Updated PreViz

Here is an updated version of the animation this time with the poseidon model to get a better idea of scale. The main change here is with the ending having a big monster to add more of a wow factor and have an interesting cliff hanger ending.

New Poseidon PreViz

Here is our latest ideas for the Poseidon animation, it is all still very basic stuff but we are just experimenting with various angles.

However our main idea is that Poseidon has been banished by the other gods and now at the time of the new millennium he has returned to his temple to reclaim his beloved weapon. However the creatures he once commanded are now his enemies and the protectors of the trident.

Change in Poseidon Project

Due to one of the team members having a family emergency we are now a member down. He was a crucial part of the team as he was rigging both Poseidon and the archangel character. Therefore now that vital position is open it needs to be filled and so I have been given this responsibility due to me having the most experience with rigging out of all of us.

So my new responsibilities will be still animating half the animation as well as rigging the two characters.

However due to this change in personnel it has also given us an opportunity to rethink the idea as a whole and so we now have decided to remove the archangel altogether and replace him with a monster as we think this will give a more dynamic range of animations and make for a more interesting animation altogether.

Next steps will be to decide on the scenes and what actually happens.

Rigging Preparation Tests

Fake Motion Blur Effect

Here you can see a test I did with a free rig for the multiple arm effect. This is an effect that I saw in the Looney Tunes Ves submission showreel which is a great unique cartoony effect which I hope to be able to include into my animation.

I followed this tutorial to produce this effect: http://www.cgmeetup.net/home/fake-motion-blur-effect-in-maya-for-cartoony-animation/

Rigging Preparation

Final Design - Full Turnaround

Final Design - Expression Sheet

Final Design - Action Sheet

Concepts - Foot Designs and Development

To start off with, again I have just drawn out simple silhouette shapes and have picked the middle as I think it has a good blend of over exaggerated shapes however doesn't over do it.

For the development of the foot I have simply just re-textured with different fur variations. The design I have chosen is again in the middle ground as I only want some aspects of the design to be prominent where as others, more subtle like the fur texture.

Concepts - Hand Designs and Development

Here I experimented with various shapes to see if any designs stand out in particular, I have selected the one in the middle as I think this has a good blend on soft curves as well as slightly elongated fingers to add character.

On this page I tried out various textures and fur appearances and finally went with the plain white one as I think this will appeal more to the cartoon appearance of the character.

Concepts - Head Designs and Development

Here I have experimented with different rabbit head shapes, I selected the middle one because I feel it has the most contrasting and interesting shapes that create a nice overall design.

Now that I have got the silhouette its time to experiment with different fur designs. I have decided to go with the centre design as it has a more simplistic appearance that lightly highlight the individual features.

Concepts - Body Designs

Here are some initial rabbit body concepts, starting off with just silhouettes to get an idea of some shapes that I like.

I decided to choose the smaller design as I think this will create a nicer dynamic between the big round robot character.

Research - Rabbit Concepts and Anatomy

Research - Flexible Character Exploration

Now its time to start researching what my other character will be.

Final Robot Design - Full Turnaround

Here is my final robot design turnaround. I am very happy with how the design had turned out as it has some interesting shapes which I think all compliment one another nicely. I think it will create an interesting animation dynamic against the more fluid character and I look forward to rigging and animating it.

Final Robot Design - Leg Turnaround

Final Robot Design - Arm Turnaround

Final Robot Design - Gun Turnaround

Final Robot Design - Expression Sheet

Here is the character expression sheet. Since the character is made out of metal and won't be very flexible most of its emotions will come from its eyes and the shapes its eyelids create. The jaw is the only flexible aspect to the face because it is a solid metal base that is connected to a concertina type rubber tubing that will be able to stretch at will.

Final Robot Design - Action Sheet

Concepts - Full Colour Designs

Here are the colour variations for the robot. I have chosen the brown/bronze colour because I think it will be best suited to the character and its background as the point in the robot is to be a guard to a farm so therefore would have been built out or simple pieces of left over metal and rustic mechanics by the farmer.