DXARTS 442 - 3 Space 2: Computer Motion and Advanced Techniques

HOMEWORK AND ASSIGNMENTS

PLEASE NOTE:

Whenever a disk is required for hand-in, please label it in the following manner:

Name
Class
Term
Assignment or Homework #
Assignment or Homework Titile (ie. Revenge of the Sphere)

All disks should be housed in some sort of protective covering, like a plastic or paper slip-case.

Homework 1: Revenge of the Sphere

Expanding on the tutorial from Chapter 7 of the bouncing ball, continue working with that scene to create a sphere with character that does something unexpected. Some ideas: flying, dancing, dissolving, laughing, ... You do not have to use one of these concepts and are encouraged to use your imagination, but whatever you choose, make sure that the actions feel real. Use the tools of animation to convey motivation and emotion in a simple scene. This is an excercise in bringing out the expressiveness of the basic motion controls.Turn in project directory as well as a playblast of the scene.

Homework 2: In Gear

Create a full working structure of the rigged human system you intend to use for the next assignment. The character should have a well-organized, hierarchical bone and joint structure, with appropriate rotational limits based on how you intend it to move. The sophistication of the modeling is of secondary importance, however the skin geometry should move well with the actions of the rig. Concentrate on making a complete working version, even if it is somewhat simple, rather than a complex rig that does not operate correctly. Also make sure your rig is set up in Maya with good naming conventions.

Midterm Project: Cinematic Installation Illustration

Create a cinematic sketch of a participant interacting with a time-based art installation of your own design. Your installation should transform over time, and that transformation should be central to it's content. Your goal is to create an inspired sketch of your idea, using the language of animation and cinema to portray the experience of an encounter with your creation. This means not just a static document of the elements in the environment, but rather a portrayal of a person interacting with the installation. You will need to plan ahead and simplify your storytelling to accomplish this task. Your idea can be futuristic in vision as long as it does not become so abstract as to be unintelligible! You may use camera animation to create a participants POV(point of view) of the virtual installation, as well.

You may want to keep your modeling, materials, and lighting very simple, and focus all of your creative energy on the orchestration of movement in your scene. Only build what you need to convey the idea of the installation. Using direct animation, deformation tools, skeleton rigging, and animation controls as needed. Remember to approach your animation in passes, layering in more detailed movements after you have established your basic blocking.

You will need to turn in your project directory as well as a rendering of your scene on disk.

Also please include a 400 word synopsis of your idea and artistic intent.

Homework 3: Chain Reaction

Using particles and/or dynamic motion, create a short sequence based on the transfer of action or motion from one object to another. Make sure to use one or more of the following dynamics techniques that have been introduced since the last assignment as needed to accomplish your goal: Particles, Expressions, Soft Bodies, Rigid Bodies, Fields, Collisions, etc. Some tips for success - build up the layers of your effects one at a time, test early and often, make sure when running your dynamics to always start at the beginning of your timeline, and always set it to Play Every Frame. For the critique day you will show us a playblast of your dynamic system in action. Turn in on disk both the quicktime and project folder.

Homework 4: Proof of Concept

As a starting point for your final project, create a minimum of three stereo images of key moments in your story. Each image in the series should communicate a progression of key poses and camera compositions that tells your story. Consider how to best express your stories dramatic arc and overall narrative using relativly simple blocked in scenes.

For critique prepare your series of stills to be presented, in order, on the projector. Go through the entire process of creating stereoscopic images as described in the link below and test them using the projector.

After your presentations, we will discuss these sketches in class as a group with the goal of refining your plans and ideas.

click HERE for more info on formatting for the stereo projector

Assignment 4: FINAL PROJECT : Slice of Spacetime

Bringing together all of the skills and interests you've developed of the past two quarters, propose and create a finished art animation. You should create a 3D animation for the projection system in class. Some starting points for ideas. Start from the scratch on a new concept. Continue to develop a previous assignment from rough draft to completed work, or revisit a previous idea. Collaborate with another classmate on a more ambitious animation.Explore an idea you think you may be interested in working with for next quarter.You do not have to use all of the tools introduced, instead it's more important to create a coherent and inspired work with just the techniques you need to get the job done.

Your animation should run no longer than 5 minutes. Quality over quantity! Hand in your project directory and rendered stereo animation on disk.

click HERE for more info on formatting for the stereo projector