The latest, most up-to-date edition of my work! (It's so incredibly up to date, that my latest assignment with AM is still in stepped mode!)
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Stewie -- doin' the box jump!
For our second assignment at AM, we have a few options. Most everyone is doing the famous AM pole jump excersize, so I decided to try my hand at the box jump. I've included my video reference to show how much I had to push Stewie's poses, mainly in the squash and stretch to keep the animation alive and interesting!
180 degree turn - polished
Just for the blog, I went ahead with a very basic lighting/rendering of the polished pass of Ballie doing a 180 degree turn, the first assignment for Body Mechanics here at AM.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Class 2 -- First blocking pass of the term!
So as if life at AM could not get any more enjoyable, Class 2 (Body Mechanics) has kicked off with a wonderful bang thanks to my killer mentor, Dimos, and a very talented class. Our first assignment gives us one last go with Ballie, the 2-legged/no-torso wonder. This time, we had a few options for the assignment, of which I chose to do the 180 degree turnaround. I threw in some character touches to keep things interesting (hopefully), but nothing too crazy so as to lose my grasp on the actual assignment at hand. The concept is: Ballie nonchalantly turns around then sees...a ghost!! Yipes!
(Not that funny? Well, let's see if Ballie can tell the story better than me...)
(Not that funny? Well, let's see if Ballie can tell the story better than me...)
AM Class 1 Progress Reel
So as I'm currently 2 weeks into Class 2 at Animation Mentor, I'd say it's high time I updated again with my first Progress Reel, don't you think? This is a recap of all my work created in Class 1 - Basic Foundations. I've learned a lot about Maya 2008 during the past 3 months (well, actually I learned everything I never knew from scratch...not using animation software before will leave you with that impressive handicap). But I learned even more about character animation. That is, after all, the point!
Class 1 -- Rob Somers
Class 1 -- Rob Somers
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Animation Mentor -- Weeks 7 & 8
Okay so since this is a bit more recent (as in just last week), I decided to give a little more attention to it. During weeks 7 & 8 at Animation Mentor, we learned about the ever important overlapping action. Having studied traditional animation at Pratt prior to starting AM, I was familiar with the concept and had employed this principle (among the others) in my first 2 pencil animated shorts. But as always, AM pushes me much further and even within one week, I come away twice the animator I was before. I love this program for that very reason (also the video lectures are really entertaining!).
So in week 7 we were given our new character, named Tailor. Y'know, for the tail attached to the bouncing ball..? My mentor encouraged our class to keep this one simple to make sure we really understood the concept of overlapping animation since it's an important one. A reeeally important one. Which is why, just like I did before, I decided to go crazy with the assignment and cram a ton of actions into 120 frames!
Not a good idea.
It came away feeling rushed, though it did embody some ideas of personality animation. The overlap on the tail (you know, the entire POINT of the assignment) is hard to read and I ended up spending too much time blocking all the twists and turns of the shot that I didn't leave myself enough time to really finesse the tail animation. Take a look for yourself:
See what I mean? Granted, it's not the worst thing ever, but it does feel like a bit much for the 120 frames we were allowed. (Fun fact: this was actually a SIMPLIFIED version of my original idea! I wanted to have the little squirrel-like Tailor hop along merrily, then turn to find he is being chased by a BIG Tailor who comes lumbering into the shot and chases little Tailor off screen. If I ran out of time to finesse the first tail, then I certainly had zero time to even create a BIG Tailor, let alone animate him! So yeah, maybe simpler is better...)
My mentor, encouraging as always, pointed out that I had tried to do too much yet again. The urge to impress the class is always there, which can be fun, but ultimately we in Class 1 need to make sure we truly GET the basics of animation before we try to show off.
So with some shot surgery and revisions based on the critique my mentor gave me, I came up with something much smoother and of course, simpler. This time I had more time to work on really making the tail feel like a tail, and not a hyperactive appendage. The revision:
In the end, I think this one works a lot better. The motion on the tail is clearer, and the shot doesn't feel so rushed inside 120 frames. I think I will go back and revise some of the previous shots I've done (specifically, that damn pendulum...) and see if I can't make those a bit tighter too.
