I would like you to:
- Learn a little bit about some animation system. (Maya, 3D Studio Max, Maya)
- Try to use it to make a picture (to make sure that you get a sense of how to make it work)
- Try to use it to animate something (make some “creature” that moves in a way that conveys emotion).
I would like you to pick some “real” 3D animation system. Blender, Maya and 3D Studio Max are the two obvious choices (both are available on CS computers). Note: as a student, you can get an educational license for the Autodesk products (Maya 3DSMax). Blender is an open source alternative (that seems to get better, although I found it hard to get started with – but then I haven’t used Maya or Max in a decade).
I’d like people to work in pairs: its probably best if we spread around the expertise (so that people who have experience using an animation tool work with someone who doesn’t).
Working through some of the tutorials is recommended – it will give you an idea of the basic workflow, as well as a little sense of the range of what these tools can do. There are zillions of tutorials available. Please make postings to this Moodle forum telling which ones you’ve found, and whether you recommend them. Amongst all of us, we should be able to figure these things out
There are 3 parts to this:
- Before February 8th, you must tell me who your partner is and what system you have chosen on the Moodle Activity. (technically, this is an assignment). Both partners must do this (so everyone must complete the Moodle Assignment).
- Assignment 3: Make a Picture. You should use lighting and surface appearances, and have some “interesting” geometry. The picture should be “rendered.”
The exact handin mechanisms will be given sometime before the due date.Before class on February 15, please upload your pictures (at least one, at most 3) to the moodle page. Please upload (embed) a small version, and link to a larger version (if you have it) - Assignment 4: Make an animation. A few seconds worth is probably enough. It does not need to be rendered (a playblast/screen capture is OK). The only requirement is that your animation has to have a “character” (it can be simple), that makes some movement. You should try to have the character convey some emotions (have it locomote sadly, or jump excitedly, …). Try to make use of animation principles. You will turn in both a still frame (a “teaser image” as well as the movie). The exact mechanics of how we’ll do this is still to be determined. (but it is due on Feb 22)
For Assignment 4, simple is good. Try to use the movements of the character to convey the emotions and intents.Very simple characters can be very expressive. A bouncing ball, or a walking triangle, or … I really want you to think about the movements, not making things look nice. Please make your animations less than a minute.
