Each week, I’ve encountered fresh challenges with this term, making it a dynamic learning journey. Reflecting on my work, I realize how enriching this experience with Unreal Engine has been, despite the initial overwhelm. Although I still find it a bit intimidating, I believe that spending more time with it will gradually unveil its intricacies.
My introduction to Unreal Engine involved grappling with the complexities of levels and sub-levels, which proved challenging at first. However, delving into tutorials significantly improved my comprehension, offering me a better grasp of its functionality. The materials class in Unreal was particularly enjoyable, and I’ve had a great time implementing those learnings into our final project.
While I faced some disappointment due to time constraints preventing me from modelling, rigging, and animating a character for our game, I remain optimistic. The prospect of refining and showcasing our project in the final end-of-year showreel excites me. I see immense potential in this piece, and envisioning its growth into a more expansive project in the future.
Unreal Project
Animating has never been my favorite activity, but this unit has been a delightful surprise. I was genuinely amazed at how animation can be both easy and enjoyable when you break it down and simplify the process. Although I had limited exposure to Maya, having used it briefly in a BA project before switching to Blender, this unit has provided me with valuable insights.
The key takeaway has been learning how to deconstruct significant movements by isolating and breaking them down into manageable parts. I’m pleased to share that I now feel much more at ease working with rigs than I did at the beginning of the unit. I dedicated time to practicing animating substantial movements, and I’m eager to continue honing this skill in between classes.
Initially, my focus was on creating assets or enhancing them through activities like texturing and lighting. However, as the unit progressed, my perspective evolved. Now, I find myself looking forward to incorporating character animation into a piece for my final major project (fmp). It’s a shift that reflects my growing confidence and enthusiasm for animation.
Title: Crafting a Unified World in Unreal Engine: My Role in a Collaborative Project
Introduction:
Embarking on a collaborative journey within the Unreal Engine, I took on a pivotal role that involved shaping the visual language and aesthetic foundation of our project. From setting the design language to creating a texture library and establishing a cohesive style for all the models, my responsibilities extended to crafting concept art for various elements, including landscapes, structures, and characters.
Our goal was to craft a vertical slice for a playable game level. While our initial vision was an ambitious short film comprising 5 shots narrating a story, Serra urged us to embrace a more experimental route rather than sticking to the conventional approach. This led us to rethink our original concept and transform it into a single, playable scene. Our focus shifted towards exploring the realms of physics within the Unreal Engine.
Emily’s Doodle of our girl character & her pet (5-shot animation) brainstormIsland MoodboardThe first draft of The Island made by Emily
Setting the Design Language:
One of my primary duties was to define a design language that would serve as the visual backbone of our project. This involved meticulous look development, where I explored various themes, colour palettes, and stylistic elements to create a consistent and engaging visual experience.
Concept Art for a Unified Style:
Creating concept art was a key aspect of my role, allowing me to establish a unified style for the diverse elements in our project. From the lush greenery of a forest to the rustic charm of shacks and the whimsy of mushroom characters, I sketched and conceptualized each component, providing a visual roadmap for our team.
Shack concept art
Texture Library Creation:
To ensure that our models seamlessly blended together, I curated a comprehensive texture library. This library became a reservoir of visual elements that unified the aesthetic appeal of our environment. From the bark of trees to the texture of mushroom characters, each detail was carefully crafted to contribute to the overall cohesion of our virtual world.
Testing the water shader texture
Animated procedural water shader
Contribution to Environment Assets:
I used Blender to create environment assets and small props. Using Blender’s versatile tools, I carefully designed, added textures, and set up lighting for these models. This approach provided my team with a straightforward preview of how these assets would fit into the Unreal Engine environment once we imported them.
Wooden BridgeImported the Bridge and Lamp post models into the sceneShack Variation 01Shack Variation 02 – Adding textures to the Ivy
Shack Variation 02 – ProcessLight House – ModelImported the Light house in the SceneWell – modelled & Textured
Unrealized Characters and Animation:
Despite our ambitious goals, time constraints led us to prioritize certain aspects of the project. While I sketched out characters with unique personalities and characteristics, unfortunately, we couldn’t dedicate the time needed for modelling, rigging, and animating them. Nevertheless, the groundwork laid through the concept art ensures that these characters can be brought to life in future iterations.
Conclusion:
In the collaborative world of Unreal Engine, my role involved shaping the very essence of our project. From defining the design language to creating a texture library and producing concept art, my contributions aimed at establishing a cohesive and visually stunning world. While some aspects, like character modelling and animation, remain unrealised for now, the foundation has been set for future development, promising an immersive experience in the digital landscapes we envisioned.
