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.