My Finished Models

I finally finished modelling my characters and coloured them. I told myself that I want to finish this colouring by 11am. And I DID IT! WOO!! I’m improving I’m so happy. Anyway, this would be my first time doing blend shapes and I have no idea how to do it so I tried. I borrowed a book and so I followed the steps. For some reason there was some error. So I deleted the head and re-edit again a facial expression. I even went to see tutorials in YouTube.

When it was successful, I was super happy. Even though its simple expressions it turned out great! I managed to do the close up scenes. Oh and the brain part. I need to edit the rendering and the lighting. I feel that it’s not enough.

I’m sorry if I was cranky yesterday, I just felt so stressed up and just felt like letting it all out. I apologize if there are some harmful things or such. Below are my finished models.

Day 28

I did the teeth and stuff today. I am done with the cat but just left with editing the baby’s body. I ask Amanda if I need to show my animatics and she said yes with the completed scenes. But then I don’t have any so she just asked me to just bring it along. She told me that I must start animating next week because others have started.

I am aware of that and I can’t be compared to the others as they are doing 2D animation. This is my first time doing a 2mins long animation alone and in 3d and I want it to come out right. I want to get my modelling right because I had problems with my first model in animation 1. Yes, I agree that it took me a very long time to model because I know that this time; it will be a better animation than my animation 1 project.

I believe that I can and will finish this animation on time. Including my sounds and combined scenes. I am slow because I am a beginner too. I am not Raj who have modelled a few and already got the edge flow right. Rigging is a pain. If I don’t do it right, everything will go haywire when animating starts. I must go slow and steady so when animating starts everything will flow smoothly.

I’ll keep you guys updated. Tata

Day 27

I woke up at 3.30am just to finish at least the body of my character design. I feel so stressed up. I now have to juggle three 3d characters. I have yet to finish my P3 character and now I have to start modelling the character design. But I was very proud with myself as I was able to finish the body before I went to school. I was even happier when Alan was impressed with my modelling. As I did not show him my progress and all of a sudden I have done the body.

Back to P3, I was able to finish the cat’s paw and joined everything up. I am just left with its teeth and as for the baby I’m left with the mouth, gums and pocket. I’ll update more tomorrow.

Day 26

I asked Amanda if the 3D model is okay and she said that this subject is base on animation. So I told her that I’m almost completed with the modelling. I’m just left with the hand and teeth. I also tired explaining to her about the 2D mouth and she said that she still don’t really get what I meant. So I ask Raj instead. He said that I must really get my timing right and I can’t edit my texture after binding skin to the skeleton. So I chose to do the lip sync in 3D. I’m happy actually. I am learning something new.

Even though it’s a challenge to me, I am willing to learn in a short period. Time is ticking I have to work hard to finish this animation.

Tata!

Day 25

Well, after the few days of rest. I was really pumped up to do my work. So I managed to do the cats face yesterday, so today I was able to redo the baby’s face. Now it’s more like a baby and I editing the body and yah I’m almost done with the baby. Just need to add the pocket at the front then I’m ready to do the colouring and then rigging. WOO!!! As for the cat, I ask Amanda how it looks like and she said that the face is fine and I asked her where to place the whickers and I asked her if the leg look like a rabbit. So she told me about the cats feet how its supposed to look like then I did the adjustments and it look more like it.

So for today entry, I would put my finished baby without the mouth and pocket. Do comment.

Day 24

For the past few days I have been resting. My flu was on and off and so was my asthma. But I did my work today and I manage to do the face of the cat. I’m still figuring out how the mouth should be modelled. Anyway, I’m still working on the legs. Currently it looks like a rabbit. So, I’m working back and forth with the baby and cat. Hope I will finish modelling soon.

Day 23

Hey, sorry I have not been updating my blog. I just have not been well for the past few days. I was feeling rather breathless due to asthma and ended up having flu. I didn’t go to the doctor’s but then I did get medicine. I’m still having running nose but I went to school eventually.

Amanda was kind to let me off early but she did consult with me today. She said that she was afraid if I don’t finish modelling fast I won’t be able to finish the whole animation. She also said that she’s afraid the my advert could be a bit lengthy but then after explaining the animatics to her she said it should be fine. So for the next few days I will be rest and hopefully I get my job done fast.

Tata!

Day 19

There’s character design today. So was kind of excited because I really wanted to do character design. Anyway, about Project 3, I already finished the environment and I asked Raj if it looks ok and he said it is fine and he helped me with the lighting. But I don’t really worry about it now as I want to complete my character by this week. So, this is what I’ve done so far. I still need to edit the face and the legs coz from the front it looks like a chicken. Haha.

