Class 10 10/25/2016

In today's class, I outlined what I would like to see in your final assignments.  I showed more examples of Animation planning, and some videos that will hopefully inspire your ideas.  You will have the rest of the semester to work on your final, with it being due on the last day of class.  Each week's assignment will be to work on various aspects of the animation process.

Animator Acting reference:
http://i.imgur.com/UWmcpFk.gifv
http://i.imgur.com/mK9ZmYP.gifv

Animation using real baseball game as reference.
https://i.imgur.com/cNjgPH1.gifv

Every Frame a Painting. 
These videos give some ideas and knowledge about how you can use the camera to enhance the actions you are trying to show.  Remember, you do not have to be as elaborate as some of the examples shown here.  I just would like you to see all the possibilities that are available within the frame of the camera.

Drive (2011) - The Quadrant System from Tony Zhou on Vimeo.
Wolf Children (2012) - The Lateral Tracking Shot from Tony Zhou on Vimeo.
Edgar Wright - How to Do Visual Comedy from Tony Zhou on Vimeo.

Some really dumb, but well done animations.

Animator Progression reels:

The last two videos for Ratatoullie, and Monsters Inc, I want you to pay attention to.  These two videos show very well many of the steps I would like you to do for your final.

Another source of inspiration might be the Frame X Frame Tumblr.  Surf this website, and see if there are any animations or actions that interest you.

Mr. Buttons

I've shown this animation before in class, but I will be happy to link you to it again, since it is a nice clip that meets the requirements of the final project.

Blind Date Animation (right click, save as)

You may use the Mr. Buttons free rig if you like, but I would not suggest it for lip synch animation.

HOMEWORK

1) Finish your lip synch animations. 

2) Final Project Phase 1:

-Please come up with at least two animation ideas.  It could be anything from a lip synch animation like the 11 Second Club, to an action, like dancing or fight choreography.

-Sketch out thumbnails of how you would animate these ideas.  If you are not sure what thumbnail sketches are, here are some examples:

-Essentially, the idea is to sketch out the most important points of your story, or action.  Bring in these images and present your idea for class.

-Bring in any material that supports your animation idea.  It could be the audio, video, or animation reference.  Like I said you could surf FrameXFrame for ideas, or bring in a video of a dancer for reference.

-Remember to pick an idea that really engages you!  It will make it that much more fun to work on!

Class 09 10/18/2016

During the last class I showed you in more detail how I go about splining your animation from blocking.

One animation I showed to you that really demonstrated eye movement and facial expressions was called "One More Beer!"

One More Beer! from pedro conti on Vimeo.

Homework

Please begin splining your lip synch animation.  What I want to see if movement in the head, neck, and/or chest that adds to the animation.  Really make sure your movements support the dialogue that is coming out of the character's mouth.  Just moving lips won't do.

Class 08 10/11/2016

Last class we I showed you how I would spline our head turns, and initial blocking of the lip synch.

What I forgot to mention is that this is the Midterm!  This really snuck up on us.  Time flies!

Lip Synch Steps to remember.

1. -Have audio in .wav format
2. -Import audio into your shot.
3. -I usually like to have my timeline set at 4x height.  You can do this in preferences.

Here is a link to see how other animators approach their workflow.  Please look at these and try to keep in mind how you can use different processes for your own work.
An animation playlist about the workflow processes to get inspired.

Here is the drawing reference that I showed in class a few times. Flickr drawing references.

Here are some other videos to watch to see how people animate talking and acting.

I won't post anything about AE since you already have the audio file, and I will be opening AE again in class.  If you are curious to know more about AE, then please google it.

Homework

-Spline and finish your head turns

-Begin blocking out you lip synch

1. -Film youself saying the word.  Act it out.  Try different options.  Filming yourself is REQUIRED.
2. -Optional: Sketch out your ideas as well, similar to the pixar images I linked earlier.
3. -Using stepped keyframes, block out your character animation.
4. -Don't be afraid to think about what the character is doing before and after they "Ok"

Class 07 10/05/2016

Head Turn Animation

Hello everyone!  

Here are some helpful references on the topic of head turning.  Hopefully these will reiterate what I went over in class, and you can use these as helpful reference for when you are doing your homework assignment.

Jack Jack's head turn

Pocahontas

Please take note, there are many different ways to do a head turn.  A neutral head turn is completely valid, but whatever the emotion of the character might be would also affect how the turn is happening.  For instance, my animation that i worked on in class the other day was of a scared man.  He turned his head quickly, looking around to make sure nothing will hurt him.  If someone is relaxed, they might turn their head more slowly.  

aTools

I used the tween function of aTools quite a bit.  I hope you guys will continue to use it and become familiar with powerful a tool it can be.  As a reminder, here is the youtube video demonstrating aTools and how you can use it:

Review of Morpheus Face Rig

Please watch this video if you need any reviewing for the face rig on Morpheus.  Start at 14:30 to begin right at the face.

Morpheus Rig 101 - "The Rig As Is" from Josh Burton on Vimeo.

Other videos we watched in class:

Satoshi Kon - Editing Space & Time from Tony Zhou on Vimeo.


Chuck Jones - The Evolution of an Artist from Tony Zhou on Vimeo.

HOMEWORK

Based on what was shown in class, and the reference I provided in this blog post, please create your own head turn.  This is your chance to get creative.  Don't just rotate the head and blink the eyes.  Make me feel the turn in the body and the shoulders.  Create an expressive face that might communicate what your character might be feeling on the inside.  Please feel free to explore and experiment.  Remember you are creating art.  Let's see some emotion!

Don't forget to create a new perspective camera to view our animation with.  I usually rename it "RenderCam" which is what many studios do.  Find a good place for this camera, and lock it in place by locking attributes, or just keyframe it.  Make sure this camera view is the best angle for viewing your work.  Remember what I said about the eyes.  Our animations will work much better when we see both eyes in the shot.  Use your RenderCam to figure that out.

Please record yourself a few times turning your head and looking.  This is required!  Turn it in with your animation progress!

So in summary I want to see:
1 blocked animation of a head turn.
1 video of your filmed reference.