To do list updates

Things completed since last to do list:

• storyboards
• revise my scripts before recording

• record voice over (three possiblities, need to phone tomorrow to organise times, hopefully mid week!)
• change the textures on my main scene
• Add grass, clothes, possibly some trees
• found lava and volcano tutorial

And i still have to create (welcome to the STILL epic list):

• sort out the layout and design for dvd cover and menu
• promote the surveys more (cannot find any more children to do it, may take to the streets!

• create the monster and texture and rig
• create the bear/item that Terrance carries with him
• create the volcano!
• create lava
• add flames to the lighter (tutorial online)
• create the lava creatures
• create the bedroom (bed, bedside cabinet, curtains and lamp [if possible]) (MAYBE NOT NEEDED)
• drainpipes down the side of the house and [possibly] trellace
• texture and rig Terrance
• light all the scenes appropriately
• and ultimately learn and animate the whole two scenes!

More scene updates :)

Here's my further developments in maya. I feel as though i'm getting somewhere now! Finally! I still need to create the volcano and the lava and the match (which will take 2 seconds) but i've found a tutorial to do the others. I also need to rig my character but I need to sort out the problems with him first. Getting there!!

Also, i tried to create a clothes line. I got as far as a table cloth on a table...

Apparently nCloth function is very tricky!!! So if i get time/find another tutorial on how to do it for something that doesn't have a collision object I shall have a go. I also want to try and create a tree, or something similar, but I believe this uses the same function so we'll see.

Updates :D

The past week and a bit i've been using primarily to get the maya scenes, characters and elements I need to create well under way! So far I have a pretty good looking turtle (in my opinion) but it still needs rigging and texturing. A little dubious about the rigging part! I fear I may have done something wrong in creating it but we'll see when I learn how to do it.

Also when i duplicate it to give the other side, and merge and combine it, it leaves a noticeable joint line down the centre... If anyone knows how to sort that can you let me know please!

'Terrance' still needs a few tweaks, not 100% happy with him atm; but it's only minor issues!

The other thing that ive managed to complete so far is the lighter. Pretty pleased with this! Managed to get it textured aswell, so it's pretty much done :)

Dedicating, friday saturday and some of sunday to digital to try and get alot more done!

So far on my to do list I still have:

• complete storyboards
• revise my scripts before recording
• record voice over
• sort out the layout and design for dvd cover and menu
• promote the surveys more.

And i still have to create (welcome to the epic list):

• change the textures on my main scene
• Add grass, clothes, possibly some trees
• create the monster and texture and rig
• create the bear/item that Terrance carries with him
• create the volcano!
• find out how to create lava and create it
• add flames to the lighter (tutorial online)
• create the lava creatures
• create the kitchen (cooker, sides, basic cupboards, sink, table and chairs)
• create the bedroom (bed, bedside cabinet, curtains and lamp [if possible])
• drainpipes down the side of the house and [possibly] trellace
• texture and rig Terrance
• light all the scenes appropriately
• and ultimately learn and animate the whole two scenes!

I've got two contacts that are willing to do the voice overs. I'm really happy with the people i've found as they have typically english accents with great pronunciation. I have forwarded them my scripts, so i'm just waiting on a reply for the go ahead! I'm either going to record one for each of the two narratives or choice the one i feel is best suitable and use their voice for both.

My aims for the end of the week/weekend are:

Friday: Storyboards and re-texture scene, add grass and possibly clothing if I have time

Saturday: learn how to rig characters, and apply to Terrance

Sunday: Begin creating inside scenes (kitchen and bedroom)

Quick update before presentations!!!

Ok, so this afternoon I have spent all my time setting up a survey and trying to find places where children will be able to access it as I don't have access to my target audience through friends or family. So far i've only received 3 results so it obviously needs a bit more!

Here's the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/86YTN7F

Subsequent to this I have been working upon a test file, for the lighter scene mentioned in the volcano script.

At the moment im learning how to model using nurb curves and have hit many brick walls! but so far I have this and it isn't looking too bad as a work in progress!

Work in progress:

Wireframe model:

Shaded model:

Once I have completed this I will use maya particles to create a fire effect to carry on with the narrative.

To do for tomorrow:

Create a massive list of all the aspects I still need to create and test!!!

SCRIPTS

Here's my two scripts. They took a lot longer than I had anticipated! Writing in narrative verse is a lot more time consuming than it looks!

Although I am relatively pleased with both of these scripts, they are only a draft copy and definitely not set in stone. Tweaks changes and improvements are still to be made :)

Character and Story Development

So far this week I have been prioritising my time with developing the script so I can embark upon the animation as soon as possible.

To begin with I created my character base, with everything that could possibly influence and depict this character.

Not all aspect are on here as of yet, as subsequent to updating my blog I am going to create a survey aimed at my target audience to find out what they would like from this animation. As I have already developed much of my animation it will be used to define the aspects that I am not too sure on or feel that they would be more effective if I got a first hand account of what children aged 4-9 years would like; such as what iconic item would they like him to carry, what type of humour would they prefer, etc.

Below is the character base that I've created so show the ins and out of my main character:

As you can see from the diagram, he is not an overly young character. My reason for choosing this is that children aged 4 - 9 tend to look up to older people as role models. Giving him the age of 36 enables him to be a fictional father like figure, as ultimately each narrative ends with a moral storyline, such as don't judge a book by its cover. Although the narratives are seemingly silly and totally meaningless, I wanted to incorporate some sort of education of life lesson so they are not purely for entertainment. Using this message in this way enables the story line to have a meaning and to take which ever path I wish.

This leads me on to the story development. I used the same format as before and brainstormed all of my ideas. However I tried to do them in a linear format for this part so that when I write my script my ideas are not all over the place. Generally speaking you can follow the narrative from each idea on this diagram:

As I was writing this, I realised what a mammoth task it would be to create three almost completely individual animations, only linked by my main character. Also it seemed that the other world, and the quest for the item were directed mainly towards girls and the volcano narrative towards boys; providing an unequal balance. For this reason, and due to the massive work load, I have decided to focus upon the volcano narrative and the quest for an item narrative so that the quality of my work does not suffer and I can create a much better final piece.

Which leads me on to my script in the next post...