Great Character Line up tutorial on youtube :)

By Concept Cookie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zg_i3NAA2CQ  

Sketches of the others

Here are some sketches of the other characters. I've decided that I will have turn around sheets and expressions for them all by next week. Then the storyboard will be complete the week after that. Then I will be creating my backgrounds for this piece and then begin animating the under drawings to get my movements the way I want them so by next semester I can focus on cleaning up my animation and add sound to it. Hopefully this all goes well.

Ren

Coree

Character line up

Carie

Holiday Bizarre Contest

Since this task was thrust upon me on such short notice I am only entering 1 artwork for this year's contest. I had so many things to do over the weekend so I didn't have time for anything else. Sorry Jill :)
But hopefully the time and effort I put into this one piece will pay off. I will be posting the final product on my blog very soon The deadline is on the 25th of this month by 4 o'clock.

Mae's main expressions

Mae's main facial expressions. I want to go back and redo these because the line work insn't where I need it to be. But for now here you go :)

Aware/Alert face

Fear Face

Normal Face

Determined Face

Sorrow/Sad Face

Mae Turn Around (NO color)

Here is a version of Mae's character sheet. I will be creating a another in the near future. I need more practice with the Wacom tablet my lines aren't where I want them to be at present moment.

Character Design and Environmental design demo reels

Links to character design demo reel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg76C0_F5bg 

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IO5wjsBicE 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta4EQUHORpw 



Links to environment design demo reels:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaqYoF_0rFY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdxyDyldcC4 

Mae color design options

New Demo Reel Ideas

Okay so in critic earlier today while I was presenting my demo reel......it didn't go too well. There was a better suggestion given to me; why not create a demo reel that shows off my skills as a character and designer. Though initially I though about having character designs and background designs on my reel but not a reel dedicated solely to character designs and background designs. I really like that idea, so......for this semester I will be focusing more on character and background designs more and more on my animation reel next semester.


I will post demo reel examples of character and environmental design reels and artists that I like when it comes to character and environment designs. Also I will post tutorials about character designing and storyboarding.

For Next class

For next class I will have a fully realized storyboard, my character turn around, character design sheets, character emotion sheets, and a sheet where we see all the characters all lined up next to each other.

My characters are as follows:

• MAE the main character
• REN calm level headed best friend of Mae
• CHELSEA the more aggressive best friend of Mae
• COREE Mae's love interest
• MILO Coree's kitten

......yeah that's a lot of work to be done before next class period........yup :)

Storyboard Act II only first stages

This is only Act II. This is the first version of this storyboard so there will be changes made to it.
Some panels are out of order put they are numbered correctly just follow the numbers on each panel at the bottom right. I would appreciate it :)

Meeting with Carrie Brook

I have set up a meeting with Ms. Carrie Brook for September 25 (next Wed.) at 2:30 pm. In my  meeting with Ms. Brook we will look over my resume and talking about interviewing tips.

Internships and Job findings

So far I have found two internships and one job that I've found that I want write cover letters for and apply to. None of them are local but I will be apply for 5 internships and 5 jobs in all before October the 8th and I will have both local and out of town internships and jobs I will be applying for. So far this is what I have:

     K.S. Mathis Jewelers (internship opportunity looking for Animation Storyboard Artist)
     Threshold Animation Studios (internship opportunity looking for Development Vizualization Intern)
     DreamWorks Animation (job opportunity looking for Storyboard Artist for TV)

Storyboard Sneak Peek

Here is just the first few panels of the first storyboard that I've created for this project.

Reference Images for Backgrounds

References for the school gym

Reference Images for the school's courtyard

Color scheme

Three color schemes come to mind.

1. Muted color scheme  
2. chromatic grey color scheme
3. Pastel school scheme

I think I'm leaning more toward muted color scheme using low key, high key, and the broad value range. Something to help set the tone of my piece.

Act II Breakdown/detail

Day 1 Interior. School gym. Afterschool 3:35 pm

• Wide shot. The camera cuts to Mae and her best friends Marcus and Ren, in the school gym.
• Bust Shot. Camera cuts to Mae as she inhales and exhales slowly with her fists clenched and held up to her collar bone.
• Mid Shot. Camera cuts to Marcus and Ren standing next to each other looking at Mae with serious faces and they step aside to reveal the optical behind them.
• Establishing Shot. Camera panning out of the obstacle field which consists of jump ropes with paper cat faces on them, hula-hoops with paper cat faces on them, balloons with cat faces on them, and moving mechanical toy cats.
• Wide shot. Camera cuts to Mae, Marcus and Ren walking to the first obstacle, three ropes with the paper cat face on them.
• Close up. Camera cuts to Mae. Mae is trembling slightly and starring at the paper cat face.
• Wide shot. Marcus nudges Mae forward causing Mae to stumble a little.
• Medium Shot. Camera cuts to Mae. Still trembling and staring at the paper cat face (Marcus is seen in the background out of focus).
• Close up. Camera cuts to Mae's feet trembling and lifting up her right foot off ground.
• Medium Shot. Mae is cautiously lifting up her leg.
• Medium Shot. Mae then drops her leg back down because she doesn't feel as though she has what it takes.
• Over the Shoulder shot. Camera cuts to Mae and Marcus. Marcus puts his left hand on Mae's right shoulder. Mae shifts her eyes to Marcus' hand on her shoulder.
• Wide shot. Mae tries again but she is till trembling, but a little less than she was before. She breathes heavily. She lifts her leg and plants her foot on the opposite of the first rope timidly and hops the rest of her body on the other side of the rope.
• Medium Shot. Camera cuts to Marcus and Ren high-fiving each other.
• Wide Shot. Camera cuts and pans to Mae. She is staring at the second rope that is slightly higher than the first. She hesitates before she awkwardly jumps over the second rope.
• Close up. Mae is smiling after her two accomplishments she begins to gain more confidence.
• Wide Shot. Mae jumps over the third and fourth ropes.
• Wide Shot. Mae's next obstacle is the cat hula-hoop. She hesitates but she jumps through the first hoop and her landing is a little rocky.
• Wide Shot. Mae runs through the second cat hula-hoop a lot smoother. But the third hula-hoop she trips and hits her mouth. The pain hurts but it makes her more determined so she gets ups and finishes the last hula-hoop.
• Bust Shot. Camera cuts to Mae's face after she realizes the obstacle she must conquer next. A field of 40 giant balloons with cat faces on them.
• Wide Shot. Mae is staring into a sea of endless balloons with her worst nightmares on them.  (It's a sublime feeling).
• Medium Shot. Mae slowly walking toward the balloons. She pauses for a moment squints her eyes and forces her way through as quickly as possible.
• After Mae makes it out she's breathing heavily on the ground. As she looks up her friends are there greeting her with smiles and an apple juice box.

