Friday, 31 October 2014

[Narrative] 23: Female Character Re-Design; Thumbnails 18 - 28

Main thumbnail

Working from advice given to me by my teammates and others including Alan and Jackie, I began to redevelop the design of our female character. This advice included:

Basing the body shape off of a more curved French pepper grinder than the one chosen, because the body shape was to close to that of the male character. 
To suit the new art style of the kitchen, having my new design inspired by 60's French chic illustrations. 
Losing the clothing's stripes due to the connotations associated with a stereotypical French chef. 
Losing the jumper, and returning to the dress. 
Making her dress' neckline lower.
During the process I was asked to bring the shoulders lower, and bring the inside of the legs closer together.

Also during the process I received advice from Alan concerning gaining better proportions, as well as correctly achieving the female body curve and positioning of the bust. During the colouring process the black outlines will be replaced, to better suit the French chic style as well as the style of the kitchen itself.


Other Thumbnails




Influence Map

Monday, 27 October 2014

[Character Design] 10: 60,000 Ft Under; Cyborg Development 01

Using the Influence Map I had previously created, I have begun to develop the Cyborg main character. Thumbnail 13 is my preferred design; next, I will take him into the colouring stage.



Main Thumbnail


Other Thumbnails


[Narrative] 22: Female Character Development 02; Thumbnails 13 - 17

After receiving more feedback from my teammates, I have designed the female character further. Sukhi provided me with more influence images, which I used along with my original Influence Map.

Thumbnails 13 - 17

Thumbnails 13 - 17 with overlay.

Further influences.

Thursday, 23 October 2014

[Narrative] 20: Male Character Development (02) | Post-Feedback

During the continuation of the male character design process, I received consistent feedback from my teammates e.g. having a bowl haircut rather than a hat, or removing the "Elvis" collar; leading to a design we all enjoy. (13)



Influence Maps
Bowl cut Influence Map.

Ugly character & nose Influence Map.

Wednesday, 22 October 2014

@Alan -- [Narrative] 19: Character Development | Pre- and Post-Feedback

Pre-Feedback Thumbnailing
Using the relevant Influence Maps, for the first pre-feedback batch of male character thumbnails, I played with modern French fashion and French stereotypes. I also used the relevant Influence Maps to map out possible silhouettes for the female character.
Female thumbnails.
Male thumbnails.
Further influences.

Post-Feedback Development
Post tutorial with Alan, character design advice included paring down our designs a bit, and researching French salt and pepper grinders to influence our characters shape, thus connecting their body to France and the kitchen. Alan explained that while pairs of salt and pepper shakers / grinders match (in design), they are opposites; a curvy grinder being feminine, and a predominantly tall and straight grinder being masculine, for example.


Post-feedback male thumbnails (so far).
Post-feedback male thumbnails - grinder overlay.

Even though the chosen grinder had some curve to it, I was able to use this to my advantage; since the curve lay in the bottom half of the grinder, I was able to convert the shape into trousers of a shape relevant to the male character. 


While our character is trying to act like a chef and be romantic, he is also very clumsy; a bit of a clown in that respect - for that reason his trousers take on a form reminiscent of those of a clown, in shape. 


Our animation will be designed with slapstick in mind, a technique often used by clowns; supporting further the choice to incorporate this aspect into the design.



Post-feedback Influence Map.

Sunday, 19 October 2014

[Narrative] 18: "Bon Appétit" Influence Map - Character 3D Models

In order to help prevent us designing characters that are too complex to create within the available time, I have researched multiple character 3D models with varying levels of simplicity.

[Narrative] 17: "Bon Appétit" Influence Map - French Women's Fashion

Imagining our main character's date would be a woman with whom he would be "punching above his weight" (she's better looking / better dressed than him), I've put together this Influence Map for inspiration as to what she might wear, and partly what she may look like. However a more specific Influence Map will be produced for her overall design.

Saturday, 18 October 2014

[Narrative] 16: "Bon Appétit" Setup, Chain Reaction and Ending Ideas

The idea below is in its pre- teammate feedback form. 
The updated, edited version will be posted on the Screw Loose Productions blog.

[source]

The Setup
Our main character is trying to follow a cooking show / cook book, to prepare a romantic meal for his wife/girlfriend/date. 

It's nighttime and his date stands out on the balcony outside the kitchen, looking out at Paris while smoking a cigarette. 

The table is romantically set up on the balcony; with a table cloth, burning candles, empty plates, knives and forks, a bottle of wine and empty wine glasses. 

In the kitchen a saucepan of water, chopped carrots and celery lightly bubbles on the back oven hob. 

The chicken is nearly finished cooking in the oven - indicated by the oven's timer. 

There is a low shelf above the oven which condiments such as mixed herbs, salt, pepper and vinegar sit on. 

There are some rogue vegetables scattered on the floor e.g. un-chopped carrot or celery.


