WEEK 12: Modeling and Animation II - wrapping up "Flour Sack Escapes" + Final Assignment handout

Last chance to show me your Flour Sack Assignments before the midnight deadline!  I'll have a look and help you with any technical difficulties.

It's time for your 5th and final project.

This is a 2D/live action integration project that will bring together everything you've learned so far - the animation principles, working with video reference, 2D animation techniques in Flash - and adds the key component of design.

Yes, finally, you get to make up your own characters and stories.

Your mission is to create a little world of Flash-animated characters in a live-action environment.  You have a lot of creative freedom with this assignment. You can work by yourself or as a small group.  It can be line work or colour, it can be serious, cartoony, depressing, or rude (well, keep it SFW). This is a chance to let your creativity shine. Your character needs to be able to move around and ideally walk around.

Rex the Runt - simple = funny

We'll do some brainstorming in class so you can get started. For inspiration we'll be looking at a brilliantly whacko piece of Flash animation from the video "Animals" by Minilogue.  Anything goes in Flash -- have some fun with it!

"Animals" by Minilogue. A few simple shadows and voila! integration

We'll discuss character design techniques -- finding a style using at all kinds of media including what's in your fridge. I'll show you some classically simple character designs from comics, TV, games, and movies and give you some hints about finding inspiration.

Homework for next week:

1. Design a character for the final project. Have a printout of it ready to hang on the wall. Three words of advice: Keep.  It.  Simple. 
   If you can't draw it in less than 10 seconds, it's too complicated.
2. Create a pitch for your idea. Your pitch should include a description of your scenario, as well as drawings to show how your work will all fit with your live action plate.

Here's the full description of your final assignment:

Assignment 5: 

Assigned: 28/03/12
Due: 18/04/12 IN CLASS & FTP
% of final: 20%

Please use a movie file type compatible with QuickTime: AVI, MOV, MPeg4

File naming convention:
hhoudini_final_001.avi
hhoudini_dcopperfield_final_001.avi

In small groups or individually, create a short film starring your animated character integrated with a locked live action background plate. You may download or shoot the video yourself. It should be between 12-16 seconds long including credits.

If you don't have an original idea, use one of these:

• Busking for bugs 
• Everybody in the salad 
• 5" UFO 
• Leaps tall buildings in a single bound 
• Other uses for the toilet 
• Badly disguised 
• Things on my foot 
• Urban Emissions

Good luck!