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Advanced and Experimental 3D Computer Animation Techniques Literature Review Term 2

Week 5: Literature Review

Today we explored metamorphosis in animation, and how some animation works are more experimental with how they portray their visuals and narrative compared to more conventional works.

One example work we were shown, ‘Love & Theft’, is an example of literal metamorphosis through the visuals, with no cutting between shots as the animation instead seamlessly flows into itself.

For my current previs work, I am realising my idea will need a lot of thought put into the transitions between shots, so this will be a topic worth revisiting when working on my FMP.

Topic Progress

While I’m still busy with other projects, I did start some research and came across the essay by Gwyneth Jones ‘Wild Hearts in Uniform – the Romance of Militarism in Popular Science Fiction’ that I found interesting and relevant to my thoughts from last week. While quite opinionated, there is some very interesting thoughts on the representation of militarism in science fiction that could make for good frameworks for my own research.

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Advanced and Experimental 3D Computer Animation Techniques Literature Review Term 2

Week 4: Literature Review

Class Content

This week we went into detail for what a literature review is, and how to approach writing one.

I found the structuring advice helpful, where Nigel explained different ways to organise the writing. I often struggle to keep my writing clean and concise, so following more of a structure where things are broken down by key topics will be useful.

We were also given further dos and don’ts, such as avoiding being too narrowly focused with our research. When exploring a topic, it can often be useful to consider research outside of the specific scope that can lend valuable frameworks and considerations to our own research and writing.

Topic Progress

I haven’t made much progress with my topic development due to other academic commitments, but I have been thinking more about where my specific interests gravitate around when it comes to Andor and its core themes. I really admire how Andor displays the horrors of fascist regimes on a personal level outside of heroic acts, the idea of just wanting to exist but never being able to escape your personal responsibility to fight back. I think it would be a good idea to look into research that focuses on the glamorised view of war and the military that many films and shows have, contrasting against that shown in Andor.

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Advanced and Experimental 3D Computer Animation Techniques Previs Term 2

Week 5: Previs

Previs Development:

Still behind schedule this week with a just under half the shots still being storyboard panels, and I think I focused too much on individual shots rather than having everything at least in 3D stills, but I am happy that I managed to get one of the longer shots (Shot 0130) roughly animated. I did unfortunately have some issues cycling the run animation for the wolf, I want to go back and see if I can fix the cycling with some graph cleanup and tweaking. George did also recommend me a different, simpler rig to use though, so unless fixing the current wolf is reasonably quick I might just use the other rig instead.

I’m still finding it a little difficult to get the camera angles I had in mind working in 3D, so once I’m done blocking all of the shots I want to go back and tweak a few of those.

I wanted to add a fast paced punky song to the previs as this is the kind of music I would like to use for the FMP, so I chose “Worms On Tarmac” by Soft Play (latest fav band). I am also planning to find the email address for their manager to give a shot at asking if I can use the song. I have other songs in mind from smaller artists that I could use, but while studying my BA I was able to get permission to use a Porter Robinson song at no cost (despite offering) and he was a much bigger artist than Soft Play at the time of my enquiry, so I think it’s worth asking. I would like to have some kind of style concept/work to send with the email before I ask though, so I’m planning on waiting until around the start of Term 3.

Previs Feedback

  • George recommended this Wolfdog rig as an alternative to the one I’m currently using (since I had some issues with it in Shot 0130)
  • For Shot 0170, try animating the camera slightly following the wolf’s movement with some lag as if a real person is filming it
  • For the transition between shot 0190 and 0200, could try something like the transition here
  • Try moving the table shots towards the end

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Advanced and Experimental 3D Computer Animation Techniques Previs Term 2

Week 4: Previs

This week’s assignment:

  • Continue developing previs based on feedback

Week 3 Assignment Work: Character Sheets + Continued Shot Blocking

This week we were supposed to have all of our shots roughly blocked out and combined into a previs draft video, but I unfortunately fell behind schedule due to other projects so I only managed to update 3 of the shot blocks from last weeks feedback in that regard. I did manage to write up character sheets for my main character and the wolf character, as well as do some visual inspiration research for each.

Additionally, as I mentioned last week I didn’t think to include the updated storyboards for Idea 1 and Idea 3 for last week’s review, so I also showed those to George this week to show I applied his feedback.

Idea 1 Storyboard Updated:

While I found applying George’s feedback for this idea did improve the idea a lot, I still struggled to refine the storyboard to a point where I felt satisfied with it. The idea still feels weak to me, probably due to a lack of clear, strong, emotional beats. I do think that if I had chosen/in the future chose this idea to develop that those emotional beats could be added and refined to strengthen this idea further.

Idea 3 Storyboard Update:

I didn’t end up updating this storyboard since George said it was already solid, while quite short with not much depth, so there wasn’t a lot to comment on. Thinking more about this feedback though, I thought that rather than focus on multiple children witnessing these animals, it could be one child we follow through the advert to allow for more personal connection to the child character and the experience they are having.

