Second Artefact Evaluation

Here is the second artefact evaluation as promised.


Personal Research Project Second Artefact Evaluation

For my second artefact, as stated in my first evaluation I used the same characters. My original idea which will be used in my third artefact will be to lip-synch the two characters to dialogue taken from WAV files of classic Marx Brothers films. This did not happen as I had problems with putting the WAV files into 3D Max. I tried to load the files and 3D Max could not open the file. I eventually found out the problem and will go into it in the third evaluation.

Since I did not have time to produce the second artefact to my original plan, with character dialogue I decided to make a gag out of it for my artefact. The characters meet and say “Hi” to each other so use white board and pen to communicate when no sound comes out when they try to talk. One of the characters writes on their board why can’t they talk and the other replies that the animator can not get the sound into the “Animation program”. I thought it would make a good gag and I could carry on with further whiteboard dialogue through to the end of the animation.

I am quite pleased with my end result but should have had a longer shot on the first white board when the character asks “Why can’t we talk”. The problem does not really matter too much as it is only a short piece of text so can be read pretty quickly.

Since I have completed my second artefact on time, which I had trouble doing for my first artefact, I can concentrate on producing good animation for the rest of the artefacts. These will hopefully improve my animation skills and give me experience in lip-syncing which I have not really had yet.

First artefact evaluation

The e-mail link to put our evaluations is still not up yet so will post the first and second here for now.


Personal Research Project First Artefact Evaluation


The original idea for my artefact was to create a simple character to use throughout the animations. The first idea I had for a character was to create a Duck-Billed Platypus character. There has not really been a Platypus character before apart from the Platypus Brothers from the Tazmania cartoon who did not have a staring role.

As I was thinking about the following artefacts, one of my ideas was to do the Monty Python sketch, The Ministry of Silly Walks. As the sketch made use of John Cleese’s long legs I realised that a Platypus character would have short limbs, so will not be ideal for the sketch. As many classic comedy gags, including the Silly Walk sketch and Looney Tunes gags relied on two characters I needed two as well.

For time wise the characters had to be basic models, they had to be long limbed for Silly Walk type sketches and I felt also had to have big expressive eyes and mouth. This is the reason I modelled characters with head and body joined together, similar in style to Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc, and SpongeBob Squarepants.

I have left them with a standard material colour for the time being which may or may not be changed at a later date. I have noticed simple characters online in commercials such as the Microsoft Zune adverts which are simple and very well designed. I will see if I can improve the design of the characters to be seen in the next artefact.

I have had a few problems with the models including the rigging and especially the skin modifier on one model. I eventually sorted out the problem and the quick animation is the end result.

I still have not decided what to do for my next artefact as I think I will delay the Ministry of Silly Walks sketch for a later artefact as I need to be more experienced in lip synch and body movement to attempt the sketch. I might well do a classic Looney Tunes gag for the next artefact.

Cartoon character Skeleton's

If you ever wanted to know the bone structure of cartoon character's then check out Lee Hyungkoo's sculptures.
I particually like Wile E Coyote chasing Road Runner and the Bugs Bunny models.




Another one I've found is this skeleton of Pac-Man by Le Gentil Garcon with help from paleontologist Francois Escuilie (you will find more information if you type in skeleton pac man into google).










Although these are only drawings they are also worth a look. By
Michael Paulus, they contain the skeletal structures of cartoon characters such as "Hello Kitty", "Charlie Brown" and "Marvin the Martian".

First Blog of the year

Another year over, the turkey's been eaten and we're back at uni. Should have done more work over the christmas break, but I have been thinking about characters I can create for my research project and my client project.

Originally for my reasearch project I was thinking about creating a Duck-billed Platypus cartoon character as it's an unusual and funny looking animal. The only platypus cartoon characters I can recall are the platypus brothers from the Taz Mania cartoon from the 90's, which I'm quite surprised at for such a strange creature. I think I will create the character for the client project as I think I will need a long limbed character for showing classic gags for the artifacts. I might even create a character with just a head for a body like Mike Wazowski the Green, one eyed monster from Monster's Inc'.