with Nigel
This week’s lecture focused on research design and methodological approaches. The session explored how to structure a research project in order to effectively answer a research question or develop a hypothesis.
A key focus was on aligning the research question with an appropriate method. The lecture emphasized that methodology should not be an afterthought, but an integral part of how the research is conceptualised from the beginning.
We also looked at different research strategies and how they influence the direction of a project. The importance of building a logical structure from question to method to outcome was highlighted throughout the session.
with Ting
This week began with a breathing idle animation workshop, which focused on creating subtle and believable breathing motion to bring characters to life, even when they are standing still. The workshop highlighted the importance of small movements in the chest, shoulders, and overall body posture, demonstrating how these details can make a character feel more natural and present. It was an engaging session that provided useful techniques for adding life and personality to otherwise static poses.
Following the workshop, I continued developing my dialogue shot assignment, building directly on the initial blocking completed in Week 11 with a focus on refinement and improving performance clarity.
Based on feedback, I recognised that my initial reference was not sufficiently strong, particularly in terms of acting clarity and camera composition. As a result, I recorded a new reference with more exaggerated acting choices and a revised camera angle. This adjustment significantly improved the readability of the performance, as clearer poses and stronger intentions became more visible.
Following this, I progressed the shot by reworking the blocking and beginning to integrate lip sync in alignment with the feedback. This stage required balancing multiple components simultaneously, including body mechanics, facial performance, and timing. Introducing lip sync at this stage added a layer of complexity, as it required precise coordination between audio and mouth shapes while maintaining the overall flow of the performance.
Although lip sync remained challenging, I found that working with a stronger reference made the process more manageable. The exaggerated acting provided clearer cues for both timing and expression, allowing for more controlled decision-making.
Overall, this week reinforced the importance of strong reference material and demonstrated how revisiting earlier stages such as acting and camera setup can significantly improve the outcome of the animation. The breathing idle workshop also emphasised how subtle secondary motion can enhance character believability, complementing the performance-focused work completed throughout the assignment.
with Serra
The second session introduced us to virtual production tools and workflows, including VCam and related plugins. We explored tools like Live Link, Virtual Camera systems, and Unreal-based production utilities, which opened up a completely new way of thinking about real-time production and interaction between physical and digital environments. I found this session particularly engaging because it connected technical tools with creative experimentation.
The idea of controlling a virtual camera through a phone and seeing real-time results was especially interesting. It made the process feel more immediate and intuitive compared to traditional pipelines.
While being introduced to virtual production and real-time workflows, I found myself particularly drawn to the idea of working with live systems rather than fixed outputs. This led me to start thinking more seriously about the direction I want to take for the experimental unit. I am currently leaning towards the Expanded Animation brief. I am especially interested in experimenting with TouchDesigner as a tool to build generative and responsive visual systems. The idea of creating something that evolves, reacts, and potentially behaves unpredictably feels much more aligned with my interests, particularly after being introduced to virtual production. Moving forward, I want to test how these tools can be combined to create a more immersive and experimental form of animation.