Character Sheets:

I enjoyed making these character sheets, and reflecting on last weeks lessons helped me realise how useful these sheets will be when planning and animating these characters. I would like to also make similar character sheets for the secondary/background characters for this reason. While making them, I was also considering more how the fictional world of this fake show works, and what it is like for these characters to live in this world. I would also like to put more time into the world building and set design to build upon these initial ideas, so that the opening achieves what show openings should and fully sets the tone of the world, characters, and story.

Continued Shot Blocking:

before / after

Shot 0090

Shot 0100

Shot 0180

I would have liked to have done more shot blocking, but I am happy with the improvements I made to these shots. I do think the wolf in Shot 0180 could be even bigger, but the current increase in size already helps a lot. I have also realised now that when capturing the newer version of Shot 0090 I used the wrong keyframed poses (which are from Shot 0100) so I need to change that as I liked the ones in the older version.

Continued Shot Blocking Feedback

Shot 0090

  • Much better, try to have less of the previous empty space in other shots

Shot 0100

  • George liked the difference in how everyone is posed, as it gives each character different personalities
  • Some of the silhouettes could be clearer

Shot 0180

  • Make wolf even bigger
  • Maybe also shrink dumpster more to make wolf feel bigger
  • George recommended I look at the wolf animation in Thor: Ragnarok, as this wolf is huge and the animation + camera angles really sell that even in shots without immediately clear size references

As well as making the dumpster smaller, I think it would help if when I am modeling/building the environment for this shot, I add in lots more items for scale reference (such as cardboard boxes, litter, bottles, etc)

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Advanced and Experimental 3D Computer Animation Techniques Previs Term 2

Week 3: Previs

Went over class content for both week 3 and week 4 this week, so that we can have more taught content to work with and implement sooner

Telling Stories Through the Camera: Establishing Shots

Establishing shot (how this immediately tell the viewer what is happening and where the story is at before going into the story itself. For example, The Simpsons often shows a shot of the family’s house with sitcom music playing to set where the story is taking place and (with the type of music used) the tone of the setting.

We were given some links to examples and analysis of establishing shots, and basic stablishing shots in Maya

During this part of the lesson, I was considering how my second idea, the one I’m currently planning to focus on developing, is basically all establishing shots due to the nature of how show opening’s work. Every shot in an opening is setting the mood and giving context to the show it is leading to.

180 Rule:

The 180-degree rule is a cinematography guideline that helps filmmakers establish the spatial relationships between characters in a scene. It’s also known as the 180 rule. 

How it works

  • Imagine a straight line drawn between the heads of two characters. 
  • Keep the camera on one side of the line for the entire scene. 
  • The characters should maintain their relative positions to each other. 

Why it’s important

  • The 180-degree rule helps the audience understand the scene’s geography and the characters’ relationships. 
  • It helps maintain visual consistency throughout a film. 
  • It helps create dialogue scenes that feel consistent. 

Breaking the rule 

  • Intentionally breaking the 180-degree rule can be used as a technique to further the story.

For example, a director might break the rule to symbolize shock or to disorient the audience.

Though a bit loosely connected, the 180 rule reminded me of this video I watched a while ago analysing the introduction of Bumi, a character from Legend of Korra. The video focuses on how much context was packed into the 5 second character introduction, how well it was done, and touches on how the rest of the series often fails to carry this success forward.

Telling Stories Through the Camera: Characters

Establishing characters by:

  • drawing up designs (even if we plan to use premade rigs)
  • creating a short bio describing who the character is and where they are in the story
  • listing characteristics that demonstrate character’s motivations and why they are who they are (don’t just say a character is ‘quirky’, why are they quirky? how are they quirky?)

What makes a compelling character:

  • Sympathetic (different from likeable)
  • Nuanced (they have layers)
  • Flawed (they’re not perfect)
  • Active (they go after what they want)

Important to really think how we want our characters to be introduced

Show not tell: in the context of character’s, show the viewer the character’s personality through the character’s actions

This week’s assignment:

1. Shot blocking: Continue to flesh out/develop our chosen idea. Continue creating layout/previs shots, and combine them into a video to create a first previs draft.

2. Character Biographies: Write some backstory, characteristics/traits for our characters. These things should drive how we visualise them.

Week 2 Assignment work: Moodboards + Initial Shot Blocking

I didn’t think to include the storyboards updated from last week’s feedback in this review, so George asked that I include them for next week for him to see and give further feedback on.

Idea 1 Moodboard:

I wanted this idea to be set in a world and time similar to medieval Europe. Within this world there is a magic system, and the greater population fears and hunts down those capable of using magic. I wanted the main character to be a blood mage who harnesses his power from his own and other’s blood, similar to a demon character from the anime Frieren. For the shots of the mage demonstrating his power, I have been imagining visuals similar to those shown in the season 1 episode 2 opening scene of Arcane, and the Atlantis scene of Kida sacrificing herself.

I found it a bit tricky to find visual reference for blood magic as I was picturing it, but I would also consider the blood bending scenes from both Avatar the Last Airbender and Legend of Korra as reference. Though these (from what I remember), don’t show blood being manipulated outside of the body, these scenes could be used as character animation reference.

