Frog realizes his friend is missing from the pond. He notices nearby land is changing; roads are being built, and there is a giant building in the distance.
Frog decides to explore this new area, he tries to cross the roads but is almost hit by futuristic cars. He barely makes it across. He takes a deep breath and smokes a cigarette. "I'm getting too old for this."
Frog enters the building, and is awestruck. It is huge, with machinery and contraptions of all kinds.
As he is exploring, Frog bumps into a metallic object. Frog turns around and finds out he just woke up a robot! Frog runs, and Robot follows.
Frog escapes, and is hiding behind a column, thinking he lost the Robot. "Phew." Frog takes out a cigarette, out of nowhere, Robot reaches over and takes the cigarette. Robot was behind Frog the whole time. Frog struggles to get it back while Robot holds it out of his reach. Frog jumps and tackles the Robot. They set off an alarm.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Future Plans
There are a few main categories I will focus on for my project:
A Concrete Story
I plan to have a story set in stone very soon. There are some kinks I have to work out. I have to make a compelling reason why my frog finds his way in a sci-fi environment, and how he interacts with the robot.
Sketching reference images
I am unskilled in drawing, but I will need reference images for any future models I may include in my work. I might look at other concept art, and make my own innovations on these drawings.
Modelling Sci Fi environment and Props
I want to create a futuristic/robotic area for the robot and frog to explore in. It will definitely test my skills in modeling since I have no prior experience in creating 3d worlds.
Dialogue and/or characterization
This follows my story objective. I plan to make a humorous, imaginative adventure. To accomplish this, I need excellent dialogue. I also need my characters to have a lot of personality in their movements.
Music
I plan to compose musical themes for my animation. I plan on using various synthesizer instruments on Logic Pro to complement my sci-fi environment.
A Concrete Story
I plan to have a story set in stone very soon. There are some kinks I have to work out. I have to make a compelling reason why my frog finds his way in a sci-fi environment, and how he interacts with the robot.
Sketching reference images
I am unskilled in drawing, but I will need reference images for any future models I may include in my work. I might look at other concept art, and make my own innovations on these drawings.
Modelling Sci Fi environment and Props
I want to create a futuristic/robotic area for the robot and frog to explore in. It will definitely test my skills in modeling since I have no prior experience in creating 3d worlds.
Dialogue and/or characterization
This follows my story objective. I plan to make a humorous, imaginative adventure. To accomplish this, I need excellent dialogue. I also need my characters to have a lot of personality in their movements.
Music
I plan to compose musical themes for my animation. I plan on using various synthesizer instruments on Logic Pro to complement my sci-fi environment.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Review of Literature
http://www.pixar.com/behind_the_scenes/World-Building#
This gives me a look at how Pixar approaches environment design. The thought process behind the world creation is amazing. I aspire to make my environments as detailed and thoughtful.
http://www.pixar.com/behind_the_scenes/Character-Design#
Pixar is famous for creating amazing characters. Going through several sketches of a character is not uncommon. I may end up modeling and rigging a new character for my project, so I will probably go through a similar process.
http://www.pixar.com/behind_the_scenes/Tractors-and-Cows
I feel that a cartoon appearance would compliment humor. Using this example, maybe I can take two different items and 'fuse' them to make a silly, but still functional prop. This can apply for any new characters I make as well.
http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/insidedwa/productionprocess
I went to the Dreamworks animation site and looked up their production process. I may incorporate voice work in my animation. Dreamworks first records the voices, then animates based on the voice actors' mannerisms. They use these movements as reference for the actual animation.
http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665008/the-inside-story-5-secrets-to-pixar-s-success
Although these ideas are mostly intended for a team, I still found them to be useful. I especially found advice #3 helpful. Since my animation will be story driven, I am sure that there will be some points that may be confusing to people. I have to understand why they don't get it rather than overhauling the whole thing.
https://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/monro.html
Since I am going for humor in my animation, I decided to look up the theory behind comedy. I believe each of the three theories explained in this webpage will help me choose the style of comedy I am looking for.
http://thelaughbutton.com/features/animation-standup-comedy/
The animation style is different in this example, but I want to somehow incorporate similar punchlines into my work.
http://azurestorm.wix.com/alexsutcliffe#!portfolio/c1han
The underwater environment is amazing. The use of lighting gives the environment a very futuristic feel. The mechs also add to the mechanical environment.
http://sharkswithjetpacks.blogspot.com/
I liked this animator's work. He is adept at creating highly detailed sci-fi objects and environments. I am going for a 'cartoon' aesthetic so I probably will not create props at this high detail. However, this gave me many ideas, especially for robotics.
http://area.autodesk.com/showcase/images/scifi_environment
What I liked in these pictures were the Tron car models. I hope to model futuristic vehicles for my project to fit into the sci fi environment. Also, they fit into a section of the story I have in mind.
http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/tutorials/animating/c/page-turn-animation
I think it would be interesting if my animation was contained in a storybook. If I do go down this path, I think this tutorial may prove useful in the future. I hope to make it so the user can flip the page to the next scenario.