Body Mechanics: Essential Tips for Capturing Perfect Reference Shots
Consistent Angles: Maintain a consistent angle in your reference shots to effectively capture the body mechanics.
Vary Perspectives: Capture multiple views and perspectives of the same action to gain a comprehensive understanding.
Ditch Orthographic Views: Focus on front and side views instead of orthographic views for a more dynamic reference.
Stabilise the Camera: Lock your camera or make minimal shifts to maintain a clear and consistent reference frame.
Harness Mirrors: Utilise mirrors to get unique angles and perspectives that enhance your reference shots.
Ensure Continuity: Maintain a seamless flow in your reference shots to understand the progression of movements.
Infuse Intent and Action: Bring characters to life by emphasising their intentions and actions, allowing them to focus on their tasks.
Purposeful Behaviour: Remember that every movement has a purpose, and capture it authentically in your reference shots.
Body Markers: Use post-it notes or markers on your body to highlight key points for reference.
High Frame Rate Recording: Record at a high frame rate (240fps) for precision and clarity in your reference shots.
11. Always Question Movements: Continuously ask why certain body parts move in specific ways and observe the relationship between movements, such as understanding the role of the knees when the hips are in motion.
During this week’s progress, I dedicated my efforts to refining the walk cycle. I transitioned my animation from stepped to spline, but encountered challenges with the frames. Unfortunately, I somehow lost a significant number of keyframes, resulting in an undesirable bobbing effect in my character’s motion.
Attempting to salvage the situation, I explored the use of animation layers to introduce a left-to-right transformation. While I successfully recovered my walk cycle frames, the issue of sliding persisted, proving difficult to resolve. Eventually, I made the decision to start afresh and reanimate the entire sequence to ensure a smoother and more accurate outcome.
Broken animation 02Fixed final animationFixed final animation
Exploring Animal Rights Messages in Animated Films: Depiction, Impact, and Ethical Narratives
Subject Description:
This research aims to investigate the portrayal of animal rights themes in animated feature films. The objective is to analyze how these films convey messages about animal welfare, ethical treatment, and the relationship between humans and animals. This exploration seeks to uncover the impact of these narratives on viewers’ perceptions, societal attitudes toward animals, and the effectiveness of animated storytelling in advocating for animal rights.
Keywords:
Animal Rights
Animated Films
Ethical Narratives
Animal Welfare
Human-Animal Relationships
Media Representation
Key Literature/Sources:
“The Lion King” – Examining themes of animal hierarchy and environmental stewardship.
“Finding Nemo” – Analyzing the depiction of marine life and conservation efforts.
“Zootopia” – Exploring societal issues and discrimination allegories through anthropomorphic animals.
“Watership Down” – Examining the portrayal of animal survival and the challenges they face.
“Bambi” – Assessing the impact of emotional connection and empathy toward animals in storytelling.
Implementing George’s feedback, I focused on refining my animation. He gave me some key pointers: keeping relaxed knees, rotating toes outward, and ensuring that the first and last poses were the same. I diligently attempted to incorporate these suggestions into the animation. I’m delighted with the outcome, seeing how these adjustments contributed to a more polished and expressive animation.
Weight shift – Animation (Spline)
Walk Cycle – Blocking
Understanding walk cycles – Animator’s survival Kit – DrawingMy frame breakdown for the walk cycle
I studied the Animator’s Survival Kit to grasp the breakdown of key poses and frame spacing for the walk cycle. Here’s the outcome of my work based on these principles.
Walk cycle – Blocking (front)Walk cycle – Blocking (Side)
According to George’s feedback, he suggested incorporating more hip sway into the walk and highlighted an issue with the feet sliding back after the down pose. This required adjustments for the animation to look smooth.
Mastering Narrative Craft: Unveiling the Art of Storytelling Through Structure, Editing, and Character Dynamics
Storytelling is an art form that transcends mere words; it’s a symphony orchestrated through foundational principles, weaving together structure, editing techniques, and compelling character dynamics. Let’s explore how these elements collaborate in crafting captivating narratives that resonate with audiences.
Foundational Principles of Narrative Structure:
At the heart of every compelling story lies a well-structured narrative. This structure typically consists of a setup, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. These elements work in harmony to introduce the world and characters, escalate tension, reach a pivotal moment, and eventually conclude the storyline. For instance, in “The Lord of the Rings,” J.R.R. Tolkien meticulously crafts a three-act structure, propelling Frodo’s journey to destroy the One Ring.
