COM7024 focuses on animal and creature animation, with an emphasis on the kind of photo-realistic animation in which London VFX houses specialise. COM7024 PR1 is due on Friday 13th September 2024 at 2pm.
Introduction to COM7024 PR1
About COM7024
 |
| Shark by Adam Sale |
The practical component of the module is assignment COM7024 PR1 - due on Friday 13th September 2024 at 2pm..
YouTube
A good starting point for tackling this module is to look at what other students have done at our YouTube Playlist.
Animal and Creature Animation for COM7024 PR1
Start with research
You should first carry out research, both in order to see what other artists have done and also to help you come up with a workable idea.
Live Action Reference
You may want to find some useful piece of live action reference to base your animation. Try greenscreenanimals.com as a useful resource for live action reference.
Creature Rig
You will also need to make sure you have a dependable creature rig that can be used successfully for your animation. Make sure that the you test the rig carefully before animating with it. To search for animal and creature rigs, a good place to start is animationbuffet.com.
Grading COM7024 PR1
Students work will be assessed on the following criteria, each being worth 25% of the final grade
2024 Schedule
The schedule for Module COM7024 is shown below:
Animal and Creature Animation for COM7024 PR1
You should first carry out research, both in order to see what other artists have done and also to help you come up with a workable idea.
Live Action Reference
You may want to find some useful piece of live action reference to base your animation. Try greenscreenanimals.com as a useful resource for live action reference.
Creature Rig
You will also need to make sure you have a dependable creature rig that can be used successfully for your animation. Make sure that the you test the rig carefully before animating with it. To search for animal and creature rigs, a good place to start is animationbuffet.com.
 |
| "Flame" animated by Amedeo Beretta |
Students work will be assessed on the following criteria, each being worth 25% of the final grade
- Creativity and Pre-Production: Creativity – Imagination – invention – innovation – planning - use of thumbnails – storyboards – live action reference
- Production: Quality of animation – application of the twelve principles of animation - weight and flexibility – Quality of performance – use of cameras – acting – dialogue & lipsync
- Post-Production: Texturing – lighting – rendering - titles and credits - sound design
- Quality of Outcome: overall success of the shot
2024 Schedule
The schedule for Module COM7024 is shown below:
Assignment Brief
The Assignment Brief for COM7024 PR1 is to create a short animal or creature animated performance. This could take the
form of an animal or creature locomotion cycle, or cycles, perhaps with a
transition from one to another. Your work which should feel believable and should be
based on natural observation.
Tell a Story
 |
| Robo spider by Kent Sunde |
COM7024 PR1 is due on Friday 13th September 2024 at 2pm. The final submission should be a short piece of animation, around 7-11 seconds long, uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo and emailed to your tutor (that's me). It should be accompanied by a single pdf showing your preparation and planning, such as thumbnail sketches and/or storyboards.
 |
| Edward Muybridge - still an impotant reference |
The main resource for all our online MA students is the animal and creature section of Animation Apprentice, the online school to which all our students have access. Students should study quadruped locomotion, including walks, trots and runs.
In addition, Animation Apprentice has tutorials on bird locomotion, insects (spiders and scorpions), dinosaurs and butterflies. Other important resources include the expanded edition of the Animator's Survival Kit, and Edward Muybridge's work on animal locomotion.
 |
| Kiwi animation by Oliver Canovas |
An understanding of the use of live action reference is important. Good animal and creature animation is based at least in part on live action.
Tutorials and Links
To see some more useful resources on how to learn the art of animal and creature animation, follow the links below:
- How to Plan an Animal or Creature shot
- How to use live action reference to plan animation
- Best horse rigs for Maya animators
- Stuart Sumida on Animal Locomotion
- DreamWorks and the making of "How to Train Your Dragon"
- Quadruped Locomotion with "Rusty" (just for fun)
- Animation Apprentice Animals & Creatures Reel
- Greenscreenanimals.com
- How to Animate Quadruped Transitions
- Dragon in Flight Tutorial
- Dinosaur Animation Tutorial
Animal and Creature Animation at Animation Apprentice
 |
| Animate a Crab Scuttle |
- Animal Anatomy for Animators
- How to Animate a Quadruped Trot
- Leopard Walk Tutorial
- Dragon in Flight Tutorial
- How to Animate Quadruped Transitions
- Horse Animation - Best Free Horse Rigs
- How to Plan Animal & Creature Animation
- How to Animate a Dinosaur Walking
- How to Block Out Creature Animation
- How Framestore Use Live Action Reference to Create Great Animation
- Animal Locomotion for Animators - Free eBook from Stuart Sumida
- Leopard Rig by Truong - How to Use It
- Animate Quadrupeds with Michael Schlingmann
- Spider Animation Tutorial
- Scorpion Animation Tutorial
- Crow in Flight Tutorial
- Animation Locomotion for Animators - Free eBook from Stuart Sumida
- The Five Key Rules of Animal Anatomy with Stuart Sumida
- Stuart Sumida Explores the Principal Animal Gaits
- Butterfly Animation Tutorial
- Dinosaur Walk Tutorial
- Animate a Crab Scuttle
No comments:
Post a Comment