Animation Portfolio Reflection

Watermelon Project:

This is my most recent of my favorite animations. The most important thing I learned through this project is the ability to draw a character/icon/prop, and be able to scan it into the computer and later animate it. In my animation I drew a watermelon that has separate arms, legs, body, eyes, mouth, and other body parts. I picked this project to get the unique feel of creating an animation created originally from me. I was easily able to draw and scan my character into the computer. The most challenging part of this specific animation was to get a synced walk cycle. I've improved my walk cycle tremendously by creating more projects that included a walk cycle, and I plan to continue to improve. I would move the arms of my character in a future edit. In conclusion, my walking watermelon animation was created through my drawing and put into a walk cycle that was somewhat challenging.

Story Animation:

I created this story animation by combining all of my past skills into this story. I decided to make my story based on a Mother owl who flies away and the children owls are left alone. In this project I combined Arcs, Timing, Puppet Pin, Multilayer, Walk-Cycle, and Keyframe Interpolation/Eases. I decided to see what I could make by combing my preterite knowledge. I was able to create the different scenes and put them together with ease. I had a little trouble with animating the eggs cracking, but in the end it looked very nice. Finally, if I were to change anything, I would color correct some of my props.

3D Castle:

In the making of my castle I used the program 

Maya. Using this program I learned the basics in making 3D objects. I picked this project to 

prove to my self that I wasn't limited to 2D 

projects. Im proud of the textures I used in the final product. I would create a floor to my castle if I was to go back. Over time I've gotten better at walls, floors, and textures even more than before. I am going to make more 3D animations with the knowledge I've gained in this program. In the end, I will make more projects like this one in 3D, using textures and more complex designs.

Hammer:

Second, I made a hammer and nails with Maya. This was one of my most complex 3D projects. I learned how to use vertices and faces to make more complex polygons such as hammer heads. I picked this project to create a project made of more than just simple shapes. I'm very pleased with the entire hammer and how it turned out. I would improve the nail next time I had the chance. In conclusion, I am going to bevel the nail to have rounder edges and fix the point on the nail to seem more realistic, but I am overall satisfied with my hammer project.

Ice Cream 3D Animation:

This project is my first Animated 3D project. I chose this project in order to see if I had the potential to animate a 3D project. I learned how to do so. Im proud of everything that I created in this animation with an exception on the textures. I would definitely go back and redo the textures, because I had "booleans-unioned" the Ice cream, so unfortunately I could not go back and texture them. In the end I think I came through with the project because I got it to animate with great looking props.

3D Realistic Pen:

For my final 3D project of the semester I made a pen that I own in real life! I chose to do this so I could create something that I owned so I could recreate it on my computer! I am very proud of this pen and it is my all time favorite 3D project by far. It was a challenge to make the clips and the tip of the pen. Despite those obstacles, I still managed to complete the project almost identical to my real life pen. I learned how to use the soft select tool in order to bend a polygon in my favor to create something new and unique. I'm most proud of this project! Finally, Making this realistic pen that I own in real life was a lot of fun to create and compare to my real pen!

Technical Animation Blog

How to animate rendered screen shots from Maya:

Step 1- Open Adobe After Effects

Step 2- Right click, hover over import, and select file...

Step 3- Click on the first clip and check off the "JPEG Sequence" box

Step 4- Open the click and drag in into the timeline

Step 5- Set your setting and press render on the bottom right side

Professional Project Review Animation Post

Link to Animation:

"Animation I Reviewed"

Summary:

The creator of this project is a YouTuber with over 1 Million subscribers on his channel. This video is a profession project about his past experience in working at the Subway fast food restaurant. This video is a cartoon animation. This past story of his life was told in a comedy perspective to be made funny and entertaining. A voice over was used in this video as well. I may add the voice over to a future animation that I make that tells a storyline. I have already learned how to move characters/objects, which was used in this project. The creator did an amazing job on explaining his story in a creative, animated, and entertaining way.

Source:

theodd1sout comic. "Work Stories (subway)." YouTube, 30 March 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV542dRK3uk. 6 December 2016.

Professional Animation Article Blog

Link to Article:

"Animation Article"

Summary:

This article is about tips on making Animations. There are plenty of tips in this article that aid in your work or steps to achieve the best animation skills or "tools" to help a smooth transition into this line of work! This article helps a lot and has some of the greatest tips about animation. Simple shots, story boarding, feedback on your work, are only part of the other great tips that this article has in store. If you want to begin a a career in the animation industry I recommend reading over this article to find some helpful tips that can improve your animation skills. 

Professional video blog

Overview:

In this interview, it was not done by a professional like a news reporter, but it still uses the same techniques as a professional interview. An interview like this shows the true potential in camera and person placement. Even though you are not a professional, using tricks like the rule of thirds, over the shoulder shots, 180 degree rule, and eye contact can really make the interview seem professional. This was a casual interview that was made to look outstanding due to the same rules and techniques used and learned in our very Video class.

VIDEO:

Professional article video blog

Link to article:

"Video Article"

Summary:

This article is about tips on making videos. There are plenty of tips in this article including tips about taking steady videos, producing creative shots, zooms, pans, lighting and a lot more! This article even talks about special effects such as green screens. If you want to begin a a career in the film industry I recommend reading over this article to find some helpful tips that can improve your filming skills. 

