World-building involves constructing a world where the story takes place.
Incorporating props helps guide the audience’s attention towards the central character, directing focus to the main element of the scene.
In the above scene, the ice cream in the background serves as a guide, directing the audience’s attention towards the central characters. The gradual shift in colours, from lighter pink to darker shades of pink and orange(vice versa), further enhances this focus.
Shot Testing & Moodboard
This is the moodboard I created for the balloon story. I envision the balloon taking a dog shape, as it is likely to be more appealing to the audience, particularly younger viewers. I also want the overall colour palette to feature bright and sharp tones, enhancing its visual impact.
However, the colour tone of both the environment and the character is quite similar, which makes it difficult for the protagonist to stand out. Based on my tutor’s advice, I took inspiration from the colour palette of The Incredibles to create a more distinct contrast between the character and the surroundings.
With the new moodboard, the protagonist is now more distinct and stands out clearly within the environment.
I also created some establishing shots and conducted tests with various camera angles for the previsualisation.
They are currently in the initial stage, so further modifications are needed. I will make adjustments, particularly to the transitions, the emotional tone conveyed by different shots, and the smoothness of the scene. Once these changes are made, I will link the shots together to create a more cohesive previsualisation for the animation.
In the first week, we initially formed groups based on our chosen topics and generated ideas. However, after receiving the briefs, I found myself reconsidering my options and contemplating which group to join. I was torn between the NHS brief, which involved creating an animation for breast cancer awareness, and my original group, which was considering the Departure Lounge project, focused on developing a VR game.
Several factors influenced my decision-making process:
NHS Brief:
The project appeared less complex and more straightforward, as it involved animation, a field I was familiar with, but not one in which I had extensive experience.
It offered an opportunity to contribute to a meaningful and impactful cause.
However, the scope of the project seemed less dynamic, with fewer opportunities for collaboration and learning from teammates with diverse skills.
Working with a real client would provide valuable professional experience.
Departure Lounge/Other Festivals:
This project was more complex, requiring skills in areas such as coding, gaming, VR, and using Unity—none of which I had much experience with.
Given that the client had already been developing the concept for two years, there was a risk the project might be difficult to complete.
On the other hand, this project would offer greater opportunities for collaboration and learning from teammates with varied expertise.
Many groups were selecting this brief, which raised the possibility of not being chosen by the client.
Ultimately, I had to weigh the potential for personal growth and skill development against the challenges and uncertainties of each option.
In today’s lesson, we explored the structure and key concepts of a thesis proposal in greater detail. We also reviewed some strong examples and I realized that clarity—both in layout and content—is essential to crafting a strong proposal.
For example:
The table of contents should include page numbers for easy navigation.
Additionally, we discussed quantitative and qualitative research methods:
Quantitative:
Survey
Descriptive
Experimental
Correlational
Qualitative:
Conducting interviews
Both research methods play a crucial role in academic research.
Research Topic updates
Emotional Engagement and Visual Metaphors in Pixar’s Narrative Tropes: A Critical Analysis of Character Development and Audience Connection
After careful consideration of various topics and ideas, I chose to focus on Pixar movies, as they have consistently inspired me over time. Since I will be working on this thesis for the entire year, it makes sense to delve into something that continually interests and fascinates me.
I conducted research on Pixar’s narrative techniques, with a particular focus on recurring tropes. This analysis encompasses various elements such as:
Films catering to all age groups, with a particular emphasis on younger audiences
The depiction of unique societies
Notable Pixar films, including Monsters University, Finding Nemo, Soul, Elemental, and Cars
Moments that evoke emotional responses, often leading to tears
The development of rapport between characters and the audience
Engaging short films such as Bao and Piper
Key backstories, such as:
Jessie (Toy Story): The experience of abandonment by her owner
Carl (Up): The poignant loss of his spouse
Crucial narrative twists that introduce unexpected developments
The creation of escalating emotional conflicts
This analysis is informed by insights from the article
In this lesson, we reviewed the structure of a thesis and the thesis proposal. I have been brainstorming potential topics for both my thesis and Final Major Project (FMP).
Post-Graduation Focus
Primary Interest: 3D Computer Animation Where My Passion Lies: Education – I am more interested in sharing knowledge than just applying technical skills.
Skills Required for Career:
Software: Maya, Blender, Unreal Engine, Unity, ZBrush, TV Paint, Houdini
Soft Skills: Collaboration, Time Management, Patience, Teaching
Use the golden ratio in storyboards – place key elements at the interest points for balanced composition.
In this image, the two red circles indicate the interest points where the main character (balloon) intersects with the guiding lines. Placing the character at these points creates a more balanced composition and effectively follows the rule of thirds.
This image shows the character not intersecting with the interest points, resulting in a less appealing composition for the audience.
Plan before setting up the scene – ask key questions to ensure clarity and purpose.
Guide the audience’s focus – a well-structured scene prevents confusion.
Build up before major events – create anticipation and context to enhance impact.
Use different shots intentionally – each angle conveys a specific emotion or meaning.