Idea 2 Moodboard:

The first moodboard is more for visual style, where the second is for setting and vibe. I do feel I should have utilised more of the taught content from last week for these boards, as I don’t think they show enough for worldbuilding. Because this idea is an opening, I initially thought I wouldn’t be focusing much on world building, but as I mentioned above I now realise that the world building is even more important for an opening as an opening should show the context and tone for this.

Wanted bright colours, interesting visual styles, visual metaphors, etc.

Want a mix of folklore/ancient mythology and cyberpunk vibes

This week has helped me decide I want to have at least a rough plot and setting planned out for the fake show this opening would be for, as that will drive the majority of what I do for the opening.

Idea 3:

I again didn’t focus enough here on the worldbuilding for this idea as I could have. I struggled to do this as this idea is pretty basic in this regard from my viewpoint, as it is set in real world, modern day London, and the animals are just a fantasy added on top.

While looking for visual research, I did remember the animals conjured by Sandy in Rise of the Guardians, which I would like to draw from as photorealistic creatures by themselves don’t feel as fantastical and eye-catching. I did consider these things when creating the storyboard for this idea, but I hadn’t yet found a visual inspiration for this.

Initial Shot Blocking:

Storyboard Panel / Maya Shot Blocking:

Shot 0010

Shot 0020

Shot 0030

Shot 0040

Shot 0090

Shot 0100

Shot 0110

Shot 0180

I struggled a bit to replicate the camera angles and poses from my storyboard, but I do also prefer the last three shots to the storyboard panels as the perspectives and framings feel more correct and appealing.

Moodboards + Initial Shot Blocking Feedback:

Moodboard Feedback from George:

Chosen Idea (Idea 2) Moodboard:

  • Make sure to keep these bright colours throughout the film
  • Tie down the vibe of the opening since there’s conflicting vibes from the openings shown. It is serious like Arcane? Silly/funny like Dandadan? A good mix like Chainsaw Man?

I think I would like my opening to be a good mix with a leaning towards silly/funny, so I need to have this in mind when developing this idea in the coming weeks.

Shot Blocking Feedback from George:

Shot 0010:

  • Could zoom in more, or at least add something to the background to make it more interesting

I have a couple things I would like to try out for this shot for the background, including light projection like in the Arcane season 2 opening, and a photography/graphic montage like in the Edgerunners opening.

Shot 0030:

  • Character could have turned more at this point
  • Character could also be stood a bit to the side so he’s less centred for a more interesting/appealing shot

I want to block out the poses for all the opening shots before adjusting how much the character turns further, as the opening shots are zooming in one after another as the character turns. I would like to have the final pose of the turn blocked before adjusting the ones in the middle.

Shot 0090:

  • Zoom camera into table more. Storyboard panel felt much nicer and intimate, the space around the Maya blocking feels weird

Shot 0100:

  • Have all the characters looking towards the main character (who is sat at the end of the table closest to the camera
  • Could potentially cut to each character between Shot 0090 and this one, with a quick little intro for each, before we see them all together here

I liked the idea of cutting to each character with a mini character intro for each, so I want to look into examples of this being done for inspiration on how I could implement this.

Shot 0110:

  • Could maybe tighten up shot to show character from knees/waist up instead of full body

My original plan for this shot was for the camera to be animated doing a slight rotation around the character as he walks forward, keeping the frame of the buildings around his upper body throughout the shot. I would like to try this first to see if it helps make the shot more appealing, and depending on how it looks I will also/instead try George’s suggestion.

Shot 0180:

  • Make wolf bigger, doesn’t feel very intimidating/interesting being so small on screen
  • Add in buildings at the back of the shot (where the alley ends) with silhouette

As shown in my Idea 2 Moodboard, I did actually think of Moro (the white wolf) from Princess Mononoke as visual inspiration for the wolf in this idea, so I agree that it should be a lot bigger in this shot to have the same mythical and intimidating vibe.

Categories
Advanced and Experimental 3D Computer Animation Techniques Literature Review Term 2

Week 3: Literature Review

Class Content

We went over the structure for our thesis proposal in more detail today, including what to include/avoid, different research methods, and some example works. The research methods isn’t something that was taught to me in great detail on my BA course (where the theory classes mostly focused on various topics rather than approaches to the writing itself), so this in particular was very helpful to learn about.

Topic Progress

While researching the various artefact medias (those I listed as my current interests last week), I ended up watching a few video essays on the Star Wars series Andor (2022) which inspired me to at least consider it as my chosen artefact for research purposes. A video by YouTuber Spaceman, ‘Andor is A Star Wars Masterpiece From 1978‘ was particularly well composed to elicit excitement and inspiration. I also very much enjoyed ‘Andor: Anti-f*scist Art‘ by Just Write for the same reasons.

I am still unsure what the wider topic of research will include. While I am interested in the complications of a mega-corporation with conflicting values against the media it produces, such as the conflicting values between Andor and Disney, I am unsure of what question or angle to approach such a topic from. Alternatively, I could approach from an analysis angle where I explore how the visuals of Andor reflect its socio-political themes, but I am a little concerned this might be too limiting. I will be considering this more in the coming weeks.