Week 2 proposal slides
We each need to present our idea proposal during week 2. In my slides, I
revolve my ideas around my dissertation findings and the topic of using gecko
characters in a short animated film to promote gecko awareness (or in other
words, to let viewers learn more about geckos). And so, I proposed two story
ideas that can be the product of the two goals and are able to be completed in
the packed timeframe we have for the whole module. The first idea has a more
narrative route but the challenge is that it has 3 characters, the second idea
has only 1 character but the challenge is that it might not be as entertaining
as the first idea. To add into consideration, my expected outcome for this
project is to have a complete short film from start to finish, with emphasis
and polished post-production that includes colour-correcting, lighting, camera
effects, visual effects and suitable sound design.
As a head start for my progress, I made two rough animatics for each of the
ideas and a character rig for the main character, Crest, in hopes it would
give me more time in focusing on the production and post-production side of
things. The character rig was made in Toon Boom Harmony.
Week 3 progression
Revised story ideation
Fig 2.1 Revised script
Fig 2.2 Revised storyboards
After receiving feedbacks from Mr. Kamal, I decided to choose the first story
idea to move forward as I felt it is more entertaining for me to produce. I
added some more expositions in the script and added dialogues as well to help
in explaining things while minimizing elaborate actions, and I think it would
also be a good reason for me to try in animating speaking characters. I then
edited and added more panels to my animatic to match the new script.
Revised and added character design
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| Fig 2.3 Revised 3/4 view and side view of Crest |
I also redesigned Crest's head a bit to make it look more rounded than boxy, so it would look less like a dragon and a bit more like a gecko. I also shortened the nose and made the nose line connect with the eyes in the 3/4 view so that the connection looks more seamless.
Fig 2.4 Leo's character model
Since I'm going for the first story idea, I also created a character rig for
Leo using Crest's rig template. I tried to simplify to design where I can so,
his whole skin is yellow without patterns except for the 3 spots on his neck
to indicate his leopard gecko identity.
Fig 2.5 Monster sketches (Left: Main monster, Right: monster's baby)
I also sketched out an idea for the monster and the small version of it seen at the start of the animatic to try and brainstorm their designs.
Background design
Fig 2.6 Tutorial in creating 2D stylised rock wall model in Blender
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| Fig 2.7 Cave model in Blender |
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| Fig 2.8 Shader material nodes for the model |
To quicken the production process, I decided to use 3D modelling to help me
with creating the background, so that I can use the rendered image of the
model in the animation without having to draw the backgrounds from scratch. It
also provides me flexibility in changing or adding elements in the background.
For the cave model, I followed a tutorial (Fig 2.5) I found on YouTube in
creating the stylised look for the material.
Compositing test
Fig 2.9 Background render from the cave model
Fig 2.10 After Effects workspace
Fig 2.11 Compositing test with character and background
To test if the background from the 3D model can match with the character
style, and to gauge how much time needs to be used for the whole compositing
process, I tested compositing the character with a render view from the 3D
model to see the result. The test was made with Crest holding a torch in mind.
Multiple effects were used in the compositing process but it the main effects
were inner shadow, glow, blur and masking.
Week 4 progression
Fig 3.1 Timed animatic with sound editing
After receiving feedback from Mr. Kamal, I timed my animatic with temporary
voice acting and sound effects to see how the whole flow of the animation will
be like. In the animatic, I also used rendered images from the cave 3D model
for the different background views I needed.
Feedback
Week 2
Overall the story is good, the second idea is simpler than the first idea, and might be more doable because you just have to focus on animating one character, but make sure to further refine the storyboard to include more dynamic angles and dynamic character acting, exaggerate more.
The first story is more interesting but the challenge is to animate all 3 characters. To further improve the first idea, make it clear at the start that Crest is looking for something, maybe show a map, and then in act 2, she found the item but on her way out, she noticed Leo asking for help, that's when she hesitate to help Leo but went back to help him anyway because this shows her personality being not that greedy and is willing to help others too. And maybe on the way out, she lost the artifact and went out empty handed. Basically the 2nd and 3rd act needs to be more interesting. But both story works, but it's up to you to choose which challenge you want to face.
The 3/4 angle silhouette for Crest needs to refine more, make the legs less straight. Make her head more round, refer to 5,6,8 pics of reference. The jaw needs to be more outwards and the head needs to connect to the nose, with the nose out and the jaw inwards, it looks like a bird. The second sketch that you have of Crest is close to the proportions. Also make sure it's 5 heads, which is ok now.
Using Toon Boom might speed up the animation process, so it's a good choice if you know how to use it. And ok with using any method as long as it helps in execution.
The suspenders design is easier to animate because the trench coat will have the problem of animating the trench coat too.
The squashing of eyes to fake a blink works.
The tail would be hard to animate but since you have an idea to use After Effects to animate the tail instead and composite it with the 2D animated character, then you can try.
If you want, you can think of adding an equality theme in the story to join a design competition, deadline is week 13 so everything would need to be done by week 12.
Week 3
Overall good progress. Polish up the storyboard, time it out with dialogue performance on your own first to see how everything plays out and which part of the timing needs to be adjusted. Since your story feels more to the action side, make sure to have some suspense in there. Make sure to not drag a scene for too long. Can remove dialogues if you want, but it's ok to add too if you feel like you need it. You can focus on improving the storyboard first.
The assets creations are looking good, and the compositing test looks good too. For the creature design, avoid using pure black, go towards a shade in the blue, green or purple shade instead. Since you're not really good at drawing, cheat where you can like using software to help.
Week 4
Add more drama in the second spider appearance. Use fast cut starting from the first monster attack until climax end. Just make sure the story is simple and understandable, agree to spend more time in compositing and post-production. Make sure the sound recordings are good. In some sequences maybe a minimalist music would do like a few piano notes. Work smart, make things simple and cheat when you can. Since your drawing skills are not that good, you can make your its own stylised style. It's good that you use 3d for your background, not a big worry on that.
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