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Month: January 2023

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3.1 Week 1 Advanced & Experimental Term 1 Uncategorised

Week1: Elements of Mise En Scene/ Camera animation

This week we studied animation from production point of view. We discussed mise-en-scene and its elements, camera animation and camera shots in films.

Mise-en-scène

Everything that communicates to us within the frame is part of the Mise-en-Scène. This is A French term meaning what is put into a scene or frame and is constituted by all the visual information in front of the camera and can communicate essential information to the audience. The Mise-en-Scène is an essential part of the director’s creative art.

The analogy works for animation too. The animation director metaphorically “stages” the scene by controlling the placement of images, colours and lines. They also work with background artists and storyboard artists, who play major role in shaping the layout.

Everything in the animated mise-en-scène must be consciously woven into the frame, whether it is through hand-drawn animation, props, CG, or some combination of the above. There is nothing that can be “incidentally” caught in the frame. Film directors go to great lengths to control the set design, where the cameras are set up, and so on. But even they are strongly influenced by physical factors such as the weather, their level of access to certain locations and props, and their crew size and abilities. This is why people talk about film as a form of “heightened reality”, because even though much of it is staged and often supplemented by computer graphics, it is never completely divorced from the physical environment.

Example

The epic romance and disaster film, Titanic, is largely memorable for its bewitching use of key mise-en-scène elements. The biggest challenge is that it’s wholly set in a ship sailing in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Moreover, deep space is often used where even the far view of the ship is in clear focus. The use of lighting and costumes conveys the difference in classes within the ship. In the later half of the film, particularly, low-key lighting is used to express the epic tragedy. It wasn’t the tragic love story alone that made Titanic the success it was. The awe-inspiring visuals played an equal role. Now, that’s the power of a meticulously-designed mise-en-scène.

Image showing a still from movie, Titanic

Camera Shots

Extreme close-up: which gives us very little information, we can only see the character, bringing us very close to a person experience for instance.

Close-up: which gives the audience a bit more of Information but still limited and still tells to focus on that moment which is useful to create a feeling of intimacy.

Medium shot: still relatively close shot, usually showing a character from the waist up. A medium shot is used to emphasize both the actor and their surroundings by giving them an equal presence on screen.

Long shot: a view of a scene that is shot from a considerable distance, so that people appear as indistinct shapes.

Extreme long shot: a view from an even greater distance, in which people appear as small dots in the landscape if at all. No expression is visible and the characters get overwhelmed by the environment.

The camera within a shot can also move:

Pan shot: the camera is mounted on a non-moving base. The camera pivots on its axis along the line of the horizon pans left to right.

Tilt shot: The camera can move up or down while fixed on its axis.

Travelling shot (dolly shot): the camera can move forward or backward while fixed on its axis on a track.

Crane shot: The camera can move in and out and up and down while fixed on a mechanical crane.

Image showing camera shots

Exploring Camera Shots

We explored different camera shots today in the class using the crane rig. Here are some of the example shots I made

Car Chasing Shot

Secretly Chasing Shot

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4.1 Week 3 Collaborative Unit

Week 3: Project Discussion

1.Introduction

This week we updated our ideas on the project Padlet and discussed the ideas with our Supervisor. We finalized the group members and submitted the information to the project supervisor.

2. Idea Work

We had our first project meeting of all the group members this week. The agenda of this meeting was to come up with a title, plan a timeline, define the roles and responsibilities and divide the tasks among the group members.

Roles and Responsibilities

Dividing roles and responsibilities was a little tricky. Three of us were from animation course so everyone was interested in doing animation. But the project requirements were broad. We needed someone to do the modelling, UI, Concept Art and Art Direction and Project Management. The situation was critical but we divided the roles by keeping the need of the hour in mind.

As I already designed the idea and narrative, I took the responsibility of Art Direction, UI design and Concept Art. My role included problem solving, idea generation and to keep all the team members to align on the same page.

Donatella took the responsibility of Project Management and 3D Animations. She is good with deadlines and organizing so she was the ideal candidate in the group to be the project manager.

Caroline James is responsible for 3d Modelling.

Neeti got the responsibility to be the VR Environment Artist. She is responsible for setting up the scene with me. Implementing all the animations, terrain and lighting.

Ria got the responsibility for adding all the UI elements in VR.

Sharing Concept Art and Sketches

I shared the concept sketches of the idea with my team. We went through polishing the narrative and decided to take these sketches to the concept art stage.

Image showing the sketches of the environments

Discussion Outcomes

My team-mates and I shared the idea project presentation with the supervisor. We also discussed the timeline and the framework of the idea. We discussed my vision for character loop-able animations. We also talked about the sfx and background music for the whole experience. As our project is about giving an immersive experience of the environments, the music should be soothing and surreal.

