Blender Animation Assignment

You have been learning Blender basics thanks to Alex and online tutorials. Finally, here is the 3-D Animation Assignment:

Create a character and 3-Dimentional environment using Blender and then animate a short narrative sequence. You can work in groups or on your own:

Character Modeling- Combine shapes, edit points and sculpt to create a character. Use colours, and textures to create a character with personality.
Spatial Modeling- Establish a simple scene for your character. Either urban or rural interior or exterior. Start with a plane and see where you go.
What happens? Narrative storyline. Establish an introduction, conflict and resolution.
Movement- Animate your character through the space.
Lighting- Create the mood through lighting- angles, distances, types of lighting.
Creative use of 3-D Space- Unique, Eye catching and Entertaining.
Sound-  This is for bonus marks.
Credits- Opening/ Closing.

Theme Prompt-  Journey, Surprise, and/or discovery.

More Tutorials

Hey everyone!

Here are a more tutorials and places to get useful tutorials. Pick a few from below and use what they're teaching in your own animation.

Skin Modifier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4pSjOd94Lw
Another skin modifier tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezZjV6yfbbE

Another Way to give Characters bones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-rhD4PV1Fc

Character Animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGvalWG8HBU

Particles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8cluXxEK6E

Explosions: http://cgcookie.com/blender/2011/12/02/tip-creating-quick-explosions/

Crumbling simulations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHVYYMG3QVY

Trees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5qQNq_T8eI

Modelling a Building: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJJRC2ebvSE

Modelling a human head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOc4ATqZetk

Sculpting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2unpm-Gr5I8

Basic Animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0VspDUOErE

Animation Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj44hGZj3y8
Another animation tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0VspDUOErE

Bouncing Ball Animation: http://cgcookie.com/blender/2010/09/29/creating-a-bouncing-ball-rig/

UV Texturing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6t3tehdsHU

Painting textures onto mesh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPkqbpoTgD0

Lighting: http://bensimonds.com/2010/06/03/lighting-tips-from-the-masters/

Adding Sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKcCR2d7PtE

Render an animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd5RT8rEPqU

Here are awesome places to get many great tutorials:

The Blender Website: http://www.blender.org/support/tutorials/
Blender Cookie: https://cgcookie.com/blender/category/tutorials/
Blender Guru: http://www.blenderguru.com/tutorials/
BlenderArtist: http://blenderartists.org/forum/index.php

Always look for new things!

Good Luck!

Animation Sharing

Save your Stop motion animations to the Computer AnimationShare folder, or save the links here:
Animation Google Doc

Claymation Ideas Development

1. Develop your character(s).
2. Brainstorm your animation ideas
3. Sketch out your idea, props, expressions, background.
4. Write a short "pitch" of the story idea.
5. Storyboard your animation in sequence/order significant frames or changes. This is the most important time in your creative process:

• Make sure to establish your scene, consider medium shots to establish your character, and close-ups to show details and expressions, cut aways, and frame composition. 
• Also plan your mood: lighting, background details, texture, and movement within and between frames. 
• Consider the space between, pauses, and thoughtful moments.

6. List out what you will need for your set-

• Materials- Recycled paper. Clay? Paper? Whiteboard? String/yarn? Lights?
• Image capturing device? Camera needs.
• Equipment needs : Tripod, lighting equipment, background stand...
• Backgrounds: Paper, fabric, or location.
• Location: School, home, room?
• Additional ideas:

7. Test shoot, lighting, scene, composition.
8. Create an X-sheet for timing, sound ideas, and production notes.

ClayMation Project

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irOecGxh36g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTFI7_tAgm4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrZMpA2DSe4

1. Start with a Story Idea
Brainstorm a simple idea. Keep your story basic, short and to the point, but meaningful to you. Maybe document an uncomfortable experience and make it funny. Jot down points, scribble notes about ideas.

2. Write a Script
The first step to making a claymation is to write a script.  While your clay figures are unlikely to be very talkative, that doesn't mean you're not telling a story. It doesn't have to be long or complex, in fact if it's your first attempt it's best to start simple to get some practice so you won't be overwhelmed. Also consider a pitch about your story- a one line description of what your story is about.

