.
Stuff...
"His Master's Voice." This is my final film for the Masters in Bournemouth. It was modelled, rigged, animated and rendered by me. The sound was designed by the talented Xan Williams. I am incredibly proud of it and would like to thanks everyone who helped with the little bits here and there.
This was my third term project. It was an experiment with facial shapes using shape manager in XSI. It was a massive learning experience. Even though the piece doesn't hold up in quality, I learned one hell of alot ready for the next term.
He is finally finished, and what an epic rush it was. Were happy with most of it. Theres a few dips in the gamma and the sound is ropey but generally we are pleased. Not bad for 8 weeks work! Animation was created using Maya and animated to my very own motion capture data
A very quick and simple test with the Shape Manager in XSI and using the insert custom parameters tool. I had also riged the face with bones but without a very good result. This technique will be used for cave trolls facial expressions.
Previz - Cave troll (transform) crane shot
Simple previz of the cave troll awaking from his slumber and not being to ohappy about it too. It also shows the reactions of the camera crew in more detail than the storyboard actually does. Please note how quickly the rather wimpy soundman decides to run away.
Simple walk cycle, definately not the one we will be using..
Part of the story is that cave troll actually changes from being a rock to the monsterous cave troll that he really is. This is a basic test for the bend in getting up. ie How much can he bend in half in a crouch position.
Here I have tested many of many rotation limits in a nice little animation. The back, shoulders go to their limits on the crouch. Also the uppers arms are limited to not go into the hip mesh. This animation is more suited to the group project as it shows the cave troll as aggresive. But a bit dumb if that rock managed to sneak up on him.
This video shows a quick test of the early rig and its bend limits at the hips. Also its a good animation exercise over the christmas break. His initial life needs som work however the second part of the lift reads well.
I rigged, modelled and animated the character. Notice the irregular, lopsided walk. i like to do this with all my cycles to give them a bit of realisim This is the first animation with the early troll rig. The Cave troll is a character for an upcoming group project that begins in mid January. After looking at this for quite a while we decided that he just wasnt 'heavy' enough. So this will be updated asap.
I have not rigged or modelled this character. I produced the animation, background and editted the sound. Ah Billy. As some ex Bournemouth students may be aware, the "billy" project is infamous in Bournemouth circles due to its dodgy rig and the unbeleivably, mind-boggingly annoying music. I have to watch it on mute now. Notice how the audience reacts to billy coming on stage, but the music wins them over.
Our first project, the brief stated that we had to show a ball go through a change of emotion. I chose the happiness of an athlete after completing a high jump. All visual elements created by me.
All animations apart from "The Cave Troll" use Softimage XSI