In the end, Donatella divided tasks for everyone that they were supposed to do in the next week.

Working Meeting
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4.1 Week 2 Collaborative Unit

Week 2: Design, Digital Processes and DAOs

1. Introduction

This week I wrote a narrative for the collaborative project. In the class, we engaged in different gamified activities with our classmates. These activities helped in bringing our classmates together to solve challenges as a team. Later in the week we had our second social meet and greet.

2.Collaborative Project : Forming a Team and Narrative Design

This week we had the social meetup again and as I knew that my project is about an immersive VR experience I went to the VR course leader and shared the narrative I wrote with her. She then introduced me to a VR students who could be interested. Two of my classmates, Donatella and Caroline were also interested in the project. Along with them and two students from VR, Neeti and Ria, we formed a team.

Team Members

  • Donatella Mikulasch (MA 3D Computer Animation)
  • Shizra Manzar (MA 3D Computer Animation)
  • Caroline James (MA 3D Computer Animation)
  • Neeti Kumar (MA Virtual Reality)
  • Ria (MA Virtual Reality)

Collaborative Project Idea: Narrative Design

In the aftermath of the climatic apocalypse, humanity faced a daunting reality: the planet they called home was no longer habitable. Forced to abandon their once thriving world, they embarked on a journey into the unknown depths of space, seeking a new home. 

Now, centuries have passed since that fateful exodus, and it is the year 3023 A.D. Earth, left barren and lifeless, has begun to show signs of rejuvenation. The air, once thick with pollution and toxic gasses, is now becoming clean and crisp. The oceans, once choked with plastic and waste, are now teeming with new forms of aquatic life. 

As humanity looks back upon their former world, they see a planet that has evolved in ways they never could have imagined. Strange and wondrous creatures roam the landscape, each one adapted to the harsh and unpredictable environment. 
Despite the hardships of their past, the people of the new colony feel a sense of wonder and excitement as they witness the rebirth of a world that was once left for dead. It is a reminder that even in the face of insurmountable challenges, life always finds a way to prevail.

Moodboards

I have made the moodboards for the character look, feel and colors. This will help to communicate my idea and theme with my team mates.

Image showing the Moodboards

3. Exquisite Corpse

In the class, we studied how exquisite corpse helps us to understand decentralization. We did the collaborative drawing activity where we have to divide the paper sheet into three parts. The first person draws the head on one part of the paper and then folds the sheet leaving a trace on second part of the sheet so that other person can continue drawing torso from there. The second person works on the torso folds the sheet and pass it on to the third guy who will finish by making legs and feet.

Topic: Animal

The first topic we received for the collaborative drawing was “Animal”. Everyone used their unique ideas to draw the figurative concepts and the end results were excellent.

Topic: Speculative

The second topic of the collaborative drawing was “Speculative”. This time the topic was broad and abstract. A this topic was abstract we had a huge room to explore and experiment.

4.Game: Hello Pumpkin

After the exquisite corpse game, we were formed in the group of three to make a game. With the help of my team-mates Donatella and Jonathan, I come with the idea of the game, “Hello Pumpkin”.

Game Rules

  • Make your video with pumpkin filter on Instagram.
  • Say pumpkin at the end of every sentence
  • Send the video to someone on your Instagram.

Results

Image showing the team of Hello Pumpkin

5.Collaboration as Decentralized Labor

The tasks we did this week helped us to analyse the collaboration and how if different people work together as a team the results can be more efficient and unique.

In Decentralization of labor, tasks are divided among people according to their abilities and skillsets.

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4.1 Week 1 Collaborative Unit

Week 1: Unit Introduction

Introduction

This week we received the unit overview. In this course, we have the opportunity to work on unique and creative projects in collaboration with our peers. We were given an introduction on the topics we can work on and later on in the day we met the prospective collaborators in the social meetup.

Basic Understanding of Collaboration

In the class, we discussed collaboration, why do we do it and how to approach it in a group.

Why do we Collaborate?

Collaboration improves the way the team works together to solve problems. This leads to more innovation, efficient processes, increased success, and improved communication. Through listening to and learning from team members, you can help each other reach your goals.

Key to effective collaboration?

Communication is the key to effective collaboration as it helps to solve problems. It is always better to discuss your ideas and define your goals. Active listening is also an important factor. Defining your tasks before deadline and time management helps to make a collaboration successful.

How collaboration works across different disciplines?

