Homework for Monday, 11/16/2015

A. Come to class with a finished version of your ball throw animation! I will accept a playblast, but for your animation reel, you will want to make a full render within the week!

B. Come up with ideas for your final project! Bring sketches, 3-D mockups, references, and multiple ideas! This counts as an assignment grade in this class. Anyone that comes to me with a single sketchbook page of notes will be asked to further develop his/her final project idea.


Introductory Parameters for Final Project

You are to create a finished, complete, and resolved portfolio piece to add to your body of work!  You are allowed to choose a focus in the following areas:

• Texturing
• Lighting
• Environment Creation
• Character Animation
• Blend Shape Animation

Within those areas, you are free to create what you want!

***You are also allowed to work in TEAMS for your final.

• Example 1:  Person A creates an environment. Two characters are animated by Person B and C within said environment. Together they create a short 10 to 20 second animation that feels fully complete and resolved!
• Example 2: Person A and B work together on modeling objects for an environment.  Person C. Focuses on producing high-quality lighting for said environment, and person D focuses on high-level texturing for said environment.

Choose a final that is in line with your interests, and can be completed in the allotted time! For those interested in character modeling, see where your interest lies after we talk about organic modeling next week. Have a few backup plans ready in case you have project ideas that would take longer than the rest of the month to complete!

Have a great weekend! =D

Class Cancelled: Instructions Below

Hello Everyone,

It's with regret I inform everyone that I caught the flu over the weekend and have to cancel classes. The timing isn't great considering it's the first class of November, but we should be fine as long as we continue our current pace! If you find a student that is in my class, please inform of the following email.

I'll leave a folder on the server for each class labeled (QUESTIONS_AND_FEEDBACK) for all of you in case you have questions about your animation projects for me.  The one required thing I will ask of every student is to drop the current versions of any art you have today on the server, and email me any questions you may have. When I'm not getting medicine and the like, I'll be sure to answer and send them back to you.

The following post below mentions what each of my classes will be doing today look for your class in question for details:

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DM310

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Place your blend shape animation and key poses on the server with any questions you may have for me in the folder mentioned above. Make note of any challenges you have experienced in working with the test rigs I placed on the server last week.

MAIN ASSIGNMENT - Jumping animation experiment.

• Today we were going to cover character movement in 3D space.  We'll cover this on Wednesday, but to prepare, draft a short animation of a character jumping over a small obstacle. The animation should be no more than 4 seconds or 96 frames. When you finish it, make a playblast, place it on the server and email me any questions you have.

• You will use the MAX rig you started experimenting with in class on last Wednesday.  The trick to animating this is animating the ROOT CONTROL of your character first, Followed by the feet, and then everything else. See what you can create in a short amount of time, and email me if you have any challenges in creating this!

PRACTICE ASSIGNMENT - POSING FOR ANIMATION

1. Find your favorite 3d movie or video game online. Look for a screen cap of a character's action you find most interesting.

2. Take the MAX rig and recreate that pose and action in a single frame in maya.  Use the same camera angle, and same posing.  Can you create it? Do you understand the context of the pose in that shot?  To become better at animating, it helps to learn from the best through analysis and reconstruction!

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Again, my apologies on missing class with you today. I'll be available via email for anyone whom has questions. If you need anything, please be sure to contact me ASAP. I will be back in class Wednesday.

Happy Monday Everyone!