Hi folks!
Hope yall had a great Thanksgiving! I had a lot of fun hanging out with the family.
Luckily, I got a few chances to animate. I finished the character animation for shot 12 and got halfway through shot 14. I don't have time for an export since I'm about to get on the plane back to LA, but I have something even better to share.
Below is the rough orchestration for "She's Not Into You" (which Ryan just sent me) and I can't resist sharing it. The tap-dance sounds and many of the instruments are placeholders, but it gives you an excellent preview of what the final recording will sound like. I do not plan to shorten it. With music like this, I think the number is going to be a blast to animate and a blast to watch. (As long as audiences can endure my singing, which will be pitch-corrected, reverbed, etc. etc. to make it tolerable.)
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
New BGs & 100 points
Hi folks,
This week I finished the backgrounds for song 1! I also finally passed the 100-point mark on my shot list! (Only 1,505 points to go!)
Here's the new backgrounds:
I was really encouraged by the Grad Screening this week. The audience gave Ladies Knight 13 solid laughs plus assorted chuckles. (I took notes.) Even in 90% animatic form, the story and characters seemed to read well with the audience. (But we shall see what they said on their comment cards.) I was relieved that both "She's Not Into You" and "Kissin' Spree" were well received -- in fact, the two songs with the most laughs. They are my favorites too.
I wish I could have stayed for the rest of the screenings. I heard they went really well!
This afternoon I'll be meeting with my composer, who is hard at work on orchestration. So far, everything is sounding amazing, and when I put the orchestration into the animatic, even in rough form, it's magic.
Have a happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
This week I finished the backgrounds for song 1! I also finally passed the 100-point mark on my shot list! (Only 1,505 points to go!)
Here's the new backgrounds:
I was really encouraged by the Grad Screening this week. The audience gave Ladies Knight 13 solid laughs plus assorted chuckles. (I took notes.) Even in 90% animatic form, the story and characters seemed to read well with the audience. (But we shall see what they said on their comment cards.) I was relieved that both "She's Not Into You" and "Kissin' Spree" were well received -- in fact, the two songs with the most laughs. They are my favorites too.
I wish I could have stayed for the rest of the screenings. I heard they went really well!
This afternoon I'll be meeting with my composer, who is hard at work on orchestration. So far, everything is sounding amazing, and when I put the orchestration into the animatic, even in rough form, it's magic.
Have a happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Monday, November 14, 2011
More Animation (some polished, some not)
Hi folks!
This week, I've animated 1 new shot (shot 20), and I'm partway through several others. Here's the youtube link -- keep in mind that the in-progress shots look kinda strange for now.
The rest of the evening will be devoted to preparing my animatic for Wednesday's grad screening.
In other news, my composer has started the rough orchestration for 2 more songs: the Dragon's Song and Kissin' Spree. They sound fantastic!! I'll post those as soon as I get a chance.
More good news: I finally wrapped up my last sailing trip this weekend. No more animation days lost to sailing! (Though for non-thesis students I highly recommend the course!)
Enjoy the animatic! Let me know what you think!
This week, I've animated 1 new shot (shot 20), and I'm partway through several others. Here's the youtube link -- keep in mind that the in-progress shots look kinda strange for now.
The rest of the evening will be devoted to preparing my animatic for Wednesday's grad screening.
In other news, my composer has started the rough orchestration for 2 more songs: the Dragon's Song and Kissin' Spree. They sound fantastic!! I'll post those as soon as I get a chance.
More good news: I finally wrapped up my last sailing trip this weekend. No more animation days lost to sailing! (Though for non-thesis students I highly recommend the course!)
Enjoy the animatic! Let me know what you think!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Song 1 Update
Hi folks,
Here's a link to the latest animation in Song 1. Only shots 5 and 9 are new. Though both shots were high-ranked on my shot list, they took even longer than anticipated to finish. (Particularly shot 5, even though it's only 2 seconds long.) At this rate, I'll certainly have to cut the film, starting with Elixir at Wixor and, if needed, shortening She's Not Into You. I'd hate to make either of these cuts, but I'll go ahead and plan to, and if I miraculously have extra time next semester, I'll add them back in.
My biggest concern for Song 1 so far is whether or not all the action reads. This song in particular tries to cram a whole lot of exposition in a very short period of time. Even more will be crammed when I add the remaining 4 shots.
Thoughts/comments on Song 1 so far? Suggestions for the animation? How is it playing so far? What isn't working?
Here's a link to the latest animation in Song 1. Only shots 5 and 9 are new. Though both shots were high-ranked on my shot list, they took even longer than anticipated to finish. (Particularly shot 5, even though it's only 2 seconds long.) At this rate, I'll certainly have to cut the film, starting with Elixir at Wixor and, if needed, shortening She's Not Into You. I'd hate to make either of these cuts, but I'll go ahead and plan to, and if I miraculously have extra time next semester, I'll add them back in.
My biggest concern for Song 1 so far is whether or not all the action reads. This song in particular tries to cram a whole lot of exposition in a very short period of time. Even more will be crammed when I add the remaining 4 shots.
