Week 6 - Reading Week

This week I've carried on with the roller coaster animation that started a couple of weeks ago. I've also been working on animation for my dissertation work that I'll want to include in my show reel. These animations are in various stages of completion with some pretty much finished.

Video. 1. Starring at Me Animation

The video above is a piece of animation taken from my dissertation work. This animation takes place near the end of the short film. With this particular animation shot I'm pleased with the poses and the lip sync. However I may make a few changes to the lip sync near the end of the shot as I think some of the mouth movements don't fit the audio. Also a prop needs to be added to the shot too. 

Week 5

This week I've carrying on with my roller coaster sketch by smoothing out the animation and moving away from the block out phase. To do this I work over the block out animation pass I did the last couple of weeks. Also I'm trying to go over the key poses and work out what the character will be doing in-between those key poses. Where the animation is at at the minute I'm really happy with it. I'm still going to carry on smoothing out the animation and after that I'll move onto the lib sync. 

Video. 1. Roller Coaster Sketch

Week 4 - Roller Coaster Scene

Nearing the end of this week I began starting to block out my roller coaster scene animation for my show reel. In the Christmas holidays I created a basic scene and a rough roller coaster kart for my character to stand in. I did plan last term to use the Max for Maya rig for this particular animation however I am now using the Morpheus rig instead due to the fact that I have various characters in the sketch for example the mum and young kid and Morpheus allows me to easily customise the characters to give them each a unique appearance.

Video. 1. Roller Coaster Animation Playblast

In the video above you will be able to see a rough pass of the key poses the character will be doing in the scene. The next steps is to perfect the timings of the poses and start to smooth out the animation. 

Figure. 1. Maya Scene

In the figure above is the mum and kid rig they'll appear in the sketch. The two will look at each other in embarrassment as they witness their husband/dad chickening out on going on a roller coaster. 

Week 4 - Getting a Job

Last week I looked into the animation studio Blue Zoo productions. On the BAFTA Guru YouTube channel there are tons of videos giving advice on how to get into the industry. In the video 'Advice For Getting a Job with Animation Studio Blue-Zoo Productions'

Video. 1. 'Advice For Getting a Job with Animation Studio Blue-Zoo Productions'

Oli Hyatt the creative director at Blue Zoo gives his thoughts on how you should/could approach a studio with your portfolio. In the video above Oli Hyatt gives examples of show reels that have been sent in to Blue Zoo with students putting all their work in from the bad stuff in the first year to the good stuff near the end. Of course they don't know what order it's all in and a show reel isn't about showing the bad stuff you've made. He goes on to say that if there's 5 seconds of work that'll blow them away, they would rather see that instead.

Another video from the same YouTube channel 'Advice For Getting a Job with Games Studio Media Molecule' producer Siobhan Reddy gives her advice on getting a job in the industry. In the video she goes on to discuss women in the industry and that there are plenty of jobs in the industry. 

Video. 2. 'Advice For Getting a Job with Games Studio Media Molecule'

Video Reference

Video. 1. BAFTA Guru. 2014. Advice For Getting a Job with Animation Studio Blue-Zoo Productions [Online]. [11th Feb 2014]. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yiD9RNlKJQ

Video. 2. BAFTA Guru. Advice For Getting a Job with Games Studio Media Molecule [Online]. [11th Feb 2014]. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v04FqwkWdBU

Week 3 - Walt Disney Apprenticeships

In the industry there are great opportunities not only with the independent studios but also with the bigger companies too and the Walt Disney Animation Studios one of those companies looking out for new talent. On the studios website they have a section dedicated to the careers within the studio showing open positions currently open at the studio and apprenticeships.

Figure. 1. Walt Disney Animation Studios Logo

Figure. 2. Apprenticeship Positions

In figure 2 a screen shot from the apprenticeship positions page and within that it shows all the current vacancies available at this current time. However you can create an account to get updates from the studio with new opportunities see figure 4. When you've created your account you can attach a digital version of your portfolio. Also figure 3 shows the actual jobs open at the studio related to animation. Again if you create an account you can get notified when new jobs are available 

Figure. 3. Job Vacancies

Figure. 4. Create Profile Page

Picture References

Figure. 1. Walt Disney Animation Studios Logo http://disneyexaminer.com/2013/04/scratch-it-out-disney-animators-laid-off/walt-disney-animation-studios-logo/ (Accessed 09.02.2014)

Figure. 2. Apprenticeship Positions http://www.disneyanimation.com/careers/opportunities/building-our-future (Accessed 09.02.2014)

Figure. 3. Job Vacancies http://www.disneyanimation.com/careers/opportunities/developing-appealing-characters (Accessed 09.02.2014)

Figure. 4. Create Profile Page https://careers.disneyanimation.com/signup (Accessed 09.02.2014)

Week 3 - Blue Zoo Animation

This week I've been looking into more depth on my approach to the industry and how I may tackle that. I don't have an answer as of yet, however I have been looking into a lot more like I did in the last module.
Blue Zoo are an independent animation studio winning numerous Baftas and over the years have built relationships with a variety of TV broadcasters. The company are based in London and their work expands from TV idents to full 22 minute children's TV programming.

Figure. 1. Blue Zoo Website Screen Shot

Figure. 2. Blue Zoo Website Screen Shot

Oli Hyatt the creative director at Blu Zoo features in this video below. The video is 1 of many of  a series of videos from the Creative Skill set channel on YouTube. In the video people from the animation and special effects industry talk about making your portfolio short and sweet. Other tips include only showing your best work and show a variety of skills in your chosen area.  

insert video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKchlSGxsp0

Reference Images

Figure. 1. Blue Zoo Website Screen Shot http://www.blue-zoo.co.uk/animation/ (Accessed 10.02.2014)

Figure. 2. Blue Zoo Website Screen Shot http://www.blue-zoo.co.uk/styles/3d/ (Accessed 10.02.2014)