Heidi Grover: January 2015

Thursday, 29 January 2015

Adaptation (A): Initial Music Options

Music Options

These two videos are by Morgan Mathews and as long as he is credited anyone is welcome to use his music. They are happy and country-based acoustic beats that could potentially enhance my infographic as I am not using a voice over.

Adaptation (A): Colour Experiments

Colour Experiments

Just testing out some colour ideas for my infographic. Not sure on having a white background just yet, however I am happy with the style.

Film Review: India & USA - Sita Sings the Blues (2008)

Sita Sings the Blues (2008)

Written, directed, produced and animated by an american artist called Nina Paley, Sita Sings the Blues is a musical created primarily using 2D software graphics and Flash; after the end of several copyrights. The film features three heavy styles of design that stays in relation to classical Bollywood cinema, aiming towards the modern audience and therefore winning an award for 'Gotham's Independent Film Award' for 'Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You'.

Based on the stories and events of the Ramayana, which is in discussion by a comical trio of Indian shadow puppets, the film features the contrast and comparison of artistic style from Paley's real life event and how it relates to the Ramayana legacy. Both stories feature a woman who has been true and faithful to their partner's, but are ultimately let down and 'dumped' by their former lovers.

Sita Sings the Blues has a very strong visual style, but for a modern audience it can loose track of readability and understanding of the general narrative. Despite the repetitiveness of songs and general beat and flow of the animation itself, there is no denying that the trio of puppets sell's the film completely. This film could appeal to anyone studying Bollywood film and cinema, along with seeking inspiration for making their own unique film by themselves.

Wednesday, 28 January 2015

Adaptation (B): Character Abilities & Methodology

Character Abilities & Methodology

As I want to create a group of five characters (But model one for my Adaptation (B) project) I want to outline each characters abilities with a general understanding of who they are before I begin designing them using a particular method. I was thinking either watercolour/ watercolour pencils/ pastels.

Briar Rose: Necromancer, can call aid from the undead, can control nature at her will.

Master Thief: Master of deception, gunslinger.

Rose-Red / Bear: A young girl that looks innocent until she calls her bear-like-creature companion to fight along side her OR a man who turns into a bear-like-creature to fight/Jekyll and Hyde - cute until threatened.

The Girl Without Hands: Bionic hands, out of proportion, detachable/up-gradable/changeable.

The Owl: Creature-like, hides away until aggravated or tormented, the groups secret weapon.

Adaptation (A): More Thumbnails

Adaptation (A):

More Thumbnails

After yesterdays tutorial, Alan and I agreed that a more illustrative route would work best for my infographic, so I have quickly come up with a few thumbnails just to visualize it more before posting my updated storyboard.

Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Mudbox Lesson 02: Red Pepper

Mudbox Lesson 02:

Red Pepper - Created Using a Mouse

Today's lesson was more structured in terms of what we would be aiming to sculpt. We were given the task to create a pepper. I had no tablet with me today so I continued by using a mouse.

Adaptation (B): About the Characters

Adaptation (B)

BROTHERS GRIMM STORIES

After my tutorial with Alan, we discussed that these characters are very different yet all want the same things. Which works as a group. The stories all have something sad about them that could connect them all together. So now I am outlining what we discussed in this post; what the characters could be, their personal issues as well as any other potential ideas for them.

- Briar Rose

http://www.authorama.com/grimms-fairy-tales-7.html

Story: In the original story, Briar Rose sleeps among the many corpses of her attempted rescuers that got caught in the thorny Briar hedge that surrounded her chamber. She was never rescued and after 100 years, the curse was lifted; and she awoke.

Idea: Necromancer/Voodoo/Death

Personal: Wants someone to be her 'savior'. Seeks companionship, but not one of the dead.

- The Master Thief

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Master_Thief

Story: The Master Thief is a boy who becomes a man but throughout his life he has to prove himself and make friends through his ways of being a thief and a master of disguise. He is denied to marry a girl he loves, until her farther is so afraid of his stealing ways, he allows it.

Idea: Shape-Shifter/Ninja/Magician

Personal: Wants to have true friends. Never has had the feeling of being part of a family.

