Semester 2 notebook!

Here are the doodles I did in my big notebook during semester 2!

Semester 2 sketchbook!

I kept three sketchbooks this semester: a small one for observational and imaginative sketches, a big one for notes and doodles, and my action analysis sketchbook. Click Read More to see most of the drawings from the first one!

Pull, push and lip sync!

Here are two animation exercises I did as part of the action analysis project: a stop-motion pull and a CG push.

My first attempt at a pull:

My second, and so far last, attempt at a pull:

My first and only attempt at a push:

Lip sync in Flash:

There's a slight syncing issue at the end of this one due to having to piece the video together when Flash wouldn't export it properly, but it does play properly in Flash, I promise - I'll see if I can export a proper version even if it's too late to get that assessed.

If you're wondering, the audio comes from here: thepurpleredwagon.tumblr.com/post/59737506258/inspired-by-this-post I wanted some audio I knew I wouldn't get sick of scrubbing through over and over again, and this was cute enough to fit the bill.

The space for my chase

Part of our assignment to create a high-speed chase sequence was to create layouts and backgrounds of the space in which the chase occurs. As with the character designs, I decided to use a setting I'd already created and thought I knew well: my aliens characters' part-barn, part-wrecked spaceship hideout, which I sketched out based on a real barn in Bishop's Cleeve in June 2014:

I wanted a base for my characters that really looked like a melding of two worlds, and while I was happy with the exterior design, this assignment made me realise I hadn't thought about the interior all that much. Part of the brief was to have the characters go up some stairs, but my tutor told us this could be interpreted loosely, so I designed some "stairs" formed from the large plates of metal of the spaceship. As I imagined why Katsuko might be running up those stairs, I came up with the scenario of Ikki chasing her and appearing menacing to the audience - but in reality, he's just trying to give her her homework.

After doing those rough drawings, I did a slightly more refined cross-section of the wreck, with a bit of colour:

And from there, it was time to start creating layouts, concept art and backgrounds.

Action Analysis: Quadruped Locomotion (Primary Research: Zoo Animals)

Because I'm so fascinated by dogs as it is, I mostly focused on them for this research assignment - in fact, I ended up drawing so much of them that I have to separate other quadrupeds into their own post!

I visited Noah's Ark Zoo Farm and was very impressed with the variety of species - and therefore, the variety of movements - they had on display. I got some excellent research out of the trip; my only regret was that my phone battery ran out before I could film every single animal!

Click Read More to see my sketches and videos.

Character designs for a high-speed chase sequence!

On my "Pigs in Tutus" post, I mentioned creating and developing two characters only to abandon them for a different set of characters who better suited the sequence I needed to make. Some might say I'm taking the easy way out by doing this, as the characters I'm going for are two I've been developing since April 2013: two of the cast of my webcomic, Mudskipper, whom are very close to my heart. That's exactly why I decided to board a sequence with them rather than two characters I'd only just created; having an emotional attachment to them provides me with motivation to refine their designs more than ever, and pay due attention to the cinematography of the sequence.

I created Mudskipper partially for fun and partially as an exercise to simulate the development and production of an animated TV series, including drawing the main characters hundreds of times until their appearances and attitudes felt "right." Let's press fast-forward on that process:

Action Analysis: Quadruped Locomotion (Primary Research: Dogs)

As soon as I got this action analysis assignment, I rushed to contact anyone I knew who had a dog and asked if I could come over to do some studies during the Easter break. While I waited for said break, I studied dogs from a bit more of a distance in two locations: Queen Square near the centre of Bristol, and Ashton Court Estate. I got some good sketches from both, but I couldn't really get close to the dogs without things getting a bit awkward for me and their owners.

I managed to "borrow" three dogs for closer analysis: Merlin, a 15-year-old Lurcher, Duffy, a 4-year-old Bulldog, and Rudy, a 4-year-old Egyptian Street Dog (like a smaller, lankier German Shepard). I was lucky to get a good variety of ages and breeds, as I feel those two factors affect a dog's movement the most.

Click Read More to see my sketches and videos!