Finished the Environment and Logo! WOO!

I spent my day on finishing the alphabet blocks and the modelling of the room. I think it looks real. I am so happy with it. Yes I promised to finish it last Friday but I got a little side tracked and wanted to at least have a day rest. Well, do comment yah.

Lightings are not confirmed yet. Oh and I have done the logo.. Hope you like it!

Day 17

Okay today is the presentation. I thought it was a one on one presentation but NOOOO. It was class presentation. So, only 8 people manage to present. I was smart enough to NOT render the animatics. When I opened my stuff in school, it was working as offline. So I had to link it one by one. Anyway, I did manage to export it and present it.

All the feedback that I got from Alan and the class was very useful and I kind of agree with the timing and some delays. Below are the changes I had to make to fit my animation:

(1) Timing of the whole animation. I have to make it slower in certain parts

(2) Show some close ups of the baby and cat placing the blocks

(3) Watch Poopeye for the timing reference

(4) The voice need to suit the number of symbols in the word or sentence

(5) Adding some motion graphics when the baby drinks the milk. For example, alphabets forming the word or such

(6) I also had a negotiation with Alan to have a time extension to 1min-2min.

I talked to Alan and asked if it will be okay if I delete the starting and he said that it would give a different feel. Well, I have to do a lot of thinking in terms of timing and adding scenes.

So I asked Rachael if she could see if the timing is right. Then she said that certain parts I still need to extend longer. So I did and she agreed that it was way better. Well, that’s about it today. I’m planning to finish my background modelling by 2moro.

Tata!

Day 16

On Monday I was informed that there will be presentation on Thursday and Friday for Project 3. If we don’t present that means we are not progressing at all. So we need to produce animatics. I must admit. I rushed. Monday and Tuesday I focused on Animation 2. Still thinking how to make that credits right. We managed to finish it today. So, I focused on completing my storyboard and animatics by today.

I was feeling rather frustrated the whole day. I had time to finish it earlier but I still took my time. I did managed to get it done but I feel that the timing is not right and it’s not as funny as I thought it would be.

Well, we will just see what Alan would say 2moro.

Day 13

Well, today I took it easy. I came to school to help Rachael to record Makri which in the end she took Andreas voice as it is more suitable. I then recorded the baby and cat sounds were by Rachael. I had fun. It really sounded like a baby voice and a cat. So I’m really happy with it.

I then went for bowling and I won! WOO! Anyway, got home early and continued with my 3d modelling. This is what I did so far. Hope there’s comment. I’m adding more details so just be patient.

Day 12

Today was my group consultation. I am still suffering with the storyboard. I’m doing it really slowly. I don’t know why it is taking so long for me to finish this I just hate doing storyboard. I said I’m going to finish this by today but I don’t think I can. I mean with this speed. I kept complaining that I have modelling to do and I’m wasting my time on storyboard.

So I just continued and never gave up. So on the 3^rd page, I just tell myself. I will continue tomorrow or some other day. I started on my baby modelling. I started with just a guide but I was already excited to continue. Well, I managed to just get the guide and I’m already feeling so tired.

Anyway, I will keep you updated!

Day 11

Well, I came at 2pm today as it is not my group’s turn. So, I continued with my Animation2 animation and I did manage to finish my Gantt chart. It’s at the bottom of my whole blog. Anyway, I was freaking out and kept telling tri and rae that I have not done my storyboard and animatics. They said they too have not started and we are focusing on our animation 2. I mean this block teaching is so hectic. I really need to learn how to manage my time.

I did manage to do half of my storyboard. I got rather not depressed but rae said that I must not give up and yup, I did not. I am half way through but then I realised that I need to edit my storyboard so that it would fit my estimated time which is 30 secs-1 min.

I used flash so it’s faster to edit the characters. Well, I think that’s about it. Hopefully, I could stick to my Gantt chart.

Day 10

We were separated into our groups again and this time we had to discuss about our Gantt chart. We had to breakdown what we had to do for our animation. I was the only one doing 3D in the group and I was kind of in my own world. So, I wrote this long list of what I thought I need to do for the next few weeks. So, Alan sat with us and he explained to us that dong a Gantt chart is really important as it helps us to plan and manage our time and to make sure that we are on time and managed to complete our animation.

So I went back to my seat and starting thinking, when exactly I could finish modelling and such so that I could start animating. So, I was adding a plane to start modelling my baby and Alan approached me and I ask if I could show my picture and model my character at the same time. So he showed me and then I showed him my environment. He said it’s ok but I need to add few more details like the corners of the bottom part of the wall and make the box rounder and not smooth it. Other than that, he showed me a trick to the lighting.

