This week I started working on the paradise scene in landscape and foliage mode using the scenes I found as an inspiration.
My reference/inspo scenes:
Paradise scene initial creation:
Next week I will look for a waterfall asset to add to my scene and discuss with Serra about the character animation and how to work on the rig.
This week I went into detailed polishing of my body mechanics shot. I focused on the hand and feet movements motion arc and refined it. Then I went frame by frame and fixed the body parts that stayed still when the whole body was in movement.
Current version:
I got more feedback from Ting to polish the little details and I will work on it this week.
This week during the session we talked about the audio visual presentation we’re going to do as a part of our final assignment.
I’m currently in the research phase for my critical report. I found useful articles and videos about my topic. I will be continuing my research and narrow my key topics down to 2-3. Next week, I’m going to discuss these resources I found with Nigel.
Cultural diversity in communication:
Ethical guidelines for animated videos:
https://www.mooviemakers.co.uk/ethical-guidelines-for-animated-videos-for-your-business/
This week I started creating the forest scene by working in landscape and foliage mode for the ivy covered wall, and the rain forest assets I found on the fab for the forest.
For the paradise scene, I started creating the landscape and gathering the necessary assets to start building the scene.
After finishing the scenes, I will focus on working with the rigs.
This week I went into polishing the body mechanics, focusing on the feet movement and the COG weight shift. Once my animation matched the reference, I added exaggeration to the kick (more upper body rotation and higher kick) and adjusted the timing in order to add character to the animation.
I also focused on the hand movements and went beyond the reference video.
The refined realistic version:
The exaggerated final version:
I’m looking forward to getting more feedback on my work because it helps me focus on and detect the details in my own work.
This week in class we continued with different writing approaches and the guidelines for referencing, thesis writing and citations. The session was productive, and after the class I had a chance to discuss my research proposal topic with Nigel.
I originally identified a few key topics, but this would be too broad for a 1500-word research project. So, I will keep looking for resources for all of them. Once I have a better idea of what is out there, I will choose two or three to study in depth.
• The rise of cross-cultural storytelling in globalized animation industries
• When stylization becomes stereotyping in 3D character modeling and world-building
• The role of cultural consultants, community involvement, and diverse production teams
• Economic power imbalances and Western profit from cultural borrowing
• Positive examples of authentic cultural appreciation in 3D animation
• Negative examples where cultural motifs are used superficially or commodified
In the next few weeks, I will keep gathering academic resources and case studies that are related to these points so that I can choose 2–3 of them to write about in my final essay.
In this week’s Unreal Engine class, we explored the application of LUTs to improve the visual aesthetic of our scenes. We utilized a LUT template provided by Serra and imported it into Adobe Photoshop for further modification. In Photoshop, we utilized various alteration layers such as curves, hue modifications, and contrast adjustments to develop a customized color grade. After saving the edited LUT, we imported it back into Unreal Engine. Using a Post Process Volume, we applied our LUT and immediately saw how it transformed the mood of the scene.
We also learned how to effectively render our scenes in Unreal Engine, emphasizing the parameters that influence the final output. The class addressed the configuration of the Movie Render Queue, selection of appropriate output formats, and performance optimization while maintaining visual quality. By experimenting with these tools, we gained a better understanding of how rendering transforms a real-time scene into a polished final video.
We also had a chance to talk about our project progress. She showed me a few techniques to create an environment. I have 2 main scenes: a forest and a “hidden paradise”. I started creating the forest scene using a rain forest asset, and adjusted the lighting.
For the other scene, I decided to create it in landscape and foliage mode to match exactly what I had envisioned. Finally I decided on the shots and finished the storyboard.
We got feedback on the body mechanics planning. Based on that feedback I decided on the key poses and posed them on the body rig.
I determined the timing according to the reference in stepped mode. Then I moved onto spline mode, I will continue to refine.
This week we got feedback on the body mechanics blocking shots. I focused on the COG and weight shifts. I refined the rotation of the hips and shoulders to avoid the jitters between the key poses. I also switched to working in IK for the arms and I received a better result.
I’ll send the current version to get more feedback and polish the shot even more.
The current version with the adjustments:
This class introduced the basics of how to write a clear, well-organized literature review. We learned how to find useful sources, spot gaps and themes, and put the review together in a way that tells a clear story. The focus was on combining research, not just summarizing it, and using outlines to help with good academic writing.
This week, I kept working on my topic by doing more research and looking into more detailed sources. After reading the literature, I finally decided on the topic and started to get a better idea of where I wanted to go with my project. I’m starting to see stronger connections and arguments coming together. I’ll talk about them more in next week’s one-on-one tutorial.
This week in our Unreal Engine class, we explored lighting and got an introduction to post-processing. We learned how different kinds of lights, like Directional, Point, and Spot Lights, can change the mood and make a scene look more real. We learned more about how to make atmosphere and depth by playing with shadows, intensity, and color. We also used a material to add texture to a spotlight.
We also saw some post-processing effects for the first time. These effects, like bloom, color grading, and ambient occlusion, help make a scene look better and feel more like a movie. It was fun to see how these tools can change the look and feel of a project completely!
This week I’ll be starting to collect the assets I found and narrow it down to the essential ones. Once I collect them, I’ll start creating the environment.