Help on preparing my scene for dolly out

[Nicohk92]

What I think you should do is put each layer of your BG on its own Z level. (see the vakue boxes in Layer transformation tool). Use values like 0, -1, -2, -3 etc, with someting like -30 for the mountains. Then play around with the camera's Z value, from 3 to -5.

I usually want to have a certain composition at the start and in the end, so I assign a Z value and compensate with scaling the layer. You have to play around a bit with this, so duplicate your scene first.

exactly what I had in mind but layed out methodically. That gives me a good starting guideline. Thanks


and thanks to all for the comments. Working on the end position scenery now. Will show you when it's done

[Nicohk92]

http://vimeo.com/93979471




Password: Marble

Alright so that's a first try but I strongly feel it doesn't do it justice.


For the river part I didn't space them on z to much (by 0.3 or so) cause otherwise it was looking ok at some places and not others. So I did some sliding to accentuate but I don't think it's optimal.

Also the sun ray at the beginning is grey and that pisses me off. When exporting quicktime with alpha and just compositing the yellow bg and title underneath in some other software, the sunrays lost their tint with transparency.

The reddish trees coming from the right could make a better effect but I couldn't manage that.

I've had to cheat with 3 or four elements on that part,keyframing points instead of using Z.

I'll put something on top of the blue tree (the one in the foreground at about half way)

Also you noticed in the script I have to transition to real footage. That's the shot they gave me. It isn't great. neither is the way I transition it.

When we fly by the characters (which are supposed to be center stage, I feel it's too fast or something. We don't read the image well.


Mehh...

The animation part isn't my strong suit yet.

But I've spent enough time on this project, they loved the rest which is not as complex and they could have been contented with simple motion graphic stuff to begin with.

So i'll just try to improve on this without having to re-order everything. Loaded as it is, manipulating the project takes a lot of time.


If you guys have any quick fix ideas (visual or animation), I'm all ears.

[dueyftw]

Because this looks like you have a client for the animation. Let them have the input of the changes. Don't suggest anything because they will have you doing everything you suggest.

Ask the client; This is what I have, So what would you like added or change?

Right now I think you are over thinking. You need to accept that will never be happy and it will drive yourself nuts.

Dale

[slowtiger]

It's OK the way it is. Personally, I'd avoid having a real Z-depth setup and manual pulling out of elements in the same shot, but that's just me. Maybe you should think of separating the colours of different layers a bit more, they blend into each other a bit too much, so the parallax effect seems wasted.

[eric1223]

I think you did good on it, especially on the details. The animation was good too. If you ask me, the transition was done really well too. In fact, its my favorite part.

One thing that might help with the river, but I'm not sure if this is what you're going for. Try putting the river on the exact same Z-depth as ur ground, and move the points if you need to.

Don't be so hard on yourself .

[exile]

You have to play around a bit with this, so duplicate your scene first.

Wonderfully drawn scene. Even my painter wife was impressed!

I can't add anything to the above suggestions, but it stands to reason that you will want to try out several options and combinations of them. If each try is saved under a different name until you hit bingo, you can experiment freely. I'm looking forward to seeing how this project develops.

[Hentron]

I have nothing helpful to add, except to say that it is just incredible.

[Nicohk92]

Thank you so much each and everyone of you. It really helps getting opinions from animators. I've been in a rush lately and right now and about to catch a plane but I'll take a good look at your advices and try to implement.

I wouldn't believe my girlfriend and relatives but now that you say that, I must admit I do get overly obsessive, while the script isn't even that good. I 'd better put that energy into personal projects.


My final deadline is Thursday so I'll post the whole 2mn here as well.




Thanks again

[Nicohk92]

Hi all. Finally I more or less finished this damn project:

https://vimeo.com/96457372

Password: Marble


You're among the first to see it cause I really need some feedback and you gave great ones previously.

There are still a few glitches here and there.

What do you think overall? Does it make sense?


Don't be scared to be harsh, I'd rather take sh... from perfect strangers at this point.

Thanks!

[jahnocli]

Several things:
1) I liked it; on occasions there was too much happening in the frame, but it was usually pretty well drawn, so I didn't mind so much!
2) For me, the weakest element was the character drawing, especially the hands. I appreciate there's often an insanely small amount of time to get stuff through the door, but the occasional little bit of head rotation would have been nice too.

Overall, pretty good!

[Nicohk92]

Yeah, characters gave me pbs. Notice I did use character wizard. It's the less ugly people I could achieve with it.

Character animation isn't my strong suit. But a full body turn would have been great from sc1 to sc2.


Thanks for the advice

[exile]

Mind-boggling. Great art work, loved the gesture of joining hands at one point and especially the butterfly that keeps up its flight when the cartoon changes to a photo. This is just my personal neophyte view: there is so much happening I couldn't keep up with it and still follow the spoken part. Many viewers would be better able to follow what is being said if the action was slowed down. But be careful - I was (correctly) criticized for floating, unfocussed animation. But I don't think you would have that problem even if the rapid changes weren't quite as overwhelming.

Your claims to not being good at art work are absolutely bogus. The characters were likeable.

Why was the (only) decision-maker a man? Might get you some negative feedback.

Congratulations on the fine work - light years ahead of boring power point type animation, really engages the viewer and tells a story.

[Nicohk92]

Thanks a lot Exile, Youaddressed some crucial points to me.

there is so much happening I couldn't keep up with it and still follow the spoken part

That's the main feedback I get for the couple animtor friends I sent this too. Client was thinking that already and I slowed it down once from a previous version (but the VO got trimmed down by the client in the process so overall it only made a slight difference).
I agree tho at times, I cannot really slow it down any further cause then the VO would be too spaced out (the end shot). I think it's mainly due to the volume of information presented to the eye more than the duration of the actions. If I was to do it again, I would go for a more simplistic, less detailed style.

Slowing it down once took me a very long time and was just a big hassle. I'm still waiting on client feedback but if they ask for more, I may just try ask a friend who's got twixtor or find a way to slow down the footage without too much jitter.

the butterfly that keeps up its flight when the cartoon changes to a photo

I hate that live shot they gave me to work with. I already graded it, floped and stabilised it. I may just go over the top and create a sunset somehow cause it doesn't feel like a finish yet. I also ask them for a tagline or any sentence to put there. That should help

I was (correctly) criticized for floating, unfocussed animation. But I don't think you would have that problem if the rapid changes weren't quite as overwhelming.

Correct critic here too I fear. I hope my client doesn't have your eye.

Why was the (only) decision-maker a man? Might get you some negative feedback.

That was a contentious point with the client. Then who else? just a woman would be confusing. Two characters as well. I tried sketching osme kind of asexual androgen but it was more spooky than anything else. So I just argue to them that to realistically, decision makers are still more often men and that it's the less strange option.


Man you saw right through my work and confirmed my worries. But thank you for that

[exile]

Altogether I have a positive impression, I want to stress that again. By slowing down the action I didn't mean physically slowing down the footage you have. Some of the gestures would be more powerful if less was happening - for example fewer flying objects. However, there is a point at which a project is finished and you can't be realistically asked to make major changes. Unless you're getting paid a fortune for it. Also, the general public is not as critical as your fellow animators.

The film doesn't need a sunset, IMO - the butterfly provides a great transition into the real landscape.

[Danimal]

There is a LOT going on in here! This must have taken, I would guess, 40 billion hours to put together. But in the end, it looks great! The characters in the beginning look a little rough, but it smooths out as the animation progresses.