Motion Graphic Inspiration

Over the past week I've been looking at different ways to animate within After Effects. Something I'd never looked into previously was how the League of Legends animated illustrations are made. The process which is used to create these is very similar to what I was going to be using in my project. All of the animated illustrations they use are exactly that, illustrations animated with visual effects.
http://www.riotgames.com/illustrations-come-life-league%E2%80%99s-login-screens

Another is Hearthstone's golden card portraits. These are made in Unity using different shader effects, whereas the previous example uses After Effects Because of this, the process is considerably different to mine, but I may look at emulating some of the effects made within After Effects.

There are a lot of different techniques used within these animations that I'd never even thought possible. It'll be interesting for me to see if I'm able to come up with something new, since I'll be creating the illustration with animatable parts in mind.

Goals For the End Result

To communicate what I'm hoping to achieve with this project, here are some examples of how I was imagining the end result would look;

This example is far from seamless, but it's easy to imagine what it would look like if it was perfectly looped. A result like this is very achievable, but I will be testing my limits by doing something with as much movement as this.

This gif is a perfect loop, however the only thing that is animated is the background. So my project will feature a lot more moving components than what this features.

Visual Learning Research

"Singer (1980) suggested that visual perception is probably the most important source of information for sports. The visual learner learns best receiving information through their eyes. The visual learner thinks spatially in terms of shapes, patterns, symbols, concept maps and word pictures (Dunn, 2009). Visual learners are very good at thinking laterally, tuning into the larger picture. Verbal clues stimulate the brain of visual learners in ways that further prepare them to engage in future tasks (Call, 2004). "

Quoted from: http://www.f4lcoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Learning-Styles.pdf

Unknown Author. (2012). Identifying learning preferences to develop teaching of sport and the relationship between coach and athlete [Literature Review]. Retrieved on 14th September 2016 from http://www.f4lcoaching.com/general/identifying-learning-preferences-to-develop-teaching-of-sport-and-the-relationship-between-coach-and-athlete/

Snowboarding Research

The concept of learning to perform snowboard tricks is very similar to learning the animation principles. To begin with you learn each one step by step, only using one principle at a time; but with practice you combine all of the techniques together without even having to give the fundamentals a second thought; the result is a very smooth combination that blends the principles together seamlessly.

As you can see in the videos, a trick has several 'parts' to it (setup, take-off, air, landing & ride out), with each part having a series of movements you must perform in sequence in order to land the trick. As the rider gets more advanced they will begin stringing together all the different motions without even having to think about the basic movements.

How I want to go about creating my animation loop is exactly that, I want it to look like a well refined snowboarding trick. The viewer should be seeing the animated illustration as a whole, rather than seeing something that is broken down into steps. It would not be until they took a very close look at the animation that they were able to see the processes used to create the final loop.

This video shows all the different motions involved in performing one of the simplest snowboard tricks. To someone who doesn't know how to do the trick they might be unaware of the complexity of the movements, but to someone who has practised this trick countless times they might not even be aware of the movements they're making, as it comes without thought.

This video is an example of how more complex tricks include a combination of different techniques, the more difficult the trick is the more movements the rider must combine in sequence in order to land the trick successfully.

Kinesthetic Learning as Visuals

This is an example of kinesthetic learning being broken down into visual steps.

Source: http://www.kidzworld.com/article/4445-how-to-ollie-on-your-skateboard

Game Direction

This MoodBoard and Colour Palette indicate the direction in which we hope to take our game concept.

This is an example of how the game world would play out, made by Gabe.

MoodBoard References

1:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4x_HDsHkOVabip1eeE0nTNl8lcYVf38yIFnjS7qm56k3eis3ERA_CDDGzqb7AFX0vbZwc8I7Gq4Oi4LN-nztO4ytEM7xk4-gr93waheYnVrWJk-BZhqx6PLH53pQk4g2TcAGj8dk9yz0/s1600/corridor2.png

2:http://www.2danji.com/uploads/allimg/110903/145FA2H-2.jpg

3:http://fabiobarretta.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/cityheart.jpg

4:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSr32X_xSEUu12XP1tXPHvTVMsfOhoemCtPBB1E-uaSETXHho0M1ccA7hS6A3aG793ouz6G4a1QJzSnm9skHZ7hDvaogkR5DVKmOcmgiWj_TCUlQ1OEUTG8jI1qzHoayZrG_FtWnh3RL1s/s1600/529_realsize.jpg

5:http://static.pressakey.de/gamepix/1665/Oddworld-New-n-Tasty-105043.jpg

6:http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/393730/ss_d8b2d832ef7aade1229c3b34de9ae67e4bfbba67.600x338.jpg?t=1447377492

7:http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/4/4f/Mega_doris.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140804222858

8:http://s01.riotpixels.net/data/5b/c6/5bc604c8-04b9-4a3e-9878-db69deed24d3.jpg

9:http://www.games-academy.de/uploads/tx_imxprojects/Lux3_Shot_07.png

10:http://img.gamefaqs.net/screens/6/e/4/gfs_61808_2_1.jpg

11:http://www.pcgamesn.com/sites/default/files/Hollowpoint%20-%20Laser%20sights.jpg

12:http://www.pcgamesn.com/sites/default/files/Hollowpoint%20-%20Ramp.jpg

Theme & Style

Main Inspiration: Abe's Oddysee New 'n' Tasty

Art Inspiration: Borderlands The Pre-Sequel

Gameplay Inspiration: Heart of Darkness

Our group has chosen to create something based off of Abe's oddysee, using a 3D environment to create a challenging puzzle based platformer game. We're planning to use cell-shading to create the 3D environment.

The reason behind choosing the Sci-fi theme was so that we could create a new world and make it look exactly as we wanted it to. This will allow us to create level designs & mechanics completely unfamiliar to anything on earth.


The style that we have chosen is one that best suits the time constraints and our technical ability. We didn't want to do anything too basic, as we still want to make the most of the programs available to us, we also didn't want to go for anything that was too difficult to achieve.

References:
Oddworld Inhabitants. (1997). Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee [PC & Console]. New York: GT Interactive.

Just Add Water. (2016). Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty! [PC & Console]. California: Oddworld Inhabitants.
http://img.generation-nt.com/oddworld-odyssee-abe-new-tasty-10_090780042801608872.jpg

2K Australia, Gearbox Software. (2014). Borderlands The Pre-Sequel [PC & Console]. California: 2K Games http://cdn.segmentnext.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Borderlands-The-Pre-Sequel-Screenshot-02.jpg

Amazing Studio, (1998). Heart of Darkness [MS Windows & Playstation]. United States: Interplay Entertainment, England: Ocean Software.
http://199.101.98.242/media/images/36991-Heart_of_Darkness_[Disc1of2]_[U]-5.jpg

Kinisthetic Learning + Snowboarding Research

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1zEBh5HLH8
https://child1st.com/blogs/resources/113559047-16-characteristics-of-kinesthetic-and-tactile-learners

Experimental Animation Research

https://vimeo.com/63988220
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2KQmOibO-0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hkS5JWGtGg

Ongoing Research

These are the pictures I've collected so far and have been using as reference, or have been edited in some of my concepts. I started compiling these at the beginning of the project and will continue to add to my collection. There have also been times where I've used my group's research as reference however that is credited in their own Blogs.

HAL9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Metal Tubing used as Reference

Room used in Style Concepts

City Scape used in Style Concepts

City Scape Reference used in Environment Layout Concepts
https://www.flickr.com/photos/124026829@N05/15691231731/

City Scape used in Environment Colour Concepts
https://www.flickr.com/photos/quandt/23101096024/

Destiny Concept Art - Colour Palette Reference

http://webneel.com/sites/default/files/images/project/matte%20painting%20webneel%20(12).jpg

http://www.frederic-st-arnaud.com/images/tour/nobody_dawn.jpg

https://cdn2.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/001/118/866/large/clarence-ong-week04-cityscape-clarence-01.jpg?1440467013

Ongoing Research

Bong Cheon Dong Ghost
Possible reference for character appearing/jump scare.

http://comic.naver.com/webtoon/detail.nhn?titleId=350217&no=31&weekday=tue

Textures

Texture Research

Pin Stripe:

Herringbone:

Sharkskin:

Serge:

Names & Props

Possible names:

Ignazio - The Italian name Ignazio means - From the Latin for "fire." St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), fervent upholder of the importance of education, founded the Society of Jesus.