It was so cool to me. I mean it shows that I have to learn more rather than asking and waiting for the lecturer to teach me. So I took down notes and yah. What I have to do by tomorrow is to finish my scene in animation 2, create a logo for brainy milk, finalized my storyboard and start on animatics. Lots to do! I’m really afraid I can’t finish this. I’m freaking out. Really, I hope the Gantt chart really help me.

Oh by the way, I’ll do the chart by tomorrow. So yah.

Nites

Day 09

Well, today we had to take temperature before the class starts. How interesting. Anyway, we had to submit our learning contract via e-mail to Alan and we can continue with our work. Alan showed us Wallace and Gromit movie. He wants us to understand why the cuts are there and how to anticipate the animation, make it come to life and how to tell a story just by seeing the storyboard. So, we watched we laughed and I actually understand what he meant.

Certain cuts like from the sheep to Gromit then to the sheep again to show anticipation. Like telling us, the audience, that something wrong is going to happen. Above all these things, the storyboard must be well drawn and thought out and then comes the ainmatics.

So we must come up with a good storyboard and then produce the animatics before we can start animating. But for my case, I have to start modelling. If I don’t, I would be far behind. Currently, I’m almost done with the baby’s bedroom. Just left with alphabet blocks and texturing. Then I’m done with environment.

Currently, I have to model toys to make the room more occupied. It would just be in the toy box. Well, okay then got to get busy!

Tata

May Day!

Today is the day I don’t want to go out. I don’t think I want to rest. I want to work! I want to at least finish my character design be approved by Alan so that I could start modelling. Oh and I need to find more research for the bedroom so that I can model it. Pictures like, a playpen, alphabet blocks, toy box, ball, night light, pink wallpaper and alphabet foam carpet.

Below are my new answered questions and my new character designs, do comment!

1. Who are you telling the story for (primary audience)?

My primary audience will be parents ranging from the age of 26-35 of all races. My geographical region would be Singaporeans. They would Loves to read comics like baby blues and watch America’s funniest animals. Most of all enjoy entertainment.

2. What reaction do you want?

Laughter

3. Is the narrative omniscient (all seeing) or restrictive (viewed from a single perspective)?
(If the narrative is restrictive, whose viewpoint are you using?)

My narrative will be omniscient.

4. List the important events of the story.
(a) Baby Amy gets all competitive with Sophia, the cat

(b) Sophia spells it right and its victory

(c) Baby Amy spells faster

(d)Sophia received a five letters to spell and it manages to spell it

(e) Baby Amy was given to spell a longer word and drank her milk and spells the word with no hesitation

(f) Sophia got the shock of its life. Its jaw dropped and fainted

(g) Product appears with tagline

5. Which aspects of the setting of the story are important (time of day… location… period of history…) and how do you intend to establish these important elements?

I would like the story take place in the bedroom, in the afternoon and it would be a current year. The baby and the cat would have a spelling bee competition.

6. What traits of the characters in your story are important and how do you intend to establish these traits?

(a) Baby Amy is really competitive and knows that she will always be smarter than Sophia. That would be shown with the quick and correct spelling of letters

(b) Sophia is the totally opposite of Baby Amy. She knows that she is not that smart but still she was not afraid to accept the challenge. That would be shown when she is being all nervous at the begining.

7. In what order are the important events (step 4 above) covered? Is it a strictly linear sequence of events in time, or does the story contain any flashbacks or other interruptions to the sequence of events?

It would be linear.

8. How does the story flow, does the pace change? Does it contain a surprise? Consider your answers to 1 and 2 above when making your response.

No there are no surprises and no pace changed.

9. How will you use sound to help all your responses to 5-8 above?

A western gun fighting music for the background in the beginning. Music would change from the baby to the cat. Wood sound when it is being hit when it is being place side by side. Baby and cat voices.

10. Does your story need dialog?
(write out the dialog)

Baby Amy: “Are you ready?” (In baby talk) (Subtitles will be provided)

Sophia said: “Y...Y...Yes”

Baby Amy: “Let’s begin”

Baby Amy with that evil face knowing that she will always win: “I start first, spell, cup”

Sophia giggled: “Now you spell letters”

Baby Amy: “Spell apple”

Sophia stood up and gave a victory dance and said: “Now you spell antidisestablishmentarianism"

Baby Amy (with baby voice): “If you want to be smart like me, Get Brainy Milk! It makes your little brain grow.”