Appeal

Appeal in animation is simply making a character more interesting. During class, I created a character from one of objects in the room and made it more interesting.

Secondary Action

Secondary Action adds more life to the scene. Such as leaning back on a chair while reading a book, or leaning on their hand while drawing. In the short animation below, the guy is reading a book and the secondary action is the rubbing his head.

Applied Animation

This is my attempt at a simple animation of a figure waving.

This is my attempt at a simple animation of a figure walking.

                      This is my attempt at a simple animation of a figure trying to pulling a heavy box.

                   This is my attempt at a simple animation of a figure balancing on one leg.

                   This is my attempt at a simple animation of a figure balancing on a surf board.

Animation Tests

After a few weeks of key framing and researching, I have developed a few tests and trials for my project. Firstly lets take a look at a motion layer, a computer self generated walk cycle for my rig. 

In this animation the gait is all wrong for a cat-like motion that the creature was initially given. So I keyframed my own version using pieces of research I found. I changed the speed, how high the legs were lifted and how much rotation there was in the hips and shoulders. This was the result.

In this animation, the walk is a bit slow and there is a weird motion where it speeds up for a moment. In my third attempt, I sped up the animation and changed the spacing of all the movements so it flowed more.

This animation was a bit too fast but the overall movement was very realistic and similar to my research. In my scene, I had my creature jump, this is an early test.

This animation was a very early test. I got the key frames of the start and end of the jump. However the spacing was all off during the jump. However I did start to using anticipation.

In this test, I sorted out the jump, making it look more realistic, then I started to add the follow through of the creature after the jump, while it turned around. In my final test, I finished the jump, turning the creature around and it roaring on its hind legs.

However when the creature turns around it's quite jerky and less liquid then it would be if the creature was real. Additionally the roar wasn't as good, as it feel less powerful then it was intended. For future reference, when I finish the finish animation, use camera motion to give a sense of appeal. 

Perspective and Toning

Perspective

 In this entry, I will be showing my attempts at perspective drawing. Firstly I started with a line and a square, to get the basics of drawing in perspective. I did this by drawing lines from the corners of the square towards a point on the horizon. Next I draw another line from the lines I just drew, parallel to the side of the square. Next I erased the excess from the the two perspective lines. This gave me a cube in perspective to the horizon.


Next, I did two more cubes, one above the horizon and the other the in center. Using the same technique from above, I were able to draw these.

Thirdly, If i were to draw telephone poles or pylons in perspective, I would have to use a different technique. Started by drawing drawing two lines, to the distance you want them apart. Then draw a 2 lines towards the horizon. After that draw two line from the corners to form a X in the center of the polygon. Then draw a line from the center of the X to the vanishing point on the Horizon. To get the next pole, simply draw a line from the upper right corner to the point where the middle line and the left hand side of the polygon meet then to the bottom line, then draw a line parallel to the other poles. 

Tone

These are my attempts at tone spheres, using the hatching and cross hatching technique.

Animation Research for the Plated Borgalon

Before I animated my creature i first need to find some references for how it moves. I have chosen big cats has they have the same bone structure and movement style I want.

So firstly I need a walk cycle. 

(Taken from http://vimeo.com/9810267)

There we go. This video gives a great angle to work from. From this I see how he moves when he walks, which legs are moving and when. Key details from the video are the paws flicking and the movement of the shoulders, hip and head. 

In my planned scene, my creature will walk, jump and roar while being on its hind legs. 




Now I need some references for jumping. For one of the references, I have chosen this video from Dreamworld.

From the 5:37 mark, the tiger show a series of jumps. From this I will be able to see how the animal gets ready to jump and how he lands.

I also got some slow motion footage of a cat jumping so I really see the detail of how cats move. 

I also looked at other animations to get a feel how other people have animated a big cat. This animation is really well done, as it has the anticipation and the follow-through of a big cat jumping. This will help in my own animation, as it shows how the momentum carries on after a jump and how the body prepares itself for the jump.  

(Taken from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3L2gah8tXU)

These reference will help me compile a accurate a series of animations for my creature.

Raw Elements of Malevia

Axonite

Axonite is a rare crystal that is found in Malevia, it contains powerful raw embers, which came from the core of the planet. It was made within the heart of the planet when a piece of the core split off during its early years and solidified within the rock, now it is found on and in the crust of the planet.

The stone is often a Hexagonal prism, the sides are smooth and it gives off a flickering red glow within the crystal. Whenever the crystal loses its raw energy then the stone become inert and stopped flickering, then become a faint pinkish colour.

Large crystals of Axonite can be found along Roseglass Ridge, named after the crystals themselves. The Garzakians have been mining this crystal for many centuries and use it in every life such as Blacksmithing, Medicine, Weapons and Light. Humans also use Axonite but mainly for its destructive power. 