Example: Shot 1 – Camera angle from inside a car, set in a darker outdoor environment.
Without showing the car, the audience can still understand that the scene takes place in a car. Additionally, shooting from a low angle creates a sense of pressure or impending action, making the scene feel more intense.
In my opinion, the elements above are essential when filming or planning. I need to study them in detail before creating storyboards and animating. Since there is so much to consider, waiting until I start the storyboard would be too late, and I might overlook important aspects.
The Hero’s Journey
Character and story are fundamental elements in animation, as highlighted by a Pixar senior animator. To create a vivid and appealing character, it is essential to follow the Hero’s Journey (refer to the image above). Many well-known characters have followed this structure, making them more engaging and memorable to audiences.
3 Storyboard Ideas
For this week’s task, we created three storyboards for our Final Major Project (FMP) or other animation work. This proved to be quite challenging for me. Although I had been recording ideas as they came to mind, developing three fully-formed concepts within a week remained difficult.
To generate ideas, I utilised mind mapping and conducted online research, including analysing YouTube short animations and exploring visual styles on Pinterest. Through this process, I developed the following three concepts.
I find this artist’s work visually appealing and engaging, particularly in terms of colour, style, and narrative. The animation effectively holds my attention, especially with its plot twist at the end. However, I find the sad and somewhat ambiguous ending less appealing. While this is not necessarily a flaw, it does not align with my own creative intentions. Therefore, I will use the aesthetic aspects as a reference but take a different approach to the ending.
Inspired by a real-life scene, when I returned home one day and saw a balloon floating on the street, I developed this story. It centres on a balloon that is simultaneously scared and worried about being crushed by a car, yet also excited by the experience. The story conveys the message that, even in extreme circumstances, we should remain positive, as this mindset can lead to a different, often better outcome.
For this story, I aim to depict a character searching for a coal rock, which, when found, will set him on fire, just like it did for others. The character exhaustively searches in various places, while everyone else succeeds, leaving him the only one who fails. In the end, he discovers the rock at home. This story conveys the message that the things we often seek are right beside us. It encourages being observant and appreciating the loved ones around us.
For the final story, I was inspired by the Frisbee disc. I am not entirely sure why, but I found it intriguing to imagine someone running on the Frisbee disc, and felt it could lead to an interesting narrative.
I developed a story in which the protagonist, like others, is focused on running as fast as possible. In his pursuit, he becomes so absorbed in competing that he neglects the time spent with family and overlooks the beautiful things, such as flowers, along his path. Eventually, he realises that time has passed quickly, and his family has grown older. In response, he runs in the opposite direction, hoping to find his family in a younger version. This story aims to inspire people to slow down and cherish their loved ones.
Among the three ideas, I am most interested in further developing the first balloon idea, as it is the most fully-formed. I already have a clear vision of the aesthetic and style I want to achieve.
Regarding my final submission for the Unreal Engine (UE) project, I am not entirely satisfied with the outcome and recognize there are significant areas for improvement. These include enhancing the smoothness of the fish’s animation, improving lighting, and refining the sound design, among other aspects. I intend to address these shortcomings not only in this project but also in future endeavors.
That said, the project has been an invaluable learning experience. While we covered the fundamentals of Unreal Engine in class, I found the knowledge insufficient, particularly for animating characters and transferring files into the engine. Consequently, I undertook extensive self-directed learning and resolved numerous challenges, which enabled me to acquire new skills that will be beneficial in the future. Looking ahead, I plan to expand my technical expertise by learning software such as ZBrush, Blender, and other 3D applications to broaden my creative capabilities.
With regard to the Maya fundamental animation projects, I have developed a heightened sensitivity to the finer details of animation after completing the course. During my undergraduate studies in Animation and Digital Arts, critiques were often focused on general impressions rather than providing specific, actionable feedback. For example, key principles such as using arcs, adding hand swings, or incorporating weight shifts were not emphasized. Moving forward, I will consistently keep these essential principles in mind to improve the quality of my future animations.
Design Proposal
(Please turn on the subtitles on the right bottom corner. )
Initially, I did not realize that animating the fingers was essential for creating curves similar to those depicted in the yellow illustrations of the animation above. At first, I focused solely on animating the arms. However, this approach lacked the necessary detail. I soon realized that to achieve a more refined and comprehensive animation, I would need to incorporate greater detail and push my skills further by animating the fingers as well.
(2) Shape changing of the body
While animating, I overlooked the rotation of the body, which resulted in the animation lacking smoothness. To improve this, I will need to incorporate these rotational changes into the blocking animation and refine the movement further during the spline phase.
(3) Anticipation before standing up
Anticipation serves to provide the audience with cues regarding upcoming actions. For a more detailed explanation, please refer to the final section of the Blog from Week 2. Therefore, it would be beneficial to incorporate an anticipatory movement before the character stands.
(4) More Clearer Poses
For this frame, I should clarify the pose by reducing the twist of the shoulder in relation to the camera, while maintaining the triangular shape between the arms and the body. Additionally, I must ensure that the left hand makes contact with the leg.