My Personal Blog for Animation

Story Animation

I created this story animation by combining all of the skills that I've learned into this story. I decided to make my story based on an Owl who flies away and the children owls are left alone.In this project I combined Arcs, Timing, Puppet Pin, Multilayer, Walk-Cycle, and Keyframe Interpolation/Eases. 

Reflection:

The scope of this project was to create a storyline by combing all of your skills put together. The process to making this animation was to first come up with a story that could contain all of these skills in it. I had to story board to get my ideas and scenes ready to go.

Production:

This story was a lot of fun to make, and I learned a new skill: Fading. Fading was used by making a black screen and changing the opacity using key frames. 

Overview:

In a future project I would take more time in the overall production and clean a couple things up such as changing the angles. I would keep the story production ideas the same such as using a story board. I would also use the same techniques and skills, because when put together, They make a heck of a story.

Technical How-To Blog for Video

What are J and L Edits?

In a J-Edit, the sound of the next scene precedes the picture, and in an L-Edit, the picture changes but the audio continues.

How-To make J and L Edits:

J and L Edits are nearly essential to videos such as in stories! Knowing the difference and how to preform these editing tricks is a handy way to improve any video!

Step 1:

In editing any video the first step is to collect all your clips into your timeline.

Step 2 (J-Edit):

The next step would be to separate the original clip where you would like to enter in a J-Edit. After you do so you want to fit the desired clip to use the J-Edit on in between the original clip and put the Picture of the video above the original clip and the Sound portion of the desired clip under the two. Next silence the original clip volume and erase the desired clip picture so that the desired clip sound plays over the original clips picture.

Step 3 (L-Edit):

Finally, the last edit is the L-Edit. This edit in my opinion is the easiest one to understand and make! In order to preform this effect, you must place the desired clip picture above the original clip and the Sound portion of the desired clip under the two clips once again. Then you want to mute the sound of the desired clip on the bottom while muting the picture of the original clip. Therefore the original clips's sound is playing while the desired clips picture is as well. That is an L-Edit.

Animation First 3D Project

Intro to Maya

So far I have only been familiar with 2D animations, but with this new program (Maya), I know know what its like to work with 3D objects. Maya is a program that allows you to express your creativity through 3D objects. In our first project we've made a 3D castle! I made mine using several different tools! This project was a lot of fun and Im looking forward to using this program for more future animations!

Video: Interviews

Techniques for Interviews

When interviewing people I learned all about the types of questions I should ask. I also learned about voice overs, which are used to edit into the final video to replace your initial questions from the interview. B-Roll I also found out was a huge part of video and that I needed to include video of something that has to do with what you are interviewing about, including natural sound. Using the cameras mic was new to me but easy to learn how to use. I realized that using the mic improves sound quality greatly when dealing with peoples voices.

Conclusion

I was never interested in news production but I felt that learning these techniques could actually help me in other circumstances in other than just news. Theres always a first try to everything and making the interviews was not a let down of an experience as I thought it would be.

Reflections

In my critique, I had very positive feedback and great ideas to reflect upon for my future interviews! I realized that I needed to include a better B-Roll and more NAT Sound to put more emotion and connection in my video. 

New Year = New Opportunities, Starting w/ Exploring Video

Making My First Video of the Year

The process for completing my project was to think of a procedure, make a story board, get the camera, film the clips, and finally edit the video. I had to work with one more person and he helped me set up the camera and record parts of the video. My responsibilities for making this video was to direct, act, and edit the video. I learned how to use the new camera and edit through the new program. I would white balance and focus the camera better the next time that I film. I would revise my work by fading the music when I edit, white balance better, and focus the camera with more precision. Our video was about the school procedure for eating and drinking in the class.

E-Comm 2016 Final Blog

Summary

e-Comm has been a wonderful experience throughout the year. I started out in Graphic Design. To me graphic design was fun at times but challenging for the most part. I didn't find myself enjoying that class enough to be doing it for the rest of high school. I truly do love and appreciate the artwork created by others and what you can do with these programs.
Example:











Next, I went to Animation. Animation to me was a way to throw your 3-Dimensional ideas into virtual reality and sculpting using Sketch-Up. Its also a place to make possible skits or cartoons with enough time and effort. Animation if a fun place to express your true creativity in a fun, unique, and comical standpoint.
Example:
















Finally, through the e-Comm program I found Video. Video is where I found my true passion. I immediately found that this is the area that I could enjoy for the rest of my high school years, and in a possible, future career. The filmmaking was exciting and can leave room to set your scene in your own crazy and fun delight. Video was fun, but for me it was the editing aspect of the job that captured my undivided attention. I love to edit so much now and I even started a personal YouTube account to film, edit, and post videos on my own and at home. I will continue to make videos and edit them throughout the year and in the summer.
Example:

Final Project

Near the end of the year we had a final project with assigned groups. My group was really cool, we all worked hard and took extra time to make sure that our project at the end was as good as possible. Our project was called Motor Sthetics and Robo-Dough. This product is essentially a remote-controlled car that you could customize using playdough. I think our presentation went well and was successful.

Thank you e-Comm For a Wonderful Year! 

All the Videos I Made

Videos

I made a total of three videos. In each of these videos I acted, filmed, and directed parts of these films. Making these videos has been so much fun, and I've learned so much in my time in "video." I have developed a strong passion for editing and film making. 

Teamwork

I filmed and edited all of these videos. But I cannot give myself 100% of the credit. Without willing partners to help me, these videos would not have been possible. I couldn't thank enough to the people who helped me film and produce these skits.

My Videos: