Hannah the Hamster

Quick update about my project.  I've finished some rough sketches of the characters of my video.  I decided to keep them simple and try to make them look more like a cartoon.  This video is for children and the art style is better suited for them.  Also it will be easier for me to animate the models.

Hannah the Hamster

Greg the Goldfish

I also started to model Hannah's face so I can test out some animations.  I don't expect to succeed the first time and will have to try a few methods before I'm satisfied.  However, this is supposed to be a learning experience and it's something I have always wanted to try.  I really love it though.  I found myself working on Hannah up until one in the morning and would have kept going if I didn't have class later.

Actually, I'm really itching to work on the models now.  Good night!

Big Project Means Big Planning

I like video games.  That's right, I'm a gamer.  I enjoy the escape, the challenge, the stories, and the evolving graphics.  It has become a dream of mine for my name to appear in the credits of a best-selling game.  If I could have my own game become a hit then... I don't know what.

So, now I know enough to build up my portfolio.  I spent this past summer learning more about the 3d modelling program, Maya, so that I could complete a new project this semester.  In the last post I mentioned this project but I didn't say much about it.

I am creating a video that will explain some of the responsibilities of owning and caring for a pet.  It is meant for children who want to get their first pet.  The video will show two pets, a hamster and a gold fish, and use them to demonstrate each point.  For instance, when I talk about keeping the pet's home clean the animals will be in filthy cages and showing their disgust (in a cartoonish way).

I want the fish and hamster to narrate the video, too, but I don't think I'll be able to find anther person to do a voice-over.  So, I'll do the voice for one and they'll be the host.  This project is going to take a lot of work.  I want to learn to use the fur feature to add fur to the hamster, add realistic looking water, detailed scenes, and realistic animations.  If I have time I would like to try to lip-synch the hamster's lips to the narration.

When I do something I go big.  I want this to be professional.  However, I am not dumb.  I know I may not be able to do all of this before finals in December.  I know where to make sacrifices if I am running out of time.  The key to finishing this project will be keeping to a schedule and not letting myself procrastinate.

I'm already making headway.  I wrote up a project description and created an out line for the script.  I'm starting on some sketches for characters and other models and I should be building them before next week.

To anyone who is finding that there schedule is fuller this year I have a tip.  Plan and schedule.  I used to be such a horrible procrastinator that I would start an assignment the period before it was due.  I would not have survived in college if I hadn't started planning.

You don't need to plan out each day just when you'll work on assignments and projects.   Don't put it off.  Everything seems to be due at the same time and doing them all at once is impossible.