It is important to understand each other’s unique skills first, and according to the skills, tasks are divided. Another essential thing is to divide the big tasks into small sub-tasks to keep a better check. We can also use some project management websites e.g. HacknPlan or Asana

Brainstorming

Apart from that we were told some techniques of idea generation and we shared our ideas on the Miro Board. I was interested in showing climatic disaster from dystopian perspective.

Social Meetup

We also got the opportunity to meet students and mentors of MA VFX, MA Animation, MA Game Design, and MA VR in a social gathering. The Social Meetup helped to break the ice among students of different courses. I got the opportunity to discuss my idea with the course leader of MA Virtual Reality and she introduced me to some students of Virtual Reality. Some of the students are interested to collaborate with me on my project.

Meet and Greet Padlet Board

I chose to work on the topic of “Utopia and Dystopia”. I have always been intrigued by dystopian themes, so I decided to work on post-climatic apocalyptic dystopian environments. This project will help create awareness and show people an alarming glimpse of the future, if we do not take any action to improve our planet.

Image showing the entry on Padlet board
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2.1 Week 10 Design for Animation

Week 10: Assignment Preparation & Unit Overview

This week we were given instructions on how to make the audio/visual presentation of the research topic.

Essentials of the Presentation

The following contents should be kept in mind while making the presentation

  • Present a brief outline of the intention of your research.
  • Briefly outline the information sources that are accessed
  • Select the key areas of investigation that informed your findings
  • Conclusion
  • Potentials for applying this learning and furthering knowledge in practice and or theory

Unit Overview

In this term, we have learned film structure and its narrative from a theoretical perspective. We were also shown suitable short films and visual references to support the theory. We explored the important tools of research and methodologies in depth. All the guidelines and information we absorbed in this course enabled us to create our research topics.

Importance of Critical Thinking and how it helped:

The sessions broaden my horizon of film studies. The assignments given throughout the term enabled critical thinking and reasoning in me. It made me able to consider different perspectives and gave me cognitive flexibility. Exploration of different topics of animation via theory helped me to choose my interests more wisely.

Moreover, critical thinking helped me in every step of writing the report and making the research presentation. These skills will also facilitate us to make thesis dissertations and the final project.

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1.1 Week 10 3D Computer Animation

Week 10: Unit Review

This course was something I was looking forward to study even before the session started. I have always been fond of 3D and Animation but neither I had a mentor nor I had a chance to study it in depth. I had immense expectations from this course and it was exactly like how I expected it to be. It gave me the platform to learn Computer Animation under a supervision of a great mentor. In addition, enabled me to learn a 3d software Maya by working on different tasks and assignments.

Software

I had only used Maya before only for the purpose of animation. This course gave me a chance to practice various fields of 3d art like modelling, texturing, rigging, animation, lighting, and rendering.

Both classes of Nick and George were equally helpful. Nick’s session helped us to broaden our knowledge of software and how can we become generalist artist. George’s session helped me to improve the basics of animation and how we can use the software in the best of our interest.

Animation

The animation course was my favourite one. We started from basic 12 principles of animation and implemented them in every assignment we got. In the duration of our first term we learned the basics of Facial and Body Animation. We also learned to edit the rigs to make them more flexible according to our requirement.

Assignments & Feedback

The weekly assignments and the improvement feedback played a significant role in enhancing my animation knowledge and ability. It has improved my skills. The feedback I received from my mentors helped me in clearing my basics and I am looking forward to learn more in the next term.

Conclusion

I absolutely enjoyed this course and I am thankful to the mentors for their valuable input and feedback.

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2.1 Week 9 Design for Animation

Week 9: Report Structure and Referencing

Introduction

This week we discussed the report structure and its format. Apart from that, we were also told how to cite the resources according to Harvard referencing.

Individually we worked on our reports this week. I worked on finalising my research topic and wrote the abstract.

Title

Pixar’s Turning Red: A Ground-breaking Exploration of Women’s Representation and Taboo Topics in Animation

Abstract

In recent years, many animation studios have shown their interest in stories highlighting diverse characters and unique subjects. The focus of this report is on one of such animated films, Turning Red, made by Pixar Studios. With its unique subject and distinctive storyline, Turning Red has torn up the rulebook and rebuilt Pixar in its own style. It has been outshined for its inclusion of taboo subjects, breaking gender stereotypes and all-women directorial team. It is an example of how young female representation should look like in modern films. Not only does it hyper focus on the teenage girls, who are often ignored in the Pixar studios, but it also breaks the “for dads from dads” Pixar phenomena. The film has taken a profound take not only on the struggles of puberty, but on the specific dynamic of good daughters, family and friendship values, intergenerational trauma, and representation of Chinese culture. In this report I will discuss the repression faced by young girls, particularly when it comes to their burgeoning sexuality and the shame that society often places on them for expressing themselves. In addition to exploring these themes, Turning Red also challenges traditional Hollywood practices and promotes gender inclusivity in the animation industry.