- Rose-Red

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow-White_and_Rose-Red

Story: The sister of Snow-White, who befriends a bear. The girl finds a dwarf who is nasty to her when she tries ties to help him and one day the bear finds the dwarf and kills him. The curse is lifted and the bear turns out to be a prince.

Idea: A girl who has a bear as her weapon and protector/Jekyll and Hyde bear

Personal: The girl wants a relationship with the prince, but he can never stay in human form long enough and remains mostly as a bear. They can never truly have a real relationship, but they are each others protector.

- The Owl

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Owl_(fairy_tale)

Story: An Owl wants to live in a barn, who terrorizes the locals who then want him to leave. They burn the barn to try and kill the owl.

Idea: A shadow/Mysterious Creature/Pet

Personal: Homeless and just wants to find somewhere to stay; also no one to be scared of him/her.

- The Girl Without Hands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_Without_Hands

Story: A girl plays with the devil, who then fails to complete a task set by her and because her hands are too clean; he cannot take her with him. As punishment, he cuts of her hands. A fairy helps her, where she she later marries a king who makes her hands out of silver, but is tormented by the devil.

Idea: Can control objects or gravity/Bionically enhanced/Turns people to Silver/Stength

Personal: Doesn't want anyone to judge her by her appearance.

Monday, 26 January 2015

@Alan Adaptation (B): Characters From Text

Adaptation (B)

BROTHER'S GRIMM STORIES

After realizing that developing five characters from a text source instead of an visual source, I looked at connecting the characters together by author. Therefore I looked into the origins of classical stories and awakened my knowledge of Brother's Grimm. The original stories I had heard of before were Rose-Red and The Girl Without Hands.

Brother's Grimm: Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty)

Slumbers among hundreds of corpses trapped in a Briar Hedge.

http://www.authorama.com/grimms-fairy-tales-7.html

Brother's Grimm: The Master Thief
A man who proved himself to be an almighty thief/shape-shifter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Master_Thief

Brother's Grimm: Rose-Red
Befriends a Bear who turns out to be a prince.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow-White_and_Rose-Red

Brother's Grimm: The Owl
An Owl terrorizes the locals and stays in a barn, townsfolk try to burn it down to kill the Owl.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Owl_(fairy_tale)

Brother's Grimm: The Girl Without Hands
A girl that had silver hands after loosing her own to the devil.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_Without_Hands

@Alan Adaptation (B): Character Selection

Character Selection Group

Mutants/Experiments

After researching characters I would like to pursue, I looked into categories that can allow characters to come together which have similarities. All the characters listed below are in some shape or form are experiments or mutants or a mixture of both.

Stitch (Experiment #626) - Lilo & Stitch
Alex Mercer (Prototype Code-Name: Zeus) - Prototype
Grimly - Crash: Mind over Mutant
EVA - Ex Machina
Splinter - TMNT
Angel - Maximum Ride
Pinky - Pinky and the Brain
CatDog - CatDog
Blue - Test Subject Arena
Ly the Fairy (Magic Experimenter) - Rayman
Skull Kid - Legend of Zelda
Protopet (Subject #13) - Ratchet & Clank
Chell (Test Subject #1498) - Portal 1 & 2
Blade Banshee - Mutants Genetic Gladiator
Clay Kacmarek (Subject #16) - Assassins Creed
Booker - Bioshock

Moving on from this, I decided that I wanted another connection between these characters; which ended up being games. I created this shortlist of the five characters I would take forward and develop further. Any suggestions?

Protopet

Blue

Chell

Alex

Grimly

Thursday, 22 January 2015

Film Review: Japan - Paprika (2006)

Paprika (2006)

Paprika (2006), co-written and directed by Satoshi Kon, based on the novel of the same name published in 1993 by Yasutaka Tsutsui, is a 2D Japanese animated film based on the psychology of dreams. Similar to the film Inception (2010) by Christopher Nolan. The film was Kon's fourth and final feature film before his death in 2010.

