Adaptation B - Final Submission

Adaptation B - Animatic First Draft

This is the first draft of the animatic for 'The Sound Collector'. I'm very happy with it but there may still be small tweaks made to it before the presentation.

@Alan Adaptation B - Further Title Tweaking

Version 1

Version 2

I've made further changes to my title design. However, while using a more structured business font I found it hard to include any further sound based designs with it. It always looked too cluttered and took away from the simple graphical punch. I'm happy with version 2 but it may be too simple. If you have any more useful feedback I would be happy to hear it.

@Alan Adaptation B - Title change

In response to some feedback from Alan I created this version of the title which better sums up 'The Sound Collector.

Adaptation B - The Sound Collector Title

Version 1

Version 2

Version 2 (Black Background)

I've designed a simple title for my animatic to make it look a little better. I will likely use version 2 of these titles. I'm not yet sure if this design is too light and round for the sad undertone of the poem.

Adaptation B - The Sound Collector Storyboard Revised

There were some small changes regarding camera distance I needed to do to a few individual shots after discussing the storyboard with Alan. Now on to the animatic!

Adaptation B - Character Textured

Some of the Photoshop textures could do with a little more refinement before the final turnaround but overall, the texturing is completed for the character.

Adaptation B - Completed Character Rigging

After a little help from Alan with some of the trickier parts of my rig, I have finally completely rigged and skinned my character. Now all that's left to do is texture him ready for a final turnaround.

Adaptation B - The Sound Collector Storyboard

I have finally finished a fairly refined storyboard for the 'The Sound Collector' animatic I am making alongside my completed 3D character. Apart from some small tweaks that are bound to come up, I feel that I am ready to begin work on the animatic itself.

Also, the numbers for each shot correspond with each line of the poem, I will put the poem at the bottom of this post for reference.

The Sound Collector 

by Roger McGough

A stranger called this morning   (1)

Dressed all in black and grey   (2)

Put every sound into a bag   (3)

And carried them away   (4)

The whistling of the kettle   (5)

The turning of the lock   (6)

The purring of the kitten   (7)

The ticking of the clock   (8)

The popping of the toaster   (9)

The crunching of the flakes   (10)

When you spread the marmalade   (11)

The scraping noise it makes   (12)

The hissing of the frying pan   (13)

The ticking of the grill   (14)

The bubbling of the bathtub   (15)

As it starts to fill   (16)

The drumming of the raindrops   (17)

On the windowpane   (18)

When you do the washing-up   (19)

The gurgle of the drain   (20)

The crying of the baby   (21)

The squeaking of the chair   (22)

The swishing of the curtain   (23)

The creaking of the stair   (24)

A stranger called this morning   (25)

He didn't leave his name   (26)

Left us only silence   (27)

Life will never be the same   (28)

Adaptation B - Rigged Character Model

With this done I can move onto the facial rigging. I am really enjoying seeing this character come together. 

Adaptation B - Skinned Character Model

There were a few small issues I had when skinning the model, but I have finally finished it and it is now ready for rigging.

Adaptation B - Script Third Draft

Adaptation B - UV'ed Character Model

Had a few problems while UVing the model which slowed me down more than expected. The model is now completely ready for skinning and rigging.

Adaptation B - Script Second Draft

After talking to Alan about the first draft of the script, I have worked on some of the details of each shot. As there isn't much time for each line I wanted to achieve a simple rhythm for each shot so that it is easily readable and not too complex.

Adaptation B - Script First Draft

Adaptation B - Finished Character Model

It has taken me longer than expected to get the model done, there is still some untidy geometry in the centre of the torso. Overall though I am pleased with the result and after some small tweaks it should be ready to map the UV's.

Not Smoothed 

Smoothed

Film Review - When the Wind Blows (Jimmy Murakami, 1986)

Fig 1.When the Wind Blows Poster.

When the Wind Blows is a British animated film about an elderly couple when faced with the possibility of an imminent nuclear strike from the soviet union. It is a disaster film that takes place almost entirely in their home leading up to and after a nuclear strike. The film was made in collaboration with Raymond Briggs and was based on his graphic novel of the same name.

The films overall tone is very serious and increases gradually from beginning to end. There are very few lighthearted moments in the film and a lot of small details that add to the dismal atmosphere. The couples lack of knowledge about the global situation, and of the effects of radiation is one such example. There is a blend of stop-motion and drawn animation (See Fig 2). The house itself is stop-motion and the characters are drawn animation on top. This blend isn't that noticeable and there is a comfortable coherence in the film's style.


Fig 2. Stop-Motion and Drawn Animation.

The lack of high points in this film makes it harder to watch as thing go from bad to worse in the story. While this does make the film seem like a realistic depiction of the situation, it is not very balanced as a film and as such can drag the viewers attention away from the story.

Overall, while there are some minor flaws that can be picked out, the film is impressive is many more ways. It's story is simple and elegant and the animation style fits perfectly with the tone of the story.

Illustration List
Murakami, J (1986) Figure 1. When the Wind Blows Poster. http://www.chud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/When-the-Wind-Blows-Poster.jpg (Accessed on 09/03/16)

Murakami, J (1986) Figure 2. Stop-Motion and Drawn Animation. http://www.chud.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/When-the-Wind-Blows-01-600x448.jpg (Accessed on 05/04/16)