Project Update (Sketchbook work)

These are some more screenshots from sketchbook one. I still have some finishing touches to make, and a few pages to finish, but I feel it will help to show where my concept ideas come from. I'm currently working on sketchbook 2, and will upload images from this soon.

Project Update

I am going to work this week, on making finishing touches to both sketchbooks, but will be focusing on now finishing me concept developments, I like some ideas from concept one and three, so will make my final developments using black ink and water colour. by the 4th of January I ai to create my final character model and expression sheet. Screenshots of sketchbooks to follow. I will use the 7th till the 14th to finish up all written work. I have some books which In think will enhance my literature review and production document, I aim to have my final learning contract submitted by the 22nd of january.

Here is my up to date log of how I'm going to spend this week. I'm going to spend roughly 3-5 hours a day on project work, to allow me to also enjoy the rest of the xmas break.

27/12/10 - Continue to develop ideas from concept one, and three

28/12/10 - Continue trials on maya

29/12/10 - Work on rough storyboards

30/12/10 - Continue rough storyboards

2/01/11 - Finish off sketchbook #1

3/01/11 - Continue to develop Concepts/choose best Idea

4/01/11 - Work on model and expression sheet/Finish typing up Script

5/01/11 - Finish storyboards and (or) final model/expression sheet

6/01/11 - Concept Development Submission (Sketchbook and copy of storyboards/Script & some images from sketchbook #2)

7/11/10 - 13/11/10 - Work on updating Proposal and Production Document


(Will upload more images of sketchbook work 1 &2)

Learning Contract/ Project Update

Got an email yesterday from Jim which shows that the deadline for this module has been changed to the 24th January. This means that there is more time when we get back after the xmas break to make any changes from the feedback recieved.

At the moment I am still working on sketchbook stuff, including finishing off my inspiration sketchbook, while I'm not working on concept development work.

Screenshots from Sketchbook 1 and 2

In sketchbook 1, I am continuing to research into different visual styles, and studying these, and experimenting, to help my form ideas for sketchbook 2. I'm creating 3 concepts with the visual styles I liked the most from sketchbook 1. I think this is a very effective way of forming ideas, before moving on to make the final character model and expression sheets. It also shows where your inspiration, and possible ideas have came from.


(Sketchbook 1)


(Sketchbook 1)


(Sketchbook 1)


(Sketchbook 1)


(Sketchbook 1)


(Sketchbook 1)


(Sketchbook 1)


(sketchbook 2)

Kinnect of the Future! ; Continued

Virtual Invisibility

You’re not just the controller with Kinect, you can be the Predator! Two Kinects are paired with the freebie ‘openFrameworks’ software to make this user completely invisible. If you don’t like the results maybe you’ll appreciate the cool jazz soundtrack:



The sound of Music

Clever people have programmed Kinect to produce a virtual keyboard that can be scaled in size and played on any flat surface. It’s not as slick as Tom Hanks’routine in the movie ‘Big’, but we wouldn’t be at all surprised if this interpretation of Kinect’s capabilities finds its way into a real game:



No strings attached

Here Kinect picks up hand gestures and arm movements to control a large, comical bird-puppet. Home-theatre applications are immediately apparent, or maybe this is something for budding ventriloquists? Either way, Microsoft needs to start using this tech now!

Kinnect of the Future!

Through more research into virtual reality formats, here are some videos that show what kinnect could acheive in the very recent future...

Kinect, the motion-sensing camera for Xbox 360 that turns you into the controller, hides a lot of very clever technology under its sleek black hood. For most of us that doesn’t mean a thing as long it plays great games. For others, though, Kinect represents nothing less than the opportunity to pull the device apart, investigate its innards and put it to new and exciting uses that Microsoft probably never dreamed of.

The speed at which this has happened has been surprising too. Kinect is barely a month old yet the internet is already awash with university projects and madcap investigative initiatives that not only find new ways to flex Kinect’s powerful technology but point the way forward for its future – both within games and, perhaps, beyond.

