How is my assignment going?

Very slowly is the answer to that. I was ill for a few days (really pale, weak, dizzy and nausea) not fun and made it hard to focus on a screen and remember things. Think I watched the videos like 5 times then decided to wait till my illness had passed. I am better now and have got on the way but I sadly don't think my character will be as good as I had originally planned, I'm still not happy with it. He is very basic and I'd prefer he had more... personality... originality. I am considering shrinking him down and making him a little boy instead. I think that might be more fun.

If I am going with the boy idea I was going to make a basic toy or bicycle and make a similar scene to the reservoir down the road. I've tried making some trees, they are pretty basic too though. Any way, you will see what I come up with by Monday :) If you have any comments on it then please let me know and I will play with it more... even if the assignment is finished. I like to make things right :D

Taking Notes

I've been taking notes to record everything we are being taught but I've realised how long it takes me as I am writing in so much detail, 24 A5 pages for 3 lessons... bit much. Funnily enough in my last Q&A with my Mentor I was caught out taking notes. I was just writing away writing what he had just said when I heard my name so I looked up and I had been put on cam. Made me jump and everyone laugh though. For those that don't know; whoever is taking the lesson, coffee talk or Q&A can turn your webcam on and show you to everyone in the session. One of the reasons the is a rule that you must always wear clothes to them :p

Any way, my note taking has been helpful as I have a system thats very organised so I can quickly find a bit that I wanted to remember how to do but I have now decided to dumb down my notes so I can be quicker at it but with the main bits still there. That way I can spend more time on my assignments. I was just trying to do what I did for my CAD lessons, my notebook for that was amazing, people were always asking to borrow it; think I even made copies for my friends who were struggling too. Always made me smile when I saw people looking up how to do something in my notes. Maybe one day I will type all my notes up and make it into a book along with tips I learn about animating during my life. Wish I could of done that with CAD notes but they mysteriously vanished :(

2nd Springboard Assignment!

This week is split into 2 sessions. I wasn't expecting that but its fine :)
The first session is about modelling and teaching us how to do it so we can make a basic character. I'm actually really enjoying messing with it to make a character that appeals to me. I've never really gone into modelling with Maya before so learning new things. My fellow classmates have set a challenge too. To see who can make the cutest character, my original plan has now changed slightly... I love challenges!

The 2nd session is to build a set for my character and place 2 or 3 cameras in different angles. Then put my character in the scene. I reckon this part will be quite simple as I already know what it discussed in this tutorial but should still be fun.

When I've finished it I will post a few images to see what you think and so you can see what I came up with.

Oh and also found out something... We don't get grades in Springboard! Gutted but not going to stop me doing my best :D

Also, here is a picture of me brought up on webcam during our Q&A :) They are so enjoyable and fun I can't help but grin!

Finally got my first lecture video!

Woohoo! It all began this week and I've been taking my time to make sure I get it all right. I really do want to do my best.

Any way, our first lecture video was full of stuff! Below is what was discussed in it.

• Simplifying workspace, short cuts
• Basic UI elements
• Preferences: Undo = infinite
• Tracking and Zooming in the different views
• NURBS definition
• NURBS Primitives: Sphere, Cylinder, Torus, Cone
• Basic interaction tools: Select (q), Move (w), Rotate (e), Scale (r)
• Panel display options: 1/2/3, wireframe (4), shaded (5), textures (6), lights (7)
• Marking Menu: what the heck?
• Channel Box: Translate, Rotate, Scale
• Outliner: part 1
• Saving versions - .ma vs. .mb: Always save as .ma
• Using the integration “Help” feature in Maya for tutorials, reference, etc.
• Character / Tools section: downloading and opening .zip files
• How to make a .zip file for upload
• Submit your work (Assignment Sessions)

From what we were taught in the lecture we were given an assignment. This was to create a series of NURBS and transforming them to match an image we were given. Then save it as a zip file and upload it. I took my time with this assignment as I wanted it to be perfect or as close as I could get any way. (Some of my perfectionist habit coming through). I took Screen Shots as I made each NURBS object so I can show you how I did it and where I started but firstly here is the image we were given and my final version.



Here are my progress shots with some close ups and even when I used a camera to check that balls weren't going through the cone or other balls.