Nuncio - The Italian name Nuncio means - messenger

Salvatore - The Italian name Salvatore means - "savior." Nobel Prize winner for literature Salvatore Quasimodo, Baritone Salvatore Marchesi

Tulio - The Italian name Tulio means - lively

Silvestro - The Italian name Silvestro means - "wild" or "from the forest." Name of Pope Saint Silvester I, who lived through the persecutions of Diocletian to witness Constantine's legalization of Christianity in the year 313.

Character props: 

My character will have a weapon of some description, I'm unsure as to exactly what he will have however I'm leaning towards a  Thompson/ Chicago typewriter as these guns are iconic for the mobsters. These are also the guns which would be carried in violin cases, making that a possible prop too.

A concept of the characters costume, developed from my latest silhouette;

Silhouette Inspiration

Today I've begun working on silhouettes since I have a clear idea on the character's appearance but am fleshing out ideas for the stylisation I'll be using. This is also a good point in the process to experiment with shape language.

Some images I'm using for inspiration/reference:

Back Story Idea Bouncing

Some ideas for my character's visuals & potential back story so far, I'm definite on portraying my character as the antagonist in the story, since he'll be wearing a mask. I also think it's a good idea to have him wearing a suit since this is what the character in point break is wearing.

I also think a very strong concept, regardless of the scene, would be to have the camera movement from the victims perspective (if a victim exists in the scene).

1920s Mafia, vengeance/interrogation.

The character would be talking to someone who is restrained or similarly vulnerable, threatening them for something that they'd done to the mafia.

Dialogue (do you know what you've done) followed by a weapon being drawn(gun raise) scene ends with a gun shot/scream.

Breaking into a room/house with dialogue (how dare you evade the mafia), from victims perspective ie. "here's johnny" from the shining.

The Purge Anarchy, a group hunting down individuals.

Our masked villain would be preying on the weak & hunting a target down through a post apocalyptic/ anarchist state suburban area.

Animation ideas; show our character climbing out of the van (beginning of the bank heist scene of point break "rock and roll").

Perspective of the victim, camera shake to replicate them fleeing, as they're shot down they turn to see the perpetrator walking towards them (mask lick prior to "rock and roll")

Slender, tracking someone through the woods. 

Similar to the Purge idea, having a victim attempting to evade the antagonist, could be running and looking over his shoulder. Each time he checks the character is moving closer to him but not actually moving (problem with this is no animation involved).

Victim is isolated somewhere, shadow of the antagonist sprinting around the outskirts of the frame (difficult camera movement) to then appear in front of him..

Initial Concepts

Today  I've been refining my idea & came up with several concepts.

I received some feedback from my tutor on my work so far, his main points were:

It doesn't have a clear direction, ask yourself what is the character's motivation?
What is he doing in the scene?
Choose a specific era/ location and base the weapons clothing off of that.

After this feedback I'm thinking of basing my character on an Italian mafia style or something similar to hit man where my masked figure will be tracking someone down for either revenge or money.

Point Break to Horror - Initial Research

Today I've finalized which scene I will be using & am currently brainstorming different ideas to do within this scene.

I've decided to go with the idea of Point Break - Horror as it's the one I'm most interested in + I feel like the character is a lot clearer and more achievable than the alternatives.

My character design will be based on the Ronald Raegan masked figure as I feel this is one of the less comical masks in the movie, making it more suitable for use in the horror genre I'm planning on modifying it to. 

I'm currently unsure as to how I will be adapting the mask however these are several  examples of horror masks similar to what I had in mind.

Day 1

Today I made my blog.

I've also brainstormed a few scene ideas with my classmates and am currently deciding over 4 ideas;
Point Break - Horror, Shining - Comedy, Say Anything - Western/Comedy & The Big Lebowski - Romance.

Narrowed the ideas down to Point Break ~ Horror & Say Anything ~ Western.