Animatic 2

Here's my second animatic. After today's tutorial, I realize the script still needs more work especial the ending. The ending should be something relating to the salesman.

Rough Storyboard 2

Here is my second rough storyboard. The story is about selling. The salesman in my story is not a brilliant guy. He is kind a little silly and funny.

Character Sheet

When I started to design this salesman character, I asked myself what a salesman looks like. Normally, a salesman wears a gentleman's hat, a tie or bow, a formal suit, a pair of shiny black shoes. And he always carries a suitcase. I did a collage which was posted on the former page. This picture, a man with a big loud-hailer was found on the newspaper. It caught my eyes immediately. Then I began to think what about give my character a big loud-hailer. It can have more dramatic. And the character wears a nice tailcoat. After I finished this rough sketch, it reminded the character - Count Duckula.

Then I did the research about Count Duckula. Luckily, I found some wonderful facial expressions on line.

I made this model by normal colour plasticine. And I drew lots of expressions on its face.

Material Test 4: Card

Card is mostly used as making cutout animation. Then, what about using card to make a 3D animation? Here's the test puppet I made by card and straws. The loops of straw are worked as joints. But so far, it cannot be animated. The puppet is too soft and it even cannot stand up. While, the good thing is, the eyes and mouth can be replaced easily.

Material Test 3: Milliput - Standard Yellow-Grey

This pack contains 2 sticks. These 2 sticks have a long self life but once mixed the resultant putty is at first soft and highly adhesive and then gradually hardens. To avoid sticking, fingers and tools should be kept moistened with water. Also, you'd better shape the model as quick as you can. This putty is easily to lose the viscosity.

I made this guitar's different parts separately. However, I didn't stick them immediately. About 30 minutes went by, when I started to put them together, the putty has been less tacky. Then I had to insert a twisted wire in each component to construct this guitar.

Later, I remember to check the enclosed leaflet. Here's the note how sticky and adhesive it is when first mixed.

-- after 1/2 hour it becomes rubbery and less tacky

-- in about 1 hour it can be cut into shape with a knife or scissors

-- in 2-3 hours it becomes quite hard and tack free

-- overnight it becomes rock hard

Material Test 2: Eberhard Faber -- FIMO soft

before baked

after baked

FIMO is a oven-hardening modelling clay. Once shaped, it is baked in a oven about 30 minutes at 110°C (but on its package, the temperature is indicated as 130°C) to harden it. Maybe I baked this flower too long time, some spots (like air bubble) appear on its surface.

Besides, FIMO can be painted. And it can be formed into beads, with the holes poked before baking or drilled in afterwards. I guess it can be the good material to make the puppet's eyes and several properties.

Material Test 1: DAS Pronto Modelling Clay

In modelmaking terms, material chosen is very important. I have heard that Plastilina clay is the best stuff to use. It is an oil based product and is excellent for Clay Animation. But the problem is, is there any different materials can be used to create different effects.

In this test, I used the DAS Pronto Modelling Clay. It is a natural earth clay. It will air dry to a hard surface that can be painted and sanded. As you are working it, a drop or two of water will make it easy to smooth. However the problem of this modeling clay is, when I tried to dig a hole for eyeball, several cracks appeared on the surface. I have to smooth the surface again and again. But if you take a close look at this cow, you still can see these cracks.

I will continue to do the material tests in these following days. 

Remove Green BG and Paper Cutout Test

I made a test about removing green background and cutout animation.

Here's the tutorial I found online. If you are interested, click here.

But the armature is made of metal, the green color reflects on its surface. When I tried to remove the green bg, some unhappy effects happened on the armature's figure. 

Armature Test

With the help of Kelvin Wong, JieQian Jie and YiChao Lu, this armature was accomplished in 2 days.

I did this test last Friday.

After the tutorial with Neil yesterday, I do get a lesson in stop motion. The timing of this test is ok, but all the inbetweens are missed. Actually, there is a standard and acceptable way, which is to take 2 frames every time you move the puppet. It is called double-frame, and means you need to create 12 different images for each second of animation. I will continue to do animation tests, including the green screening (replace backgrounds).

Flip Animation Festival 08

I feel so sorry that I missed the first day of Flip Animation Festival 08 in Wolverhampton last week. Thank you guys posting lots of useful information on your blogs. I spent whole day watching these great short films. Besides, I made a list as follows:

open shorts 1

• No Room For Gerold (Daniel Nocke, 35mm - Germany) 04'00''
  
• Terrafarmer (Will Adams - United Kingdom) 01'40''
  
• Lost Cargo (Pieter Engles - Netherlands) 15'09''    more information
  
• The Grand Old Duke of Yoke (Daniel Boyle - United Kingdom) 02'12''
  
• Little Dinosaurs (Dana Dorian - United Kingdom) 01'12''
  
• Climber (Carlos Villarreal - United Kingdom) 02'07''
  
• This Way Up (Smith & Foulkes - United Kingdom) 08'37''   useful website
  
• Mister Gallagher's Boat (Chris Sievery & Brain Little - United  Kingdom) 11'37''
  
• Alien Abduction (David Han - USA) 02'07''
  
• Elysium: No Lobe Unprobed (Will Crook and Matt Layzell - United Kingdom) 02'15''
  
• Milk Teeth (Tibor Banoczki - United Kingdom) 11'22'' 
  
• Earth 1.0 (Chris Moran - United Kingdom) 02'24''
  
• Replay (Camille Delneule, Zakana Boumediane, Anthony Voisin, Fabien Zulna-Feucite - France) 08’20’’

Open Shorts 2

• KJFG NO.5 (Alexei Alexeev - Hungary) 01’52’’
  
• Muto (Blu - Italy) 07’10’’
  
• Skhizein (Jeremy Clapin - France) 13’04’’
  