3. Develop your Character
Sketch out character ideas. Figure out the expressive potential of your character, Clothing, props, shape, Consider how your character will move in the space that you will be creating. You may want to pick up a ball of clay to shape and experiment with.

4. Storyboard your Idea
 Not frame by frame, but draw short changes in your sequence or story. Significant movements each. Sketch out your idea. Consider shots- Long establishing shot, medium shots, close-up, and extreme close-up, and angles. Also plan your background, props, and lighting.

5. Share your Story
Tell your story out load to others. Hearing your story will help you consider believability, logistics and sequence. Encourage your listener to ask questions. Take notes. Consider making changes to clarify your story idea.


A note on the music/sounds:
Music/sounds can have a huge impact on the mood of your animation. If you want to create a sad or eerie mood, try using music with a lingering piano or a lone violin. Upbeat and cheery music would be appropriate if you wanted to create a blissful mood. Be aware of the mood your claymation is displaying so you can match music with it. You can't be showing a sad scene with benny hill playing, it just doesn't work.

Claymation/Stop Motion Animation

Let's take a look at a few stop motion animation pieces:
Some Stop Motion Animation Examples-

Balance
Zero

Blends of Stop Motion and Real Life-
Address Is Approximate from The Theory on Vimeo.
Only in Dreams

Metamutography-Blending Clay with StopMotion
Samsung is amazing!
Vimeo- Quadratmeterboy

Claymation
Pingu Goes SnowBoarding
Mound

Animated GIFs using Adobe Photoshop

Create an animated GIF in Photoshop from the Adobe Learn and Support site

Learn how to use a series of photos and frame animation to create an animated GIF.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to turn a series of photos into a looping animated GIF using Photoshop.

This technique works well for creating a timelapse animation using series of photos taken from a DSLR or point-and-shoot camera, or even a mobile device. For the example, we used a series of photos taken with burst mode from an iPhone. Download photos from your ball animation
Tip: You can also use this technique to create an animated GIF from a short video.

Step 1 of 5

Import a series of photos

Open Photoshop and go to File > Scripts > Load Files into Stack.
Click Browse and locate the photos you want to use. While holding down the Shift key, select all the files and click Open.
Click OK to import the photos into a single layered file.

Note that a number of new layers have been created in the Layers panel on the right side of your workspace.
These individual layers will become the frames of the animated GIF.

Optional: Import a Video

If you're starting with a short video, you'll first need to convert the frames of the video into individual layers. Go to File > Import > Video Frames to Layers....
Locate and select the video file you want to use and click Open.
Click OK to convert the video frames to a single layered file.
Note: Photoshop may not be able to fully import a video that is too long. Use the options in the Import window to limit the amount of frames imported. You can select to import the entire video, or choose just a segment of the video. You can also limit the amount of frames imported to a set interval, such as every 2 frames.

Step 2 of 5

Open the Timeline

Go to Window > Timeline to open the Timeline panel.
Click the arrow on the button in the middle of the panel and select Create Frame Animation. Then click the button to create a new frame animation.

Step 3 of 5

Convert layers into animation frames

Click the menu icon from the upper right corner of the Timeline panel. Click Make Frames From Layers.
This will convert all the layers in the Layers panel into individual frames in your animation.

Click the Play button from the bottom of the Timeline panel (or press the Spacebar on your keyboard) to preview the animation.
Note: If your animation is playing in reverse, click the Timeline menu icon again and select Reverse Frames.

Step 4 of 5

Set the animation to loop

Click the repeat menu from the bottom of the Timeline panel and select Forever. This will create a looping animation.

Click the Play button from the bottom of the Timeline panel (or press the Spacebar on your keyboard) to preview the animation.

Step 5 of 5

Export the animation as a GIF

Go to File > Export > Save for Web (Legacy)...

1. Select GIF 128 Dithered from the Preset menu.
2. Select 256 from the Colors menu.
3. If you are using the GIF online or want to limit the file size of the animation, change Width and Height fields in the Image Size options.
4. Select Forever from the Looping Options menu.

Click the Preview... button in the lower left corner of the Export window to preview your GIF in a web browser.
Click Save... and select a destination for your animated GIF file.

Done!

Congratulations! You have just created your animated GIF.
Note that you can also use this technique for any layered Photoshop file.