Put another way, the likes of Kinect Sports and Dance Central are going to look very old fashioned very soon. Here then is a selection of some of the best – or wackiest – new uses for Kinect. It could be taking the dog for a walk in a couple of years. You think we’re kidding...?

Minority Report for real
An enterprising hacker has used Kinect to bring a keyboard-less, multi-touch future a step closer to reality. Just like in the movie ‘Minority Report, in fact. His precognitive crime-fighting skills remain to be proved, but he's a dab hand at manipulating Windows 7:



Kinect takes flight
Strap Kinect to a toy helicopter and what do you get? The ‘Kinect Quadrotor’ from Berkley University’s Hybrid Systems Lab can not only fly around on its own but can see objects in its away and avoid them. It’s either a spooky portent of things to come or a bunch of students larking about. You decide:



Step into a new dimension
Kinect can already track your movements in 3D, but one man has taken things a stage further by linking two Kinects together. The results are a bit ropey, visually-speaking, but are impressive nonetheless – especially when the little monster from Doom appears on his desk:

Meeting with Robin

Today we discussed as a group about the structure of the dissertation, and will be refining another set of objectives and activities that refer to the completion of the dissertation. Research methods and target dates were discussed. I also took part in Robins focus group based on watching 60 short emotional expressions and discussing as a group what we saw, considering what the character could be feeling, thinking, and the context that the expressions could be used in. I found this very interesting, and it relates to some of the research that could be useful for my project. I submited my draft learning contract, and will wait for the feedback in January. I also submitted my ethics form, and emailed it. I'm going to focus on my sketchbook work now as mentioned in my previous log. More screenshots of it to follow soon.

Project Update

I'm running a little behind schedule, I'm still working on concept one, I am focusing on the the Victim Jaime, experimenting with shape and propartion. I am working in series starting with basic shape. I now aim to start work on concept 2 starting from the 13th of december... I need to use tomorow to get my xmas shopping done, so I can keep focusing on my sketchbook work in the run up to xmas eve. I plan to take xmas eve, xmas day, and boxing day off, and then continue with the work till new years eve, have new years day off, and continue with sketchbook work till the 4th of january, and work on my storyboards on the 5th, take photos of some of the development work, and put the files on CD including my script, and submit on the 6th for Belinda. The rest of the time will be finishing off my development sketchbook till the 10th, and then making changes to any written work untill the 13th, and submit the rest of the modules on the 14th.

Log Update:

11/12/10: Finish work on concept one for the characters

12/12/10: Xmas shopping day

13/12/10: Start concept 2 for the characters

14/12/10: Meeting with Robin/Take part in Robins focus study (Character Emotion)

15/12/10: Continue work on concept 2

16/12/10: Continue work on concept 2/Finish off script/ Type up final draft

17/12/10: Continue work on concept 2

18/12/10: Finish work on concept 2/ Finish off Inspiration sketchbook

19/12/10: Finish off Inspiration sketchbook/Start Concept 3

20/12/10: Continue work on concept 3

21/12/10: Continue work on concept 3/Experiment on mudbox

22/12/10: Continue work on concept 3/Experiment on Sculptrise

23/12/10: Finish off Inspiration Sketchbook/Experiment on Maya

Aim of my Project (Refined)

Through feedback of my current aim, objective, and activities, I feel that the main aim I already have explains what I want from my project output, but doesn't really show what I want to gain through the whole project process, so I have decided to word my project aim slightly different, and talk about some of the research area's I will investigate in the form of questions which will help me produce my dissertation learning contract for Robin as disscused...

Project Aim:

"The aim of the project, is to identify,evaluate, and compare effective translation processes which help to portay emotion. The output of the investigation will be an animation which focuses on character emotion within a narrative for the advertisement message... Are YOU a BULLY?"

