Kinetic Typography: Kevin's Heart

Kinetic Typography: Kevin's Heart

Software: After Effects

Hardware: N/A

Whoo, was this a bit of a doozy for me! It took a lot of time and effort to move towards more advanced animation in After Effects, especially when worrying about the ability to accurately animate each letter to the timing and words of the song. Luckily, I chose one of my favorite songs of all time, J. Cole's "Kevin's Heart." I decided to do it in separate frames for each line, representing the feel through a change in scenery. It was a lot of fun, but also a lot of time and effort!

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/I_UkgxQ2H4o

After Effects Tutorial: Bouncing Seal

After Effects: Bouncing Seal in Environment

Software: After Effects

Hardware: N/A

Though this is a bit rudimentary in nature, this is a tutorial for me on how to begin using After Effects as a software. I had a tough time wrapping my head around the programmatic, code-like nature of the platform for a while, but you eventually just have an epiphany and all the numbers start making sense eventually! I enjoyed this a lot, and am looking forward greatly to the After Effects Mixed Media Project!

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/JAzrJfSivjc

Weight Project Submission

Weight: A Bad Time for a Bold Orange

Software: Toon Boom's Harmony Premium

Hardware: Wacom Tablet (Medium)

I simply created a continuation of the original Walk Cycle Submission, adding our second family-friendly protagonist: the B(old) Orange Man. He is having some struggs, and needs assistance. Here comes the Aardvark, slightly begrudged to help! Then, by means of his lack of tact, the Aardvark pulls off the Orange Man's arm. A single tear runs down his glossy, orange skin: end scene. I had tons of fun with this project! I came to really love the two characters, and had a good time animating them. Yet, I decided to move to another project for the Dialogue Assignment: theres only so many oranges you can draw before it peels you, ya' know?

Video Link: https://youtu.be/-geTLd1Pm-Q

Walk Cycle Submission

Walk Cycle: A Citrus Stroll for a Young Aardvark

Software: Toon Boom's Harmony Premium

Hardware: Wacom Tablet (Medium)

So, this was probably my favorite project thus far! Everyone seemed real upset about the walk cycle and the complications with physical proportions, but I struggled with it much less than the Rotoscope. 

My action plan was to sketch each and every position, using color to denote the right and left legs and arms, respectively. This turned out great for me, as I simply had to track weight rather than also worrying about movement when I inked it afterwards. My only struggle was definitely the peg and move process, as I was definitely not attentive enough when it was presented in class and had to start over and try to learn it online. The keywords were not getting me what I needed, and I was just genuinely lost. I found out eventually that I simply had to add key frames... take note future animators!!!

I had some extra time before an event I was attending, so I wanted to add a cute, animated background as well. I love oranges, so I created a squad of happy oranges doing various things in the background of the walk. Also, some real snappy music!

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/P_02uaK_4yI

Rotoscoping Project Submission

Rotoscoping Project: Tyler the Creator's "See You Again" Music Video

Software: Toon Boom's Harmony Premium

Hardware: Wacom Tablet (Medium)

Here it is. This literally took longer than probably anything I have ever had to do in the digital medium. Not only did I start over at least 20 times, but I also had an (entirely unfounded) insistence that I had to do it on ones instead of twos or threes, which made this incredible painful until around frame 100, when I changed my mind about that one.

Other than that, I had a lot of fun! Tried to incorporate color to make it a bit more interesting to the eyes, and I think it was excellent movement practice for my future endeavors trying to animate motion without a guide.

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/V-J7ljUxyMM

Stop Motion Animated Film Submission

Stop Motion Animated Film (Collaboration with J. Becker)

Software: Dragonframe

With our return back to stop motion, Jacklyn and I wanted to create a story book romance with a slightly sad ending (you always have to add a little edge, gets the people going.) So, we depicted my fish, Indra (he is very real and, typically, quite ferocious) getting on well with a new fish in the tank, a mysterious silhouette in a lonely tank. But alas, she gets scooped, leaving Indra alone and sad, to reflect on his thoughts.

This one definitely took a lot longer than the last, spanning over 400 frames (which, at this time in our animation careers, was super huge) and involving a lot of planning and continual corrections. We had to start over once because it was far too fast and choppy. Yet, we got it done, and here it is!

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/tFyBT8yHGI0

Bouncing Ball (or Cat) Stop Motion Submission

Bouncing Cat Animation (Collaboration with J. Becker)

Software: Dragonframe 

This project was a welcome exploration of stop motion for the first time, a medium I learned to really enjoy. The simplicity of creating the materials and moving them organically was a lot of fun, and I had a good time conceptualizing a character I wanted to represent doing these actions. The results are a little choppy, but I hope to get better with time!

Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/PyTc3dLeRqc