Behind

Yup, I hate to say it but it's true. Issues outside of University have limited my work time on the production, and i'm a fair bit behind! However, I do have most of my set built (not textured, but built) and I shall post images of it as soon as I take some, i.e. when I open Maya back up.

I also have a completely modelled and UV'd Ioan character! (Again, I will post pics of this stuff shortly) He did have blend shapes built into his face, but in Friday's update with Mr Manning, they proved problematic and OTT, so although it sets me back a while, in the interest of doing better I have started building a facial rig system using the Stop Staring Animation guide by Jason Osipa.

I've done the nurbs shape test, and I have rigged Ioan's face the way stated, but until I can get the custom shelf for building the rest, I have to stop. I'll render out a playblast when next i'm in Maya and stick it up (hopefully).

Deadline Looming

Yes, posts have been sparse, this is due to those little things called deadlines. The dissertation was first, and now it's the Final Major Project. ARGGGHHHH!!! *ahem* well...yes...I have completed the production bible, which you can see here:



http://www.an-aim-ation.co.uk/BLOG/OutOfReachProductionBible.pdf



That is if you want to, oh, and it's a big file so bear that in mind. No point in posting any individual images of work, as they're all in there now. The other parts of the project are being worked on as we speak, not sure if i'm going to have the animation tests done in time, but we can only hope eh?



I will post at the end of this week and let you know how the hand in and presentation went...and hopefully i'll have some new stuff to show.

What i'm doing

I said I'd update, so here we go:

Currently, i'm trudging through all my work and starting to lay it out in my production bible. It's taking a while because i've got a lot of files to sort through and i'm also missing things, so i'm trying to fill in the gaps.

I'm also working on my FULL animatic, not just the filmed storyboard anymore. Trying to make it neat and tidy so it's easily understood. Should have that done by...Sunday? (As it's inbetween everything else it's taking longer...and yes, I know to focus on one thing at a time but my brain
wanders onto different tasks easily!!) Anyway, when it's done i'll post it here once more.

Um...the model has gone on hold for the time being while all the paperwork is sorted, I am down to the mouth on the faceplate and the body is in almost the same state as I showed you before.

Since I don't really have anything to show on here right now as it's all in progress, I'll stick a little piece of concept art up to keep you happy:

EEP!

Ok...I know I missed a weekend update, but there is reason for that!! I had paying work to do. Yes! Money distracted me from my uni work! I had some book illustrations to do. And I also had a tiger commission sketch to do (again, small version of it, tis A3 normally):

Now these are done though, I can continue with film work and post later this week. So don't worry, be happy!

Patch modelling is confusing!!

Yes, not going to stick much up as it's just a flying visit, but I thought I would update. Got the basic structure of the body (minus hands and feet) built. Needs a lot of work...but at least the base is there:

Then I started thinking about the head..."Oh dear, I've never really built a functioning head before...where do I start?!" I tried continuing with box modelling, but I couldn't seem to get the loops and bits right. I tried nurbs, and sub divisional surfaces all with no joy.

And finally I found a tutorial that has helped a lot!! It's actually a tutorial for making a "Dobby House Elf" from Harry Potter, but it has nice images that explain the process of head building using patch modelling. It's insanly confusing when you start, but it seems to be working for me so far. This is the progress at about 45 minutes:

It's not much I know, but when you think it came from a single plane and i've just been extruding and such, AND it's my first go at it, it's not all THAT bad!

Just some more work

Ok, so...started modelling Ioan in Maya this weekend. My goal is to have him ready to animate with by the end of this week. Not textured necessarily...but Modelled, UV mapped, Rigged. Tall order, but hey! It's gotta be done. Here's the start:



And this is one of the props i've built so far...Ioan's mug, hoorah for room filling objects!!!



This weekend I have also started my budget plan, in conjunction with updating my schedule, Friday's talk with Katherine McQueen from A Productions was extremely useful, so thankyou a lot for setting that up tutors!!

Hmm...what else? Oh yes, I started painting some new concept art/colour and lighting examples. When they're finished i'll put them here. Also drew up a new list of sounds I'd need for the film, and a list of objects/props. Need to start drawing the designs for those soon.

Finally, to relax a bit...I decided to do a promotional picture of Ioan, so you can see that HERE.

Revised Animatic

Ok...so here's the filmed storyboard with the alterations James suggested. It will be a full animatic soon, but for now...this shall do.