Animation Test

Here is an animation exercise that I have been working on. It is far from done, more so in a blocking stage. Still haven't added any secondary motion, keep alive, or polish. Simply put, I am long way from done. He is standing in line and then notices a 100 dollar bill on the floor and goes to pick it up.

Revised Model Sheet

I worked out a few more details on Lou. I think this is good enough to start modeling him. I think I am planning to try and change the mesh on an existing rig and set up more own facial rig. Or maybe theres a way I can use the existing mesh to drive my mesh...I guess i'll just have to do some experimenting and figure out what we'll make my life easier. Anyway, just thought I'd show the revised model sheet.

Revised Story and Character Concept

Lou

1. Lou, a mobster that just finished a job down the street, sits in his chair in his small one-bedroom apartment swatting flies.
2. As Lou polishes and slips his gun into his holder, Police lights shine through the open window.
3. Lou prepares to make his last stand and walks to the window where 6 or 7 violin cases are stacked and peaks out past the curtain.
4. Lou reaches to open a case, but hesitates and choses another that contains a violin.
5. The crackle of a megaphone telling him that "this is it" sounds as Lou starts to play the violin beautifully.
6. The music elevates and Lou plays even more vigorously until the strings break.
7. A rustle of bullets outside the window are heard as the credits begin to roll.
   

I revised my story and surprising enough it has nothing to do with a toothbrush. I feel that this story is a bit stronger, and as always crits are welcome. The model sheet is an early version of my character, but i still have a lot of work to do before I really figure him out.

Mind Map

A mind map is a tool to helping your thoughts, more so a stream of conscious, out onto a piece of paper. I started out with a toothbrush in the middle due to what my premise is about and just let the ideas flow. After considering my 7 sentence story, I think I may try and change some things around. More info about mind maps can be found here. We were asked to make a mind map for our animation class and heres the outcome:

..::And the Animation Begins::..

There comes a time in every modeler's life that he must take a break from modeling (feels like i just got started and now i have to switch gears). Anyway, this year is devoted to my animation. I'll be doing modeling and imaging on the side, but the animation takes priority. So, I am currently in the Story Development of my animation now. So far, this is what I have been thinking:

The young husband swallows his toothbrush – My Premise

1. Guy brushes teeth in the mirror of his bathroom.
2. An attractive female wife dressed in sexy lingerie walks by and then drops her night grown in front of the bathroom door.
3. Guy gets excited of what is to come and accidentally swallows his toothbrush
4. Guy tries to get toothbrush out with hand, but doesn’t manage to get it out
5. He resorts to desperate measures and uses odd bathroom items to fish out the toothbrush
6. He goes into a panic and irrationally begins to bounce around the bathroom until he hits a towel rack knocking him unconscious. The impact sends the toothbrush flying.
7. Next scene is in a dimly lit bedroom and the wife is asleep in bed. The guy crawls in and smiles huge revealing brilliant white teeth that illuminate the room and the scene cuts.

So, Obviously this needs a lot of work, but I have a whole semester to develop it. Any ideas or suggestions are gladly welcomed at this point. I wanted to keep it simple and do a comedic animation so that we I can concentrate on Character Design, Story, and Animation rather the drudging over a "unique concept". Oh, and on a side note, my friend Jacob Gardner got an animation job with Dreamworks and is moving out to Cali in a couple of weeks. He graduated in May from BG. So, I just wanted to extend a congratulations to him. I'll write more about my animation soon...