Art Of "My Science Project" | Fantastic Voyage

Art of- My Science Project (WIP - 3rd May)

This is my Art Of for Fantastic Voyage. It is a work in progress as I plan to update it over summer as I enrich my project and my final animation.

"My Science Project" | Animation | Fantastic Voyage

My Science Project | Final Animation - Part Rendered | Fantastic Voyage from Beckie Ryan on Vimeo.

(Fully rendered version this animation will be uploaded as soon as it has finished rendering)

"My Science Project" Pre - Viz | Maya | Video | Fantastic Voyage

"My Science Project" | Pre-Viz (with voiceover) from Beckie Ryan on Vimeo.

Batch Render Test | Door Opening | Render | Fantastic Voyage

Batch Render Test | Door Opening | My Science Project from Beckie Ryan on Vimeo.

This was a test run for batch rendering my animation. This is the opening scene from the pre-viz as the lights and positing are identical to how this scene is laid out in the final scene.

Overall the lighting looks good but I think that I need to find a way to light the stage area a little more with the ambient light.

Frame 184 is missing (un-rendered for some reason) so there is a slight glitch in the animation but this will be resolved for the final piece.

Sign, Render and Movement Testing | Playblast | Maya | Fantastic Voyage

Sign, Render and Movement Testing | My Science Project from Beckie Ryan on Vimeo.

This is an incomplete playblast of my pre-viz. This was to test the signs, render quality and movement of the objects and signs within the piece.

All of the pieces shown have had their UVs created and basic textures applied. I applied a slightly different top layer to the 'warden tower' which gives it more of a 'painted on cardboard' effect. I think for the final animation, I will apply this texture top layer to all of the pieces to give it more of a realistic look.

Pre-Viz Playblast Test | Maya | Fantastic Voyage

Playblast Test | My Science Project from Beckie Ryan on Vimeo.

This is my playblast/render test for the opening sequence. This is the introduction for "My Science Project". My set now features a 'cardboard curtain' to hide some of the pieces out of view and helps to draw the audience in further, The sign will say "how the body fights infection" although I'm not sure if the chain that is featured on it fits with the cardboard childish aspect and I'm wondering if this should be string instead.

FEEDBACK Needed | Pre-viz Set Size | Experimentation | Maya | Fantastic Voyage

After making my pre-viz model of the box, I've began to wonder if I made the 'stage' area too small. So I've created 2 wider versions to see what not only looks better but what would give my animation more space to take place.

I prefer 2 the most as it's not too wide and is probably the closest in size to my real life version, meaning these proportions are more believable. 3 is also a good size and has a lot more space for animating in but I feel it may be too wide.

Any feedback is appreciated

Pre-viz of Box | Render | Maya | Fantastic Voyage

Maya - pre-viz of box

Maya - pre-vis of open box

I've successfully managed to pre-viz the basic set of my box for the animation. For now, I've also added in a basic cardboard texture to the box to add a bit of depth.

Lighting is a bit of an issue as I keep getting a hot spot at the back but I'm going to try and change some of the lighting and shadow settings to see if this will help. 

"My Science Project" Box Theatre Making in Real Life | Time Lapse | Video

"My Science Project" Real Box Theatre Time Lapse from Beckie Ryan on Vimeo.

To help with the process of making my animation, I decided to make a real life version as was advised in my feedback from several tutors. This is a time lapse video of me and my dad making it with a few alterations to my original design to mimic a child and their parent making it. I will take some photos of the final piece once I've added in the backdrop and moving parts etc.

My Science Project with Voice Over | Script | Fantastic Voyage

"My Science Project" with Voice Over

This is the adapted script for "my science project" to allow for a voice over. This also reduces the signs needed and declutters the stage. This falls in with the feedback I got in the pitch and I definitely agree that it would be a lot more pleasing to the eyes and ears to have it in this format

Media Molecule | Research | Fantastic Voyage

Media Molecule

As Jordan suggested, I have researched into the games company Media Molecule and watched some of their behind the scenes videos and interviews. The style they have created their games in is very close to how I want my animation to look when finished.