The story begins with the invention of the 'DC Mini', a device that can allow the user to enter the minds and dreams of others. Psychologist Doctor Atsuko Chiba legally uses this device to help her patients by using her alter ego character known as Paprika, that she assumes in the dream world. Due to the lack pf restrictions on the DC Mini, consequences occur when dreams and subconsciousness are stolen and the hunt for the perpetrator begins.

This animation is executed with extreme standards and the flow from one frame to another is flawless, beautifully presented and bold. The ideas and overall screenplay are highly imaginative and allows the audience to be submerged in a world of Japanese culture films. It is the experient of what could happen if humans could share in the subconscious mind of another; and how are dreams are personal and unique and that it should stay that way. Overall, this film is highly inspirational to any aspiring artist, animator or director.

Film Review: Australia - Mary & Max (2009)

Mary & Max (2009)

Mary and Max (2009), written and directed by Adam Elliot, is an Australian clay stop-motion animation based on a true story. The animation itself is mostly filmed in black and white with hints of monochrome and red. The film features one of Australia's famous comedians, Barry Humpries; who is most commonly recognized and known for his stage alter ego Dame Edna Everage.

The story unfolds around the lives of pen pals eight-year-old Mary Daisy Dinkle, and forty-four-year-old Max. The two share and interest in chocolate and the fictional television program called 'The Noblets'. Mary and Max soon begin to realize that a complete stranger can often become the closest of friend.

The animation is engaging, insightful, familiar, yet very unusual at the same time. It allows the viewer to interpret the story and characters without any suppression and strict direction. It allows an open mind to things we find difficult to encounter and how such an innocent gesture can be taken completely differently to someone else. It is a roller-coaster of a narrative with it's highs and lows; yet never fails to capture the moment that can uplift and inspire anyone.

Wednesday, 21 January 2015

Adaptation (A): Refined Style Thumbnails

Refined Style Thumbnails

I tried to compromise the thoughts and traditions of classical and well executed infographics with my own personal line art style. The results were better than I expected.

Adaptation (A): Inital Thumbnails

Potato Style Idea

The potato themed design would be very sketchy and similar to a 'farm house' style. I found this much more fun to work with while linking in some tradition.

Steel Rivet Style Idea

This was a whimsicle idea that I thought of on my way to my turorial on Tuesday - since then the other idea would be a blueprint style infographic - but I would prefer a much more 'free' way of working - as shown above.

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

Adaptation (B): After Tutorial Thoughts

After Tutorial Thoughts

A New Idea

After speaking with Alan today, he suggested that I should push myself more in terms of potential for an adaptation project; not loop myself back into mistakes I made previously.

Therefore my new idea that sounds like something I could really enjoy and push myself with is to collect a group of five characters from classical books/movies/stories etc, and bring them into a new genre and completely re-design them.

Initial Characters

Any Feedback?

One of the Bears from Goldilocks & The Three Bears
Lilo or Stitch (Grown up) from Lilo & Stitch
Mulan
Jack Jack (Grown up) from the Incredible's
Alice or the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland
Peter Pan or Tiger Lilly from Peter Pan
Ratty from Wind in the Willows
One of the Smurfs

Mudbox Lesson 01: Pirate

Mudbox Lesson 01

My First Sculture - Pirate

The first mudbox lesson was mainly about experimentation, so I went ahead and played with the tools and familiarize myself with the interface. Here is my first ever sculpture in Mudbox of a Pirate.

Pixelated Superman Practice in After Effects

Monday, 19 January 2015

Adaptation (A): Style

Hand Drawn Style

The style I am going for for my infographic will be a hand drawn approach and will flow sideways with small things changing along the way. I'll also aim to produce a well thought visual infographic, rather than a voice over. Considering I am looking into something made of steel, I thought it would be quite ironic to have my infographic over the top of a cardboard effect background, which will also allow my line art style to be shown too. Any suggestions?

'Efas Frozen Yoghurt' infographic really caught my eye with its non-stylistic approach and charming music. Also in my own opinion, is very memorable.

Adaptation (A): The Steel Rivet

"How the Steel Rivet Changed the World"

My infographic will be focusing on Steel Rivets that are used to create large constructions. I will also be including facts (in the background) about how many were used etc, as well as s brief underlining process on how they are made.

