Pre-Viz Scenes II

Added some more shoots into the pre-viz

Simon and Carl Finished Concepts

The character designs all finished and ready to come to life. Introducing Simon and Carl.

Pre-Viz Scenes

In this week, we have been working on our Pre-Viz and we are now able to show you some scenes of it. In this video, we have also added some versions of the same shot that we have done to see which one suits more into our animation and we have to finally decide which one we will use to our animation.

Orthograph

Character Creation is underway with the completion of our orthographs. I started off drawing by hand and using a ruler to make sure every element was as identical as possible.

Then I scanned it in to work with it on Photoshop to create a nice crisp edge for modelling.

Simon

 

Carl - there are three versions of carl. Each have a different variation on the cape. The cape will be a separate element to our model as we're not sure how well it will animate so we're leaving the possibility of detaching it from the model altogether.

 

Production Schedule: 22nd-28th October

Timetable 22-28 October
This is our group production schedule that allocates time to areas of work when we are each at university. The weekend has been left blank as the time used then is at the individual's discretion, e.g. if they have prior engagements outside of university etc.

Constructing the Props

During our story Simon builds two inventions, a Hang-glider and a Boat. Conveniently, Leonardo da Vinci designed a flying device that greatly resembles a hang-glider. I took this invention and adapted it so it became possible for Simon to have built it using the resources of a tropical island. The hardest part was replacing the fabric with a viable source. Upon my research of palm trees I found that 2 main leaf types existed, a typical leaf shape but very large and a long twig with smaller leaves branching out.

Over-sized Leaves

Small, long leaves on stem

I explored both possibilities in the design but feel the that the normal leaf would be too delicate and the weaving of the other leave provides a stronger cloth. 

This image demonstrates how this method of palm leaf weaving is used in the modern world

Palm Tree Weaving

Next challenge was the boat. I read through H. Anna Suh's collected works of da Vinci's notebooks (Leonard's Notebook, Suh : 2009) to find inspiration but he never explored anything floatation wise. So I was challenged to create a device that would function but also had the finesse of a da Vinci invention. The boat in the story need only carry them across a lake and isn't needed for long time/ repeated use so logically only a raft would be needed but as a studio we felt it needed to be more elaborate without being a full on boat with bowed wood and flooring. Here are my sketches exploring the boat:

I tried different shapes but found a way the the two characters could build a conventional shape boat that would float. By interlocking the palm tree stems and cutting them to form a comb joint. This would be hard to make water tight so the addition of two buoyancy aids on either side keep it afloat. The sail will be made of the same weaved fabric from the hang-glider. I'll be making up a very simple model in maya to demonstrate the construction for my studio.

Comb Joint

Colour Palette

Using the influence maps created for each character and an image of a tropical beach I created a colour palette for each character and the environment. I then overlaid these three palettes to give the studio an idea of the colour tone that will be created by combining the three together. The resulting palette flows well and has a feel of the renaissance. We feel that the colours that represent the renaissance are neutral colours (browns to creams) so the overlaid palette is a good sign that this is the feel we'll create.