Thoughts/comments on Song 1 so far? Suggestions for the animation? How is it playing so far? What isn't working?
Monday, October 31, 2011
Song 1 Animation Update
Hi folks!
Here's a link to Song 1's latest animation progress! (Featuring a new MIDI mockup of the orchestral score!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xddSL2AhqnY
Many of the shots are still in progress and don't have characters (or have stationary characters).
As you know, Song 1 is supposed to be finished by tomorrow, and I'm currently just about at the two-thirds mark. I'll see what I can get done tonight, but this may put me up to a week behind schedule. Hopefully I can wrangle this midweek. Once the first song is finished I will compare my schedule to harsh reality and make adjustments.
Also this week, I filmed reference video of the music director, Ryan, performing Doofus' tap dance routine. (Yes, Ryan's also a choreographer and tap dancer. And an expert whistler.) The routine looks incredible, and I can't wait to animate it!
So, what do you think of the animation so far? Comments, thoughts, suggestions? Interjections?
Here's a link to Song 1's latest animation progress! (Featuring a new MIDI mockup of the orchestral score!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xddSL2AhqnY
Many of the shots are still in progress and don't have characters (or have stationary characters).
As you know, Song 1 is supposed to be finished by tomorrow, and I'm currently just about at the two-thirds mark. I'll see what I can get done tonight, but this may put me up to a week behind schedule. Hopefully I can wrangle this midweek. Once the first song is finished I will compare my schedule to harsh reality and make adjustments.
Also this week, I filmed reference video of the music director, Ryan, performing Doofus' tap dance routine. (Yes, Ryan's also a choreographer and tap dancer. And an expert whistler.) The routine looks incredible, and I can't wait to animate it!
So, what do you think of the animation so far? Comments, thoughts, suggestions? Interjections?
Monday, October 24, 2011
BGs and Points
Hi folks,
So far, I've completed 26 points of animation and 17 more are in progress. By tonight I expect to have at least 50 points completed. That's a lot of points, but not enough to meet my quota of 100 per week. Losing 3 days to a sailing voyage this weekend didn't help. I'll have to play catchup over the next few days.
That said, a lot has happened this week. For example, on Thursday, I recorded my lines as the Singing Sword, marking the completion of all the vocal recording.
Here's a sampling of backgrounds I worked on this week. Many of the camera moves and effects are already animated, such as the book opening and the birds in flight. I've also started character animation; I'll upload an export of Song 1 this evening.
So far, I've completed 26 points of animation and 17 more are in progress. By tonight I expect to have at least 50 points completed. That's a lot of points, but not enough to meet my quota of 100 per week. Losing 3 days to a sailing voyage this weekend didn't help. I'll have to play catchup over the next few days.
That said, a lot has happened this week. For example, on Thursday, I recorded my lines as the Singing Sword, marking the completion of all the vocal recording.
Here's a sampling of backgrounds I worked on this week. Many of the camera moves and effects are already animated, such as the book opening and the birds in flight. I've also started character animation; I'll upload an export of Song 1 this evening.
Shot 1-1a
Shot 1-1b
Shot 1-2
Shot 1-3 (just a closeup)
Shot 1-4 (in progress)
So far, I've worked pretty much chronologically. I'll upload more tonight.
I also finished the Princess' model sheet, used in many of the shots in this song. Her face is so abstract she's difficult to turn. I'll try to show her from the quarter-angle as much as possible.
My goal is to finish Song 1 and its surrounding material (200 points total) by November 1st. I'd better get back to work!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Recording Session Video
Hi folks,
Yesterday's recording session went incredibly well! With Bethany's expert sound engineering, Ryan's spot-on music direction, and unbelievable performances from all our voice talent, the whole day was a blast. The cast, including Matt Tyler (Sir Knightly), Afton Quast (Princess), Malcolm Devine (Dragon), Whit Spurgeon (Wizard), Adam Williams (Doofus), and Jade Johnson (chorus), seemed to gel immediately, and I couldn't be happier with the results.
But just describing the day doesn't do it justice...below is a video I composited from the footage we took for animation reference. These were some of my favorite moments. Enjoy!
The only parts left to record are some whistling and the Singing Sword (but I'm him, so that should be an easy wrangling job).
COMING SOON: An updated animatic with the real voices.
P.S. My shot list is now complete!
Yesterday's recording session went incredibly well! With Bethany's expert sound engineering, Ryan's spot-on music direction, and unbelievable performances from all our voice talent, the whole day was a blast. The cast, including Matt Tyler (Sir Knightly), Afton Quast (Princess), Malcolm Devine (Dragon), Whit Spurgeon (Wizard), Adam Williams (Doofus), and Jade Johnson (chorus), seemed to gel immediately, and I couldn't be happier with the results.
But just describing the day doesn't do it justice...below is a video I composited from the footage we took for animation reference. These were some of my favorite moments. Enjoy!
The only parts left to record are some whistling and the Singing Sword (but I'm him, so that should be an easy wrangling job).
COMING SOON: An updated animatic with the real voices.
P.S. My shot list is now complete!
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