Study 4 of Animation Fundamentals: Squash, Stretch and Easing

Animation 1: Animation Skills

Study Task 4: The Great Bouncing Ball Challenge

Part A and B: Squash, Stretch and Easing

Link to Reference Videos

Working with Sarah, we produced a straight drop bouncing ball animation using Dragon-frame and Plasticine. The first animation we created consisted of incorrect timing/spacing and too much manipulation of the ball that it lost its' weight and form.

We decided to redo the animation to improve it. This is the second straight bouncing ball we created, working to improve upon the previous animation:

The next task was to create the ball bouncing from the side, this one could be improved by possibly improving the timing so that the ball appears to decelerate more towards the end and accelerate at the start drop.

Study 3 of Animation Fundamentals: Timing

Animation 1: Animation Skills

Study Task 3: Timing

The Blinking Animation

For this study task we had to create a blink animation, creating a "snappy" motion as practise. Once completing the blink, I coloured the frames and then moved onto the scene/shot animation. I think that I managed to demonstrate snappy movement with the blinking, however I feel I could improve by making more consistent lines with the eyes. I was able to make improvements to my timing, when I also referenced the book, "Animators Survival Kit", which has a section on timing.

The Frames on 12s

For the second task as part of this, we had to create a series of 6-12 drawings to demonstrate the movement from one shot on our storyboard to the next. As my storyboard consisted of a lot of cuts, there was only one I could use. This consisted of my character jumping, at a close-up and a smash zoom-out to demonstrate him protecting the rabbit. I decided to animate the camera movement also to time that correctly.

Timed Frames

I think that I did well in managing to get the animation done in two hours and that I created both fluid and snappy movement. I could improve by making the shape and body more consistent and the lines consistent in drawing. 

Timed Frames Coloured

Shaded Gif:

Professional Practise 1: Who Am I?

Professional Practise 1

Study Task 2: Who Am I?

Why did you chose to study on this course?

• Learn the software and programs required within the Animation Industry, to test my problem solving skills.
• The course allows me to explore the different kinds of animation within the industry and then find which I am most interested in studying.
• I have been interested in animation for a few years and I'm good at working under specific deadlines, and working in teams, therefore a course learning animation seemed to fit my style of learning and creativity the best. 
• At A Level, my subjects I studied were Art, Media and Music and they all seemed to fit within working in what the course specified and the skills needed.
• I enjoy telling stories and drawing up concepts for specific character designs and I thought it would be ideal to pursue this within a job I would enjoy and want to continue in my life.

What do you want to learn during your time on the course?

• I want to learn how to be more confident at presenting my ideas
• Learn how to use all industry standard software required for a variety of jobs within Animation
• I want to be able to co-operate within a team, because I tend to work quite independently
• I want to learn how to be more versatile in my art and apply my skills to a variety of different briefs and medias
•  How to improve my skills in 3-D Animation, as I have never experimented in this medium and possibly would like to go into the games and film industry exploring this

What skills do you think are your strengths?

• I have very good organisational skills, such as keeping within deadlines and documenting my progress through both words and drawing
• I'm very quick at learning new skills and pick up on things easily, especially in using computers and digital media
• Digital art and background illustrations are one of my strengths
• Being able to improve and listen to the feedback from others and teachers
• My professional approach to design and layout of characters

What things that you want to improve?

• My skills in 3D animation and rigging
• Creating more variety in my character designs and appeal of characters
• Working in groups and as a team, and becoming used to the idea of working individually but then incorporating my ideas in a group
• Being open to explore new ideas and medias within animation and not just staying to one, such as 2D Animation
• My presentation skills and confidently stating my ideas

What ways you will evaluate your progress?

• Through my overall work in each task given, such as upon approach of the 3D work later in the year
• Being able to give a confident presentation for the end of the brief
• Responses from my peers and teachers in how my skills have improved and how they could further develop from my original idea
• Analysing and accessing my own work and critically over-looking my drawing skills
• Accessing the variety of mediums I complete throughout the course and analysing the improvements I make 

Study 2 of Animation Fundamentals: Staging

Animation 1: Animation Skills

Study Task 2: Staging

Within developing a storyboard, I decided to create two further characters which would explore my original characters' archetype. For reference, we took photos in groups of scenarios for each shot to help with framing. When developing my storyboard, I kept straying away from the original ideas, however most shots remained based upon the original photos.

Link to PDF containing initial sketches and ideas

I found it difficult to apply animal-type creatures to human references, so I used the photos taken to understand the cameras' position in relation to the character and how this would change their shape or dynamic. 

With the final storyboard, I feel I could improve by containing more dynamic shots to create interest and darker tones within the backgrounds. 

Study 2 of Animation Fundamentals: Appeal

Animation 1: Animation Skills

Study Task 2: Appeal
(Click images for original sized versions)

The first section of study task two consisted of creating a character based upon a certain archetype and producing a turnaround model, a character model sheet and a development sheet.

I chose to explore the Rebel archetype and produced a Mind Map of ideas and concepts, including research online. From this, I created a character development sheet. I initially struggled with developing an interesting character, but I went with what first came into my mind, which was a demonic character to fit the archetype.

I wasn't sure how to start the model sheet, nor turnaround, so I created a series of sketches and developments in my sketchbook, before creating a finalised digital Character Model Sheet and Character Turnaround. I wanted to keep the colours bold, but simple, therefore I used a grey skin-tone and bright red eyes, to fit the rebellious and "risk taking" personality.

I used reference photos and research to create the character of Orion, which was a combination of images of bats, previous drawn images and inspiration from the puppet wolf, used for Sirius Black in Harry Potter, as his wolf-form. The model sheet was drawn entirely in Photoshop, which I have knowledge of using prior to the course.

Study Task 1 of Animation Fundamentals: Solid Drawing 2 (Improvements)

Animation 1: Animation Skills

Study Task 1: Solid Drawing 2

To improve on the Solid Drawing task, I decided to redo the poses and push the line of action further. I also followed the idea of breaking down the poses to a "skeleton" before further refining them. The one colours and full render were scanned and coloured digitally.

Here is a link to the PDF Document containing the 2 minute and 5 minute drawings.
And the Embedded file:


I feel that I've greatly improved and the drawings feel less stiff. I wanted to do the same for the spot colour and full render drawings, here.

The OLD Spot colour drawings, in comparison:

Study 1 of Animation Fundamentals: Solid Drawing

Animation 1: Animation Skills

Study Task 1: Solid Drawing

For the first study task, we were told to create a series of twenty drawings, starting with ten 'line of action' studies.

 I found that I was quite good at analysing the action and depth with each two minute pose. A lot of the anatomy within the poses was difficult at first, however after several poses, I found it became easier. One thing I noticed was that I tended to skip steps, making the drawings more refined straight away, rather than just a skeleton drawing.  This task was completed in Biro pen, as a weakness of mine is wanting to erase lines straight away, thus using a pen meant the line was permanent.

The five minute studies were similar to the two-minute ones,  however when it came to "copying" the poses to refine them, I found that it was difficult to get the pose right again. When I moved onto the Black and White "refined" drawings, I completed three, two being the same pose, but with a different approach to line work. 

Both the spot-colour drawings and the "final render" drawings used a pencil sketch, as I had learnt to use from the previous drawings. Due to the limit of time, the pose and character had to remain simple.

Link here to PDF Document

PDF Here:

WELCOME

| A L I S H A  L I T T L E |

LAU

As an Animation Student at Leeds Arts University, I created a blog to demonstrate my progress through the course and in my illustrations.

I will be documenting the process here, alongside other side projects and ideas.