• Monsieur Cok (Franck Dion - France) 9’45’’
  
• Shuteye Hotel (Bill Plympton - USA) 7’00’’   more information
  
• Bertha & Bruno (Michael Rokes - United Kingdom) 6’30’’   storyboard
  
• Violeta, la pescadora del mar negro (Marc Riba & Anna Solanas – Spain) 9’00’’   more information
  
• A Letter To Colleen (Carolyn London - USA) 08’36’’
  
• Love Story (Lena Von Dohren - Germany) 01’40’’
  
• Monster Movie (Stephen Hammond - USA) 02’30’’
  
• Beton (Ariel Belinco & Michael Faust - Israel) 06’29’’
  

Open Shorts 3

• The Weatherman (Will Becher - United Kingdom) 03'20''
  
• Like Me, Only Better (Martin Pickles - United Kingdom) 05'24''
  
• Codswallop (The Brothers McLeod - United Kingdom) 03'44''    more information
  
• Strawberry Loop (Maki Kobayashi - United Kingdom) 03'50''
  
• The Birdwatcher (Ross Phillips - United Kingdom) 04'45''    more information
  
• Procrastination (Johnny Kelly - United Kingdom) 04'15''
  
• Small Bird Singing (Linda McCarthy - United Kingdom) 06'55''
  
• My First Crush (Julia Pott - United Kingdom) 03'50''
  
• One Nice Family Photo (Tom Senior - United Kingdom) 03'50''
  
• Poor Daisy (Trevor Hardy - United Kingdom) 01'00''
  
• Pencil Tree (Niki Naroz - United Kingdom) 00'30''
  
• Wire And Bows (Andrew Brand - United Kingdom) 02'36''
  
• Small Thoughts (James Clarke, Daniel Howe & Robert Green - United Kingdom) 05'05''
  
• The Pearce Sisters (Luis Cook - United Kingdom) 09'20''   more information
  

 

Sell Guitar -- animatic

This animatic was finished yesterday. The story is about selling the guitar. It happened on an early morning. At that time, Mr. X was still enjoying his sweet dream. While, the buzzering from doorbell woke him up. The noisy pushed him to get up. when he opened the door, he saw the salesman standing right outside the house. Mr. X tended to shut the door after the salesman introduced himself. He was totally not interested in the guitar. However, the salesman persuaded Mr. X not to shut the door and he caught the chance to show off his talent. He began to imitate Elvis Presley, John Lennon that appealed Mr. X's illusion. Mr. X was picturing himself as a big star. Lots of sexy lips were floating around him. A car was coming to pick up him.

--- The scene that the salesman was imitating Elvis Presley and John Lennon

      I am thinking of using the replacement technic. The salesman's face transfers to those big stars' and he imitates their typical pose, costume, hair style...

--- The scene shows that what's Mr. X imagining, I will use the cardboard cut out style

Anyway, a new idea came up during today's tutorial. What about the story happening on the market? What about not just selling guitar?

The Great Cognito

The Great Cognito was directed and produce by Will Vinton, released in 1982.

Max Cognito is the main character in this short film. He is the man with a thousand faces, has the ability to turn himself into anyone. Thanks to the art of clay animation, he could use a metamorphosing, magical transforming technique when he impersonates a cast of thousands.  

About my project, I am thinking of using the head replacement skill. When the salesman persuades Mr. X to buy the guitar, he will replace his head to some famous guitarist (i.e. John Lennon, Elvis Presley...) and imitate their typical pose.

Main character: salesman

Back Story: He is a brilliant man about 20 years old. He knows exactly how to arouse customers' attention within the shortest time. Also, he is a versatile man. He would like to show off his little tricks when he persuades someone to buy his products.

Main character: Mr. X

Mr. X, the man is persuaded to buy the guitar.

Back Story: He is about 35 years old. He is single living in a small but neat house. Also, he is kinda little childish. He would like to try every fresh new thing. But he lacks patience. His enthusiasm won't last for a long time. He enjoys the moment when people keep eyes on him, admire him. But he has never really wanted to be a big star. He is so afraid to endure the heavy pressure.

Video 3000

http://video3000.de/
Check it out
A very cool short film is created by 5 German students. It is the Best short film at Webcuts 2006, Berlin's internet film festival. This short film combines stop motion and 3D computer graphics.

Rough Storyboard

Here is my quick and rough storyboard

1. I try to draw this storyboard as quick as possible without any interrupt to capture the initial idea in my mind.

2. This story happens on an early morning which is about a salesman trying to persuade Mr. X to buy his guitar.

3. There will be two main characters in this short film. In this storyboard, they are simple with no elaborate facial expression, gesture...

Rough Storyboard - Upload a Document to Scribd

Comic Trip

Special thanks to Alec providing me this terrific example -- the French animation that mixes 3D with cartoon/comics style.

The Big Snit

Negotiated project

Aim: 

I am thinking of doing a short animation to explore the humour through the character's facial expression, gesture, costume... What I want to do is try to make people laugh, and then be able to reach down into the depths of their spirit.

So far, I am idea of mixing 2D elements with stop motion.

The Big Snit directed by Richard Condie influences me so much. It's crazy, weird, hilarious and eventually touching. Also, I quite like Aardman Studio's clay animation. Some of their animations at first seems just like a simple exercise in cartoon slapstick humour, but it is far more than that.

Hopefully, I would create a typical, colorful, pretty comedy with the sense of satire and irony.

Learning outcome:

1. To experiment the traditional skills creating animations as well as computer skills.

2. To research nature movements making the animation more believable.

3. Also, I need to explore the exaggerated facial expression, gesture... to understand the comedy better.

4. To improve the using of film language and cinematograph understanding.

5. To test different material for stop motion.