Raff animates!

Fixing things

2012-10-03T17:38:00.001+01:00

Hi there!
Currently I'm polishing the film. Here's the new hedge I made today. Looks a lot better than the old one which was made of a single textured mesh only. Well, the render time has obviously increased (as predicted), however it is worth waiting.

More updates coming soon.

Stay tuned!

New voice!

2012-07-23T21:01:00.001+01:00

Hello folks!
Today I present final blocking version (as it was in v.3) but with new voice of Carl and Max added. After a short session in recording studio with voice actor and comedian James Harris (see his official website here) I present what I got so far.
Say no to boring moments in your animation - get a creative and funny voice actor!

Meanwhile I'm still in linear fixing up some things, however some parts of animation are done in linear->auto tangents which looks really nice and gives me some boost to work more.

Stay tuned!

Blocking v.3

2012-07-19T11:03:00.002+01:00

Final blocking version!

Changelog:
- Tweaked some things
- RUBBER CHICKEN!
- Added flowers - tulips
- Carl doesn't turn off lawnmower - instead - goes to the backyard

Stay tuned!

Blocking v.2

2012-07-18T13:13:00.002+01:00

The newest, almost final blocking version.

Changelog:
- add 'scared' reaction / attract attention in third shot
- more time for flying objects
- different height/place of flying objects
- add flowers in long shot
- breakdowns

To-do:
0:08 - move camera to the right
0:28 - push the mower - better animation
0:35 - head pop
0:40 - fix left hand
0:55 - better reaction
1:07 - fix left hand

change lamp to rubber chicken
better flowers near the ladder
Instead of turning off the lawnmower - Carl's head going to the back garden with sound fade out.

The next, final version coming in a matter of days.

Stay tuned!

Rubber chicken attack!

2012-07-15T15:44:00.000+01:00

Created rubber chicken today. Probably I'm going to use it as one of the abstract objects flying in the background. If I come to that decision, I will texture and rig it.
Meanwhile, I've got almost ready the final blocking stage. Need to do some tweaks and put everything together.
I will publish it on Wednesday, 18th of July.

Stay tuned!

Blocking v.1

2012-07-10T14:01:00.002+01:00

Here it is!
The first version of blocking stage!

After today's feedback session I've got small to-do list:

- add reaction / attract attention in third shot
- camera shots - work on them
- more time for flying objects - too fast?
- different height/place of flying objects
- add flowers in long shot
- breakdowns, we need more breakdowns!

Stay tuned!

Update

2012-07-09T13:44:00.001+01:00

Been a while since I have posted here. Mostly because there was nothing really interesting to post.

All this time I have been modelling and blocking.
You will see the first results tomorrow - for the feedback session I will make first blocking version.

According to my schedule I should finish the blocking stage on Friday, 6th of July.
However, due to some delay caused by family duties (while being in Poland) I had to postpone linear stage until I'm happy with blocking stage (around one week or so).
Also, I've shot some more reference for:
- dragging/launching/pushing lawn mower - recorded with real lawn mower at home!
- getting on the lounger - two ways

As I mentioned before, I've modelled some stuff:

TV Antenna vs enormous satellite dish to show differences between the characters.
However, it is not visible in any camera shot, but I leave it if I change my mind.

And now my favourite - wishing well taken from Argos catalogue! On first meeting with my supervisor - Ellie - we discussed how to show his addiction to TV shops. Then, we browsed Argos catalogue and picked this well to put in Max's garden. There are still many things I could place there, but I don't want to distract the attention.

And destroyed garden after automower crash.
I will replace ground texture with some mud stains and of course add perfect grass stripes on the left.

Okay, that's it for now.
Stay tuned!

Speed modeling videos

2012-06-06T18:23:00.001+01:00

Like in previous module, I present speed modeling videos of props and sets made for 'The Lazy Gardener'.
Have fun!

Stay tuned!

Storyboard

2012-06-05T23:21:00.001+01:00

Final storyboard, yay!
After many, many changes here it is.
Clean and simple.

Stay tuned!

Final renders

2012-06-05T23:17:00.002+01:00

Took some time but there it is!
Final renders of sets, objects and characters.

Stay tuned!

Turntables

2012-06-05T23:11:00.001+01:00

Combined all turntables and put them into one, clear video with main music theme.
Enjoy!

Stay tuned!

Sheets

2012-06-05T23:09:00.000+01:00

Stay tuned!

Animatic

2012-06-03T00:56:00.001+01:00

So here is updated version of animatic.
Added loads of sounds. The timing is NOT correct. The final animation will be a lot longer leaving some more time for viewer to enjoy the fun.
And yes, the new sounds and totally random flying objects are working at makes me laugh every time!
Can't wait to animate.

Stay tuned!

Poster

2012-06-03T00:44:00.001+01:00

Made a poster today!
I like it, because it already shows the conflict and what the film is going to be about.
My first plan was including full garden with the house estate in the background, but the lighting/rendering part is not finished (it will take time) and I'm running out of time.
However, I like it as it is.

Stay tuned!

Reference

2012-06-03T00:32:00.000+01:00

We had reference shooting day on Friday, but today I had time to edit the best bits and put them together.
I'm missing some actions like Carl's waving/cheering, pressing the remote controller or laying down on the lunger, but that's okay. I can manage without it and if I wont - well, I can still book a green screen studio.

And here is uncut, raw material (not deleting it is a smart decision, trust me):

Stay tuned!

Modeling time!

2012-05-28T21:06:00.000+01:00

So, finally I could model some stuff!
Did this today. Rigging and texturing in coming week.

