Maya Tutorial - Shader FX Part 1

Maya Tutorial - Pipeline 2 Diffuse Map Shield and Final Render

Shield Diffuse Map

Final Maya Hardware Render

Adaptation B - Torso Modelling Progress 1

Modelling has been particularly slow at this stage of the modelling due to some difficulties organizing the geometry correctly. It is getting faster from here though as the torso is likely the trickiest part of the this model.

Maya Tutorial - Pipeline 2 Diffuse Map Fabric Flag

Maya Tutorial - Pipeline 2 Diffuse Map Wood & Metal

Adaptation B - Interim Critique Presentation

Adaptation B - Refined Head Modelling Progress 4

Adding the last wisps of hair on the top to complete the smaller details of the head. I'm really pleased with how well this character is turning out already.

Adaptation B - 'Sound Collection' Concepts

I've made these concepts to show how I want the sound collection to work. While he is collecting sounds from a house and leaving it silent, I wanted to back that up visually using a transition from colour to grey scale. As the sound dies away when it is collected, as will the colour surrounding the sound. I've used one of the lines from the poem in this concept.

Before Collection

During Collection

Adaptation B - Refined Head Modelling Progress 3

Most of the hair is now complete for the head. All that is left to do is the hair on top, the eyeballs and the neck. I also took some time to refine the shape of the chin and jaw.

Adaptation B - Refined Head Modelling Progress 2

I have completed the head apart from the hair, mustache and neck. The ear could also do with some more refinement. Overall though, the character is really beginning to take shape.

Adaptation B - Sound Collector Skin Tweaking

After the latest tutorial with Alan, it was clear that I needed to change the skin of the character slightly. It probably shouldn't be grey but just pale instead. After making this set of tests I am fairly certain that I want something very close to thumbnail 4.

Maya Tutorial - Mental Ray Samples

Final Render

Adaptation B - Refined Head Modelling Progress

Getting the basic shape of the head took much longer than expected but I at least feel like I'm getting to know the shape of the character. With a little more refinement and adjustment I should be ready to start modelling the mouth.

Adaptation B - Environment Design Direction

After more thought on the environment style for 'the sound collector, I feel that a 50's British home design would work best with the tone of the poem. I also still like the idea of using colour to show where the sound is coming from and also turning the colour to grey to show the sound being collected/taken. I feel that this will make the final shots particularly effective. The final four lines about being left with silence would work well with an environment that is dull and grey after all the sound has been taken away. |The idea and style will need more work but this is the general direction I want to go.

Maya Tutorial - Pipeline 2 Diffuse Map Rope

YPGTTO Speed Paint Challenge 5 : The Bassoon District

Finally found some time to take part in the speed painting. Here's my vision of the bassoon district.

Adaptation B - Sound Collector Orthographic

This took a lot longer than I expected. Using Illustrator helped a lot with working out the more precise measurements though, now I am finally ready to begin modelling the sound collector. I have not yet done a top down orthograph for the hand but I will get that done when it is needed. 

Film Review - Belleville Rendez-vous (Sylvain Chomet, 2003)

Fig 1. Belleville Rendez-vous Poster.

Belleville Rendez-vous (The Triplets of Belleville) is a film about the Tour de France and a boy who grows up and competes in it. During the event however, he is taken hostage and transported to america where he is forced, along with two other riders, to take part in a bizarre cycling based betting game. He is later rescued by his grandmother and dog in a daring escape from the american mob bosses who ran the ring. 

Fig 2. Bodyguard Characters.

The character design in this film is particularly noteworthy as it takes many of its characters shapes and behavior to their absolute extreme. From the rectangular mob bodyguards (See Fig 2) to the overly bendy waiter, there are many, many characters who have their own unique look and behavior which points directly at their nature. The complete lack of subtlety in the cast makes this film's world feel completely alien. While there are many locations and references in the film that make it feel like this world, the overall skewed style throughout instead turns it into a parallel or a parody.

Fig 3. Waiter Character.

There is almost no dialogue throughout the story, which is an impressive feat as most of the plot is clearly shown to the audience even though that has the potential to be a drawback. Despite this however, there are some smaller details which could be lost to someone viewing this for the first time, the films unique storytelling techniques and visual cues can be tough to get used to if unprepared.

When taking in the entirety of the world this film views, it is so unique and skewed and bizarre that everything from the locations to the characters are intricately detailed caricatures. These come together harmoniously to visualize a curious and in some cases ludicrous reality.

Illustration List

Chomet, S (2003) Figure 1. Belleville Rendez-vous Poster. http://movieposters.2038.net/p/Triplettes-De-Belleville,-Les--Belleville-Rendez-Vous-.jpg (Accessed on 06/03/16)

Chomet, S (2003) Figure 2. Bodyguard Characters. http://byt.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/2776429839_0c67f86ee5.jpg (Accessed on 06/03/16)

Chomet, S (2003) Figure 3. Waiter Character. https://theanimfilmcritic.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/triplets-of-belleville-french-waiter-youtube.jpg (Accessed on 06/03/16)

Maya Tutorial - Sprites

Maya Tutorial - Conditional Goals

Adaptation B - Contraption Final Design

After the tutorial with Alan on Friday I feel that I am ready to start modelling my character and his contraption. Alan suggested this final change to the handle design for the contraption which I am very happy with now. Next I will work on the orthographic for the sound collector so that I can begin modelling him.

Film Review - Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi, 2007)

Fig 1. Persepolis Poster.

The film Persepolis is based upon the autobiographical graphic novel of the same name by Marjane Satrapi. It is about the authors experience growing up in Iran during the Iranian revolution. It is almost entirely in a bold black and white style.

Persepolis covers a great deal of the issues that affected people living in Iran at the time. As the film is from the point of view of the girl growing up, it is particularly effective at telling the story of the Iranian revolution and how those events affect a persons childhood. The story is both fascinating and balanced, there are as many high points as there are lows. There is a great deal of optimism in the telling despite many of the extreme situations that the family went through.

The film keeps the distinct style that came from the graphic novel, and through impressive animation creates a vivid world that pulls the audience into both the brutality of some scenes and the relief and joy in moving moments with the characters.

Illustration List
Satrapi, M (2007) Figure 1. Persepolis Poster. http://kazbah.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/persepolis-poster.JPG (Accessed on 04/01/16)

Maya Tutorial - Pipeline 2 Diffuse Map Stone Pillars

Adaptation B - Sound Collector Revised Design

I have made some alterations to the previous design where it needed more detail and improvement. I have now designed a simple bulky fold-out case which holds the device for collecting sounds. There are also now name tags on both the character and the case and I have added eyebrows as I somehow missed that previously.

Adaptation B - Contraption Revised Design (with handle choices)

I have altered my previous design working on the sound aspects of the device and making it more cluttered and interesting. I put the reel-to-reel on the left side as this is the right-handed version of the device. I couldn't decide on a specific handle but I have narrowed it down to four. Let me know if you have a favorite and bear in mind this is supposed to be a clunky government issued contraption.

Maya Tutorial - Goal Weights

Maya Tutorial - Pipeline 2 Diffuse Map Stone Base

Maya Tutorial - Animated Instances

Maya Tutorial - Instance Rotations

Adaptation B - SC Concept Progress

After the tutorial with Alan I worked on multiple versions of larger ears as he suggested I exaggerate the sound aspect of the character more. I may add a specialist briefcase and make other smaller tweaks to the character so that his job/role will be greater emphasized.

Further progress on the colour concept of the contraption. I will likely make more changes to both of these before I finalize the designs and make final concepts.