Key Words

Gender, Sexuality, Taboo, Menstruation, Culture, Tradition, Puberty, Animated films, Animation, Pixar, Turning Red, Glass-ceiling

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2.1 Week 8 Design for Animation

Week 8: Writing Approaches

This week we studied the essential components of academic writing. We discussed some tips for academic writing as well as do’s and don’ts

For the academic writing we need to keep the following things in mind.

  • A clear know how of the research topic
  • The objective of research
  • Data and in information that helps you do the research
  • Conclusion

Writing Introduction and Conclusion

The introduction and Conclusion both are the most crucial part of writing the report.

The introduction of a report is crucial since it establishes the overall tone. It should outline the topic of the essay and provide a summary of what the essay’s body will discuss. The What, Why, and How strategy is one technique you can employ while writing your introduction.

The conclusion gave a summary of your report and shows the outcome of the whole research. The conclusion should also link to the title of the report and we have to make sure to answer all the questions asked in the title by this point.

Literature Review

In the literature review, I am going to talk about my topics with reference to books and scholarly articles. The topics I will talk about are

  • Gender Stereotypes
  • Portrayal of Women in Pixar
  • Male-centred Narratives
  • Stigma around Taboo Topics

Reference List

  • Kaur, H. (2022) ‘Turning Red’ tackles puberty and periods in a way that’s rare. Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/10/entertainment/turning-red-puberty-periods-wellness-cec/index.html (Accessed 9 December 2022). 
  • Duke, D (2022) Pixar’s “Turning Red” brings unprecedented female representation. Available at: http://www.duqsm.com/pixars-turning-red-brings-unprecedented-female-representation/
  • (Accessed 9 December 2022).
  • Bain, A. (2003). White Western teenage girls and urban space: challenging Hollywood’s representations. Gender, Place, and Culture, pp. 197-213
  • Gillam, K., Wooden, S. (2008). Post-princess models of gender: The new man in Disney/Pixar. Journal of Popular Film and Television, 36(1), 2-8.
  • Nolan, E. (2009). Pixar’s gender problem. Retrieved August 31, 2009, from Film.com. Website: http://www.film.com/features/story/pixars-gender-problem/26520445
  • Turning Red (2022) Domee Shi [DVD]. United States: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
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2.1 Week 7 Design for Animation

Week 7: Bibliography

This week we were divided into groups so that we could discuss our tentative research topics. The idea behind this was to interact with our peers about our tentative research topics and the resources. We discussed about the books and academic papers we could use in our report. The discussion helped us to navigate our ideas with more clarity. The group discussion broaden our horizon to explore our research topics from different perspective.

Research Topics

Some of the topics for the research report I have in my mind are:

  • Objectification of Women in Children Cinema
  • How Animated Films are breaking gender stereotypes?
  • Breaking Stereotypes: Representation of Female lead in Pixar
  • Pixar’s “Turning Red” helped break glass ceiling
  • Breaking Stereotypes: Pixar’s breaks away from regular storytelling in the movie “Turning Red”

Bibliography for Research Report

  • Kaur, H. (2022) ‘Turning Red’ tackles puberty and periods in a way that’s rare. Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/10/entertainment/turning-red-puberty-periods-wellness-cec/index.html (Accessed 9 December 2022). 
  • Duke, D (2022) Pixar’s “Turning Red” brings unprecedented female representation. Available at: http://www.duqsm.com/pixars-turning-red-brings-unprecedented-female-representation/ (Accessed 9 December 2022).
  • Bain, A. (2003). White Western teenage girls and urban space: challenging Hollywood’s representations. Gender, Place, and Culture, pp. 197-213
  • Gillam, K., Wooden, S. (2008). Post-princess models of gender: The new man in Disney/Pixar. Journal of Popular Film and Television, 36(1), 2-8.
  • Nolan, E. (2009). Pixar’s gender problem. Retrieved August 31, 2009, from Film.com. Website: http://www.film.com/features/story/pixars-gender-problem/26520445
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1.1 Week 9 3D Computer Animation

Week 9: Final Render

This week we refined the animation of lip sync and set up the camera, texture, light and took the render.

Video Showing Final Render

Conclusion

This whole facial rigging exercise was very beneficial. We explored sculpting, rigging, weight painting, phonetics, and blend shapes. This exercise helped us to explore the muscle study of the face. We learned how the movement of one muscle or bone influences the other part of the face.