Day 2 Exterior. School's courtyard. After school.3:47 pm.

• Mae is face to face with a large stuffed cat that she has to run to and hug as many times as she can.
• Mae is laying down in a clear laundry basket as she  is being held down by the shoulders by Marcus.
• Ren begins pouring a bunch of stuffed kittens on Mae. Ren and Marcus looks at Ren's receipt after purchasing all those toys..
• Mae is trembling a little but then she relaxes.

Day 3 Exterior. School's courtyard. After school.3:23 pm.

• Mae is walking toward the courtyard where she sees Marcus and Ren.
• Ren pulls a baby cat from behind her back.
• Mae freezes up and gives a little uncertain/weary smile and begins walking towards the kitten.
• The closer Mae gets the more anxious she feels
• The Camera shows an extreme close up of Mae's eyes with the kitten being reflected in tehm. We delve in the reflections of Mae's eyes. The kitten's face turns into something demonic, into this evil smile and sharp eyes and the kiten begins to stretch and tower over Mae.
• Mae falls to the ground breathing heavily.
• The kitten jumps to the ground and walks toward Mae.
• Mae shrieks and runs over the hill behind the school.
• As Mae is running down hill she trips and stumbles to the bottom of the hill near the flowing creek. Here she begins to sob and weep. Then she hears a meowing cry for help.
• She looks and sees the cat from a couple days earlier was being swept away in the creek. She has to make a decision on whether or not to save this cat. Face her fears and save a life or let the animal die and feel guilty for the rest of her life because she could have saved a helpless creature in need if only she wasn't so afraid. 

Mae's Bathroom Scene

Here I am, with my bad acting, trying to capture the emotions and gestures I want the main character Mae, to portray after an embarrassing moment in the court yard in front of her crush. I warn you these are pretty terrible!

BFA Update

Today critic wasn't so bad. I got good feedback! I'm almost complete with getting my story where it needs to be.....thank god. Before next class period however, I may run into a bit of a challenge because I have to pitch my elevator line in a way that matches the tone of my story, in a comic type fashion.....great. But this may help me break out of my shell. In addition to the pitch I also have to act out the scene where Mae is making her big decision.....she's going to face her fear of cats (this may be an even bigger challenge). The easy part is writing out the second Act structure and storyboarding the scenes out (my favorite part)!

Hopefully this is the last day we're going to pitch our work!

Sketches of the Cat Milo and Coree

Coree Sketches

Milo sketches

Demo Reel

Of course this demo reel will be updated. These aren't my best works but they will have to do for now.

Link to Demo Reel on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0xsz8iPT30&feature=c4-overview&list=UUK5fjv0LSiN-Xco2KHeA00w 

BFA Pitch 9/3

Elevator Line: A young girl struggles to get over her fear of cats, after an embarrassing situation in front of her crush.

Theme: Facing Fears

Premise/Explanation of Theme: The best way to conquer one’s fear is to face it head on.

Short Synopsis: It’s lunchtime. It’s 11:41 in the morning. Mae is sitting at the lunch table in the courtyard socializing with her friends when her crush, Coree walks up and offers her a free ticket to the school’s soccer game. Mae accepts the ticket then a kitten jumps out of the tree and lands on the lunch table. Mae has a panic attack and becomes embarrassed when she realizes Coree is watching her and she rushes off to the girl’s restroom. She washes her face trying to pull herself together. Looking into the mirror, Mae decides she never wants to be embarrassed like that again, so she plans to overcome her fear of cats. After school her friends help train her to be unafraid of cats by using paper cats and toy cats to help prepare her for the real thing. When Mae, faces the real kitten, she cracks under pressure and runs away. When the kitten is in danger of drowning Mae finds the courage and saves the kitten. Coree witnesses her courageous act and gives her a kiss on the cheek for saving his kitten.

Structure Breakdown:

Inciting incident: The kitten jumps out of the tree onto the table causing Mae to have a panic attack

Plot point #1: While in the girl’s restroom, looking into the mirror Mae makes the decision that she will attempt to get over her fear.

Obstacles:         

Facing paper cats.

Facing stuffed cats.

Facing the real cat.

First Culmination: The moment right before she faces the kitten. After all her training, she has gained confidence that she can face the kitten without fear.

Midpoint: Mae is on the ground crying after she failed to face her fears.

Plot point #2: She hears the cat meowing as it’s trying to stay afloat in the lake behind the school. She’s contemplating on whether or not she should save it.

Climax: Mae saves the cat from drowning.

Resolution: She gets the guy.

Tone and Execution: Tone- Playful and funny. Execution- construct digitally drawn and colored backgrounds and characters.

Objective: To make people laugh but to also to teach a lesson.

Target Audience: 10 -16 years old

Genre: Drama and Comedy