In this project, I aim to create a solo project which elaborates on the progress on my context of practice 3. In addition to that, I also aim to focus more on character design and backgrounds. Working on other projects will also help develop my skills and strengthen my portfolio as an animator.
[24/10/2020] Initial Developments
As I want to further develop upon the topic of synaesthesia in context of animation, I plan to create a short film recreating the experience of synesthete. I will accomplish this through choosing one soundtrack and animating a series of visual elements synchronising to each section of the track itself.
The chosen soundtrack is 'Darkness' by V.K a Taiwanese composer. This soundtrack is heard from a rhythm game Cytus developed by a Taiwanese company, Rayark. The reason I chose this track is because of the dynamic flow and beat this track features, allowing interesting dynamic visuals to be interpreted.
[10/11/2020] 1st Weekly Presentation
[Week 1 Presentation]
[Initial Mood board]
In the first presentation, I talked about how I wanted to further develop the theme of synaesthesia from the Context of Practice 3 Module. With the chosen sound track in mind, I developed a visual mood board after synthesising with the song itself.
I will also look at opportunities to work in other groups as either a background artist or a character concept artist.
[24/11/2020] 2nd Weekly Presentation
Developing upon my visual board as tasked, I added a series of visual images that would help develop a visual style and imagery that will feature with this project.
Alongside that, I also completed a live brief from LoopdeLoop - TheSmilingBoy. This live brief required us to visually interpret a song which was about asylum seekers, in particular Farhad Bandesh whom was one himself. Inspired by a photograph which captured a boy smiling before being buried alive in northern Iraq as Saddam Hussein tried to wipe out their population in the late eighties, Farhad wrote this powerful song which embraces the struggles and experiences he and many others had experienced as asylum seekers.
I developed a visual board with provided and externally sourced images then produced a looping short for the song.
I aim to progress from visual developments and get on to storyboarding the project.
[29/11/2020] Group Meeting [Rhys' Project - The Last Rider]
In the first meeting, we discussed about our roles in the group and the work we would like to each tackle for the project. As I was interested in character design for this project, I applied for that role. Alongside that, I wanted to practice and develop my illustration skills and decided to also take on that role as well.
[30/11/2020] Meeting with Music students at Leeds College of Music
As my solo project does not need additional sound, I joined in to understand the progress of collaboration between music and animation students. Since I was a part of Rhy's project, it was also interesting to listen to the work and projects music students' have produced and how they maybe able to help out on the group project.
[7/1/2021] 3rd Weekly Presentation
Further developing on my solo project, I created a draft storyboard of the soundtrack. Separating it in different sections and taking notes on what visual elements and transitions would appear after indulging myself in the soundtrack.
As I joined up with Rhy's group, I developed some character concepts. However, I found that I was more indulgent in developing and painting a concept background, taking up majority of the time; therefore a compromise was formed where I would focus solely on background concepts.
Feedback; Background needs to capture the 'hellish' theme of the world! It is realistic but lacks creative aspects.
After that, I will have to develop the exterior but also keep the creative aspect in mind while doing so.
[21/1/2021] 4th Weekly Presentation
From the previous weekly presentation, I started from scratch and redeveloped my vision on the projects' background concepts. I approached the world in from an abstract point of view and created several hellish like western landscapes.
After conversing with Rhys, we came to the conclusion where I would add a saloon in the landscape, keeping the abstract structure from the Design 2; developing into the final Design, 3.
Completing the exterior concept, I moved onto the interior. Using the Maya references made by Rhys, I developed several visual concepts with it. Keeping the creative aspect in mind, I made a hellish visual theme for the backgrounds.
Feedback; The original colour scheme and visual style was preferred over the overly hellish colour scheme from the interior concept.
Due to the constant development and time spent on the backgrounds I didn't have time to work on my solo project. However I do aim to resume progress next week.
[4/2/2021] 5th Weekly Presentation
As Rhys has finalised the Gantt chart for the backgrounds, I spent the time to develop and finalise the background I did as a concept during the previous weekly. The outcome was great and I am proud of the development, however I will need to keep the subsequent background visually consistent.