To do this assignment I actually came up with an idea. I downloaded an app called 'Afloat'. It basically allows you to make some software transparent so I made the image we were given transparent and then placed it over maya and then adjusted each object to fit over the image. I also just put the image over the top normally and kept minimising and opening it over maya to check it looked right but it was a huge help in making it as exact as possible. I did of course make sure through other views that they were sat on the shelf and not going through other objects though.

1 Week to go!

I've been put through another 3 weeks of orientation and it was killing me as I am really excited about it but as I've been kept so busy for most of that time its distracted me from the waiting! I have heard from my mentor though! His name is Said Abdul Ghafoor and his website is www.saeedag.com I have also found out that my Q&As are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm GMT (10am PST) and that my first lecture is next week.
I'm actually really nervous now but I'm sure I'll be fine and its just my excitement. I want to work harder than I have ever worked before, I want to be one of the best and most committed students Animation Mentor has ever had and I will blog what I do as soon as I've done it.

Please give feedback on my work; good or bad... don't worry about what you'll say, I can take it and I'd rather know if anything looks wrong or could be better so I can learn but please give a reason, don't just say 'its rubbish', please say 'its rubbish because...' or something along those lines. I'd really appreciate it :)

Been busy but kept me distracted

Apologies for not posting for ages. It was my uni bike clubs rally and as I've been in London I had been kept in the dark about the organising but with 2 weeks to go I found out that they had no bands booked! So I quickly searched for bands and luckily next day I found 'Storm' and then a mate pulled through and found the other a few days later... talk about cutting it fine. The rally did go brilliantly although I was pretty exhausted after it, I did enjoy it.

I marshalled from 11am on Friday until 1am Saturday then got woken with a start at 8.30am by someone sneaking their hand in my tent and pulling my ankle so I slid across my airbed, think I yelled "Ahhh! Somethings got me!" Really scared me at the time and for some reason my first thought was an animal. Any way, that got me up and I marshalled again until 9am on Sunday, watching the sunrise in-front of a huge bonfire, the bands, the entertainment and seeing everyone enjoying themselves made up for it though. I did get an hours nap at 9am on Sunday too but it was scorching in the tent an hour later so I woke up and I was surprised again but this time because I was surrounded by balloons and a space hopper! Must of been over 50 balloons in my tent, was very colourful but surprising to wake up to. Wish I'd taken a photo now.

After all that I'm still not home as I went to visit my mum and saw she was very stressed because she had run a deal with Groupon and couldn't cope with all the bookings and phone calls so I decided to help her by answering the phone and taking bookings and card payments. Been doing that for nearly 2 weeks now and seems a bit silly going back to London when I'm meant to be going to Red Bull's Flugtag in Roundhay Park, Leeds this weekend and then a welcome back party in Sheffield for my friend who's been travelling for about 6 months. I do miss having a bed and my own space though, my drawing suffers when I'm at my mums as I have many siblings and its busy all the time. Good thing I have a good laptop and my mum and boyfriend have good internet or I'd be spending a lot of time in coffee shops for my springboard course. Although coffee shops would be more relaxing... mmm will have rethink my plan.

UPDATE

I went to the Red Bull Flugtag in Leeds. I loved it although it was really slow and I think poorly arranged in some areas, it also rained so I got really muddy and wet but it was just so interesting and I was always curious how each team would do and what performance they would do. Oh and something awesome! One of the teams was called To Infinity and the Pond and they had come as characters of Toy Story and their craft was Buzz's wings and RC! Below is a picture I took of them and one I found on the internet. Even better... they won! Got tons of points for creativity and performance, didn't fly that far though, was only a few feet. Silly way of doing it in my opinion as I think the distance should be more important but still entertaining.

June 2011 Newsletter out!

For all those that don't know, Animation Mentor's June Newsletter is out and the is some interesting stuff in there! To check it out for yourself click here - June 2011 newsletter

Sketchbook added

You may of noticed this but I have added a new page, Sketchbook. This is actually another blog of mine that I will post my sketches on although any assignment sketches will also go on the main page. You won't only find sketches in there though, I will also post any sketched animations I make too. It should get busy in there soon so keep checking back to it to see my sketchbook grow :)

OH NO! It's Break Time!