The Language of Editing in Storytelling:
Editing serves as the language through which a story is visually communicated to the audience. It encompasses various techniques, including cuts, transitions, pacing, and montage sequences. Through editing, filmmakers control the rhythm, tempo, and emotional resonance of a narrative. For instance, in “Inception,” director Christopher Nolan employs precise editing to create seamless transitions between dream layers, enhancing the story’s complexity and suspense.
Establishment of Story Arcs and Character Roles:
Effective storytelling hinges on well-defined story arcs and compelling character dynamics. Story arcs depict the evolution of a character’s journey, encompassing growth, conflict, and resolution. Characters fulfil specific roles, such as the hero, mentor, antagonist, or ally, contributing to the narrative’s depth. Take “Star Wars,” where Luke Skywalker undergoes a hero’s journey guided by mentors like Obi-Wan Kenobi and faces the ultimate antagonist, Darth Vader.
Crafting a Compelling Narrative:
The art of storytelling lies in the synthesis of these elements. A well-structured narrative, complemented by adept editing techniques and nuanced character arcs, immerses audiences in worlds filled with tension, emotion, and resolution. Through these foundational principles, storytellers engage and captivate, creating experiences that linger long after the story ends.
In conclusion, the foundational principles of narrative structure, the language of editing, and the establishment of story arcs and character roles are the pillars upon which compelling narratives stand. Mastering these elements empowers storytellers to create immersive, emotionally resonant journeys that leave an indelible mark on audiences.
Activity
Pick a film you have watched and enjoyed.
Breakdown the story arc (what are the 8 stages?)
Breakdown the characters into their archetypes
Create a timeline for the main character
Film – Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003) Directed by Q. Tarantino.
Uma Thurman as The Brid
Story Arc – The Hero’s Journey (8 Stages):
Stasis (Ordinary World): The Bride, a retired assassin, seeks a normal life away from her violent past.
Trigger (Call to Adventure): Her peaceful wedding rehearsal turns into a massacre when she’s attacked, triggering her quest for revenge.
The Quest (Seeking Vengeance): The Bride embarks on a relentless quest to eliminate those responsible for the attack, seeking justice.
Surprise (Encounters and Revelations): Along her journey, she encounters unexpected allies and confronts shocking revelations about her enemies.
Critical Choice (Decision-Making): The Bride faces crucial decisions in her pursuit of vengeance, deciding how to approach each confrontation.
Climax (Showdown with O-Ren): The culmination occurs in a climactic battle against O-Ren Ishii, one of her primary targets.
Reversal (Outcome and Consequences): The Bride’s triumph over O-Ren marks a significant shift in her quest, impacting her future endeavours.
Resolution (Continuation or Conclusion): The film concludes with The Bride continuing her quest, as her journey for revenge is far from over.
Character poster of Kill Bill Vol 01
Characters and Archetypes:
The Hero (The Bride/Uma Thurman): A classic hero seeking vengeance and redemption, driven by a quest for justice.
The Mentor (Pai Mei): The wise old mentor who guides and trains the hero, offering essential skills and wisdom.
The Shadow (O-Ren Ishii/Lucy Liu): The antagonist, representing the dark mirror of the hero, embodying the conflict and opposition.
The Ally (Go-Go Yubari): An ally assisting the hero in her journey, showcasing both support and sacrifice.
Timeline for The Bride:
The Wedding Massacre: The film starts with The Bride being attacked during her wedding rehearsal.
Comatose State: The Bride spends four years in a coma, awakening to realize her child is gone.
Seeking Revenge: After regaining mobility, she embarks on a mission to seek vengeance against her former colleagues, tracking them down one by one.
Showdown with O-Ren: The film culminates in a climactic battle against O-Ren Ishii, the antagonist.
Developing areas of interest for research – Essay ideas
Exploring Animal Rights Messages in Animated Films – The exploration of animal rights messages within animated films serves as a fascinating lens through which societal attitudes, ethical considerations, and human-animal relationships are examined. Delving into this topic allows for a deeper understanding of how these films convey messages about animal welfare and ethical treatment. This essay aims to scrutinize the impact of these narratives on viewers’ perceptions and their potential to influence real-world attitudes toward animals. By dissecting the ethical narratives presented in animated storytelling, we can unveil the potency of these messages in advocating for animal rights. This exploration not only taps into the captivating realm of animated cinema but also uncovers the profound societal implications of such narratives, shedding light on the power of storytelling in shaping perceptions and advocating for ethical treatment of animals.
