3D Foundations: Translating into 3D, Feet and Face (Part 3)

So I think I've done Modelling the face...
The nose looks funny because the mirrored side inst actually connected to the rest of the face yet, it's just acting like a mirror.

So I haven't connected it to the rest of the body yet. I still want to fix up the body and such first. So I've started on my hands... But it's not going too well. It looks like toes.

I think it because I haven't put hand or finger curves in, I've just made it straight. So that's what I'll focus on these next few days, as I think that once I have that sorted, the feet will be easy.

3D Foundations: Translating into 3D (part 2)

Facial Modelling:

Started facial modelling. Had a bit of struggle with the 'Duplicate special" that creates a mirrored face, but eventually got it right.

Now it's just trying to smooth out the face without too many lines. I feel like it is smoothed out as much as it can while staying true to the drawings, but it is still pinching and getting blocking, so that's something I'll have to study too.

What I've noticed is that the side view has changed a lot while I've translated it into 3D. Like, I knew that the eyes, mouth and nose would turn out different in 3D, but since I've focuseed on the face, it's shape is straying too. Which I think it strangle because I'm sure I accomplished a head which fitted both my front and side view. But I think it will be fine when I stick it onto it's body.

3D foundations: Translating into 3D (part 1)

Started modelling Leo. He just started out as a cube and it now he is stretched into half a model. This is to make him symmetrical when I mirror his shape. I've enjoyed using 3D so far, even though I'm struggling a bit with the technical side. 

It's been a challenge and at the moment I'm struggling to round him off correctly. When his shape is rounded off, there are lines down his sides. So I'm trying to fix that while staying true to his original drawings. The pants are causing me trouble because of this. 

I haven't done his tail or cape yet, unsure of how to go about that. I've started his belt and bow-tie, but they go a bit funny when rounded.

but this is only very early development of my character.

Animation History: Dreams

For a surrealism practice, we were told to do dreams. I'm not too good with surrealism, making even my weird dreams look normal(ish). But I find it really interesting and will probably study it or practice it another time.

First dream I had was dating Spiderman on the Illuminati moon.
Second dream was just me coming out the water to a old brick wall with no way around it and he tips of the waves glowed non colors.
I only remembered afterwards that the waves in my dreams were going backwards... that would've been a cool surreal effect

3D Foundations: Character Design Concepts (5)

I’ve Decided to name my character Leonardo, Leo for short. A classmate helped me with that name after I asked for ideas for a ‘mischievous’ name. I briefly mentioned Leo, not so keen on it at the time, when they said “Leonardo! Like the artist!” I thought it would be a great twist. Especially since it is a art related story but also because of little Leo’s lack in arty skills.

My final designs relied heavily on my peers feedback.

I’ve Narrowed it down to these final designs. I didn’t like the straight black in the clothes, but anything too light made Leo look like a ‘joker wannabe’ or look like he owns a chocolate factory.

Some feedback I received was that a dark purple or navy would look nice, add colour, but also look smart.

In feedback, I was also given ideas where I could pattern the inside of the coat, so it doesn’t clash with other colour in his suit, but it brings attention to him too.

Somebody mentioned that I could also experiment with eye colour. I stuck with green because I think it is a very catlike colour that is edgy and goes with most breeds. It gives him a smarter, tidy look, and added a final refreshing burst of colour.

I was planning on having him grey and off-white. As greys would fit his ‘orphan’ look. It also looks more refined as well. Last minute I changed to the ginger because I received a lot of feedback saying he looked better and more cheeky and youthful. I was worried it would be too much colour, as that was the reason for nearly choosing a grey cat.

The green also suits the ginger and I know see how it brings out his feline side.

So below as the final colours for the Outfit.

3D Foundations: Introduction to Maya

First time using the good ol' Autodesk Maya 2016.
It's pretty interesting. Like Lego... but with no boundaries. You can do whatever you want, if you know what you're doing.
We were given a reference picture of a castle wall, then we went from there, stacking and squashing shapes. I thought I did fairly well with my no previous knowledge of this (Until I saw everyone else's). People even managed too get the door, which completely baffled me at the time.
It's uneven and wonky, Bu not a bad first time.





This was another exercise, just getting used to all the keyboard shortcuts and techniques. We were only supposed to use 5 shapes or something.. but I got slightly carried away, trying to figure out what my character would be like in 3D. Angle of hat, roundness of head and all that.
I could've kept my head more circular, I think. He would only look slightly buggy.