Archaeologists have found rivet technology going back some 3000 years. But have only been industrially used since the bronze age.

Steel rivets were placed in the furnace and heated to a glowing white heat as the hotter the temperature the more plastic and easily deformed is the rivet.

The rivet warmer or heater or "cook" used tongs to individually remove rivets and throw them to a catcher stationed near the joints to be riveted.

The catcher (usually) caught the rivet in a leather or wooden bucket with an ash-lined bottom, placed the glowing hot rivet into the hole to be riveted, and then quickly turned around to await the next rivet.

The "holder up or holder on" would then hold a heavy rivet set or dolly or another (larger) pneumatic jack against the round head of the rivet, while the riveter applied a pneumatic rivet hammer to the unformed head, making it mushroom tightly against the joint in its final domed shape.

Before the use of pneumatic hammers, the man who hammered the rivet was known as the "basher". Upon cooling, the rivet contracted and exerted further force, tightening the joint.

-- How they are attached.

-- Show disperse of rivets into how many were made to create a certain 'thing'.

Thursday, 15 January 2015

@Alan Adaptation (B): Ideas for 'Source'

Adaptation (B)

Ideas for 'Source'

Since my tutorial on Tuesday, I have looked into other ideas that could spark a character for a game environment. Any feedback would be highly appreciated!

Books & Short Stories:

Phantom Tollbooth
Peter Pan
The Hare & The Tortoise
The Cunning Fox & The Clever Stork
Goldilocks & The Three Bears
Jack & The Beanstalk

Rhymes/Poems:

Three Blind Mice
Hey, Diddle, Diddle
The Hummingbird

Others:

A child's invisible friend
A child's dream
A child's 'hero'
An Emotion/Energy

My Favorite Ideas

I like the idea of either adapting the characters Peter Pan, Goldilocks or Jack from the books; The Hummingbird from it's poem or a child's invisible friend. I would take one of these characters into a more serious manner than they are already portrayed; and change their whole persona to make a hero/heroine based game's character. Overall, 'The Hummingbird' poem stood out for me, it is very descriptive and very bold; and in my own opinion could evoke quite a unique character to create a game from.

'The Hummingbird'

Yes, I am small, but can you move like me?

Can you fly backwards and hum like a bee?

Now you can see me! I've stopped for a while.

How you admire me. See how you smile.

Pay close attention! Don't even blink!

Look at my colours. What do you think?

I hover just briefly to suck up sweet nectar.

I guess you could say I'm a nectar collector.

Aviation designers have learned a few things.

From watching me fly, and my light perfect wings.

You may think I'm cocky or too confident.

But sit and observe. It will be time well spent.

Monday, 12 January 2015

@Alan Adaptation (B): Ideas

Adaptation (B): Ideas
Any Feedback?

As I'd love to pursue a career in the mix of character design, my Adaptation (B) project will capture that particular part of my interest which will also help me when it comes to my minor and major projects next year. In my Character project I personally felt that my villain character lacked something unique and overall I want to push myself further when it comes to designing unique and bold characters; My aim is to create a new set of characters and story to ultimately push myself in my 2D & 3D skills.

What to Adapt?

At first I was going along the ideas of taking something from 'the old' and bringing it to something 'new' - famous paintings, books, etc. However I felt that this was very dull and ordinary. So I have looked into some 'other' ideas that I found that could evoke different and unique ideas.

Sculpture/Water Colour

Saturday, 10 January 2015

@Alan @Phil Adaptation (A): The Tiny Ideas

"HOW THE ..... CHANGED THE WORLD"

After the pitch I decided to explore more "small" objects that changed the world that we know it. So I've made a list of four main ideas that I've looked into and found information about.

Screw

Blue LED

Microchip

X-Ray

I really like the idea of either the Blue LED's or Microchips as there are fascinating facts that revolve around them. Microchips are everywhere and are the tiny things that co-ordinate and program the biggest and most import pieces of equipment, including the recovery of our pets. Also the invention of Blue LED's was a breakthrough in the 1990's that allowed the creation of white lights so therefore changing the way we watch movies, store data and how we light the world.