The Color of Magic Terry by Terry Pratchett
I only read a couple of the first pages in this book, but what I read was witty and imaginative. The fantasy setting is intriguing, and the characters have a lot of personality. I want my story to have a similar charm as this.
This gives me a look at how Pixar approaches environment design. The thought process behind the world creation is amazing. I aspire to make my environments as detailed and thoughtful.
http://www.pixar.com/behind_the_scenes/Character-Design#
Pixar is famous for creating amazing characters. Going through several sketches of a character is not uncommon. I may end up modeling and rigging a new character for my project, so I will probably go through a similar process.
http://www.pixar.com/behind_the_scenes/Tractors-and-Cows
I feel that a cartoon appearance would compliment humor. Using this example, maybe I can take two different items and 'fuse' them to make a silly, but still functional prop. This can apply for any new characters I make as well.
http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/insidedwa/productionprocess
I went to the Dreamworks animation site and looked up their production process. I may incorporate voice work in my animation. Dreamworks first records the voices, then animates based on the voice actors' mannerisms. They use these movements as reference for the actual animation.
http://www.fastcodesign.com/1665008/the-inside-story-5-secrets-to-pixar-s-success
Although these ideas are mostly intended for a team, I still found them to be useful. I especially found advice #3 helpful. Since my animation will be story driven, I am sure that there will be some points that may be confusing to people. I have to understand why they don't get it rather than overhauling the whole thing.
https://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/monro.html
Since I am going for humor in my animation, I decided to look up the theory behind comedy. I believe each of the three theories explained in this webpage will help me choose the style of comedy I am looking for.
http://thelaughbutton.com/features/animation-standup-comedy/
The animation style is different in this example, but I want to somehow incorporate similar punchlines into my work.
http://azurestorm.wix.com/alexsutcliffe#!portfolio/c1han
The underwater environment is amazing. The use of lighting gives the environment a very futuristic feel. The mechs also add to the mechanical environment.
http://sharkswithjetpacks.blogspot.com/
I liked this animator's work. He is adept at creating highly detailed sci-fi objects and environments. I am going for a 'cartoon' aesthetic so I probably will not create props at this high detail. However, this gave me many ideas, especially for robotics.
http://area.autodesk.com/showcase/images/scifi_environment
What I liked in these pictures were the Tron car models. I hope to model futuristic vehicles for my project to fit into the sci fi environment. Also, they fit into a section of the story I have in mind.
http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/tutorials/animating/c/page-turn-animation
I think it would be interesting if my animation was contained in a storybook. If I do go down this path, I think this tutorial may prove useful in the future. I hope to make it so the user can flip the page to the next scenario.
The Color of Magic Terry by Terry Pratchett
I only read a couple of the first pages in this book, but what I read was witty and imaginative. The fantasy setting is intriguing, and the characters have a lot of personality. I want my story to have a similar charm as this.
Monday, October 7, 2013
My Project Path
Last semester, I created and rigged a frog model. I intend to use this model in my project. I was thinking of ways I could incorporate a frog into a story. I first thought of doing something similar to Aesop's fables, since many stories involve frogs. I was thinking of doing a humorous spinoff with the "tortoise and the hare" story, in which the frog would somehow interfere with the race. I also thought of incorporating ideas from the video game "Frogger" into my animation.
I was looking up other animators' works and saw breathtaking environmental modeling. I had never focused on environment in any of my animations. I saw a lot of sci-fi inspired environments and thats when I decided I wanted to make one myself. Luckily, I have a robot model that I created and rigged in my arsenal. I thought to myself, "Maybe it would be interesting to put the frog and the robot into a sci-fi environment and make them interact somehow." The frog would be in a strange land; this contrast will make it interesting. I am planning to make a 'robot factory' environment. The frog will wander into here and meet the robot.
I am planning to make a humorous story with the frog and robot characters. It will be interesting, since both of my characters lack mouths. In terms of presentation, I was thinking of doing a storybook presentation, similar to how some movies like Shrek start. I will have to research how people present stories and comedy. Characterization, and display of emotions will also be vital so my characters are genuine.
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