Daniel Crothers' Animation Blog

The idea was that the Princess a bad ass and the manliest of heroes, who would usually be the protagonist gets killed off after she gets kidnapped forcing her to save herself.... something like that. 

Two happy little background scenes I created in flash for an assignment. I created a GIF but I made it way to big than it needed to be.

So bit of back story: I am making a motion comic for my final project. Was trying to make a series of shots tracking the meteorties impact (in regular non motion comic fashion) but I was having trouble figuring the right way to do that. I think it works without breaking it up as well... I am happy with what I made even if it is just concept and may not even use this. Sometimes it’s good to throw the stuff I like out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borderlands_%28video_game%29

In the last several years advances in computer technologies has allowed for the development of higher powered animation renderers. Pixar has been well known for its rendering software Renderman, which has been used in countless movies including titles such as Jurassic Park (1993) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). {http://renderman.pixar.com/view/movies-and-awards}.With every new enhancement in graphics capabilities rendering software gets reworked or rebuilt to push the boundaries of realistic lighting. Advances in lighting can be seen in Pixar’s 2008 movie Wall-E. Everything in Wall-E was designed with a purpose, it was also the first and currently only Pixar film to date that included live action actors. Set in a futuristic world where humans have long since abandoned Earth as it had become uninhabitable due to the large build-up of trash. To immerse the viewer into the fantasy world they were portraying on screen, the camera and lighting had to work harmoniously with one another to give off the dusty, abandoned and worn feel of the Earth and the cold, clinical feel of the interior of the space ship. The technology they had was at the stage where they could imitate a camera and lens shooting the film. A widescreen aspect ratio and a very shallow depth of field added to the result of the feeling that a camera person was present.  With the film they were able to pre visualise the key lights prior to shooting which allowed the animation team a clearer idea of what the final result would look like. {https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljKntxS_WIY}

A texture atlas and an example of a modular workflow. Made a small amount of shops and they are a lot better compared to the modular workflow I learned in Studio 2. For one, there a lot more textures in the atlas that can be used and re-used. Pieces of the awning and bricks and windows can be used for different shops.... (sneaked in a cheeky cloud background for a render).

He will not remain looking like he’s wearing a jumpsuit, I was just seeing if I could get the design on his front right. I am not to good at unwrapping so I have a lot of stretching happening that needs to be fixed.

These little guys were made before I did my other character model. It was a good way to get back into character modelling since it had been... some time prior (didn’t practise over the holidays).

Daniel & The Magical Adventures of Character Modelling This is one of my character models for my independent project. Because of how I drew the hands it caused a lot of problems with the modelling the fingers. I solved the issue by copying it, modelling it separately then reattaching it afterwards. Looking up references in the simplest way in modern times: google image search for “3D character modelling”. There are still bits of detail that is missing - the head design, his chest scarf and the legs and arms. I had quickly modeled the cosmic energy scarf but thought maybe it should be flowing in the space wind that exists around him at all times - probably/most likely will require a cloth simulator attached to it. To be textured....

Character Design for one of the 3D Models I wanna make. She is a superhero, I am terrible at names so when I feel a name this post will be edited or not I am no psychic. I wanted the character to be simple and cartooney instead of trying to make a realistic character - I will save that for some other time. For the superhero costume I simply went and made it gym clothes. Hands are kinda dodgey I know but they can still be fixed either here in the turnaround or when modelling. I should probably do a backview as well.

Daniel & The Friday Afternoon Made for fun. There is a scene with the witch just chilling and I had to make a Pina Colada for it. Probably should not have but hey :D

The Witch concept now coloured and in THREE DIMENSIONS! (Coloured in by Karen.) The arm has been seperated so it can have movement in Max. Carboard stand to hold the Witch up. The broom clashes a little with the cardboard and I may have used the wrong colour for the witch.... because she has 2 differenty coloured clothing and it may have been the green variant. (which is an easy fix). Why is there a photo of Cardboard? Reference material. In case we all forget what it looks like

The umbrella used to be some lady before the witch got to her. ....Now that I feel like making back story the chair is her boyfriend. Why no eyes? They are on the back you can’t see them. They also now have names - the umbrella is Ursula and the chairs name is Chad. Boats and Oars are just simply a boat and oar. OR they used to be a new Boat and Oar before getting changed?

Did a quick colour of the mountain panorama. Happy rolling snow capped mountains and hills then into the jagged evil mountains.This was a 10 minute colour job so it isn't the best. I just wanted to show all the different styles i did. 

After sharing the original ideas for the boat, Alicia and Karen both were thinking row boat. Again 3 different designs made of different material in my mind (although the last one is kind of boring). My critism for myself is they should be more side on - giving it depth the way i did gives it a "i am going to capsize now" look to them. The sail boat was made as an additional option. Drawing of an oar so a character COULD potentially row the boat instead of drift aimlessly in the ocean. And lastly a pool floaty for fun.

Daniel & The Idea For A Character Model For Studio 3 we are also tasked with doing our own study. I want to make a super hero and a super villian in either 3DS Max or Maya. This little guy is my design for the villain who is this not of this dimension kind of creature that found its way to Earth. So I guess "Villain" is the wrong word and it should be more "misunderstood". Some sketches I did made him more human, so there are those versions, robots and a bug version. I did a big sketch of a sort of realistic robot then soon after I thought of maybe keeping it simple and stylised since this would need to be rigged and skinned - not my best areas. I still need to do the hero.... (and finish off these sketches)