Last, we had our first Stu pose after a couple weeks break! This was fun to do again, and my skills with manipulating that guy in Maya have taken giant leaps forward since that humbling first week where I thought I would never cut it in computer animation. The theme for week 8 was STRENGTH. I think it came out pretty cool, which my mentor agreed:
Well that should catch everything up to my current place in week 9 where I'm animating my first walk cycle using new character, Ballie! It's the old bouncing ball, sans tail but sporting 2 moveable legs! The blocking part was fun, but the splining part has broken all my keys to shreds. I shall be checking in with my mentor in the Live Q&A tonight to see just how to go about smoothing this one out!
- Rob
So in week 7 we were given our new character, named Tailor. Y'know, for the tail attached to the bouncing ball..? My mentor encouraged our class to keep this one simple to make sure we really understood the concept of overlapping animation since it's an important one. A reeeally important one. Which is why, just like I did before, I decided to go crazy with the assignment and cram a ton of actions into 120 frames!
Not a good idea.
It came away feeling rushed, though it did embody some ideas of personality animation. The overlap on the tail (you know, the entire POINT of the assignment) is hard to read and I ended up spending too much time blocking all the twists and turns of the shot that I didn't leave myself enough time to really finesse the tail animation. Take a look for yourself:
See what I mean? Granted, it's not the worst thing ever, but it does feel like a bit much for the 120 frames we were allowed. (Fun fact: this was actually a SIMPLIFIED version of my original idea! I wanted to have the little squirrel-like Tailor hop along merrily, then turn to find he is being chased by a BIG Tailor who comes lumbering into the shot and chases little Tailor off screen. If I ran out of time to finesse the first tail, then I certainly had zero time to even create a BIG Tailor, let alone animate him! So yeah, maybe simpler is better...)
My mentor, encouraging as always, pointed out that I had tried to do too much yet again. The urge to impress the class is always there, which can be fun, but ultimately we in Class 1 need to make sure we truly GET the basics of animation before we try to show off.
So with some shot surgery and revisions based on the critique my mentor gave me, I came up with something much smoother and of course, simpler. This time I had more time to work on really making the tail feel like a tail, and not a hyperactive appendage. The revision:
In the end, I think this one works a lot better. The motion on the tail is clearer, and the shot doesn't feel so rushed inside 120 frames. I think I will go back and revise some of the previous shots I've done (specifically, that damn pendulum...) and see if I can't make those a bit tighter too.
Last, we had our first Stu pose after a couple weeks break! This was fun to do again, and my skills with manipulating that guy in Maya have taken giant leaps forward since that humbling first week where I thought I would never cut it in computer animation. The theme for week 8 was STRENGTH. I think it came out pretty cool, which my mentor agreed:
Well that should catch everything up to my current place in week 9 where I'm animating my first walk cycle using new character, Ballie! It's the old bouncing ball, sans tail but sporting 2 moveable legs! The blocking part was fun, but the splining part has broken all my keys to shreds. I shall be checking in with my mentor in the Live Q&A tonight to see just how to go about smoothing this one out!
- Rob
Monday, May 26, 2008
Ye (not quite so) olden days...
Okay so this will be a quick rehash of the first 4-5 weeks of my work at Animation Mentor. Had I posted these on a weekly basis, you might have gotten more insight along the way. But looking back, I think my insight would have included such gems as "WHY aren't my shaders working?!" and "I hate you, Maya!!"
I've gotten over that initial learning curve and now walk freely into new territory with ease. Only to be completely humbled time and time again, but at least now my shaders work properly!
Without further ado, here's a brief history of Rob at AM:
Week 2 -
I started with my first character pose, using the pre-made model AM gives us named "Stu." Stu, at first, was a real jerk. Took me all week to figure out what I now accomplish in 20 minutes. At least I know I'm getting somewhere!
(Editor's note: Notice how I could model a box for Stu to sit on, but not a table for his hand to lean on...)