What I mean by translaton processes are the things that help contribute portraying character emotion;

Multimedia Formats(Games, Animation, Live Action, Virtual Reality)
Character Rigging(blendshapes, bones etc)
Software Packages (maya, Zbrush, Mudbox)
Narrative Structures
Visual Style
Character Design
audio
Advertisement Methods(online Advertising, Advertising Campaigns)

These are some of the questions I will be working towards disscusing and answering for my dissertation, I'm going to work on producing objectives and activities which details what and how I'm going to find these answers, and structure them into the dissertation as soon as I'm finished with Januarys deadlines.

What is emotion?

How can you translate realistic character emotion into non human characters?

Can different visual styles contibute more emotion than others?

Does visual style matter, as long as you have a good narrative?

How does audio contribute to communicating character emotions?

Can 3D animation produce more emotional expression than 2D?

Do the priciples of animation always need to apply in terms of character emotion?

What is the process of creating a successful advertising campaign which portray sensitive issues like bullying, child & animal abuse?

What could be done differently now, that perhaps hasn't been acheived with previous advertisement campaigns focusing on anti bullying campaigns?

What is the future of advertising campaigns?

Project Update

Doesn't look like I will be getting into uni any time soon, unless there is a dramatic change in the weather... so will continue with sketchbook work, and try to experiment more in sculptrise, and maya... I plan to download the mudbox student edition, and play around with the software soon. I'm still trying to aim to get concept one of my characters complete for the 10th of december.

Sketchbook #1 Continued

Exploring mixed media, and emotional expression.

Proposal Feedback

I had some good feedback from Colin. I have a few changes to make, and plan to add a bit more within the literature review. I will make these changes closer to the deadline, and continuing concept one for the bully and victim characters up till the 10th of december. I'm going to try have a meeting with Robin and John next week, I am concerned however, that there is going to be train and bus disruptions for days to come yet... and am still pretty much snowed in from getting to the main road. I will keep in touch by email.

Project Update

I have now completed my first draft of the research proposal, all I can do now is await feedback from Colin. Now that all the written stuff has been completed, I can concentrate on the pre production sketchbook, and finish my inspiration sketchbook. I plan to have concept one complete by the 10th of december, concept 2 by the 20th december, and concept 3 by the 3rd of January. I plan to have the final script typed up by the 4th of January, and Rough Storyboards by the 5th of January.

Pixar's UP (Research for the Case Study)

Tim Burtons The Nightmare Before Christmas (Research for Case Study)

as part of my research, I'm going to look closely at two contrasting animation's,Tim Butons; The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Pixar's UP, considering the visual style, character design, and narrative structures. From this I will produce two case studies, and compare them. The point of doing this is to help me towards looking at whether character emotion comes from the visual style, character design, the narrative, or all of these elements. Do you need a narrative?, or can you empathyse with a character just standing with no environment, portraying a number of different emotional states?

Objectives and Activities Refined

– Project Objectives

 Objective 1: Identify and discuss formats that advertisement campaigns could be implemented into, and evaluate how it would enhance the emotional response.
 1.1: Investigate and identify game, animation, and virtual reality formats, and why they would enhance the emotional response.
 1.2: Research the history of advertisement campaigns, and compare, discuss and evaluate how they have changed throughout the years.
 1.3: Produce 3 case studies discussing how the formats could be implemented to my advertisement campaign.
 1.4: Identify and discuss Case studies that describe various emotions from the bully and victim’s perspective of the long lasting effects of bullying.

 Objective 2: Identify, discuss, and compare translation processes which portray character emotion.
 2.1: Identify and evaluate various influences, and visual styles which provide inspiration for my project and experiment with this in sketchbook#1
 2.2: produce 2 case studies on two contrasting visual styles, considering the narrative structures.
 2.3: Produce and record a narrated narrative which will be used within my animation to help communicate the characters emotions.

