Nobody Learns Without Getting it Wrong

Yeah, okay. I didn't update last week. This semester is a little different in that we sometimes meet as a class, sometimes just with the teacher, and sometimes not at all.

Last week was a not at all.

That is not to say I won't ever post on a no-meeting week, but I'm pulling that card this time.

Moving on.....

Since last time I actually got a lot done - not as much as I wanted, but still a lot.

Originally I wanted to completely animate 2 scenes. The color correction, lighting, and background fixes are scheduled to be finished during the last three weeks - so back off now people.

Here is my breakdown for the rest of semester:

First, this gap wasn't all about animating.

Last semester the document system I had in place wasn't working. At. All.

Sure it was good in theory, and was helping in lowering the amount of data in in files - was it didn't hold up when it came to phase 2 let alone 3 or 4.

So I spent some time re-orgainizing everything. Before there was a file for Kramer, other dogs, the Boy, other people, then for Backgrounds.

Yeah.... it became a real head ache when it came time to try combining the elements.

So now I have one file for each scene. Meaning 15 different files. The time consuming part was coping all the previously made elements from the files of last semester into new files specific to the scene they are in.

It was more of a time sucker then you might think.

Now I said that I didn't get done everything that I wanted to do. The plan was to get done 2 scenes, S1-Arrival and S2-First Night. First Night is done - animation wise.....for now. I'm not crazy enough to believe that it's perfect as is and doesn't need tweaking here or there, but I very happy with it.

And just look at this puppy, isn't he cute!

Silly little puppy.

.....trust me, it makes more sense in the setting. And even if it isn't exactly how a puppy moves, it's animation not live action and I like it.

With that I'll show you the scene as it is now. Keep in mind a few things: there is no color correction, no lighting (except for the lightning), the background is changing slightly (bed different, texture in floor), and the sound only has the effects - not the overall track.

To be fair, things did keep crashing on me, a lot. I've decided to start taking pictures of all my error messages when working on thesis and I'm going to make something out of them.

So what am I talking about, stuff not done.

Well the other scene, S1-Arrival, is not exactly finished.

First off, I changed a lot of it - nearly all of it.

Reason?

The stupid full frontal view is a butt to design, so everything using that angle is re-designed to 3/4. 

Then I thought instead of him falling over trying to scratch himself I would introduce his distractive-ness right off and have him pawing at something, then watch a butterfly, before being picked up.

It wasn't exactly working the way I wanted - and this was the easy part. I already spent so much time on it, and it needed so much more love to be half-way decent, that I went another route.

Now instead of stilling on the ground, doing......something, then getting picked up - Kramer starts in the boy's arms opening his eyes giving a first-person perspective for the opening shot. 

It's a little tricky since I'm dealing with extreme perspective, location shift, and first-person eyes opening.....but I think it's going somewhere.

From here we cut to a side view of Neville (yeah our dog's name is really Kramer, and my brother's name is actually Michael, but even though the character was designed from him, he feels more like a Neville) .....side view of Neville and Kramer before a Neville-perspective of Kramer as he slips on his new collar, ending with a close up on the collar tag which doubles as the title card.

I like this new sequence, but it will interfere with my transition to S2 since it was to be a seamless transition from one to the other with Kramer in the same pose, but the background changing......oh well.

Over all things went much better this time round. That leaf....mess.....is totally going to be re-done at a later date from a new view point.

Next week I'm planning, as you can see above, to have S3-Growing Montage fixed and, well, the rest of S1 done.

Please note, I understand the practice of animating out of order, I really do. The fact that S1-3 are the only ones relatively done is just because of timing and interest level. Other shots will be created in non-sequential order.

Note two: this post is REALLY long. It's most likely to do with the fact that I don't think I explained things well in the beginning - but it could also have to do with just having a lot to show....

Anyway, as Tigger says, "TTFN! Ta ta for now!"

If There's a Prize for Rotten Judgment

There are a few things I want to cover right now, so lets just jump into it.

First off, you can find the current board-o-matic here:

https://youtu.be/WRCfO0oHwbM

The beginning email note is being axed and the music needs to change, plus maybe changed some of the shot compositions to add dynamics…..

But basically, the story is based off the experience I’ve had with my family in raising puppies for The Seeing Eye (not that I will ever name them in the animation I think). The story follows our Golden Retriever, Kramer, has he grows and learns. Eventually he goes through all his training but is too goofy to pass and ends up returning home.

In short: a LOT of animating dogs.

….dogs are really hard to animate.

Why am I doing this again?

So over the past week I started working on one of the later shots known to me as “Leaf.” This involves Kramer, another dog, 2 trainers, a leaf and an evaluator? …not sure on that last part.

The leaf got made and animated without issue - though I might still tweak the timing here and there a bit.

The other dog, who I’m naming Kato since he will be in more of the story, got animated for the most part and I like him.

The trainers and evaluator (if I even have one) aren’t made yet. -_-

Then you have Kramer.

Things started rocky since I had yet to design a view of him head on as an adult. Plus I’m taking notes from last semester and giving a nose shine and more expressive eyes. All in all the design got to the point that I was like, “Okay, this might work but he still doesn’t look like his other angles.”

Why did I design the shot head on?

Next was actually animating him.

That was even more annoying, and took waaaay more time that I thought it would. It’s starting to come along but there where so may issues that came up and things that still need to be addressed that I’m not happy with it.

Seriously, why did I choose this story to get back into things?

Whatever.

If you want, here’s the latest version of the shot so far. The background is going to change so I don’t want to hear anything about that:

Well hopefully this next week goes better. I’m thinking of maybe doing the end scene next, not sure.

Until next time!