Working it out.

Sometimes, things just don't work. And when they don't work, you need to move on and try something else. That's one of the most important things I've learned while studying and doing animation.

Sometimes a particular action or piece of acting just isn't the right one. For example, I've now just run into this situation while trying animate Lily's reaction to first seeing the falling star in the sky. I've tried some slight squash and stretch with a hint of anticipation to make her sorta 'twitch' (sounds wrong but we'll go with that word for now) when she realises what she's looking at. But it's not right.
The main problem is it's slowing her and the animation down. I'm not wholy believing this is her character. So I've taken about an hour or so's work out, just after finishing it and watching the sequence a few times. Why? Because it's time to try something different.

There is absolutely no point in dwelling on trying to make this work. It might take me longer than it should to get it right. I may not ever get it right. Or I might get it down a lot better if I try again. But the main point is I'm not believing it and if I don't believe it how can I expect an audience to?
But it's ok because I have other ideas. I've thought about Lily's personality and thought of a few reactions that are more 'Lily-like'.


Now, a quick note: I am not saying throw it out as soon as something doesn't work. That's not what I'm trying to get across here. If there's a particular action that is right but just isn't working, try again. If it's something that the character would definitely do, try again. Maybe from a different angle or a different way but certainly try again. The point is learning to recognise when an idea is awesome but just needs more time and working out and when an idea just isn't appropriate/right/believable and a new idea is needed.

It's part of what I think is the fun of animation; the working it out.

(And of course the results of your efforts!)

Well... that was certainly a long and somewhat deep post from me. I occasionally like to write my thoughts down so that one day I'll read it and think 'God, what a freak I was...'

Ok...

I *THINK* I have everything back up... I think... Plus some extra stuff, namely the character sketches and concepts. Now I can go back to animating :)

Quick update on animation process: Scene 1 and 2 are roughed out, currently roughing out Scene 3. I hope to get most if not all of the animation roughed out by the time the Animex festival starts, which will be the week starting February 7th. So I've got about a month. Should be do-able. (I hope!)

Welcome - Take 2

So by re-arranging my google account I have managed to accidently delete my Final Year Project blog. Which sucks by the way.

I've managed to set the blog back up however, previous posts can't be recovered. (In fact, nothing can be recovered. I have to do this again from scratch.) Everything should be up as it was, all that's really missing are my previous posts of updates and rambles.

So welcome again! This is my second Final Year Project blog, please find all the details about my project within the pages to the right!

May the first blog rest in peace.