 Objective 3: Discuss, evaluate, and develop 3 concepts for my characters, experimenting with visual style, and mixed media, before choosing one concept to develop further.
 3.1: Complete the pre production work for the characters, including development ideas, script, (narrated narrative) storyboards, and final model & expression sheets in sketchbook#2.
 3.2: Use the case studies, and background research to write up my dissertation, and using it to answer other research area questions, as well as it answering my specific research question.
 3.3: Discuss, evaluate, and determine what facial and body rigs to use for the characters
 3.4: Model, and rig the characters
 3.5: Skin & Paint weights

 Objective 4: Produce a 2 – 3 min finished piece of animation, which focuses on character emotion, and narrated narrative within an advertisement message.
 4.1: Production of the animation
 4.2: Rendering of the animation
 4.3: Post – Production: Exporting the movie, after effects, and importing the sound and recorded narration.
 4.4: Present my project to a professional standard which will include, making a CD cover, mounting up key development work, and the binding of my dissertation to get ready for submission, and for the degree show.

Research Proposal

I have completed the introduction to my proposal today, It's taking longer than I thought it would to word and structure this, but I'm getting there. I'm continuing to gather references for the literature review part. I'm very concered that the weather is still really bad, I'm still hoping it will calm down by next week... hopefully! :/

Learning Contact

got some feedback by email(due to the weather) from Robin regarding my learning contract. I have to refine my objectives further... perhaps cutting down on what I have, and implement my activities into 4 or 5 objectives, rather than the 8 I have formed. I also need a seperate set of objectives and activities for my dissertation, and consider 2-3 areas of specific study relevant to my research question.

I will have a meeting with him as soon as possible to discuss this further when the weather decides to calm down :/

Project Proposal/Ethics Form

I have just completed the abstract for my project proposal. I have also managed to complete my ethics form, which I will show to my supervisor, and gain the signature needed. I'm hoping to submit as soon as possible, and wait for feedback of approval.

I have sent an email to my supervisors to make them aware that because of all the snow I may not get into uni this week, just in case the meetings have to be rescheduled.

Project Update

So far I'm on schedule, completing my learning contract and production document. I will now work on my proposal document. (28th & 29th) I can then continue my sketchbook work while I wait for feedback from Colin and Jim. :D

Log Update 3:

Due to changes with my script and refinement of my aims and objective, I am a little behind schedule in terms of the sketchbook work... I'm aiming to have my developed characters by the middle of december, before choosing one concept to develop further. What I want to tackle before anything else, is to finish the learning contract, production document, and the proposal to get them off my back, and gain feedback before the final submission in January. I had my meeting with Robin yesterday, and suggested an alternative ending of having Jamie sit with a bottle of pills beside him, which would add the mystery of whether or not he kills himself. I'm going to experiment with this idea. Robin also suggested to follow the process of stop staring for making rigging controls for the head. I think by following this process, it will also provide good reference for my production document. He thinks I should aim to start animating by the middle of febuary. I have another meeting next tuesday to discuss the dissertation.


26/11/10 - After changes made to aims and objectives - Finish 1st draft of learning contract - submit for Jims feedback next tuesday

27/11/10 - Finish Production document

28/11/10 - Continue Work on Project Proposal

29/11/10 - Finish 1st Draft of proposal - Forward to Colin

30/11/10 - Meeting with John(Technical Supervisor)/Continue with sketchbook work/Meeting with Robin(Academic Supervisor)

01/12/10 - Continue with concept one(Sketchbook #2)(Bully Character)

02/12/10 - Meeting with Jim/Continue with Concept one(Victim Character)

03/12/10 - Finish Concept one(Bully and Victim Characters)

Pre - Production Process

While gathering research for my production document, I came across this video which explains the production process quite well... and is very amusing! :D

Updated Gnatt Chart

Final Aims, Objectives, and Activities:

Aims, Objectives, and Activities:

1. Objective:
To research all appropriate formats for my project;

Activities:
1.1: Investigate existing and future technologies that would enhance the emotional response.
1.2: Look at virtual reality technology, and how this can enhance emotional engagement.
1.3: Investigate my project idea considering Project Natal, Game, and Animation formats.