Week 3 -
This week we got down to business with our first bouncing ball test. Every animator starts with the bouncing ball, and while they are rarely much to look at, they are always much more complicated that you would think. Especially if you're working in Maya and have never used the program before. Yeah. Looong, agonizing nights ahead.
The timing was a bit rough, but accomplishing this at all at this point was successful enough. We also got another crack at Stu! This time the object was to pose him in an excited manner. This time I didn't take all week to figure out Stu, and I think you can see me getting somewhat more comfortable with manipulating the rig in Maya.
Week 4 -
Now we kick things up a notch with TWO bouncing balls rocking out in the same shot! This was quite an interesting moment for me, to say the least. Let's just say I spent most of the week drowning in tech issues and my own inability to make 2 balls bounce in harmony with Maya...only to magically (and I do mean that in the literal magical sense of the word) figure everything out the night before it was due and pull THIS out of my arse. Again, it's not going to solve world hunger, but it was quite an amazing moment for me as I jumped forward leaps and bounds with my Maya abilities in a single evening. Things have been more peaceful since that dark night of the soul!
(Editor's note: I've since added color to the balls to help you distinguish one from the other)
Week 5 -
My sudden and very welcome burst of animated confidence was needed to plow through the next bouncing ball assignment: the obstacle course. Not only were we to send our ball through the course, but we had to employ rotations and squash 'n stretch. Animation Mentor certainly keeps you rolling forward!
And another Stu pose. The theme: Devastation.
Week 6 -
Ahh week six. This week featured our first animated pendulum. I might post my work here. But for now, I'll pass. Let's just say, it was...rough.
No Stu pose this week.
Well that should wrap up the first batch of weeks at AM! I'll make a separate post for my latest 2 weeks, where we learn about drag and overlap with a new character - Tailor!
- Rob
I've gotten over that initial learning curve and now walk freely into new territory with ease. Only to be completely humbled time and time again, but at least now my shaders work properly!
Without further ado, here's a brief history of Rob at AM:
Week 2 -
I started with my first character pose, using the pre-made model AM gives us named "Stu." Stu, at first, was a real jerk. Took me all week to figure out what I now accomplish in 20 minutes. At least I know I'm getting somewhere!
(Editor's note: Notice how I could model a box for Stu to sit on, but not a table for his hand to lean on...)
Week 3 -
This week we got down to business with our first bouncing ball test. Every animator starts with the bouncing ball, and while they are rarely much to look at, they are always much more complicated that you would think. Especially if you're working in Maya and have never used the program before. Yeah. Looong, agonizing nights ahead.
The timing was a bit rough, but accomplishing this at all at this point was successful enough. We also got another crack at Stu! This time the object was to pose him in an excited manner. This time I didn't take all week to figure out Stu, and I think you can see me getting somewhat more comfortable with manipulating the rig in Maya.
Week 4 -
Now we kick things up a notch with TWO bouncing balls rocking out in the same shot! This was quite an interesting moment for me, to say the least. Let's just say I spent most of the week drowning in tech issues and my own inability to make 2 balls bounce in harmony with Maya...only to magically (and I do mean that in the literal magical sense of the word) figure everything out the night before it was due and pull THIS out of my arse. Again, it's not going to solve world hunger, but it was quite an amazing moment for me as I jumped forward leaps and bounds with my Maya abilities in a single evening. Things have been more peaceful since that dark night of the soul!
(Editor's note: I've since added color to the balls to help you distinguish one from the other)
Week 5 -
My sudden and very welcome burst of animated confidence was needed to plow through the next bouncing ball assignment: the obstacle course. Not only were we to send our ball through the course, but we had to employ rotations and squash 'n stretch. Animation Mentor certainly keeps you rolling forward!
And another Stu pose. The theme: Devastation.
Week 6 -
Ahh week six. This week featured our first animated pendulum. I might post my work here. But for now, I'll pass. Let's just say, it was...rough.
No Stu pose this week.
Well that should wrap up the first batch of weeks at AM! I'll make a separate post for my latest 2 weeks, where we learn about drag and overlap with a new character - Tailor!
- Rob
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