Most weapons nowadays use Axonite, as it’s more efficient and reliable compared to the .50 cal magazines. When uses in a weapon Axonite transfers the raw energy into the weapon which then is fired as a beam or laser. Heavier weaponry use the Axonite to power them, such as the Mass Acceleration Cannon, the Proton Cannon, Ion Particle Beam and the Vortex Discharge Cannon.

Cryite

Cryite is an abundant raw metal-like material found in Malevia. Found mainly in Roseglass Ridge, Weeping Crystal Valley, Glasswood and Ironhallow.

Cryite is a pale yellow, mildly reflective and rough. It’s dense and not malleable but a very good conductor, its melting point is very high and absorbs heat.

Cryite is often used by humans as a form of heavy ammunition, often used in railguns in a cylindrical shape. Because of its high melting point, Cryite is also used a building material in the geologically active area, such as Weeping Crystal Valley.

Behind the Design - Malevia

Thinking of the concept

I wanted to design a world that was full of various species on a 'dog eat dog' idea. Additionally, I want the planet to spin in a way that one side always faces the sun, creating a massive desert, on the other side, a frozen wilderness. These two halves of the planet meet creating a lush, tropical rain forests and savannas. 

Malevia has 7 main regions:

• The Plains of Ara
• Scoria Hallow
• Crystal Sword Valley
• Roseglass Ridge
• Glasswood
• Fallbourne Isle
• Wealdcrest Isle

Region of Glasswood

Glasswood is a snowy and hostile region, and got its name from the pillars of ice scattered in the thick forests. The land is frozen and the weather is worse, most days are deadly blizzards with strong winds, making it impossible to see or travel through. Glasswood is the one location that the native Garzakians never travel into, as the cold bitter winds are able to chill them before they can even get out. However, deep within the blizzards and the rocky mountains the Garzakians have a shrine atop the tallest mountain, The Shrine of Rarkan, where behind the mountain the celestial being slumbers in icebound chain

The main locations in Glasswood are: 

• Wintergate Citadel
• Chillthorn Village
• Frostbarrow Village
• Mount Adlin 
• The Shrine of Rarkan

Mount Adlin is the tallest mountain in Maleiva, an ancient path is craved in the face of the mountain to climb to the top but the gale force winds, heavy blizzards and hostile wild animals deter traveller from climbing the path.

Wintergate Citadel

Wintergate is one of the main human militarized bases in Malevia. This highly secured site is home to weapon research and Xenozoology. Wintergate is hidden between the mountains to protect it from the Konnians. The Citadel is huge, inside its thick walls hosts a small town where many of the scientists/researchers call home. The citadel is deep underground, so deep that its main source of power is from the geothermal station at the bottom of the citadel.

Chillthorn Village

The frozen village atop Dagger point is nothing more than a few shacks and a few fires. The village has been recently attacked by swarms of undead from the graveyard at the north. The necromancer in charge of these attacks has sworn to kill off the villages.

The village’s mine is one of major resources for the city of Edgewick but each day less and less is being delivered. The refugees are refused entrance to the city in claims of being infected and the royal imperial overseers won’t allow citizen enter.

 Frostbarrow Village

Frostbarrow is a small human village with a nearby burial site of the native species of Garzak (Gar’sik). The village is near the Trystal Passag connecting Glasswood to Roseglass Ridge and Weeping Crystal Valley. The village is an outpost for scientists digging up the remains of the Garzak and studying them. Frostbarrow is also used as an outpost for passing travellers and military personnel entering Glasswood. Mercenaries and guides are often found here looking for work.

The village primarily survives off the caravans that pass through delivering food and water, while on their way further north to Wintergate Citadel and Chillthorn Village from the city of Maidenshield. 

Stormshard - Movie Idea

For my uni project, I had think of a movie concept and in this blog post I will be describing the plot, talking about the key points and start to describe the main characters.

Firstly, lets get some back story. It's the year 2595, between urbanization and deforesting, the Earth can't not harbor life much longer. The Republic of Terra (Earth's main governing body) started a project called Project Redemption, a final attempt to save the species. The first of the Interplanetary Colony Cruiser (aka Olympus) is finished in 2599 and set off with the 'ark',a terraforming device with the DNA of all animals that used to live on earth storing in a digital DNA capsule. While Olympus sets off to the designated planet, the second ICC (aka Odyssey) is finished and sets off to meet up with Olympus. By this point, people have started rioting and the planet slowly falls into itself. The story follows Odyssey and the events on Malevia.

The main character's wife gets on Olympus but he is unable to get, so waits for the next ICC. But has to fight he way on aboard to secure he spot.

Odyssey arrives at Malevia to meet up with Olympus after travelling 10 years. Olympus is lost, only a few scatter remains of the ship lay on the planets surface. The main character is sent off in a small group to find the rest of Olympus and find the Ark. While this is happening several scout ships find the city of Dagonfel, a fortress of the Garzakians and before they tell Odyssey they are pulled down by the massive creatures the Garzakians use.