3D Foundations: Character design concepts (4)

Some final concepts for the outfit. I added a belt buckle Because I felt like he needed a little bit more straight to his design other than his hat and ear/s. Also if I have yellow, it might add more color too him if i make his fur a plain color. Or if his tie is yellow, it will match it. But them being too close together might be a bit much.

I want the tie to be red, but I don't it to clash with the red on the cape. And I want to stick with the main magician colors: Navy blue, gold/yellow, red, black.
I feel like  black pants don't bring out the puffiness, but they make him look tidy. I don't know how I feel about the navy belt, but it looks better than brown.

Still working on his fur color.

3D Foundations: Character design concepts (3)

This episode, and the Pictionary game, inspired another feature to my characters story. A aspiring magician who has hold of a magical stick which brings anything you draw... to life! Sounds like a powerful unstoppable power, right? Of course, as a child, he doesn't understand the importance, and uses it to play pranks and entertain the kids in his neighborhood. 

But, of course... since he is a young child.... he is terrible at drawing. His sketches are unintelligible and can barely function. They might not move or do what he originally planned... but he is a lucky kid, and somehow everything works out ok. 

Draft turnarounds of my character. A teacher gave me helpful tips on how to center him and make him symmetrical. But this is a good starting point.

Colour concepts. Want to stick with something somewhat plain so it doesn't look overwhelming with the bright magician colors. Searched normal cat colours, but their very patterned. But wild cats are even more so. I originally wanted a wild cat, as they look cool and would fit his character. But it would be too much, I think. 

3D Foundations: Character design concepts (2)

 


So I've managed to work out the body shapes. Sticking with rounded off shapes. Even though the body may be made up of squares, they will be rounded off to preserve his young cute look.





I am struggling a bit with his 'occupation'. Like the Robber Kitten, I want him to wish to be something. I want him to dress up as his dream job and entertain everyone.
I went through a couple options. The first things being very stereotypical things that kids want to be: superhero, mermaid, musketeer, highwayman, astronaut, cowboy, Zorro...etc.

One classmate offered that I should do a occupation that kids normally wouldn't want to be... like a business man or politician. I really liked that idea. A cheeky kid trying to sort out the neighbor kid's problems by making them worse...
But I ended up straying away. Because he'd look like a snob, than a cheeky kid full of life. Or look like a Harry Potter wannabe. Or even too old. The other occupations, like a musketeer, would have very extravagant costumes. Things too hard to translate into 3D.

But from the businessman Top hat... I found a magician. I thought it would be perfect for a cheeky kid who entertains the neighbor kids and plays cheeky pranks on adults. He's have a cute, showy, yet simple, outfit.
So I have chosen his occupation, I just need to sort out the story and his color scheme.

3D Foundations: Character design concepts

The Robber Kitten 1935

http://animationresources.org/inbetweens-the-robber-kitten-disney1935/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xWATTczMsQ
http://www.disneyshorts.org/shorts.aspx?shortID=222
http://www.michaelspornanimation.com/splog/?p=1557

three little wolves 1936
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTdgNqxpU8I


I have chosen The Robber Kitten (1935) as my chosen historical film to study and base my character off. I chose this lil dude because of his unique, cheeky character and attire. I liked his Puss in Boots look, and how he is cute and a brat. I think this character would be a fun challenge.





I was originally going to study the Three Little Wolves (1936) as I really liked their character designs and attitudes. But it had next to no information about it, so I moved on to the Robber Kitten. Which I now like a lot more. Even though I've chosen my film, I'm still using their designs as references for my character design.





Another person I'm looking at for reference for my character is Chris Sanders, who works on designing a lot of Disney character. His work heavily influenced Lilo and Stitch.



Stitch is a great reference, I think. Especially since I need to think about how it will look in 3D. Stitch has a jellybean body, a circular head, thick short legs... all the basic construction of The Robber Kitten and the Three Little Wolves. So, I will be relying heavily on this basic construction.



I'm still struggling with how round or what animal I should use. My teacher mentioned had I should stick with my cat character, as a elongated snout for a dog character would be too difficult. Also I have grown to like the simple cat look.

Now that I think I'm sticking with a cat character, I'm rethinking the roundness of his head. I'm thinking that I should have it kind of flat, like Stitch's. But with that, I struggled a bit with the side view. A classmate suggested that I should look at Tigress' design off Kungfu Panda. 

Her head is round, yet flat. She has long eyes like my character so far, so this alone will help with my side view struggles.