Individual Progress: The next two weeks are dedicated to animation production. Based on the tasks assigned last week, the three members of our group will independently work on their respective sections divided according to the storyboard. We opted for this approach because our time is limited, and working separately will help us accelerate progress and complete the project within the deadline.
I am responsible for the middle section of the storyboard, where the boy enters the spaceship and engages in a series of arguments with the robot while the spaceship travels into outer space. We are all using Maya for animation production and utilizing the Camera Sequencer feature to edit each shot. With Camera Sequencer, we input the appropriate frame numbers and assign specific camera identifiers, allowing us to easily preview the different shots arranged together.
During the animation production, we consider factors such as timing, how specific actions are presented in front of the camera, and attention to details like fingertips and blinking, which make the characters more lively. Additionally, I experimented with some creative techniques, such as modifying the color parameters of the model materials to achieve certain effects. For example, I changed the robot’s color from blue to red when it gets angry, and I adjusted the transparency and brightness to simulate the control panel’s activation. I also added a simple scaling animation, resulting in a satisfactory sequence depicting the control panel’s startup. I am quite pleased with this part.
Group Progress: (Lin and Jiaruo) The remaining two members are working independently on their assigned sections, but since there is no visual documentation provided here, I won’t present them one by one. Some common topics we discuss include maintaining consistent lighting brightness and color across shots, ensuring smooth transitions between shots, and addressing any stiffness in character movements. If needed, we can improve the smoothness of character movements through techniques like moving holds and paying attention to small details in the characters’ body language.
Next Steps: We have one more week to make revisions and render the final animations based on our initial animation production.