While the Garzakians prepare for battle, the main character finds the remains of the Olympus in sand dunes. Within the wreckage he finds the ark, untouched. Noises echo through the wreckage, creatures that have made their home in wreckage start to kill off the small team and only a handful remain as they enter the inner ark. Inside, they find survivors of the crash, including the main character's wife, in stasis chambers. They open them up, and his wife is so happy to see him, after they get adjusted to moving, they tell what happened. The Garzakians attacked Olympus and its main engine was sabotaged, as it was crashing, she and a few survivors entered the ark to survive the impact. 

Meanwhile back at Odyssey, the Garzakians had sent most of their soldiers to destroy the ship. The main character and the survivors fight their way through the wreckage back to the ship and head back to Odyssey. They see the engines explode and the ship slowly starts falling into the planet. 

While this is happening, deep within the fortress of Dagonfel, the Garzakians have been digging into the center of the planet to retrieve the Stromshard, a powerful artifact that holds the planet to together with incredible power. They need the Stormshard, to awaken their god, the celestial being known as Ingis'Var. At the very moment that Odyssey crashes into the planet, the Stormshard is removed. Earthquakes and Electrical storms ravish the planet surface, increasingly. 

A Garzakian convey, with Stormshard, is sent in to Mount Adlin to waken Ingis'Var. While the humans plan a siege on Dagonfel. When a native race known as the Konnians appear and wish to speak the leaders of Odyssey. They wish to help us to stop the Garzakians, as they have had a troubled past with them. Leaders accept their. In the distance, a being wrapped in flames walks towards the city. The Konnains know what needs to be done, and asks the leaders for a small group of soldiers to help them with the task of defeating Ingis'Var.

Within the city of Dagonfel, the leader of the Garzakians holds Evergleam an ancient sword, which is the only thing that can kill Ingis'Var.
star

Arcs in Motion & Squash and Stretch

Introduction to Arcs

Most objects move naturally in an Arc motion, while a few move in linear fashion such as a mechanical piston. So all animation should adhere to this principle of Arcs. One example of object that follows the natural arc motion is a projector connected to the ceiling. The fixed element allows the projector to move in a arc, shown in the picture on the Left.  

The Pendulum

Using a pendulum as an example of natural way of motion using arcs. The black pendulum is showing how the pendulum would move if it was linear. This is wrong and unrealistic, it moves left to right, but not in a swinging manner. Gravity acts on the pendulum forcing it to swing as it connected to a fixed point. Knowing this, i have corrected the middle  (breakdown) frame of the swing, by moving it down to form a natural swing. From all this i can show you 5 frames of the swinging pendulum showing the movement of the arc in more detail. 

Introduction to Squash & Stretch

This the principle that all object which aren't stiff

Even a bouncing ball follows arcs. If a ball follow a straight path it would look unrealistic. 

Different  objects squash and stretch in various way. A light bouncy ball will squash and stretch more then a heavy stone ball. A water droplet squashes and stretches more then a ball.

Behind the Design - Plated Borgalon

Developing the Concept 

The Plated Borgalon is one of the main dominant species on the planet of Malevia, mainly found on the Plains of Ara (savanna-like) and around the Roseglass Ridge (Small Rocky Hills), knowing this, I wanted the Borgalon to be not only be tough but fast and strong. Using references of a Rhino, Triceratops and the Tiger, I developed the idea that too the strengths from each of these.

After collecting all the references I wanted to use. I started to sketch ideas on how it would look. I know i wanted the Rhino horn on the front, but i changed it slightly into a more flatter shape. I added 2 horn-like tusks on the side of the skull to be used as a weapon to gouge prey and attackers. I used a hard plate like skull on the outside of the skin to which arched over the shoulders to protect the main abdomen, this solid piece of bone would have 4 holes, 2 either side, for the eyes and nostrils. The head itself would be a long and slim, almost dog like.

The legs were large and strong, able to run at high speeds while being strong enough to overcome enemies.  I originally designed the feet to be large, flat and heavy, but later i realised that it would impossible for it to move as fast as i wanted to. So I changed them to smaller but stronger legs and the feet were changed into small feet with large claws for traction and grip. I later designed another head, this one was more squared, but it looked less threatening, so i went back to the original design and refined it.

Refining the Design

This was the final design, I changed many things. The horn was changed back into a rhino's horn to give off a more threatening look, the outer skull was simplified and refined in to a 3 piece skull, allowing the lower jaw to unhinge. I added rear plates of bone to protect the rear and tail. I tail was extended to give more balance when running and could be used to knock over aggressors.

The Final Version

Here is the final colored version. However, due to the environment, the colour will be changed at later date. When I next redesign the Borgalon, I think I will add fur behind the front outer skull and along the spine to the end of the tail. Additionally the muscles need to be more prominent on the legs to show their strength and power. Finally, the skin and fur will get a pattern to give the Borgalon a Camouflage to stalk its prey in the tall grass.