2. Objective:
Determine what facial and body rigs to use for my characters.

Activities:
2.1: Investigate all resources available to me.
2.2: Identify the different types of body and facial rigs.
2.3: Investigate the type of facial rig I can have. (Blend Shape or Bones)
2.4: Compare what body rigs would be best to use.
2.5: Edit the rig in preparation of attaching it to my character(s).

3. Objective:
Investigate various Styles that would be suitable for my characters appropriate to my chosen genre/theme, before developing my characters.

Activities:
3.1: Identify historical and contemporary influences from different areas of design. (Sketchbook #1)
3.2: Perform Experiments with different mediums using my influences as reference to help decide on my visual style. (Sketchbook #1)
3.3: Break my visual style research into 3 Concepts. (Sketchbook #2)
3.4: Work in series considering basic shape, line, tone, and texture.
3.5: Choose One Concept to develop further. (Sketchbook #2)
3.6: Create a model and expression sheet.

4. Objective:
Produce a script and record narration that will help to communicate the characters emotions.

Activities:
4.1: Identify Narration and Narrative within existing animation and advertisement messages.
4.2: Investigate how Narration and Narrative can drive the characters emotions.
4.3: Create a Narrated Narrative and gain feedback on it.
4.4: Make any changes needed.
4.5: Record the narration.

5. Objective:
Produce Character Models from development for use within the animation.

Activities:
5.1: Create a Character Model
5.2: Texture the model
5.3: Attach the pre sourced rig
5.3 Skin, and paint weights

6. Objective:
Investigate advertisement messages and relevant literature that support how to get the best emotional response from my characters;

Activities:
6.1: Research into past and current advertisement messages along with game and animation focusing on character emotion for use within my dissertation.
6.2: Compare these findings, discuss in online forums
6.3: Start drafting up my dissertation.

7. Objective:
Produce a 2-3 min 3D animation which focuses on character emotion and narrated narrative;

Activities:
7.1: Pre Production – sketchbook work (character Development) the script, record narration, Storyboards, and animatic.
7.2: Production of the animation
7.3: Rendering of the animation
7.4: Post – Production: Exporting the movie, after effects, and importing the sound and recorded narration.

8. Objective:
Present my project to a professional standard

Activities:
8.1: Make CD Cover
8.2: Mount up key development and Animation Screenshots
8.3: Bind Dissertation
8.4: Get mounted boards and the animation ready for degree show

Show and Tell session

I got some good feedback from today... and it was good to get a taste of other peoples projects... I'm feeling much better now talking about my project... and have some things to think about. I have changed my gnatt chart.. breaking down the time scales more rather than timing a couple of objectives in one full block... other advice given was to watch Pixars UP ( which I have finaly!) and it really gave me some good inspiration and reference in terms of the narrative and age progression of the main character. I'm also thinking about keeping the ending of my narrative as I first thought... but changing the wording slightly... it may be a grim ending.. but in this case I feel it will make more of an impact on the advertisement message. I'm going to submit my ethics form, and if given back to me I will make sure I have another ending ready that I'm happy with... I wont know if I don't try... :D

Gnatt Chart

This is my gnatt chart which shows my expected deliverables and set deadlines for semester 2... each box represents 2 weeks. It means that I can include this with my draft learning contract for feedback before submission.

Sketchbook Images Continued

This is the point where I'm starting the first concept sketches for the bully character... considering influence Tim Burton and Alberto Giacometti. I'm wondering whether the bully character had such an effect on Jamie as a child... that everything he see's is the bully in his head... maybe an exaggerated and anxious vision or representation of the bully... so considering long and skinny versions... playing with mixed media, and will begin working in series.