[Change of plans for solo project]
Due to the time spent finalising and painting the backgrounds, I did not have time to work on my solo project. Moreover looking at the time and deadlines set, I might not be able to produce a final film that I envisioned and will be proud of, some compromises may have to be done to shorten it if possible.
However as I am getting more and more interested in background illustration as an animator, I actually do not mind comprising the solo project to complete and put my fullest effort to create and complete the backgrounds for Rhys' animation project. The more I think about my solo project the more sense of direction lost from the planning phase as the 'feeling' of depicting specific visuals synchronising to the soundtrack maybe dependant on myself and changes overtime. I will make a final decision on the verdict of my solo project within the timeframe of this weekly and the next weekly.
[11/2/2021] 6th Weekly Presentation
Continuing on with the backgrounds, I've finished the second background and moving swiftly onto the third. As I am able to reuse a lot of the assets I've digitally illustrated, this makes the process of the backgrounds a lot faster; only having to adjust and repaint some parts of the background and not starting from scratch.
If possible, I aim to finish the backgrounds ahead of time, allowing room for improvement and changes if needed. Depending on how ahead I am from the schedule, I can then go back to my solo project if possible. As I still aim to create a abstract visual based animated short, I will not need the long process of pre-production but only to test animatic timings. Therefore if there is time left to spare, I do aim to get back to it after completing the backgrounds.
[18/2/2021] 7th Weekly Presentation
This weeks' progress was productive. I've managed to complete three backgrounds which puts me ahead of the set time schedule by 2 working days. I've managed to complete backgrounds 3, 4, and 5, moreover I got to add some minor details to the completed backgrounds of 1 and 2.
I aim to continue working at this pace, hopefully allowing myself to complete work ahead of time to allow room for adjustments.
[25/2/2021] 1-2-1 Tutorial
In this meeting with Mike, I was able to inform and update him on my situation regarding this module. My plan for this module initially was to create a visual and music synced animation which lasted for 1 minute and 50 seconds. However that was put on hold once I've started committing on Rhys' project.
Although, I am ahead of schedule on Rhys' project and I aim to spare as much time as I can to complete what I wanted to do originally. I will compromise and cut down the time to around 30-40 seconds, focussing only on the main parts of the song. I will have to go back to the drawing board and fully plan my animation once I'm at a stage where I only have to do minor revisions on the backgrounds.
My second plan would be to fully help Rhys out on his project and do some producing of animating some scenes if my project is not developed or revised enough in a timely manner.
[3/3/2021] 8th Weekly Presentation
As there was some time between the 7th weekly session and the 8th, I was able to get some more backgrounds completed. I am currently a little passed the half way point, 10/20 completed backgrounds and almost completing the 11h and 12th.
As aforementioned, I aim to complete the 20 backgrounds in a timely manner allowing time for me to work on my initial project. That plan can change and I might fully commit on Rhys' project not only as the background artist but also an animator. However that will be my backup if I do not come up with a revised storyboard and animatic for my project once I reach the stage of minor revisions on the backgrounds.
Feedback:- Make the shelves messy! Not rearranged- Generally, the place is too clean, need to mess it up more [on the floor] - On background 10, the cards needs revisiting, seem to be on different planes - Things look too even, needs foreshortening!
[10/3/21] 9th Weekly Presentation
Since last weeks' weekly, from the feedback I got to make the environment messier and less clean, I decided to hold those revisions on pause after I finish all of the backgrounds first. As I am still ahead of schedule for the backgrounds, I aim to finish all the interior backgrounds first then move onto the two remaining exteriors.
I planned to have worked on some of my solo project this week however I was not able to do so due to the backgrounds. Since I completed the interiors, I will hopefully be able to move onto the exteriors and revisions by next weekly. Leaving the remaining time to work on my solo project.
