Animation to Animatic

Hey guys! Since we are now getting underway with the animation stuff. It would be good to start putting footage of the animation into the animatic so we get a better idea of how everything is together. So when you have finished a shot, please save it off as a movie file using the DivX Logical codex, video size is the biggest available (640x???). Make sure you keep these in our production's folder under animation and your name. Im sure you all know how to use them.
We need to refine and update the animatic constantly with new animation as the change in timing is something our musician must know. We have some new music sample from him and we are now in agreement over the style and are now going ahead to develop something close to the final idea of the score. First, he will be focusing on the first scene all the way to the fourth scene wher the master is shaking his head.
The timing for the first scene is pretty set. The second scene has no animation in. Keith is already into the fourth scene, so Hozen can start the third scene soon and we can probably get the final music for this section done.

Production Still

The production still is here!!! Im thrilled that we are now into the animation stage, its one thing to have the whole idea in your head, but to see it actually moving is rewarding! This is the hard (albeit fun) part. So have work hard and have fun guys :D

More colours for characters

Something for TJ to look at as he is making a production still for us. These are my new attempts at the colours. Hope you like :D I looked at the live action stuff. Pretty funny stuff! Im gonna keep them as separate files rather than edit them together as one film. And to all your relief I wont be showing them in production meeting :D Though the scene where Keith slaps me is pretty hilarious :D

Phase Two!

OK guys. You have braved your way up to this point, as we prepare to say good bye to the comforts of pre-production. Now, I ask you to brave through this stage. The meat of the production! Animation can fully begin on Wednesday. Before then... We are thinking of meeting at my house on Sunday 1pm. And we can film some references n work out some of the acting to help us as guidelines.
The composer said he will get us some music samples soon. I have timed the animatic as close to the way I want it. Some of the acting may mean we have to expand the timing a bit. But stick to the time on the animatic until I checked the animation and think there needs to be more frames involved.
Spoke to Paul Hilton this week. He is happy about how the team is going despite some hard time they tried to give us :D So keep up the good work! We can do it!!!!

Colour testy test test

Here's a colour test of the boy I put together with one of Ben's layouts. Could probably do with making his trousers a different shade of green to his top half, see what you guys think.

Collaborative Layout

Something I collaborated on with our first year assistant, Rogie. I did the lines, he did the paints. I edited bits of it with photoshop tricks to tie it in with the other backgrounds.

Background again!

Something a bit more recent. I also have the help of a talented first year. We will see how he copes with the challenges thrown his way.

Colourful People!

My take on the character colours. Some textures involved that ToonBoom can handle.
Regarding the girl's dress. There is still some debate going on... Well the concern is if we can handle the extra secondary actions involved. So for Tegan and Hozen... Im afraid you may have a extra task at hand. Try thumbnailing the girl in poses with the split in the dress. This way we can see how you guys cope with the dress and we can make a clearer decision from that. Its just like drawing the keyframes and breakdowns:)

Whoa!

The image above is a lil thumbnail I did for the boy jumping on the walls. This was to show how I approached the storyboard and how you could apply that to your animation. It is a method Tim Hollyman has taught me. By just thumbnailing a simple figure, you can focus entirely on the pose and get something really dynamic about it. Because this film is all about those dynamic poses, this is going to be an important stage for the animation. So when tackling a scene, do try this out.
And there are some colours for the boy.
And the storyboard for the end is done. If yu dont understand it, I can talk you through it in class. Im a bit lazy about adding captions in atm.
OK, Im gonna work on the animatic now.
The plan for the rest of the week is... well... you know by now:P I think we may even have the practicing characters go into next week as well. No point rushing into the animation when we can be better equiped by learning the characters more. When we are at a more comfortable state of drawing them, we may begin.
And news on the girl character: She may undergo some changes, perhaps minor. Basically we are trying to get the face more easier for people to work with. And... sorry to seem so indecisive but... the girl's dress might just remain with the splits in. I have spoken with TJ and Keith after Keith did an animation test of the dress. We all prefer the look of it, it was just a case of if it would become something complicated to animate. But this animation seemed to work. I dont think it took long to do, but we can see what the rest of the team thinks about it.