Category: Advanced and Experimental 3D computer Animation Techniques 1

Summary

Through studying in George’s course, I learned the importance of camera shots, sets/props, character design, lighting, camera types, the value and role of their respective presence in animation, and how they interact and influence each other, are equally crucial and need to be considered.

Reflection

In the past, I was always hurried to start modelling and making animations, and it was easy for me to ignore whether the script was good or bad, whether the storyboard was clear and coherent, whether the character settings matched the character’s personality and mood, and whether I had a clear idea of camera placement. Through George’s course, I was able to go through the whole animation process from pre-production, mid-production and post-production. I realised that I had overlooked many essential parts of animation production, which are crucial to the way we create animation and affect the overall finish and final result. Now, through George’s course, I am clear that I should pay more attention to the script, character setting, camera language, storyboarding and other pre-production work, not to be hurried to make animation and modelling, but to clear my mind and make animation projects in order, which will help the animation process to run smoothly and reduce rework later.

Finally, added some interesting transition shots and improved animations.

https://youtu.be/1D-WXU5eBsI

Final video

Added a shot of boy and girl holding hands and happily rotating in circles among the flowers.

Add a transitional shot of a boy falling into fantasy.

This week, provide feedback on last week’s learning progress

Feedback: Move the overall camera to the left and place the person in the center of the camera.

Feedback: Following the previous shot, the character has already turned his head.

Feedback: Move the camera to the left and remove the blank area on the left.

Feedback: Change to holding hands with the girl in the flowers.

Feedback: The underground has just started to depart, and the speed should be from slow to fast.

This week, continue to summarize and provide feedback on the progress of the previous week’s work.

Feedback: The animation of this scene is changed to two people standing on the ground, holding hands and facing each other, then rotating.

Feedback: The character in the previous scene is on the left side of the camera, so the character in this scene should also be on the left side. And add more time again.

Feedback: Add more time.

Feedback: Jumping animation can refer to anime characters, choose a suitable action.

One-to-one targeted summary and feedback in class on the content of the new week’s animation assignments, and feedback on work/worries.

Feedback:

Add another animation and shot of holding hands and circling with a girl.

Feedback:

Add another animation of a girl raising her right hand and pointing to her left hand, increasing the time of this animation and the camera.

Feedback:

Increasing the time of this camera.

Establishing your ideas clearly using what you have been taught so far along with simple camera shots/timing.

• Feedback: Modify action details.

The previous action has already started turning to the right, so when the next camera angle is given, it should already be looking to the right.

• Feedback: Add camera transition details.

The camera zooms in towards the eyes and transitions to the next scene.

• Feedback: Add character action details.

The boy moves forward slightly towards the underground to create a sense of disappointment.

For my story script, I needed to build two story characters, one is a shy and bashful boy with glasses and the other is a confident and attractive girl. The interesting things that will happen between the two of them.

Why establishing characters is an important part of the process?

It is important to establish the character’s image to make it easier to feel the emotions of the characters and the atmosphere of the story, helping the audience to understand the story directly.

Sessions with George

• Continue to flesh out my 3 ideas.

• Provide feedback to help me modify the details and ending of the script to make the story more complete.

• Provide feedback to help me modify the details and ending of the script to make the story more complete.

• Create Mood board to better analyze animation scripts.

Reference:

Scene reference for underground and underground stations

MOOD BOARD：

Why the mood board is important in the process?

The mood board can well reflect the emotions and atmosphere of the storyline, provide emotional reference value for animation production, and help develop the plot emotions.

First Script:

Idea 1:

A man was waiting at the underground station, and then a beautiful girl came up. The man looked at the girl shyly. At this time, the girl also looked at the boy. The boy was attracted, fell into imagination and love. A few minutes later man come back and found that the girl had taken the underground and left…The boy looked at the subway to look for a girl, and found that the girl also looked at him on the subway. At last, he was very disappointed. Suddenly, he found that he had a note in his hand. When he opened it, it was the contact number left by the girl…To be continue

Second Script:

Idea 2:

This is a story about two undercover agents, one is a bad guy undercover among the police, the other is a police undercover among the bad guys, the confrontation and dialogue between the two on the rooftop…

Third Script:

Idea 3:

The story of a man playing the piano, close-up…
some images while playing the piano, a series of mental scenes are interspersed, such as dancing or love, and finally lying on the lawn

What is Mise-en-scene:

WHAT IS PREVIS & POSTVIS?

Previsualization is the visualizing of complex scenes before filming. Directors and cinematographers rely on the previs to plan their shots and angles. Postvis, or post-visualizations, happens during postproduction when viewing rough cuts, without the expense, and time, of completing final visual effects shots.

Why is it important to learn previs?

Previs has become more mainstream in the entertainment
industry. Most of the major blockbuster films use previs on
a regular basis—just look at the credits for the latest VFX
film. Chances are, you will see at least one of the many
facilities that do previs credited. Some films previs every
frame you see, and some only do a sequence or two. And
it’s not just the heavy fight sequences that are prevised, it’s
also many of the acting shots too. The biggest reason to
learn previs is to learn how to quickly lay in performances
and cameras in a way that is actually filmable. This is why
ALL animators should learn at least some previs.