Storyboard 2

Update

Along side refining characters, I have been working on the time line idea for the intro. I have attempted various shapes and patterns for which the time line should flow.

Update

I have spent the last few days working on refining my silhouette characters ready to be bound. in doing so i have worked on making the characters limbs proportionate to the body as well as neatening up the geometry mesh itself, which will aid the binding of the skin to the rigs.

Timeline Research

Time lines are a useful way to look into the past and have been seen in many forms. Some are over complicated, trying to give so much information on one page, others are over simplified, not giving enough information. When creating time lines on paper, it can be very difficult to find the appropriate information. The history of the planet is often shown over many time lines to which focus on just one part of our past.

Creating a time line with the realms of CG means it can be infinite. One space can house all the information of the worlds history without taking up to much physical space, (the same my not be said for virtual space, as it will depend on size of your hard drive memory). There are also rules to say that time lines have to be liner, paper creates restrictions when building time lines as paper is generally 2 dimensional, CG can bring a 3rd dimension to space it occupies.

Possible Openings

Opening sequence ideas. After talking with Phil in my tutorial yesterday, it became apparent that there is many ways in which this project could go. I need to embrace the challenges and use the CG world space for CG. To replicate something that could be made by hand is a waste of computing power. To make this piece work well, I need to go back to the drawing board and try out alternate ways to make this project more exciting not only to my audience, but to myself as well. So as a step towards that direction I think it is logical to start at the beginning and find the best opening sequence. The only thing out of everything i have previously built within the museum which must remain is the Lantern itself as it is the object which grounds this project, without it, things become a little meaning less. Below I have created a number openings exploring space and location for the Lantern to sit within.

Time line and Fireworks. It feels fitting to have fireworks introduce the object and finish with fireworks which become the fires splinters from the candle as the lantern fades back into the timeline.



A dark gallery, a first attempt, a starting point for a filmic scene. (further research required, if this route is followed)



A generic museum. This animation sequence is every similar to what i had previously with a difference of the entire room melting away to nothing, leave the lantern to be the only thing of focus, to try to make is see like the lantern is the only thing left within existence as you travel through time to see the story of Guy Fawkes unfold.




Out of these few ideas, so far the idea of entering and traveling trough a time line seems most appealing. The idea flows better for the previous concept of creating one episode within a series, it is also something that is transversely within its location, weather it is a web episode, a video within a museum, or a series of learning for childrens TV or in schools.

Pre-vis_02

The shadow puppet animation is to fast at the moment. The pace of the script should help time this stage right. I plan to have the poem recorded tonight to add to the pre-vis.

More Research

While working on modeling and rigging over the last week or so I have been trying to find the sound for this piece, the right pace for the poem. I have spent some time wracking my brain trying to remember the film based on Guy Fawkes. The film finally came to me ths morning, V for Vendetta. I thought that within the film the Character which mimics Guy Fawkes, "V" spoke the poem, but after looking at clips of the film once again, it turns out that he said the beginning of the poem. This has given me enough to work from to find the right voice and pace for my animation.

More Reserach

Focusing on the opening 1 minuite 30 seconds.

The firey backdrop within this video seems approriate for the for the shadow pupper seqeunce within the animation. It helps to ground the piece within the flames of the candle, wether the piece takes as a projection or within the fire itself.

Also the level of detail within the silhouette form flows well, this is the way i want my characters to be, smooth with their movments as well as their design. I need to bring the characters and locations to life.

Beginning to fill the Shelves

Portrait of King James I, a fitting image to fill this museum exhibition. I like the idea of keep the exhibition items within the museum fitting to the era of the Gunpowder Plot ( late 1500's early 1600's) with artifacts and images. This would open up the areas in which this animation could be used. Schools could use a series through the time period for history classes, or as an interactive series online. As well as being a transportable piece for museums which would travel with the exhibition. I all cases by keep the exhibition around the same time period it would be less contradictory to its surroundings. The animated exhibition keeps to the era of the tale.

Museum Props

I have begun to build artifacts from the 1600's (the time of Guy Fawkes) to fill the museum. So far I have found coins from the 1600' and spoons. I have chosen to put spoons into the cabinet as in the 1600's servants for the King would steel the silver tea spoons and melt them down to make rings, often wedding or engagement rings for wives. I also plan to create these rings in my museum.

Characters - Rigged and Bound

Trial and error solves problems once again

As mentioned in my last post, I was having problems with leg rigs and making the foot move. however trial and error by redoing the rig and re-following the tutorials from previous years has solved the problem for one of the characters. i now need to repeat this same process for the rest of the characters.

Two full rigs work together to create movement within the limbs of the character. one rig for each view.

Modeling Update

Having spent a few days working on rigs and modeling the characters, I took a break and worked a little bit more on the museum setting for the opening. I have prepared an animation sequence for the dissolve of the glass casing of the lantern for the camera move. The modeling for the four main characters have emerge well, however problems with the rigging have created problems with the characters. After finishing each rig and binding it to the skins and moving onto the side view rigs have unbound the original front view rigs, leaving the character in its last pose. After trail and error of attempting to reattach the rigs I shall need to seek the assistance of Alan tomorrow.

animating shadow puppets

I have rigged and animated the side view arms for both King James and Guy Fawkes. I have been have a few problems with the rigging for the legs. Once the leg is complete I can get full movement of very joint using the controls other than the toes, they appear fixed to the spot. I shall try once again to get them working, if that fails I shall move onto creating the other characters and continue building the museum, until I can make it in to seek help.

Improved silhouettes 2

Guy Fawkes

Improved silhouettes

King James I:

Silhouettes

Houses of Parliament

King James I: For the King I will need to create each body part and layer of clothing separately in order to create realistic movements for the character. In this image the silhouette is one piece.

Guy Fawkes:

Museum Location

The opening scenes location ideas.

Museum Room 1





Musuem Room 2

After building previews for both room ideas in which the lamp is exhibited, I think that a larger more open space works better than a maze of walls.