Ye olde lawn mower

Brand new 'Automower'

Lounger 3000

Stay tuned!

Final script

2012-05-26T19:52:00.000+01:00

After many changes and consultations with tutors, classmates and Ed Hooks I present the final version of the script:

About Ed's feedback:
Ed gave me really great hints how to improve my script. Beside of really nice ideas, he showed me two things that are not working in my story:
1. Carl does not have any obstacles. He just mows his lawn and that's it.
2. The characters are not interacting. These are two separate stories going on at the same time.

I was really confused because I had no idea what to do. Changing the script to get rid of these weaknesses would complicate the story. But from the other hand, the script would be.. proper.
So, the next day I told about Ed's insights to tutors and classmates.
Everybody agreed to leave the script as it is, because it is working and people still are having fun.

Pheeew! Good!
Ed mentioned that my story reminds him of 'The Tortoise and the Hare'. I totally forgotten about that one!
The moral is the same - and it still works!

I've got the new storyboard (to be scanned) and currently working on animatic using.. Flash! Good old times.

Stay tuned!

Story - 22/05 version

2012-05-24T16:01:00.002+01:00

So this is the storyboard and animatic based on the script version from 22/05. It was shown to the class and tutors to make final the final tweaks. New version of storyboard coming soon.

Stay tuned!

Concepts

2012-05-24T15:45:00.000+01:00

Here are some concepts I drew a couple of days ago.

A bit outdated characters. Carl (too young) and Max (too tall, too skinny as for lazy person).

And props:

Stay tuned!

Characters

2012-05-24T15:33:00.001+01:00

Based on feedback from Wednesday's classes and my updated concept arts (need to scan them) I've created the final characters.

Due to strange nature of UV's in Eleven Rig (stitch in exact centre of the body), I had to remap UV's with stitches like in a shirt. Therefore, if there is some mismatch in the texture - it is intended. Easy peasy.

Then, painted the textures and done!

Two notes:
1. I will redo the face texture by adding some wrinkles and making the skin much older
2. I will try to add some sleeves and other sticking out elements so it doesn't look so adherent.

Stay tuned!

House model

2012-05-19T17:37:00.000+01:00

Created a cartoony house today.
It is in two versions.
Hi poly for main character's house, with beautiful ambient occlusion shadows on the walls and low poly for house estate background.
The hedge will be less 'solid' - going to add alpha maps for leaves and branches.

Stay tuned!

Mood boards

2012-05-18T21:48:00.001+01:00

After gathering loads of reference images, I chosen the best ones and compiled them in moodboards including colour grading.

Enjoy!

Carl

Max

Old lawn mower

Automatic lawn mower

House

Garden

Lounger

Stay tuned!

Script evolution

2012-05-16T14:47:00.000+01:00

It's fascinating to see how your idea is being developed during this module.
It seems like every week the script changes and I must say - it's better and better.

This was my original idea, not more than a month ago:

Sunday afternoon. The guy with the beer belly mows the lawn. Suddenly the mower jams. He's rying to launch it and nothing happens. Tries few more times and falls. Then, the mower runs itself and starts rushing straight into the wife's flower garden, destroying everything on it's way. His wife looks out the door in horror / shock. The guy gives up.

Then, after the first feedback:

1. Black screen. #1 opens garage doors and gets his old lawn mower.
2. Totally resigned, with a bit of trouble starts mowing his small lawn.
3. While he is close to the hedge, sees his neighbour (#2) lying on a lounger, while his wireless, brand new lawn mower does all the job.
4. #1 gets really jealous. Looks at his lawn mower then at his neighbour's. Then, suddenly he gets an idea.
5. He goes to the garage, gets the shovel and goes back.
6. #1 kneels on the sidewalk near the lawn of his neighbour and with a bit of turf he tries to lure the automatic mower. Behaving like he's luring a dog.
7. The mower follows the path (on the sidewalk) made of turf and starts mowing #1's lawn. #1 lays back and drinks a glass of lemonade.
8. Suddenly, #2 sees what happened. He comes to the #1 lawn and takes back his mower. #1 is sad again. Then, he gets a brilliant idea.
9. #1 is relaxing and drinking lemonade while the 'gloomy' sheep is eating the lawn.

However, the viewer couldn't empathize with our main character (#1) so I thought of:

There was still something wrong, like contrast not visible or Max being too nice - no reason why Carl can't help him.
So, I made a few changes:
1. Max saying rude things to Carl
2. Carl acting like Ned Flanders saying 'the old ways are the best'
3. Max smashing the mower rather than being scared
4. Carl offering to lend a mower for a tiny bit of salvaged garden - being mean.

But again, that was too complicated and confusing. So, the last, simpler version:

And this version was sent to tutors for some feedback.

Stay tuned!

The Lazy Gardener - It's official!

2012-05-13T23:49:00.002+01:00

Hey kids!
Today I created the official website of my upcoming animated short film - 'the lazy gardener'.

http://rafalschubert.com/thelazygardener/

Below the logo you will find the progress bar made of grass and lawnmower. The more I do, the more lawnmower goes cutting the grass. It really does!

On the left you can find current stage I'm on with the to-do list.

To keep you informed, I've created a news feed displaying last 5 entries posted on this blog and tagged with 'tlg' - http://raffanimates.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/tlg.

Also, if you prefer reading news feed on your own reader or getting it on your e-mail - check out the feedburner for RSS/ATOM feed link and the subscription form:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/thelazygardener.

Stay tuned!