Evaluation

After a rushed term, I'm satisfied with the outcome, considering how many project each student had to complete. Our Projects overall outcome was difficult to track considering the 2D characters WERE after all 2D. We had many problems editing the footage, but it eventually came all together.

We was able to achieve the effect we both imagined from the start, the simplistically gave it a very original feel. And although it has been mention by a few of our fellow students, that the still shots were very manga-fied. We do not regret this, since it was what the client asked for. Its been a great step for the both of us (me and Laura) since its another stylistic approach which is rapidly growing through out the industry. Even large cooperation's such as Marvel, have produced their own manga section(Mangaverse) and has become a great success. Its undoubted that the japanese culture has effected the younger generations considerably.

By using various camera movements as the main animation was influence by the basic anime conventions which surround us in our everyday lifes. SINCE our brief from college is marked on our TECHNICAL outcome and not the contextual assets we took the gamble, and followed our own brief's we received from our own clients. We aimed to use anime conventions with western 2D animations. To do so, I blocked out the characters so much, many people agreed it wasn't anime. Some people even praised me, since I have a considerable amount of trouble avoiding this style in the first place. Being brought up with these conventions it has become a habit I can't take away form myself. I admit, I lacked in animating in flash, but at least I found what I needed to improve on. I REALISED animating instruments is really a big challenge. I really admire those who are actually able to do so, since timing is VERY important in the process.

We feel if we had more time and less stress from other units we would have had a better outcome. At one point we did consider modeling then rigging the characters separately. However, we both lack skills in rigging. So we didn't want to focus all our attention on technical issues.

We noticed how independent we worked as a team from the other students working on ravelive projects. But in a sense, it was a good thing. It gave us a sense of pride. And the feeling of how a freelance would work, without the support of our tutors having to make contact with our own clients. We went to meet our own clients, and kept in touch with them throughout the term using a private group, made on facebook. Since everyone uses facebook everyday, it was something unavoidable. It was more convenient then using a blog to discuss matters. So this was undoubtedly a great success.

We still continue to use this group, even after finishing the project. Outside of college, this has become a great job opportunity before graduating. We have devised an outside project to continue working on a PV for the band. This time in 3D. The band is now gradually gaining more fans as they win more competitions, so a PV is definatly needed! My still shots have also been used. So I'm proud the client went as far as using it of large projected screens. I generally didnt feel the clip was exactly good enough to be broadcasted infront of a real crowed of people though. Alot more work is needed for that to be acceptable. However, It was still a great step to professionalism.

I would love to learn more on com positing 2d and 3D elements together, to hopefully get to a higher standard then great successes such as animatrix, tekkonkinkreet, casshern and appleseed.
And even though we still lack in technical skills, me and Laura have both learnt alot together. As friends, we had no communication concerns. We talk and meet very often, so that was definately no problem. I think what pulled us back was the technical problems and the lack of will power to get things done at times. After doing other projects, there had no motivation to continue on to another project. So maybe it was our lack of focus, from having so many units in one term? However, co-operating together as a team was something very enjoyable. Laura's a great team mate to work with. But I do kind of understand why its better for friends not to work so close together sometimes. Things could just slide by, whereas in the industry, another team member may even go as far as threaten you to get the work done properly.

Even so, we are currently working on this project in 3D, currently gathering research together, and slowly modeling. Our digital environment skills are coming back, which is always a great help. We hope to produced a magical sequence to the best of our current abilities. And hope they rapidly improve before going back to rave.

Time..

Our clients also asked for more mature still shots to fill the PV, since they asked more dynamic camera movements. Knowing it would be hard to track. Will didn't want to kill our piece, So we took some time experimenting with Laura's 3D stage. Our stage was strongly influenced by God of War's Trailer. Using a Terracotta colour palette. Laura found tutorials in order to create 3D clouds. It was something new we haven't been introduced to. Keeping in mind, we also had a lecture on lighting. We had a considerable amount of trouble with lighting since the sun would be BEHIND the stage. It brought out too many shadows, which made the stage very gloomy. The the sunset would not show after we fixed the stages problem. Or the clouds would disappear. We overcame this problem by watching many lighting tutorials online. As a team, we both took responsibility for this, so 2D was held back.

Influential Artists ...

Since our clients asked for a drunk, lazy, ROUGH feel to PV, I di some research into Metal Gear Solids main conceptual illustrator, Yoji Shinkawa.

His work is very rough, drawn very skecthy. As you can tell from the lines qualities below. Yoji uses vigerous brush/pen strokes to adapt to a tactical, military feel. It brings out the guy characters sharp, manly expressions. Enhancing their features by stylizing them with rougher strokes as the lines blends into the shadows. Giving this style a very unique look.



I attempted the same style after consulting our clients. They were happy to accept the nature of this style. And here is the result::

As you can see I never got to the shadows. The lines were very hard to control using a brush pen. I obviously need more time to master this technique.

Laura also agreed, The both of us wouldn't have the time to MASTER then HAND DRAW the animation out on cel even if we did. Keeping focus on our goal of integrating 2d and 3D elements together, we needed to explore a style in which was easier to animate in a 2D software like flash.
Will deciding this style was too mature to be animated in 2D. We needed something more stylized. More BLOCKY.

...Something with sharper, MESSIER look for the band. Yet just as strong in presence. So we continued to research into other artists with similar brush strokes we all adored so much, with a BOLDER feel.


after some time...



We came across the ROCKBAND artists.
Matt Perlot. http://www.rockband.com/zine/perly-sketchbook



As you can see. The colour wheel for this picture was very bland. He seems to like the vinatage, worn out look. Something we're not looking for. However, the line quality in this is very blocky indeed. And the muscular curves help to bring out a tough image. Kind of reminds me of a tree trunk. Strong, old yet firm. Which also reminded me of Thai paintings they usually have in restaurants, and carefully cut out/ chiseled and compressed wood art they have in the asia.

I then moved onto experimenting.
As Laura suggested, we went back to basics, using pencil and paper.
And here are are the results::




Our clients were very pleased with the design. It had the Fusion feel you get from Yoji's creations. I was pleased my drawings gave a rougher atmosphere compared to my usual. We DON'T consider this as manga since it doesn't have the stereotypical bouncy roundness of a chibi character, nor does it have the pointy chins.

Our clients also asked for still shots for the scene, with a more mature shot, something like a streefighter style fued with these characters angry-ness.
So I went through my nearly bought: Street Fighter :The Complete History By Chris Carle. (Something nice I picked up while on a break down central London with Laura =D)
I loved the images from Polygon Pictures inc. I wanted to express the feeling of vigerous head banging, and came up with this: Its similar to ::
This is a picture of Guile from street fighter IV. As you can see, The outa brush strokes AROUND the character is would brings out the tense, powerful presence in the picture.
Things I placed close attention to:
-Paint splattered,
-angry, hard brush strokes,
-a water coloured, smudged colour around him to represent the aura hes giving out.
- And the faces angle is very important.
I drew a few illustrations which failed. This was the best outcome:




And heres the result! Pete, the Band leader, LOVED this picture. So we decided to go for this style for the still shots. So worked more on this illustration. I redrew it in photoshop then coloured it using different types of virtual brushes.


We needed it to cover a widescreen. So an empty background like guiles illustration would'nt be appropriate.