Today we learnd about the use of Movie Render Queue.
Firstly we need to open the MRQ plugin.
About Console Variables, I put together a file on it.
Week 9 : Unreal rendering
Week 9 : Topic change and Literature review
Evolution of topic selection
My initial research topic was about the impact of narrative documentary animation on social confilcts. However, during the search, I found that my topic was too broad, making it difficult to concentrate on a specific impact or field for detailed research. Therefore, I attempted to modify my keywords, narrative animation and its effects. Then, I came across a book.
Artical: The Hero’s Journey and Three Types of Metaphor in Pixar Animation by Artem Prokhorov
This book examines the distinctive ability of animation, in comparison to cinema, to employ metaphors more freely and boldly. It analyzes how metaphors impact the narrative and plot structures of both full-length and short-length animations.
The author reveals and describes three primary creative metaphor types within a narrative context: supportive, action-forming, and destructive. The primary focus is on examining the role of metaphors in storytelling and plot development within both full-length and short-length animations produced by Pixar. In reality, I believe that relying solely on Pixar’s individual animated works may not adequately encompass all types of contemporary productions. Given this limitation, the accuracy of the analysis results may not capture the broader landscape effectively. Moreover, Prokhorov’s metaphor types specifically address the narrative and plot aspects of animation, omitting other components such as effects and influences.
In my previous understanding, the narrative and plot of movies were divided into several parts: beginning-middle-end (illustrated). However, after reading Prokhorov’s article, I gained insights into a new concept: “the Hero’s Journey” proposed by Joseph Campbell (1949).
Campbell’s concept has become a universal template for the hero’s journey, significantly influencing world art, especially filmography. In essence, Campbell’s monomyth comprises sixteen stages: Initially, the hero hears the call to adventure (1) but refuses it (refusal of the call) (2). Then, with some supernatural aid (3), the hero crosses the first threshold (4) and begins the journey. Subsequently, the hero is swallowed and immediately enters the belly of the whale (5): an unknown and perilous place. Following this, the hero embarks on the road of trials (6), reaching a meeting with the goddess (7). At this stage, the image of the hero’s bride or mother may be embodied in this divine character (at this point, the hero may even be tempted to abandon the journey). Next comes the reconciliation with the father (8) and apotheosis (9): the symbolic moment of the hero’s death and resurrection. At the culmination of the journey, the hero receives the ultimate boon (10) and may even refuse to return to their own world (refusal of the return) (11). However, with the power of magical flight (12) and/or external rescue (13), the crossing of the return threshold occurs (14). As a result of the journey, the hero becomes the master of two worlds (15) and gains the right to live freely (16).
Week 8 : PostProcessing
Today we learnd about Post Procesing Volume
Week 8 : Can documentary animations is a property way to positively reflect social conflicts?
Purpose
In contemporary society, people are always caught up in various society issues. With the purpose of mitigating conflicts, various mediums are employed to redirect and reshape public attention. Among these, documentary animation emerges as a dynamic medium which includes the elements of both documentary film and animation features. Additionally, animation is highly regarded for its ability to broaden and enrich documentary expression.
However, there is an ongoing debate regarding the inherent tendency towards exaggeration features in animation that can not reflect social issues properly, some critics argue that this exaggerated feature might not be the most effective means of accurately portraying social issues.
For this critical report, I want to in-depth explore the impact of documentary animation on individuals. The main question being considered is whether documentary animations are a property way to positively reflect social conflicts. This report aims to discuss the potential benefits of documentary animation by using multiple examples.
Key words
Documentary Animation, Social Conflicts, Societal Issues, Positive Reflection, Social Commentary, Animation as Communication
Bibliography
Gregg, R., 2011. Environmental Documentary Film: A Contemporary Tool For Social Movement.
Rajala, A., 2017. Documentary Film, Truth and Beyond: On the Problems of Documentary Film as Truth-telling.
Nagao, M., 2018. The possibility of documentation through animation: A comparative study of the animated short Pica-Don and other artworks addressing social/historical issues. Animation Practice, Process & Production, 7(1), pp.67-89.
Week7 : Polishing walk cycle（With final modify)
When polishing my animation, the biggest challenges were the pop knees and the arcs of the ball. I tried making adjustments to fix these issues.
Firstly the curves need to be clear and smooth, i deleate the key in Z axis because it always go down, and choose Auto tangents and linear tangents.
Next the foot roll can affect the position of the knee to some extent
Week 6 : Walk cycle
| Natural Biological Movement: The animation should simulate the walking pattern of real organisms, including the natural swing of the body, stride, and walking speed. | |
| Body Posture: Ensure that the character’s body posture looks naturally smooth with each step. The movements of joints such as knees, ankles, and hips should be reasonable. | |
| Gravity Balance: Maintain the character’s center of gravity balance, ensuring a stable posture in each step. | |
| Consistency in Stride: Ensure that the stride remains consistent throughout the entire loop. |
Week 7 : Lighting
Today we learnd the lighting, and how to simple modelling.
Week 7 ：Language of editing in conveying narrative，establish the principal of story arcs and character role.
The film I choose is Coco(2017)
Story Arc Breakdown (The 8 Stages):
- Stasis:Miguel, the protagonist, is living in a family that forbids music due to a past incident involving his great-great-grandfather.
- Trigger:Miguel’s passion for music leads him to discover a family secret, triggering his desire to pursue his musical dreams.
- Quest:Miguel embarks on a journey to the Land of the Dead to seek the blessing of his deceased great-great-grandfather and gain permission to pursue music.