Supervisor Meetings/Project Update

I have found out who my academic and technical supervisors are, and have arranged meetings for this week and next week... I'm working on my presentation for show and tell, and working on my script from the feedback given. I have also been trying to work on concept one for the bully character... Here are some photos of some inspiration, and concept experiments. I'm hoping to have finished my new script by the end of this week, along with my draft of the learning contract to be forwarded to Jim. I'm receiving feedback on the online forum on polycount which I'm pleased about, as it shows people are interested in my project idea.

Meeting with Gregor

I had a disscusion with Gregor regarding my script, and other possible avenues I could take it down... at the moment the ending for the story is very grim, I may stick to this, but will think of other ways I could portray the subject of bullying, and decide what journey I want to take the bully and victim down. Gregor suggested looking into where storys and characters come from, and the relationship between characters. while i'm trying to firm the ideas for my script, and the research areas of the project in terms of my research question, I'm going to start taking experimentation of inspiration to my character development, and starting to think of the emotions I want to portray. I will show what I have so far at my show and tell session. I have a meeting with Belinda on thursday to discuss my sketchbook work, and will be meeting up with Robin as soon as I can to discuss facial animation and emotion.

Updated Log 2

14th November:
Gather further visual research/Continue character development

15th November:
Apointment with Gregor/Continue character development

16th November:
Draft up proposal document/Experiment with Sculptris

17th November:
continue draft of proposal document/Start Draft of production document

18th November:
Continue Draft of Production document/finish learning contract/Gnatt Chart

19th November:
Continue character development

20th November:
Experiment more in Sculptris and Maya/finish Concept one (Visual Style)

21st & 22nd November:
Continue Concept Development(Concept 2)Finish Script

23rd November:
Show and Tell Session

Sculptris Test1

While playing around with this software, I've managed to produce something, by trying out all the tools available. This is just a simple test to see how I got on with using it for the first time, and i'm quite pleased with it considering it only took me about an hour... I'm now going to try exporting this into Maya and try a texture test.



Exporting for Maya was fine. I am finding it a bit slow.. I will need to work out how to bring the file size down from within sculptris I think.

Sculptris

I came across a software that I really think will help with my concept development for my characters.(http://www.sculptris.com) I've been playing around with it, and you can inport and export to maya. Here is a video which shows what it can help you create.



Apart from my sketchbook work, I want to finish off my script which is nearly there, make my animatics, ahowing my idea in 2 possible formats, and start typing up my learning contract, and production document. I am still looking at possible processes to go through when working on the facial emotion for my characters. I will be talking to Gregor soon about where I'm at with the project so far. I hope to have all my documentation complete before christmas, and forward a 1st draft of my learning contract to Jim, and my proposal document to Colin by the 5th of december. So far I feel like I'm on schedule. :D

Initial Research; Facial Rigging Processes

La Maison en Petits Cubes ( The House of Small Cubes ) Kunio Kato

I really like this animation. The style is interesting, I like the fact it is driven by narrative.. it keeps you guessing what is going on with the main character.. anyway here it is... enjoy :)

Acting in Animation: 3D Discussion forums

I've now joined up with a 3D modeling, and animation discussion forum, and posted up a reply to an acting in animation forum, I'm hoping to get some feedback from this to use within my research.

http://www.3dmd.net/forum/3d-discussion-6879.html

http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78363&highlight=character+emotion

I'm very happy that I now have a copy of the facial modeling and animation book, Stop Staring, this will be a very useful resource for my project. Im also looking at traditional 2D methods for portraying emotion, and various expression poses.

I feel like by the end of the week, I will be well on my way to starting my character development. But at the moment, I'm still experimenting with mixed media, and inspiration research. I'm also looking at various research areas relevent to my new research question. :)

Research Question (Refined)

From the feedback received from Jim in todays class, I have thought of a new research question. It relates more on the procceses of portraying character emotion.

While investigating virtual reality technology, animation, games, and narrative;

'What are the effective translation processes that portray character emotion within narrative for advertisement messages?'

