Self Evaluation

 

Throughout this term I found that I am manage to completely understand the 12 principles of animation.

 

Previously, I took multimedia design diploma course when I am in Malaysia. From that course I found that I am into 3D animation and visual effects. I decided to create a 3D animation for my final year project in 2012 which I am satisfied back then.

 

What I had gained from previous lesson are mostly techniques and basic usage of software. I am well aware of the animation process from planning until the end; planning, modeling, texturing, rigging, physique, lighting, camera and post production. However I am lack in understanding the principles of animation back then.

 

During this term, I am manage to learn Maya which is totally new to me as I am used to 3DsMax for 2years. Switching the software makes me put extra effort try to understand the new features and term in Maya. I found that these two soft wares are almost the same but the interfere and settings are different. I am glad that I am exposed to Maya and able to understand quite well until now. After attending Maya modeling workshop, I can easily catch up the term used and the function of the tools. As for the lighting workshop, I am quite behind where I find it hard to understand the term and the tools. I will polish my understanding in lighting in the following term which I believe more steps will be teach.

 

Watching tutorials and trying out the tutorials is quite handy to me where I can easily playback and try one step at a time. What makes me feel doesn’t like to follow the tutorials is the time length, I had to spend maximum a day to finish the tutorial.

 

Life drawing in the class is fun and relax. I found it challenging as to draw and capture a fast moment. From life drawing class, I am able to capture movement faster with flow lines. Trying different techniques in life drawing class is a learning process. Practice makes perfect. Observing outdoor is challenging as people or character will not pose for you as in class. In fact I love outdoor life drawing than in the class as it is more relax and not tension.

 

In this term, I was given four exercise to complete the learning outcome. First of all, bouncing ball, from this exercise I learned how to use graph editor, squash and stretch and how to time the frame for pose to pose. Key framing is important as it will makes a lot of differences in the animation.

 

Next, pendulum. In this exercise, I understand overlapping in the animation. As for the ball and tail exercise, there are lot more to digest. For instant, anticipation is important. In this exercise I am lack in anticipation in the first pass of animation whereas I get used to it when it comes to later part of the animation. I do not use any camera as I am still not understand how the camera works in this stage.

 

Lastly, personality walk exercise. Before completing this exercise there are 3 tutorials to follow; Ball and Legs, Blue rig and Orange rig. I choose the Orange rig for my final personality walk as it is easier to control compare to the blue rig although blue rig give perfect feet flexibility.

 

In the personality walk there are a lot more aspects to pay attention. From walk cycle, overlapping, key framing, and other principles. I found that in this exercise I lack in smoothing the graph in graph editor. During the tutorials, the man in the video can makes perfect curve but at some point I am not able to get the smooth curve which is quite frustrating to me. For the first part of the walk personality I am trying to work well on the walk cycle which is supposed to be happy walk. I used infinity cycle and baked the walk cycle which I find it quite useful. The next part of the walk cycle is the balancing walk on the pole. I found the last part is livelier as I key posing them manually rather than use infinity cycle and bake it. To be honest, I found that posing the key pose manually is easier and faster than when I used infinity cycle which is supposed to be the other way round. In my opinion different people works in different way to make their artwork perfect.

 

After the formative assessement, there are few changes that I should add in the bouncing ball, pendulum and ball and tail. Due to time constraint I am not able to do the adjustment. I will use the year end holiday to improve the animation.

 

Overall I am happy with my outcome of the four exercise where I learned a lot from it. Time management is one thing that I should improve. It is hard to find the balancing working while studying. I had been studying and working at the same time for few years in Malaysia but I found it harder when I am in London trying to adapt to the weather, climate and different study culture. In conclusion, I had to be more independent and manage my time properly in the following term. I am expecting more and more assignment in the next term.