3D Animals in Motion : October 2013

Title: Animal Motion

Outline:
My project will be focusing on creating a show reel by developing my animation skills with animating quadrupeds and non-human bipeds in a semi-realistic fashion. I will produce a varied reel with walk cycle(s), run cycle(s), hunting/foraging, interactions with others and objects, barking/roaring and other behaviours that are typical for the species I choose.
My research would be based on improving my work-flow in Maya, watching videos of animals, studying 2D and 3D animation that have semi-realistic animals and studying books that talk about quadruped animating.
I will produce a 30 second to 1 minute show reel with rigs I've downloaded from other sources and animated in Maya.

Rational:
I chose this project due to having a strong interest and background with animals and their behaviours that I feel I can put to use for my future as animals and creatures are frequently used in the media, from advertisements to feature films and live action.
I will be concentrating on interesting individual interactions rather than a whole story which will focus on my animating skills rather than a full production, and it means I will have a good show reel to use and edit at later dates.

Areas of investigation:
My investigation will start with improving my work flow and getting more acquainted with Maya by using mainly using Digital Tutors for tutorials and help from individuals.
I will use video references and real life studies for animal movement and animating books to keep my animations accurate and fluid.
I will use 2D and 3D cartoons, feature films and live action movies that have animals in to study from, such as Disney's Lady and the Tramp, Spirit: Stallion of the Samurai, Disney's 101 Dalmatians movie, Tangled ect.
Finding information on how to lay out show reels will be my last investigation.

Background research:

I found quadruped rigs for free I can use from Creative Crash, Animation Buffet and rigging 101 such as horse, various dogs and a chicken.
Online Tutorials
slow motion of animals on youtube - http://www.youtube.com/user/EarthUnpluggedTV?feature=watch and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4nd9GF1dRg

Literature review:
These are the base of my research for this project.

Books:
How to cheat in maya 2014: Tools and Techniques for Character Animation by Kenny Roy
Illustration of life by Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston
Animals in motion by Eadweard MuyBridge

Journals:
Lions and Tigers and Bears: investigating cues for expressive creature motion
http://dl.acm.org.ezproxy.tees.ac.uk/citation.cfm?id=1836845.1836856&coll=DL&dl=ACM&CFID=370461988&CFTOKEN=39651917

The Chronicles of Narnia: The lion, the crowds and Rhythm and Hues.
http://dl.acm.org.ezproxy.tees.ac.uk/citation.cfm?id=1185657.1185719&coll=DL&dl=ACM&CFID=370461988&CFTOKEN=39651917

Websites:
Animation Buffet - A website updated with free or cheap rigs.
http://www.animationbuffet.blogspot.co.uk/

Dazpix - A website with tips on making a great show reel.
http://dazpix.co.uk/blog/yourshowreel/

Earth Unplugged - Videos that show animals and various other things, sometimes in slow motion.
http://www.youtube.com/user/EarthUnpluggedTV?feature=watch

Methodology:

spend time to develop work flow alongside my projects.
Get peers and tutors to give feedback on the show reel layout
Send to companies/industry people to get feedback.

Research ethics:

I will give appropriate credit to models/rigs and sources/tutorials I use and where from and use only royalty fee music.

Project plan:
I will dedicate half the week on this project, half the week on the group project and weekends to working and relaxing (and if needed, work that needs to be done to meet the deadlines).
Weeks 1 -3– Research, planning out content, references, gathering tutorials and rigs. Feedback from tutors on choices.
Weeks 4-6 – Blocking, camera angles, using references, getting feedback.
Weeks 7-10 – Animating, getting feedback and using feedback.
Weeks 11-16 – Smoothing out the animations, use feedback
Week 16-18 – Editing the clips
February – 19-20 - Over Flow

Project deliverables:
My aim is to produce a show reel of my animal animation skills that will allow me to get a job in the industry.

References:
Books;
Kenny Roy (2013) How to Cheat in Maya 2014: Tools and Techniques for Character Animation. Massachusetts: Focal Press.
Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston (1997) Illustration of Life. New York: Hyperion.
Eadweard Muybridge and Lewis S. Brown (1887) 1^st edition. Animals in Motion. New York: Dover Publications.

Journals:
Meredith McLendon, Ann McNamara, Tim McLauhlin and Ravindra Dwividi (2010) Lions and Tigers and Bears: Investigating cues for expressive creature.
Brad Hiebert, Jubin Dave, Tae-Young Kim, Ivan Neulander, Hans Rijpkema and Will Telford (2006) The Chronicles of Narnia: the lion, the crowds and Rhythm and Hues.

Websites:
Animation Buffet (2008) Available at: http://animationbuffet.blogspot.co.uk/ (Accessed: 14 October 2013).
Dazpix (2013) Available at: http://dazpix.co.uk/blog/yourshowreel/ (accessed: 14 October 2013).

Earth Unplugged (2013) Available at: http://www.youtube.com/user/EarthUnpluggedTV (accessed: 14 October 2013).

30.10.13

References from books and websites

Horse rig test

Video references of horses moving

22.10.13

Rigs and Ideas

7.10.13

Year 3 project proposal