Well, Animation Mentor is having a break before the next term begins so it means the student site is down until the 27th. I'm so glad that I will be distracted with helping to organise the Smelly Duck Rally otherwise those 8 more days will seem incredibly long and feel so wrong without Coffee Talks or Q&A's! I'm going to take my sketchbook to the rally too and hopefully get some pose sketches done, lots of funny and odd things happen at rallies so I will hopefully get some good unusual ones.

I am really excited about starting, I've been waiting for ages to get going. It's like a dream come true! I keep thinking about all the animation skills I'm going to learn and how I am going to learn from some amazing animators. I am looking forward to sharing my journey with you too and I hope I make it enjoyable and educational as well :) If you have any suggestions for my blog or want to ask me any questions then feel free to contact me anytime.

How to Train your Dragon

Anyone who knows me will know that I love the film 'How to Train your Dragon' and I love Toothless. He is so well animated and I love the little cat like mannerisms he has so when I came across the video below by Animation Mentor of them meeting some DreamWorks Animators to talk about it I got a little excited and couldn't believe I haven't seen it before! The is also a behind the scenes video below.

I love how they filmed themselves underwater to see how a dragon might move. Things like that is why I want to specalise in creatures as I can experiment and research how I think the creature would move or be challenged to make an animal believable so studying them intensly. It does sound hard but I'm not going to give up, it is my dream and if I work hard I will get there.

Cool Adverts!

Here are some adverts that I have come across or Eager Beavers have shown me and I think are just amazing. Whether for their character animation, VFX or the idea. The are also some Making of videos in there.

I won the Scavenger Hunt!

Woo hoo! I won the Scavenger Hunt along with Alyssa Lee. Alyssa and I have won an Animation Mentor t-shirt each so when it arrives I will take a picture of me in it to show you all. I can't wait!
Being brave, working hard and doing something that scares you is always worth it plus you may find you actually enjoy it! :D To get the courage to do stuff like the video I did, I just think Carpe Diem (Sieze the day).

1981 Disney Animation Special! - The Illusion of Life

Another great find! I just stumbled across this on YouTube while looking at stuff about the Fox and the Hound and it has some awesome behind the scenes footage, interviews and footage with Disney voice actors, tips and stories from Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Eric Larson, Marc Davis, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball and Wolfgang Reitherman. I love the quote "The only limit to animation, is your imagination". I personally found it really interesting and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)

How to Succeed in Animation by Gene Deitch

Here is something I came across thanks to another Eager Beaver. How to succeed in Animation It is an online book... that is a great read. It is by Gene Deitch and he made it to guide you to creative success; to make the most of every chance you get, and to give you some grisly tours of the desiccated remains of some of his own shot-down productions.

So if you want to have a look go to www.awn.com/genedeitch and start readinga. Oh and the book contents are listed on the left :)

The Fox and the Hound

I watched The Fox and the Hound yesterday and it is one of my favourites. I watched it as a child and it is what made me love foxes! I even wanted a pet fox after watching it and used to look out my window at night hoping to see a fox that could be my very own Tod... I was young.
My favourite scenes have to be when Tod and Copper are playing hid and seak and the bear attack scene. They are both so wonderfully animated and emotional scenes.

Well, when it finished I was all excited about it again and decided to look up some stuff about it and find stuff from it so have a look below to see what I found, some really inspiring stuff :) Also look at the post above called '1981 Disney Animation Special! - The Illusion of Life' to see some behind the scenes of the making of the movie.

Facts about The Fox and the Hound

• It was made in 1981 and was re-released in 1988.
• It is based on the 1967 novel 'The Fox and the Hound' by Daniel P. Mannix.
• The 24th film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series.
• It was the first animated film to use Dolby Sound.
• It was the last Disney film that Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston worked on.
• Production was delayed when Don Bluth started his own studio and hired away animators.
• The fight sequence with the bear was originally going to be animated in charcoal!
• The co-director was used as a model for Amos Slade, the hunter.
• Approximately 360,000 drawings, 110,000 painted cels and 1,100 painted backgrounds were used to make the finished film.
• A total of 180 people, including 24 animators, worked on the film.
• It was the last Disney animated film to end with a “The End” card.
• Tim Burton was one of the animators on this movie and the Black Cauldron. Although his work was never used.
• In the original screenplay, Chief was slated to die the same as in the novel, but Art Stevens (one of the Producers) did not want to have an on-screen death and modified the film so that he survived.

Click on an image to see a larger (original) version.