Group Assignment 3D work

I decided to include some 3D elements into our game... this was a bit selfish on my part.  If I am to criticise our degree at all, it is simply that we do not spend enough time in one area or on any particular software.

We have only studied 3D once and I am nervous that the next time we have to use it (possibly in our final year) I will have forgotten how to use the software and as often happens, will have to start from scratch.

It isn't as if we have time to practice in our 'free time'.  In that we are part time students, many of us are working full time and have a family to take care of. So our 'free time' is used working on our current assignments.

So here I got back into Google Sketchup (now Trimble) to create a 3D model of a digital SLR camera.

The idea was that this would sit within the tutorial part of the game.  Players could rotate around this and learn about the functions of the camera.

In the end I simply didn't have the time to stitch the parts together for the user navigation functions.  Instead I did a walk around film.  I didn't have time to lay a voice over either.

Reading this blog you may think I was a lazy student, 'not having time'.  In fact this was the assignment that I was working on when I gave birth prematurely slap bang in the middle of it!

For those of you who may need enlightening, this required hospital stays and then of course the 'newborn' phase is prolonged, so rather than perhaps 3 months of life draining days and nights, we had 6.  So less than empathetic people may suggest that I had all the time in the world to complete this assignment.... well they can get knotted.

Fortunately I was able to critique the work effectivley and describe how the product would have been developed if the unexpected arrival hadn't taken place.

Here is the video:


Final Marks:

Development Report: 67 = 2:1
Evaluation Report: 70 = First

I am ecstatic with these marks as I was convinced that I would fail, there had been many a tear shed over this... not in vain.

Vuebox - New company, new graphics job, new uni assignment

Rob is launching Vuebox, the budget brand of his TV and Film production company, specialising in online videos for small to medium sized businesses.

Rob asked me to produce a logo for Vuebox. At the same time, I received a new assignment for Uni, to produce a logo, logotype and branded materials. Two birds one box shaped stone.

Here is the final submission.

The website is still under development, should you have any enquiries for Vuebox online videos contact Rob at vuebox@vuebox.co.uk


Final marks: 72 = First

Funky little spaceboy - Zoom Zoom

Done and dusted. Here is the final version of the animation for year 2. I love the music, found it on youtube, perfect for my little space boy. The track is called 'Zoom a little zoom' sung by Tom Glazer & Dottie Evans. The track is from Ballads of the age of science by Hy Zaret and Lou Singer.

The 11 second teaser was to show an emotion. I chose excited, don't think I have executed it as well as I'd hoped but I can develop it with time and more practice on Flash.




Final Marks: 70 = First

Animation - Pre-planning animatic submitted

Admittedly, this was a little rushed. I didn't source the audio in time so I did a botch cut in Soundbooth, on an overly 'obvious' choice, Babylon Zoo's Spaceman. This was sketched on my graphics tablet into Illustrator, then tween in Flash. Well here it is, this will be 20% of my mark, yikes! Search Amazon.com for flash animation

Animation - storyboards

Here are the initial sketched storyboards for my Animation Concepts module. These will no doubt be revised, again and again.

Search Amazon.com for storyboarding

Animation - Pre-planning

Here are some of the sketches that I have done for the development of my character for the current Animation Concepts module. My little dude is a spaceboy, based on an old character that I created a few years ago, and shamefully did nothing with him, but graffiti my colege books with. I have decided to go with the mood excitement. For this I will have my little spaceboy getting ready for his first day back at school.

Animation Concepts Module 2011 - Year 2

We have started a new module, Animation Concepts, continuing our yaer two studies. Since the start of this year, we now have two deadlines per module. The first deadline is technically 4 or 5 weeks in, a work in progress submission to see where we are up to, for the tutor to check we are on the right track. This is usually 20-30% of the final mark. Unfortunatley we have introduction lectures to the subject before we get the assignment brief, so in this case we only have actually two weeks to work to the brief. The Brief We are to create an 11-second animation that conveys a mood/ emotion through characterisation, based on a story, narrative or section of audio. Upon our first deadline, 22/03, we must submit a pre-planning animatic. This is an animated version of our storyboard. We will be marked on the cinematography, story-telling, pace and style and how it is synced to the audio. The rendered animation needs to convey the mood and emotion, as well as demonstrate our understanding of the 12 principles of animation. We must show the techiques that we have developed in animation, artistic ability, texturing and lighting. The rendered verison needs to be in Quicktime format, H.264 Compression Codec, 640x480, 1500 kps data rate, Apple lossless (AAC), Stereo (L,R), 44.1 KHz, maximum file size 30mb. Wooooooo. Having never animated anything before, this is going to be a fair old challenge.

After effects assignment complete!

Finally did it!!  My after effects work is complete for this assignment.

I made a 30 second teaser for my friend's shop.  Unfortunately they cannot use this version for their website as it has copyrighted music, but I am on the look out for some that is copyright free.  (although I LOVE this one, it is The Brouhaha by the Beastie Boys)

Final Marks: 75 = First