I feel that this question will allow me to look at a broad range of research, which also allows me to talk about the bigger vision of my idea within my dissertation, and produce a suitable end output that relates well to my animation idea.

Updated Aims, Objectives & Activities/Final Project Aim

From the list I made earlier, I have produced an aim, objective, and will eventualy have an activity explaining how I will achieve each aim and objective.

1. Aim: To research all appropriate formats for my project;

objective: Investigate existing and future technologies that would enhance the emotional response.

Activity:

2. Aim: To determine what facial and body rigs to use for my characters;

Objective: Investigate all resources available to me.

Activity:

3. Aim: Investigate various Styles that would be suitable for my characters appropriate to my chosen genre/theme;

Objective: Explore historical and contemporary influences which will help form ideas.

Activity:

4. Aim: Produce a script that will help to communicate the characters emotions;

Objective: Investigate Narration and Narrative within existing animation and advertisement messages.

Activity:

5. Aim: Investigate advertisement messages and relevent literature that support how to get the best emotional response from my characters;

Objective: Research into past and current advertisement messages along with game and animation focusing on character emotion.

Activity:

6. Aim: Produce a 3-4 min 3D animation which focuses on character emotion and narrated narrative;

Objective: Using all my inspiration, research, concept development, and animatic to produce a finished piece of animation.

Activity:

My main Project aim:

To produce a 3D animation which will focus on character emotion within an advertisement message... Are YOU a BULLY?

Purpose: to explore character emotions within an anti-bullying campaign.

Research Question/ Aims & Objectives (Refined)

Thought of another research question which is slightly different to what I had, but still connected to the same project.


While investigating virtual reality technology, animation, and narrative;

'Can 3D character emotion techniques make an impact within advertisement messages?'

I felt this question is more relevent to my project, and what I want to achieve from it with the time I have.

Aims & Objectives:

Refined:

Concept Development:

-Rough Concept Ideas from research
-characterisation
-Record Narration
-Working in Series
-Model Sheets
-3D models
-Rigs(pre sourced)
-Storyboards
Rough Animatic(this will explain in some visual form of how I think my animation could also be used within the format of project Natal technology)

3-4 min Animation: (The Victim)
-Animatic(rough animation shots/key poses/narration/sound)
-Animate
-Render(maya software)
-Place the images into editing software (Final Cut Pro or Premire Pro)
-Export to a movie File (avi or mov)

Present Final Project:
-make CD Cover
-mount up key concept development work
-Mount up 3D models

Dissertation
-Structure
-Project Introduction
-Compare opinions
-Evaluation of project

Now that I have a list of aims and objectives, I will now work on producing the activities to go along with these in more detail.

Update (log)

Research Topics:

Facial Animation/modeling/rigging/facial structures

Cognative Processes/ understanding human emotion

Plan for today:

Continue with inspiration sketchbook/start concept development sketchbook

3/11/10:
Continue experimenting with ideas/gather more visual research

4/11/10:
Start drafting up my learning contract/talk to Colin about my research question.

5/11/10:
Continue drafting up my learning contract/more concept development

6/11/10:
Gather further research for proposal document/Gather more visual research

7/11/10:
Start powerpoint for crit week

8/11/10:
Continue with Concept development

9/11/10:
crit group/ futher concept development

Visual Style (research/inspiration continued)

I'm now starting to think of various visual styles focused within my visual research. Here are some examples of what I'm looking into. Disney films are an inspiration you find yourself growing up with.. I like the cell paint look, but also love the textures in monsters Ink, the Tim Burton style, graphic novels, and the realsitic style in my earlier visual research... I just need to consider what will work the best within my animation.. however this doesn't stop me from experimenting with various styles. While experimenting with textures ideas, I will consider what inspires me within the styles I'm looking into, whilst trying to create my spin on the style.

I will experiment with these styles before refining my ideas down to 3 concepts while I finalise my character profiles. (characteristics) This will be one of the main areas I will investigate within thinking about the emotional response... and the engagement of characters from various films.