Chain Reaction: The Build Up
  • Guy takes onions out of a knee high cupboard, which is next to the oven and leaves it open. 
  • He chops the onions on a chopping board. 
  • As he feels the onions effects he rubs his eyes and sniffles at random moments.
  • With his head just below the shelf, he drops the chopped onions into the saucepan. 
  • He lifts his head from over the pan to grab the condiments, narrowly avoiding hitting it on the shelf.
  • While affected by the onion, he removes the lid off a blocked salt shaker and pours too much salt into the pan. 
  • As he lifts his head from over the pan he nearly hits it on the shelf. 
  • Forgetting to put the salt lid back on, he puts it on the shelf and grabs the mixed herbs shaker, takes the lid off, pours some into the pan - while still affected by the onion smell.
  • Again forgetting to put the lid back on and again nearly hitting his head, he puts the herbs shaker back on the shelf.
  • The oven timer goes off and he struggles to remove the heavy roast chicken tray from the oven, slamming it down on the oven, in front of the saucepan - causing a loud thud. Due to lack of space it sits dangerously over the edge.
  • Hearing the thud his date turns to move and check out the noise, but decides not to, not wanting to ruin the surprise. She rubs her stomach in hunger.
  • Guy awkwardly bends over the chicken to stir the saucepan.

Chain Reaction: The Chain
  • As he lifts his head, he hits it on the loose shelf, knocking it up and causing the open condiments to tip over and pour into the saucepan.
  • In pain he steps back but slips on a carrot on the floor, as he falls backwards he reaches forward, trying to grab the oven to stop himself falling. 
  • Instead he grabs the chicken tray, catapulting the chicken onto his head.
  • Blinded by his chicken "hat" he gets up and tries to pull it off.
  • Finally managing to pull it off it flies through the air, out onto the balcony and onto the table; giving his date a fright. Hungrily staring at the chicken, she quickly grabs her knife and fork...

Credits

Post Credits
Some options:
  • Guy walks out of the kitchen with the saucepan to see if his date is okay, only to catch her hungrily tearing at the chicken. He drops the pan in shock. After recovering, he smiles.
  • Guy and date eating their meals with the chicken badly damaged from the the ordeal. Date enjoying her meal.
  • Date eating her meal greedily, tearing at the chicken with one hand and gulping down her 'saucepan soup' with the other. Guy sits at the other end of the table hesitantly sipping his portion of the soup as he stares shocked at her.

Friday, 17 October 2014

[Narrative] 15: "Bon Appétit" Roast Chicken Dinner - Influence Map

While researching romantic French meals, I came across roast chicken as one of the options. The multiple ingredients and utensils involved in preparing a full roast chicken dinner leaves plenty of room for chaos. Since our animation will rely on slapstick comedy, I thought of the chicken somehow landing on the man's head. This premise has been approved by my team members.

[source]

I later discovered that the popular 90's TV show, Friends had also made use of this method of slapstick comedy - to this day, the show is still being repeated. Audience members who are fans of the show, of whom have seen this episode will not only be amused by the events of the chain reaction, but may also feel a sense of nostalgia.


Research links

Thursday, 16 October 2014

[Narrative] 14: French Kitchen & Balcony Influence Map

[Narrative] 13: "Bon Appétit" Fixed Shot Block Out and Collage

After talking with Alan about the current state of our Narrative project, while satisfied with our general story, he suggested that we should instead have it in a fixed shot perspective, in which the the animation plays out without the camera moving. We also decided upon the location to be set in Paris, due to its romantic connotations. I have produced a collage and blocked out of what this shot might look like...

The shot block out

Full model 01

Full model 02

Shot collage

Note: 
Responses from teammates indicated that the block out felt a bit too cramped. 
Another layout idea has also been put forward.

Monday, 13 October 2014

[Narrative] 12: Kitchen Block Out for Narrative and Concept Art

Scroll down for more shots

Basic Info
Research of real objects was used to influence the dimensions of the objects in the kitchen; I made use of a tape measure to visualise what these dimensions would look like in reality. This design represents that of a cramped kitchen in a one bedroom flat. The block out deliberately does not include utensils such as pots and pans as it allows further creative license when designing the concept art. 


Project File
As part of the project file, features include...

Walls and the ceiling are on individual Layers, can hide a wall whenever the camera requires.

A red & orange cuboid represents the male character's possible dimensions; the orange face marks the front of the character. 'His' current height is 180cm / 5ft 9" tall.

Everything is nicely named and put in Groups, and their history has been deleted and their transformations frozen = a clean Outliner.

The door swings accurately on its axis so can be rotated if needed.


Some Measurements
By default Maya measures in cm, so below I have provided some of the x y z measurements I used...

Kitchen dimensions - X 300cm x  Y 200cm x Z 220cm

Countertop dimensions - Y 95cm x Z 60cm

Sink dimensions - X 80cm x Z 50cm

Sink bowl dimensions - X 40cm x Y 20cm x Z 35cm

Oven dimensions - X 50cm x Y 90cm x Z 50cm

Table dimensions - X 75cm x Y 80cm x Z 50cm

Possible character height - 180cm / 5ft 9”

Door gap dimensions - X 75cm x Y 200cm (Frame - Z 12cm)

Width of average house outer wall (IRL) - approx. 34cm



Other Shots
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