my first 3d animation!

[_tom_]

Have been working on this piece of coursework since last friday, such a relief to have it finished now! Took forever but we're pretty pleased with it, although I'm not entirely happy about everyone else taking credit since I was the only one who did any animating whilst the rest of the group just gave suggestions.. Anyway here it is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKtRGddNkr0

What do you reckon? There are a few errors like the mesh not deforming correctly but that just gives us stuff to write about in the evaluation I guess. Youtube $%&#s up the smoothness (and sound quality) though, on a dvd or in vlc it plays fine :?

[hamfist]

Looks pretty good to me. I expect it's a lot harder than most of us expect. I certainly have no idea how to create this sort of thing.

Despite the relatively simplistic movements (I guess down to the availability of software for you) I particularly liked the use of music and the general feel (and humour) of the piece. It was really easy to get into the emotion of each scene. Cool.

[ailean]

Looks pretty good to me mate! Well done. Especially for a first piece, I'm pretty sure I couldn't do that for my 100th piece.

[Roobubba]

That's a really good job, Tom! Especially given then relatively short time you've worked on it - really, really well done.  As hamfist said, you can really get into the mood of the characters from the facial expressions.
One thing I wasn't totally clear on was at the end, it looked like Magical bob had his middle fingers extended! While this made me chuckle, I'm guessing that wasn't quite the intention - but nonetheless this stuff is really hard to get right and you've done a good job there :)

Roo

[_tom_]

haha cant say I see that there roo, even when looking for it. The hands dont look great, they're the bit I'm most disappointed with but its too late to go back now its all been edited really!

cheers for the replies :) hamfist, it is a good piece of software (3D Studio Max), just hard to know what you're doing I suppose. The default renderer isnt amazing either (at least not with my skills) I think its more for making games and stuff than film/video though, where Maya is used more I hear.

If anyones interested, heres my first piece of coursework we did for it, had to model a household/everyday item:

[Philosoful]

That's pretty impressive man! I imagine that takes a ton of work. Keep going!

[Andrew W]

Hi Tom.  This is really pretty good as a first piece.  I might be able to help you out here if you'd like some advice?  I work in CG film visual effects and have done for longer than I care to remember.  Currently I work at a studio called Double Negative in Soho if it's of any interest. 

You're right about Maya being the main software used in film though the Maya renderer is as bad or worse than Max's.  We use Pixar's Photorealistic RenderMan software to render. 

Drop me a message if you like and we can talk over e-mail if you'd like a proper critique and some pointers.  But it's a great start and you should persist if you feel like CG's your calling.  I think it's much better than a real job anyway. :)

[Ian Price]

Good stuff Tom - for a first effort that's very good indeed. And as Ailean said, I also wouldn't be able to do that after 100 efforts. Keep it up mate!

[_tom_]

Andrew, yeah I'm definitely interested in whatever advice you can give :) Have pm'd you about it. Cheers!

[Johnny Mac]

Looks great Tom. I had an old cracked version of that years ago, it takes forever to use! I could never do the things you have done on it.

[_tom_]

Well obviously I'm still learning but once you get the basics down its quite easy to do things to this level. What I find hard is doing the photo realistic stuff, I just cant get things looking good enough yet :( Always looks a bit cartoony and fake.

[donovan.x]

Tom, Who did the the guitar for the end part? Was it you?
I also thought at first that Bob was holding his middle fingers up at the end but then I realised that he is holding his hands up against his head (duh me!!) but it was all really good, you seem to be quite hard on your yourself saying stuff about your work looking cartoony and fake, how long have you been doing this? Surely you can associate any learning curve like this to the guitar, it doesnt all come at once and you sometimes dont even notice your own improvement because you have been there for all the mistakes and hard graft.
Coming from someone who understands how CGI is created but has never actually used any 3d editing software, I thought it was really good, little things like Bob moving his head to take in the audience at the begining and the bow, it was good stuff mate, if you enjoy what you are doing and your always learning new stuff, then you will do just fine.
Stick with it.
Phil.

[Fourth Feline]

Great debut  there Tom.   :)

I can only begin to imagine what hard work must have gone into  it.  The rabbit itself could become a cult figure ( loved the idea of the rabbit also having a  moustache ).

Good animation, nice story development within such a short space of time - and the choice of music / mood setting worked very well too.

Keep up the good work, youv'e obviously got the apptitude for it  !  :D

[_tom_]

Cheers guys :) Donovan, the music at the end is a track called Sonho Dourado by Daniel Lanois. Great piece of music, I love it. I've been using 3D Studio Max since last october. Going to give Maya a go since its more of an industry standard, gives me more options :)

Btw, FF, the moustache on the rabbit was actually an accident. We were making whiskers but when editing the shape, moved it up too far and the moustache was born! :P

[noodleplugerine]

Hi Tom.  This is really pretty good as a first piece.  I might be able to help you out here if you'd like some advice?  I work in CG film visual effects and have done for longer than I care to remember.  Currently I work at a studio called Double Negative in Soho if it's of any interest. 

You're right about Maya being the main software used in film though the Maya renderer is as bad or worse than Max's.  We use Pixar's Photorealistic RenderMan software to render. 

Drop me a message if you like and we can talk over e-mail if you'd like a proper critique and some pointers.  But it's a great start and you should persist if you feel like CG's your calling.  I think it's much better than a real job anyway. :)

Bloody hell! I'm a big double negative fan.

Agreed on what you said about Maya's scanline being worse..

Nice first vid man, very ambitious for a first animation, top marks!

Here's the first animation that my cousin did, he's studying vfx at portsmouth at the mo.

http://www.vimeo.com/1827379