[18/3/21] 10th Weekly Presentation
This week, instead of leaving the revisions till last, I decided to tackle them and finish them for feedback this week. Alongside revisions, I also completed the rest of the interior backgrounds that were not complete due to the bar shelf needing to be reworked as well as the bar atmosphere.
During the week, Rhys also requested for two additional interior backgrounds, I will be aiming to complete those alongside the exterior backgrounds for the next weekly. As those backgrounds will not be too difficult, I can complete them and also work on my solo project.
Solo Project Update:
- As adjustments had to be made due to the lack of time left before submission date, I decided to retackle the concept of my solo project.
- I changed songs, from 'Darkness' by VK, to 'Luolimasi' by SIHanatsuka
- This short will be a self reflective piece, illustrating self struggles and overcoming them through synchronised visuals with the track
- To accommodate for the time remaining, I will have the option to cut down the song, however that effects the 'storytelling' aspect of it as I aim to synchronise the tone and mood portrayed by the track to the visuals. However my solution will be to have the first half illustrating self struggles and battling them illustrated in a black and white animation, finally breaking free and transitioning to fully coloured visuals at the end.
I aim to portray my concept through a developed storyboard and animatic by next week alongside the backgrounds.
[25/3/20]
Tackling on the exterior backgrounds, I used the exterior concept piece to get an understanding of the rest of the sky that I will have to build upon as this background is planned to pan from the sky down towards the saloon.
[Original Concept Exterior]
I decided to redo the main assets of the background as the lines and the colouring of the mountains, tower, and saloon are well underdeveloped and lacks the consistent quality of lighting and style.
But before tackling the assets, I had to settle down on the background composition. The concept Rhys provided was a portal that opens up leading towards the saloon in the sky; some thoughts of colour came to mind and I decided to try out different colours for the sky.
[Background 13 Colour Tests]
Rhys suggested the colour of the portal to be a hellish orange colour, therefore tests were done to make the sky orange fading to the green for the portal. However there was an issue of consistency where if there was to the background, I would have to apply the change to the other backgrounds where there were windows showing the landscape from the interior.
Rhys and I mutually agreed to keep the background colour range from hot pink fading to a pale purple to make things more simple.
A workaround for the portal was to replace the portal with the moon, making that the focal point suggesting that this world presented was a fantasy Hellscape; which was suggested by Rhys.
Happy with the decision and direction, I started to compose a composition for the clouds.
[Background 13 Cloud Composition]
After polishing off the clouds, I moved onto the assets. I decided to tackle the tower and mountains as those were the easier ones to redo first.
[Background 13 WIP1 - Tower and Mountains]
Tower Changes:
- Completed base colour and removed the line details
- Separated the creature statue from the shaft of the tower and added a shadow underneath it
- Repainted the scales of the neck portion of the creature to replace the lines
- I decided to not paint the 'brick' texture on the tower and make it just simple stone shaft
Mountains Changes:
- Repainted some areas to make it more complete
- Changed the hue of it to reflect a more reddish tone, fitting the hellscape environment
[Background 13 WIP2 - Saloon]
Saloon Changes:
- Repainted the entire structure
- Changed the base colours, instead of browns mirror the texture of wood, I changed it to a maroon tone to push the hellscape aspect further
- The wood textures on the structure are now more visible
- Added interior details, so now the windows are see-through to the inside of the saloon
Overall, I am really happy with the outcome of the saloon. Although this process too long, it was really worth it.
[Background 13 Final - Added Shadow and Lighting]
[Background 13 - Close up of the Saloon]
Final touches:
- After adding the lighting and shading, the saloon really popped
- The saloon sign was a bit dull even after revision, so I decided to push the fantasy aspect further and made it emit a hellish green flames which worked extremely well
Solo Project [Storyboard]:
- After spending majority of the week working on the first exterior background, I was only able to get the general concept of the storyboard complete.
[Revival Storyboard]
I plan to complete the backgrounds and start animating next week after completing the final and last background for Rhys group project.
[1/4/20]
Working on the final background, the background is a wide-shot illustrating a sand-dune background. Reusing assets of the mountains and clouds, I created a draft version to see if this was the direction Rhys wanted for this background.