Theorising the changing discourse of animation – “Theorising the Changing Discourse of Animation” delves into the dynamic evolution of animation’s discourse, exploring its shifts, influences, and impacts on various spheres. This essay topic aims to dissect how animation discourse has transformed over time, considering technological advancements, cultural shifts, and artistic innovations. By analysing these changes, one can uncover the societal, artistic, and technological influences shaping the narrative around animation. The essay navigates through the realms of film studies, cultural analysis, and technological advancements, aiming to grasp the multifaceted nature of animation’s discourse. This exploration not only offers insights into animation’s evolving nature but also highlights its relevance as a cultural and artistic medium in an ever-changing global landscape.
I couldn’t attend class this week, but I caught up with my classmates who shared their insights on control rigs for characters. They demonstrated the process of exporting a character from Quixel Bridge to Unreal and taught me how to set up nodes in the editor. Additionally, I learned the importance of rigging bones while ensuring a correct hierarchy.
Dynamic Poses
During this class, we learned about weight shifts. Our task was to create a simple straight-walking animation in blocking for the following week. George then provided feedback on our side-to-side weight shifts and the three dynamic poses. His input aimed to improve my understanding of weight distribution and exaggeration.
Dynamic poses sketchesDynamic poses – Modelled
It was my first time using the Bony Rig, and I faced challenges while posing the fingers due to the IK restrictions. Discovering that shifting to FK for arm posing could alleviate stiffness in the poses was enlightening. This transition enabled greater exaggeration and expression, allowing me to infuse more emotion and dynamism into the animations.
Dynamic Poses feedback
Weight Shift
George encouraged us to record ourselves as a beneficial practice before diving into character animation. While filming, I became acutely aware of my movements, striving to meticulously observe and dissect the key gestures. These observations translated into my work, specifically while blocking the animation for the ball with legs, where I aimed to incorporate these nuanced movements for more authentic and realistic animation.
Upon finishing my stepped blocking and reviewing the playblast render, I observed an issue with the knee joint remaining in spline, causing noticeable sliding during the animation. George provided feedback, suggesting ways to enhance the animation by exaggerating the weight shift. He advised me to implement these changes in the spline version of the animation for next week’s review.
Exploring Cinematic Artistry: Unveiling Mise en Scène, Composition, and Staging in Filmmaking
Cinematic storytelling transcends mere dialogue and plot; it’s a visual symphony orchestrated through meticulous craftsmanship and creative artistry. At the heart of this visual storytelling lie fundamental concepts like mise en scène, composition, and staging, shaping the cinematic landscape in profound ways.
Mise en Scène:
Mise en scène encompasses the arrangement of elements within a frame, incorporating sets, props, lighting, costumes, and actors’ placement. It’s the art of visual storytelling, where every element serves a purpose in conveying narrative and emotion. Through meticulous attention to detail, filmmakers use mise en scène to establish mood, evoke emotions, and guide audience focus. For instance, in “Citizen Kane,” Orson Welles’ strategic placement of characters within opulent yet isolating sets amplifies the themes of loneliness and power.
Composition:
Composition involves the deliberate arrangement of visual elements within the frame, including framing, framing ratios, camera angles, and shot sizes. It dictates how the audience perceives the scene, directing attention and conveying meaning. Directors like Alfred Hitchcock mastered the use of composition to induce suspense or create visual metaphors. Hitchcock’s use of high angles in “Vertigo” not only emphasizes vulnerability but also symbolizes the protagonist’s psychological descent.
Staging:
Staging refers to the movement and positioning of actors within the frame, choreographing their actions to enhance storytelling. It involves blocking, actor positioning, and their interactions within the scene. A prime example of masterful staging is found in Akira Kurosawa’s films, such as “Seven Samurai,” where the positioning of characters within action sequences not only amplifies tension but also communicates individual character arcs.
The Interplay:
Mise en scène, composition, and staging are interwoven threads in the fabric of cinematic artistry. They collaborate to establish tone, convey emotions, and narrate stories visually. Filmmakers strategically employ these concepts to craft compelling narratives that transcend dialogue, offering audiences a visual feast that resonates long after the film ends.
In conclusion, the art of cinematic storytelling hinges on the intricate dance between mise en scène, composition, and staging. Their seamless integration shapes the visual language of cinema, transforming narratives into immersive experiences that linger in the minds and hearts of audiences, illustrating the true essence of filmmaking as an art form.
