with Nigel
This week’s lecture focused on defining a research question and developing a clear and achievable premise for the thesis. The session emphasized that a strong research foundation depends not only on having an interesting idea, but also on setting realistic objectives and identifying a viable research direction early on.
During this process, I initially decided to base my topic on the subject of my previous critical report. This felt like a logical decision, as it allowed me to continue exploring an area I was already familiar with. However, as I began looking for academic sources, I encountered a significant limitation: there was a lack of sufficient literature, and more importantly, an absence of opposing viewpoints.
This challenge made me realize that choosing a research topic is not only about personal interest, but also about the availability and diversity of academic resources. Without enough sources, it becomes difficult to construct a strong literature review or develop a critical discussion.
This week helped me understand that selecting a research topic is a foundational step that directly affects the entire research process.
with Ting
This week focused on eye animation, which I found particularly challenging. The level of detail required in controlling eye movement, blinks, and eyelid interaction made it difficult to maintain stability in the face. Even small inaccuracies caused the animation to appear inconsistent or flowing. This highlighted how sensitive facial animation is compared to body mechanics.
Connecting facial poses added another layer of complexity. Unlike body transitions, facial animation requires subtle and controlled changes. Maintaining coherence between poses proved difficult, especially when trying to preserve the overall structure of the face.
This week, feedback on the Heavy Object & Change of Mind assignment highlighted issues related to stiffness and lack of natural variation in movement. In particular, I became aware that symmetric arm movements do not feel realistic and that overlap and offset especially in the hands and fee are essential for creating more believable motion.
As a result, moving into blocking plus allowed me to address these issues by introducing more variation in timing and offsetting different parts of the body. This process helped break the rigidity in my animation and made the performance feel more organic. I also started to explore more interesting timing choices, rather than keeping movements too uniform.
My Project 1 research developed further through analysing ice skating performances, particularly from the Winter Olympics. Observing these performances helped me understand how movement can convey both technical precision and expressive quality.