(5) Extension of the Hands
It appears that the hands are missing keyframes. Instead of only keyframing the character’s position before and after standing, I should include additional in-betweens. For more information on keyframes and in-betweens, please refer to the Blog from Week 1. By incorporating more in-betweens, the animation will have greater extensions, resulting in smoother motion.
Today’s lesson was a reminder to stay aware of the critical report and audiovisual task.
Critical Report: Image List
Today’s lesson clarified the purpose of the image list. Initially, I thought it was similar to a reference or bibliography page, but I realized it is used to detail images and enhance the essay’s clarity. Using an image list allows images to be organized separately, preventing the text from appearing cluttered or resembling a magazine format.
My images were in text, as I have my text clearly indicating the things from the image.
Audio Visual Task
I was quite worried about this task as it feels different from what I have done before. During my previous bachelor’s degree in Hong Kong, formal essays did not usually require a presentation video. If they did, it was more of a simple recording of ourselves discussing the key points of the essay, without much informality. This task feels like a new challenge for me.
I am referencing the video shown in class to gain insights into how to approach this task. I aim to ensure that my presentation is both engaging and clear, while effectively conveying the key points.
Progress on Critical Report
I have been consulting five language tutors, along with Matthew, and have received substantial feedback on my essay.
Referencing Issue
Although I have been using the Harvard referencing format for my report, I was unaware that I needed to include the accessed dates for the websites I visited. Since websites are often unstable and may be removed or the links may become invalid over time, it is essential to note the date when the website was accessed.
I was also unaware, or had forgotten, that the references should be arranged in alphabetical order. Consequently, I have reorganized them accordingly.
Word Count Issue
After including all the necessary content, my word count exceeded the requirement by approximately 500 words. As a result, I need to reduce the word count by eliminating unnecessary adjectives and adverbs, removing repetitive phrases, linking sentences more precisely, and deleting irrelevant paragraphs.
Clarity Issue
After completing my first task and presenting it to the tutor, I was informed that some of my points were not directly related to the topic, which not only wasted word count but also affected the clarity of the essay. I attempted to remove or modify these sections, but other issues arose.
Some of my points lacked sufficient elaboration, leading the tutors to ask questions such as, “What does that mean?” “Can you elaborate?” and “Why did this happen?”
I also realized that it is important not to include points that I cannot support or that lack evidence. Otherwise, they do not form a strong argument, but rather appear as unsupported claims.
I aim to refine my critical report and complete the audiovisual video to the best of my ability.
I have been working on completing the animation in Unreal Engine (UE), though there are still several aspects that require refinement. Specifically, the movements of the fish, including spinning, swimming, eye rotation, and fin movement, need further adjustments. The shark animation, in particular, presents challenges as its movements appear slightly laggy, with certain sequences exhibiting unnatural or awkward behavior.
Enhancing Visual Coherence in UE
Additionally, I am considering modifying the color of the shark. Its current color scheme does not harmonize well with the surrounding environment, and this change aims to enhance visual coherence and overall aesthetic appeal.
Realigning the Narrative: Refining Story and Animation Adjustments
An interesting realization emerged after reviewing the current version of my animation: the storyline has inadvertently diverged from my original concept. Initially, the narrative aimed to depict a fish venturing into a new world, grappling with its fear of unfamiliar fish, and ultimately overcoming this fear to form a friendship.
However, by replacing the “stranger fish” with a shark, the story’s tone shifted significantly. The shark’s behavior now suggests a predatory pursuit, emphasizing a chase rather than the fish’s journey of overcoming internal fears. This adjustment has unintentionally altered the focus of the narrative.
To address this, I have decided to modify the ending slightly. By incorporating a friendly smile and wave from the shark, I aim to realign the story with the original theme of overcoming fear and fostering connection. Although the animation for this adjustment is currently somewhat laggy, I plan to refine and smooth it in the next stages of development.
Progress on the Cape
For the final step of my animation, I needed to incorporate a transparent cape for the fish. Initially, I attempted to create this effect in Unreal Engine (UE), but I encountered difficulties in editing it within the Sequencer, which hindered my ability to synchronize it with the animation. As a result, I decided to use nCloth in Maya to simulate the cape. Afterward, I exported the cape to UE using a process similar to the one I used for transferring the animations of the fish and shark. This involved first exporting the cape as a skeletal mesh without animation from Maya and importing it into UE. Then, I imported the version with animation by referencing the same skeletal mesh.
Rendering
During my experimentation with rendering, I tested various settings, including 4K and 16K resolutions, and explored options such as the “Game Override” setting to evaluate performance. I was particularly impressed by Unreal Engine’s rendering efficiency. It completed the rendering of a 30-second animation within a few minutes, even at higher resolutions. This speed is remarkable compared to Maya, which, despite utilizing a network of 10 computers simultaneously, can require 5–6 hours or even an entire day for a similar task. Reflecting on my undergraduate studies in Hong Kong, I recall spending entire nights in the computer lab waiting for renders to finish. The efficiency of Unreal Engine is truly transformative in comparison.
