Short Film: Frame Render Dump

Just a bunch of sample frames I rendered, as well as a first look at the museum set.

Short Film: Animatic + Turnaround!

Here's the animatic to go along with the storyboard, as well as a quick turnaround of the catburglar model.

Click here to view the animatic

Click here to view the turnaround

Short Film: Storyboard

I kept forgetting to post this up. Pretty self-explanatory. I apologize that it devolves into a series of unintelligible scribbles halfway through.

Short Film: Model (Updated) + Prop

I updated the model a bit. I fixed the hands so they're not as awkward, as well as the eyes for the second cat. I'll only be rigging one model, and just switching out the eyes for respective shots.

Also, here's a fancy can of tuna. You can tell it's fancy because of all the jewels. Fancy!

I'm working on finishing up the animatic. I'll post that by the end of the week.

Short Film: Details + Model

I've been a little quiet about my short film for next semester (I've been having a bit of trouble getting a good story), but I think I have something solid to go on.

The story basically involves a cat thief (see above) who suffers from a slight case of split personality. The cat breaks into a museum to steal something (a jewel encrusted can of tuna, or some dumb cat-related thing). However, while her dominant, more focused personality (Cat A) is attempting to steal the object, the other personality (Cat B, who is a little unintelligent and easily distracted) keep wandering off to look at other things or to goof off. The audience, initially, won't be aware that the cat is actually one character, as the two personalities will never be shown in the same shot. The two will go back and forth, with A constantly dragging B back to the matter at hand. The plot will culminate to either the Cat breaking the object, or getting caught (I've never been good with endings).

I plan to work on storyboards and action sheets here in the next few days. I'll post those up once finished.

Project 2: Final

Second project DONE! Kind of a play on the whole "mongooses and snakes being enemies" thing. Mongoose Man is on a quest to quench his thirst, but the mythical serpent living in the fridge stands in his way. Nothing a quick smack with a broom can't fix. Plus, a cameo from Fridge Guy!

If I get time over Christmas, I might go back and add sound to this.

This one was fun. Rigging, like always, presented itself with some problems, but it worked out in the end. I really like all the characters used for this. Perhaps I'll sue them again someday.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

Project 2: Scene

Here's a quick screenshot of my second project. In this scene, the Serpent has just appeared from the fridge, and Mongoose Man considers his options.

Extra Credit: Pumpkin Dude

Made a little pumpkin dude.

Project 2: Mongoose Man Expressions

Kinda forgot to post this a while back, but here's a few base expressions for Mongoose Man (mild happy, grump, spazz/fear, confusion)

Project 2: Background + Prop

Just a quick post with some environmental stuff. I might need to make the kitchen bigger. It feels really claustrophobic when I move around in it. There's also a sorta-cameo from Fridge Guy!

Project 2: Mongoose Man + Serpent Models

So, I've roughly got Mongoose Man and his serpent opponent modeled. I might tweak a few things here or there, but this is more-or-less how they'll look. I'm actually really happy with how Mongoose Man turned out. Now, to model the background!

Project 2: Concepts

So, here's a little bit about how I see my second project going, story wise:

Mongoose Man walks into his kitchen, in seek of obtaining a cold beverage from his refrigerator. As he opens the door to the fridge, he is surprised to find himself face-to-face with a odd-looking serpent (not pictured). Annoyed by the mild inconvenience, Mongoose Man grabs a broom from off-screen and proceeds to whack the serpent until it retreats back into the fridge. Mongoose Man then grabs his beverage and takes a moderate drink. And scene.

Something like that. Here's a couple rough doodles of Mongoose Man, as well a link to a crudley put together walk cycle.

CLICK THE LINK TO VIEW THE WALK CYCLE

Project 1: Final

The object of the project was to make a organic/mechanical hybrid creature (in this case, a Fridge Guy) and have them do...something. Initially, I was going to have him to a bit of a walk cycle, but because I still can't rig worth a damn, it just turned into this. I'd also planned to use the Toon Shader to give him outlines, but that turned out to be too cumbersome for now. I'll figure a quicker way of doing it for the next project.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE VIDEO

Project 1: Model Update #2

Well, Fridge Guy is basically textured (for now at least). His helmet made him look a little militaristic so, I kind of went with that motif with the color scheme. And you can finally see his insides! I was going to put a few items inside, but I don't really have the time/patience to model a jug of milk. Also, in regards to the animation, I'm planning on him waddling a bit and stumble a little, causing the doors to pop open. If I had items inside, they would probably have to fall out. So, if I'm going to be doing a looping animation, that really wouldn't work every time. It should be fine. I'm going to have ice cubs plop out of his dispenser when he walks so that should be enough.

I also want to play around with the Toon Shader and see if I can give him hard outlines. I think it'd give a nice mix of 2D/3D.

Update: Guess who found the Toon Shader? Next step is to figure out how I can give him solid lighting (kind of a more cel-shaded look).

Project 1: Model Update #1

Fixed a few things with Fridge Guy. I was having some trouble figuring out the helmet and his ice dispenser, but my instructor help clear that up. Aside from some minor tweaks (and maybe a jug of milk on the inside, if there's time), Fridge Guy is essentially done modelling. Next is the texturing and the rigging; my most favorite parts, he said with extreme sarcasm.

Project 1: Model Turnaround

Well, I ended up modeling Fridge Guy. This is just a basic model, and I'm sure he'll be tweaked here and there (I need to ask my instructor how to do a few things). He'll be fun to animate. I see him doing a loooot of waddling.

Exercise #1 - Lamp

I made a lamp. Yay me.

1) Character Designs for Project 1

A few designs for the first project. The idea was to make a half biological/half mechanical character. Oddly enough, I had a bit of trouble trying to find a good middle ground. As you can see, they all turned out more robot than biological.

The first guy was one of many film camera inspired designs. I just happened to like it the best (and his fancy beret). The second started out as another camera-bot (but more of a tripod look) but he turned into...whatever it is now. He's supposed to be part reptile (note the scaly arms). Fridge Guy is probably my favorite. His head and all his appendages are biological, it's just his torso that's mechanical (in this case, a refrigerator). This image was an older version. There's a revised version that has his biological arms, as well as a spiffy hat, though it was too small to get a good photograph. I'll update with a better (most likely colored) version if he's chosen to be animated.