3D Animation, we dive fully into animation

After a few well-deserved days of rest, we start the engines again, although it seems that the battery is flat due to the days we have been stationary 😎; we can't make you wait any longer! we have to start! This time I will do it by making a summary of what the new 3D Animation subject at the UOC has been. The final result has been unbeatable, the best possible grade: Honors; and the personal satisfaction of having given everything I could!

3D ANIMATION (UOC)

Subject head: Llogari Casas

Poster of the animated movie Capture the Flag

The truth is that the Animation topic has hit me hard; so much so that I have decided to take a Master's degree at Animum, the Andalusian school that has trained some of the animators responsible for "Capture the Flag", the latest production by Enrique Gato. Now it's time to combine Multimedia studies at the UOC with this Master's in Animation for Video Games and Cinema...

I'll keep you posted! 😛

In this subject, the second after Animation, we pull again from everything we've been learning with 3DStudio Max. If with 3D Graphics you learned the operation of 3DMax by modeling and with Animation you gave movement to your scenes by learning the basic concepts of deformers, motion guides, and cameras... with this new subject, 3D Animation, it's about learning particle systems, making characters walk by treating skeletons, making them talk with "morpher", and touching a bit more in-depth on more complex animation techniques. Absolutely amazing! 😉 but much and much dedication time!

* To give you an idea, a 4-second scene can take you a whole week of work

PARTICLE SYSTEMS (PAC1)

Simulation of a 3D Studio Max irrigation system with particles

The first assignment, PAC1, takes us into the world of particles. This technique is based on controlling emitters of small geometries and their behavior once emitted. Controlling the contact with surfaces as well as the external forces that can influence them (gravity, wind, explosions...).

The PAC statement asks us to create a simulation of an irrigation system in a soccer field, asking us to simulate how we would present it to sell it... so I decide to create an explicit advertisement with its logo, "voice-over", and appropriate scenes.

Here you can see the result... the truth is that I got 1000 times more involved than necessary... but I couldn't stop 😳

You can see the more technical part in the submitted PDF

It turned out quite well 😉 with a bit of Premiere + Illustrator in between...

WALKING CYCLES (PAC2)

GIF animation of a basic Walk Cycle for a 3D character

Skeleton and rigging scheme for 3D character movement

One of the things that is usually requested in any subject that touches animation is a walking cycle (Walk Cycle). This cycle is the continuation of 2 previous techniques: attaching a skeleton to the character, and creating what is called RIGGING which is tying the skeleton to the character's mesh or figure in order to move it naturally. This which seems so easy, I assure you it is very, very complex!!!!

You can contrast it in the technical document PAC2

Once the skeleton is done and tied to the geometry, we go to animate, the fun part... a walk cycle is basic: Left foot back, left hand forward and vice versa with the right foot and hand.

Now it's a matter of giving naturalness to the movement of the hip, the back, and the vertical position of the body relative to the ground... Again many hours but very fun!!!

Walk cycle detail performed in the 3D animation practice

PRACTICE 1

Having achieved the first 2 PACs, it's time to get down with the first practice. They ask us to make a sequence for a news show. After giving it a few turns, I try to do something a little original mixing everything I've learned so far... the result is a bit "Matrix" or "Tron", for the most veterans!... but it's what I was looking for: modern, groundbreaking, impactful...

Screenshot of a television ident design with modern digital aesthetics

Ah!!!!! By the way, the music is also self-produced 😳... I already wanted to put a soundtrack to something 😉

Here you have the more technical part, PRA1

LIP SYNC (PAC3)

Lipsync or lip synchronization applied to a 3D bust

Facial modeling inspired by Robert De Niro for the Lip Sync practice

Lip sync translated means lip synchronization. This is another of the techniques most used in animation. You have to get the character to move their lips and express themselves naturally with dialogue. All these techniques have automatic options but the resulting mess makes you end up doing it by hand! 😉

Here I've taken a famous scene from Taxi Driver, the character is imposed by the assignment statement of PAC3, but I've tweaked it a bit so it had De Niro's face 😂

Hope you like it...

Here you have the technical document, PAC3, for those of you who want to go further!

PRACTICE 2

Final scene for the energy candy advertisement in 3D

Alien character design for the final animation project

And with all this we reach the final. A more or less free practice that proposed the advertisement of some natural and energetic candies... My idea was to present a typical cola lollipop that ends up eating a candy that comes from another galaxy... a "crazy idea" I admit! But very entertaining...

PDF, PRA2... for the more daring!

And now... only remains to start the Master's in Animation, Videogames and Cinema, I'll tell you how it all goes, that yes! If before you saw me little the hair, I think now I'll be a bit disappeared for 2 years 😎... you already know where to find me!