Stop Mo Puppets

Here are two finished stop mo puppets. They took a lot of hard work with many cut fingers and broken nails, but I think they turned out really well.

Unfortunately, due to time constraints I will not be using them for my thesis project. With only two finished and three more to make I dont think it would be possible to finish them in the allotted time and finish my thesis film as well. Its a shame because they would have worked well, but I have to make sacrifices.

The new animal characters will most likely be 3D models in Maya. And if I dont like the way those are turning out they will be After Effects Puppets. Tests to come soon.

Animatic v2

This is a new animatic. New voices and a new cut that is much tighter than the previous version. It doesnt show it, but it begins with a medium shot of a zoo map. The map unfolds and turns itself into the 3D world. Also in the beginning, instead of Victoria just running through the zoo, she will be running and quickly fixing broken objects.

Grandpa in his Office

Screen Integration plus Light Flicker

This is the same shot as below, but with added light flicker off of the screen. Its subtle, but I think it works much better with the addition of the light.

TV Screen Integration Test

Newscaster

Vector Design


Concept Sketch

Staircase Exterior

Testing Testing One Two

While the animation is not at all correct, Im happy with the juxtaposition and flow of the fabrics on top of each other. HIGH FIVE!

outdoor scene test #2

Same Bat Scene! Different Bat Textures!!

outdoor scene test

Pine Tree Fail

I used a basic red fabric on top of some pine trees. I think the patterns need to be larger for the proper textured feel.

Paisley Fern Test

Grandpa Character Design

Vector Design



Original Sketch

Victoria Character Design

Vector Design



Original Sketch

Style Frame

This is a style frame from inside of Grandpa's office. It is more or less the look I am going for, with a few exceptions on the compositing process. I created the scene in maya and rendered an ambient occlusion pass and another pass with multi-colored objects. Then in after effects, I keyed out the color of each object and replaced it with a manipulated fabric pattern. The fabric scene is multiplied over the ambient occlusion pass, creating a semi-realistic and whimsical world. Victoria is drawn in flash and lit within after effects.

Im not sure if this process will last throughout the entire production. I like the look, but Im going to try texturing in maya to give more of a fabric-e feel by mapping the patterns to the objects.

Stop Motion Puppet Designs

These are the designs for the stop mo puppets. The outlined images are the guidelines for armatures.

First Semester Schedule

Sept 22
-Meet with Christine
-Set up thesis blog
-Build stop motion puppets
-Model Props/Set/Background
-Make appointment with Norm Holland (Edting)
-Talk with Student Productions Office to cast voice actors

Sept 29
-Build stop motion puppets
-Model Props/Set/Background
-2D Character Tests
-Audition Actors

Oct 6
-Meet with Eric for Texture help (Fabric Look)
-Build stop motion puppets
-Model Props/Set/Background
-2D Character Tests
-Audition Actors

Oct 13
-Build stop motion puppets
-Model & Texture Props/Set/Background
-2D Character Tests
-Scene/Character Blocking
-Cast Voice actors

Oct 20
-Thesis Meeting
-Build stop motion puppets
-Model & Texture Props/Set/Background
-Stop Motion Character Tests
-Scene/2D Character Blocking
-Record Actors

Oct 27
-Build stop motion puppets
-Model & Texture Props/Set/Background
-Stop Motion Character Tests
-Scene/2D Character Blocking

Nov 3
-Thesis Meeting
-Build stop motion puppets
-Model & Texture Props/Set/Background
-Stop Motion Character Tests
-Scene/2D Character Blocking

Nov 10
-Texture Props/Set/Background
-Stop Motion Character Tests
-Scene/2D Character Blocking
-2D Character Animation

Nov 17
-Animate Stop Motion Characters
-Scene/2D Character Blocking
-2D Character Animation

Nov 24
-Animate Stop Motion Characters
-Scene/2D Character Blocking
-2D Character Animation

Dec 1
-Animate Stop Motion Characters
-Scene/2D Character Blocking
-2D Character Animation

Dec 8
-Animate Stop Motion Characters
-Scene/2D Character Blocking
-2D Character Animation

Animatic

This is the most recent version of my animatic. It still feels a bit long, and the dialogue is rough and not finalized.

Visual Inspiration

This is an image from Cartoon Modern that I particularly enjoy. I think I had the idea to have my sets as fabric swatches before I saw this image, but it just helped assure that it might actually work.