[Background 19 - WIP1]
- Simple background to accomplish as a lot of assets were reusable
- Most difficult aspect of it would be the sand-dune
I mainly struggled with the colours of the sand-dune as I did not know whether to depict it with an array of reds to reflect the hellscape theme or use colours I used to depict the ground form the first exterior background.
In the end I decided to keep the colours consistent and use the lighting of the hot pink to help depict that hellish fantasy aspect.
[Background 19 - WIP2]
After completing the assets, I started to work on the lighting, shading and minor details.
[Background 19 - Final]
After this background I still have a final background to complete depicting the final scene depicting Marrow, the protagonist and his skeleton horse.
I will work on that next week and focus on my solo project backgrounds first.
Solo Project Update:
- Due to minute amount of remaining time, I have decided to cut majority of the storyboard concept down to only the ending where the character breaks through from the darkness and flies through the skies.
- I will complete that aspect of the project first as that will be the most visually impactful scene, leaving the remaining time for polishing and finding a workaround to depict the 'struggle' aspect
Working on the first background, I struggled a lot with the perspective, technique, and the depiction of the city.
I started by composing the perspective of the shot and started painting.
[Revival Background 1 - WIP1]
After working on the perspective and the composition, I managed to get a general composition of the background. Excluding the city, I've painted the mountains and sky.
[Revival Background 1 - WIP2]
Trial and Error:
- As I wanted to speed the process up for the background, I tried and attempted photo-bashing, to depict the aspects. However I found that too difficult and inconsistent in terms of texture and style
- I resorted back to painting using a textured brush to give it a rougher look
- Thinking about the scene, I thought of elongating the background and changing the colour of the sky, making the two backgrounds combine to make the process easier
- I attempted photo bashing for the city, however I did not like the perspective of the sot and in the end, I decided to find a better reference photo for the perspective and start over
I will work on the background next week, and hopefully experiment with after effects to see how I can transition the sky from night to sunrise.
[8/4/20]
Working on the new background, I got a perfect reference perspective for the background. With that, I started to work on the new background. As this animation project is a personal project relating to myself, I used a cityscape of Hong Kong as a part of my background to demonstrates my origins.
[Revival Background - Perspective reference]
After gathering the images, I started to compose the city aspect first as that was the most trouble I had in the previous background.
[Revival Background - WIP1]
- Using colour range, I created the light contours of the cityscape of Hong Kong Victoria Harbour
- I then photo-bashed various views and cityscapes of Hong Kong to complete the missing aspects of the contour
- I played around with the hues and saturation to make the city scape monotone
[Revival Background 1 - WIP2]
- I changed some areas of the cityscape hue to make the contours more apparent
- I used colour range for the city reference image of Victoria Habour and adjusted it to get a selection of the cityscape highlights
- I adjusted the colour of orange of the sky to reflect that on the highlight buildings
I then started to work on the clouds; starting with the sunrise.
[Revival Background 1 - Sunrise clouds]
[Revival Background 1 - White clouds]
[Revival Background 1 - Grey clouds]
To save time, after finishing the sunrise clouds, I adjusted the hue and saturation of it to produce the white and grey clouds.
I aim to finish the last background for Rhys, the second Revival background and start animating next week.
[15/4/20]
Working on Rhys' last background, it was quite simple as it was just a change of composition and some minor details.
I used the sand-dune from background 19 to create the background, added a flat foreground to complete the ground composition. I was deciding whether to have a flat landscape or a more dynamic one, I decided to create a more dynamic background to make the landscape less static.
[Background 23 - WIP1]
- I attempted to repaint the clouds using a chalk brush but that changes the style of the clouds immensely ruining the consistency, therefore I kept the clouds the same
- As in the storyboard, there were boulders around the mid-ground I decided to add those there for the final composition to make it look more interesting and less empty
[Background 23 - Final]
- I finished rendering the boulders and the post for the leash of the skeletal horse
- I added lighting and shadow to this piece and completed it
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