Animation Fundamentals - Project 1

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Animation Fundamentals
22.4.2023 - 10.5.2023
Johnny Lam Wee Zhe (0363436)
Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
 
 

Project 1A - Character Design

In the first part of the first project in Animation Fundamentals, we are tasked with designing a character for our project as well as any future works from this module. Before beginning the design, I would have to plan out the character's overall aesthetic and personality. Here is the initial description, I have come up with.
 
 Fig.1 Brief Character Description
 
As I imagined this character being the the big guy of the team, I decide to find character reference that has a square figure which is often noted to be strong, stable and reliable. This is the character I'm planned to reference in terms of body type:

Fig 2. Fisherman Character

I have also used another reference to bring in my character's feature including facial hair, art style and further body type reference. The first reference helps me determined the facial hair and 'hairstyle' of my character, the second reference helps determined the artstyle and the third reference help me understands drawing large bodies.

Fig 3. Other references

Aside from helping with drawing big bodies, I also got the idea of dressing up my character in leather from the third reference. Here is the mood board for the leather outfit for my character.

Fig 4. Outfit Moodboard

The mask is the last reference that I have downloaded and during the early stage of character design, I have yet to put it in. Here is the initial design of the character:

 Fig 5. First Character Draft
 
After the first design is made, I have realize two things. One of which is that the character shouldn't have any characterization in character turnaround. Another thing is that the character look a lot more like a villain than a good guy. This however gives me an idea that maybe the character could initially be a villain but has turned good.

I proceed to add more details to the character, adjust his pose and give him a full body look. I also decide to change the color of his outfit to make him look less like a villain but also reflects his past. I decide to choose the color orange as it represent strength as the character is strong and also reflect warmth to reflect the character's present moral compass. Orange may also represents aggression which may help reflect his villainous past.

Here is the first draft of the character turn around:
 
Fig 6. Second Character Draft

After receiving feedback (noted below this blog) from Mr. Kamal, I readjust the character accordingly and as suggested, using the sully picture reference to improve the design. I also made a few adjustments especially when aligning the character's back to the rest of the view. I also added the 3/4 view. I also create an expression sheet and character pose sheet after completing the turn around.
 

Final Result

Fig 7.1 Final Character Turnaround

Fig 7.2 Final Character Expression Sheet

Fig 7.3 Final Character Pose Sheet

Project 1B - Layout Design

In my head, Ivor is the type of guy you would see spending his days working and spending his night at the pub, eating, shouting and drinking heavily. Considering the good times he spent there, I decide to have the pub as the layout.

In one of the video recommended by Mr Kamal, an animator teaches how to draw perspective and he mentions that he does not recommend drawing from pure imagination as a beginner. 
 
 So I went on to find a reference image online. Here is the image I've found:

Fig 8.1 Reference Image

I decide to use this layout especially the furniture placement. I have not properly plan a color palette for my first draft so it turns out to be a bad decision on my part. I try to use the same art style as the character himself so that he can be easily blend in with his surrounding. My perspective lines are manually place using the line tool and this is how I place them:

Fig 8.2 Draft One w/ perspective lines

From there, I recolor the border lines to fit the color block of each of the items and here is the result:
 
Fig 8.3 Draft One

After receiving feedback from Mr. Kamal on regard to the my layout, I note down the changes required to be made and look at my drawing once more. I however am not satisfied with the results even after applying the feedback so clear out my draft and redraw the scene. This time draw two perspective lines on either side of the drawing and used the line tool for the drawing itself rather than manually draw as well as follow the feedback given by Mr. Kamal.

I also learn to use the Photoshop tools to create a more proper perspective lines using the video from below. I use the combination of the two as one of the instructions does not work in the newest version of Photoshop.

Fig 9.1 Perspective drawing in Photoshop


Fig 9.2 How to make perspective grid online

From there, I lay out my perspective grid and here is how it look like:


Fig 10.1 Draft 2 w/ perspective lines

Just like my previous draft, I apply the color block to the objects in the layout and then recolor the outlines according to the color block. This time I use the color palette used by the reference image.

Fig 10.2 Color Palette

Before applying the actual color, I decide to color my layout in grayscale to determine the value of the color according to the light source and the overall ambience.

Fig 10.3 Layout Value

Only then, do I apply the colors to the layout using a combination of different blending modes; normal, color and hard light. Here is the result:

Fig 10.4 Final Background

Once I'm done with background, I add in my character into the background. I personally would have add other characters into the pub to make it look more like the usual scene that Ivor likes but since this is a design layout that requires a focus on a singular character (according to the examples of other layouts), I decide to have my character simply enjoying the familiar ambience of the pub during a quiet hours.

Fig 10.5 Inserting Character Draft

I then went ahead and make minor adjustments and here is the final result:

Fig 11 Final Results

Feedback

Character Design Feedback

Label emotions in expression sheet

Pose sheet
Line of action for expressing happiness and weapon holding
Work of on silhouette of weapon holding
Avoid tuning
Sleeping pose - horizontal lines (no action)

Show line in turnaround poses, head shoulder
Only show one arm for the side view
3/4 one leg bigger one leg smaller
smaller shoulder side

Expression sheet
Work on blush - maybe have and arm behind his head
Amused face should be worked on more for clarification

Design Layout

Use a thinner outline and start adding character into the layout


Reflection

I personally find this assignment to be quite challenging as my drawing skill is rather descent but not something to cheer on about, especially when drawing character of different sides as I often draw character on the front side view at eye level. There are certainly feedback I would like to revisit for my character design but due to time constraints, I have to make adjustments in relevant sheet that is required for future reference, specifically the character turnaround and move on to the next part of the project. I have also observe that drawing characters doing different expression and pose over and over will help me become more familiarize with the character and drawing the character faster. One of the biggest challenges for this project is time as this project takes me longer to finish.






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