- Surprise:In the Land of the Dead, Miguel discovers unexpected connections to his family’s history and encounters challenges related to the importance of remembering one’s ancestors.
- Critical Choice:Miguel faces a critical decision: to prioritize family expectations or follow his passion for music and uncover the truth about his great-great-grandfather.
- Climax:The climax revolves around Miguel’s performance at the Day of the Dead talent show and his revelation about his great-great-grandfather’s true identity.
- Reversal:Miguel’s understanding of family, tradition, and music undergoes a profound transformation. He learns the importance of balance and honoring both family and personal dreams.
- Resolution:The film concludes with Miguel mending family relationships, reconciling with his passion for music, and creating a harmonious blend of tradition and individuality.
Character Archetypes:
- The Hero (Miguel):Embarks on a quest to pursue his musical dreams and uncover family secrets.
- The Mentor (Héctor):Guides and assists Miguel in navigating the Land of the Dead, providing insights into family history.
- The Threshold Guardian (Mama Imelda):Represents family traditions and initially opposes Miguel’s pursuit of music.
- The Ally (Dante):Miguel’s loyal companion in the Land of the Dead, aiding him on his journey.
- The Herald (The discovery of the family secret):Triggers Miguel’s quest by revealing the connection between him and his great-great-grandfather.
- The Shapeshifter (Ernesto de la Cruz):Initially appears as a supportive figure but is later revealed to have a darker side.
- The Shadow (Family’s opposition to music):Represents the obstacles and challenges Miguel faces in pursuing his passion for music.
- The Herald (The revelation about great-great-grandfather):Marks a significant turning point in the story, influencing Miguel’s critical choice.
Timeline for Miguel:
- Before the Film:Miguel lives in a family that forbids music, following a past incident involving his great-great-grandfather abandoning the family for a musical career.
- Film Start:Miguel discovers a family secret that reveals his great-great-grandfather’s true identity as a famous musician.
- Journey to the Land of the Dead:Miguel accidentally enters the Land of the Dead on Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and seeks the blessing of his great-great-grandfather to pursue music.
- Encounters and Challenges:Miguel encounters challenges related to family expectations, the importance of remembering ancestors, and understanding his family’s history.
- Critical Decision:Miguel faces a crucial decision to prioritize family or pursue his passion for music and discover the truth about his great-great-grandfather.
- Climax:The climax involves Miguel’s performance at the talent show, where he uncovers the truth and confronts the challenges of family and music.
- Transformation:Miguel undergoes a transformation in understanding the importance of family, tradition, and individual dreams.
- Resolution:The film concludes with Miguel mending family relationships, honoring tradition, and embracing his love for music in harmony with his family’s values.
Week 5: Weight shift (With final modiy)
Today we focus on the body balance.
The tasks of this week is planning and blocking of a weight shift and 3 poses chosen from the sketchbook.
For weight shift planning, I created a reference using my own movements and exported it as a PNG file for easy reference.
While reviewing the live video, I observed that the direct movement appeared less dynamic, with insufficient bending of the knees and feet. Therefore, I made some adjustments during the creation of the 3D blocking animation to enhance these aspects.
Week 6 : The language in film and animation, the concept of mise en scene, composition and staging.
In this lesson we learned the key principles in animation production. Firstly, the importance of animation layout and composition is emphasized, especially in character placement and scene composition, including the use of camera angles, perspective, light and shadow, character dynamics, entrance methods and audio. Secondly, the principles used in designing different shots are discussed, including the correlation of long, medium and close shots, and the importance of emphasizing picture flow, timing and visual objectives, while focusing on the potential impact of shot selection on production. Finally, it focuses on the importance of background and scene, including the harmony of aesthetics and characters, the beauty of the background, complexity and clutter, the design and action to avoid distraction, and the proportion of subject objects. Overall, these principles play a key role in animation production, ensuring that the audience’s concerns are properly directed to create a more engaging and coherent animation.
- Definition of Screen Direction:
- Screen direction refers to the perceived movement of actors or objects on the screen from the camera or audience’s perspective.
- Rules of Continuity and Film Grammar:
- The rules of screen direction are fundamental in continuity film editing and film grammar to maintain consistency during shot transitions and avoid audience confusion.
- Camera Positioning and Movement:
- Camera positioning and movement must adhere to the rules of screen direction. “Camera left” or “frame left” indicates movement towards the left side of the screen, while “camera right” or “frame right” refers to movement towards the right side.
- Pre-determination in Pre-production:
- Screen direction decisions are primarily made during pre-production, specifically in storyboarding and animatic production stages, to ensure precision in scene timing and flow.
- Maintenance of Screen Direction:
- Once established, screen direction must be maintained in each progressive shot. This includes the direction in which performers move, face, or look, even when they are not in motion.
- Tools for Maintaining Screen Direction:
- The Imaginary Line, Axis of Action, or 180-Degree Rule is a key tool used by filmmakers to maintain consistent screen direction. This involves drawing an imaginary line through subjects in the direction they move or face.
- Working Example:
- An example illustrates how shots filmed from the same side of the imaginary line cut together seamlessly, preserving consistent screen direction and matching eye lines.
- Challenges and Audience Confusion:
- When screen direction is not adhered to, it can lead to challenges such as actors appearing not to face each other in conversation or changing direction abruptly, resulting in audience confusion.
- Subject Movement Across the Screen:
- Subjects are free to travel cross-screen, toward or away from the camera, as long as the camera doesn’t cross the action axis. This ensures directional movement integrity.