From what I have found, this is largely due to the thickness of components and the texturing used on each piece individually. From this I can see that I need a far larger collection of paper and card textures to make the animation look better and I think this will help with the feel of it too.

Paper Texture Tests and Experimentation | Photoshop | Fantastic Voyage

These are part of my texturing experimentations for use in the animatic, pre-vis and final piece. These 9 tests here are free ones sourced from the internet. I'm going to create some of my own textures and use these as a comparison.

1. looks most genuine
6. is a nice texture but just a little too dark for use
7 gives it a wooden effect.

Front of Box Redesign | Photoshop | Fantastic Voyage

Following on from the feedback I received in the pitch, I have begun to restyle and redesign many of the components in my work. For the box itself, I have got rid of the theatre front and started experimenting with making it more box like and childish. I've also began to experiment with over layering some textures into them and It is definitely helping and given the 4 variations a better depth and more appeal than a flat, plain colour. I've also tried to experiment a little with text and the kid that the child making this would use stickers or have a younger sibling who might scribble on the box.

My favourite Is the top left. It has a more childish aspect to it but feels more a 11 or 12 year old has created it. It still has a childish look and feel but the stickers look more decorative than random. For a younger kids approach, the bottom left is definitely a strong piece to me. It features glow in the dark solar system stickers. Many children jump to stars and planets when they think of science.

Research | Theatres | Cardboard Creations | Punch and Judy | Fantastic Voyage

These are 3 new influence maps from the research I have done. They are a collection of images of Punch and Judy shows, silhouette puppets, children puppets and DIY kids projects.

Post Pitch Thoughts | Fantastic Voyage

For the pitch I had my animatic in colour but unfortunately without sounds due to some problems that arose. I will be posting a version of it with sound shortly once I have worked out the error that occurred during exporting.

I got a lot of helpful feedback from the pitch. It mainly revolves around how this idea has so much potential, Its now just a case of adding finesse to it and making it into something truly special.

These are some of the points that were brought up:

• Get rid of the curtains. Maybe use the box's flaps instead. It's a child's project, there could be a sign on it with "my science project".
• Child narration could help move the animation along. There could be scripted errors in pronouncing words or putting the wrong sign on screen for the wording said. Perhaps there is 'audience participation'. The 'audience' could boo when the infection is on stage and cheer when the B cells appear.
• Have the backdrops on a roller instead of being lowered. Make it child friendly. If it was made in real life, how would they make it?
• Childish aspects like sticky tape, upside down signs, peeling walls are missing. The animatic shows it as being too clean and refined. 
• Textures need a lot of thought. Do I create them on photoshop or scan in real life textures of paper and cardboard. Maybe crumpled paper will work best.
• The sign should have lights. (think of an LED battery pack)
• There is a 'samey' feel about how the signs appear in the same place. Its too repetitive and maybe they should appear from different angles. It was also suggested that the signs are reserved for use of the scientific words.
• The blood flow cam belt could make the stage feel to cluttered. 

From this, I'm going to revisit my art style and the way I've laid the stage out. I might create a real life version during Easter to help me model from but I'm not sure if this will eat into my time too much but I am definitely considering this. 

I definitely need to think about how the front of the box should be presented. Maybe glittery stars or an assortment of stickers are shown on the front too. Over decoration is exactly what a child would do.

The backdrops will be on 'rollers' or two kitchen rolls. This allows the 'child' operating  it to turn it by hand with ease. I had too many things dropping down from above and upon refection, that makes it too cluttered, repetitive and would be a two child job to operate. 

I think I'm going to make some of the components by hand too. I have cardboard, paint and skewers, why not see what I can make by hand and see how it differs to what I had drawn and used in the animatic. Personally, I think I cleaned the components on photoshop a little too much. A child is more likely to draw with feathered, wobbly lines, colour outside of the lines, dent the card and leave holes in the colouring. I think scanning in a lot of texturing will help with the project as well, so I will track down different pieces of papers, tissue paper and scan them in lightly crumpled. Perhaps they could be used as an overlay to the pieces and might add the depth to them that they are lacking. 

I will also rethink the usage of the signs and change the angles in which they appear on stage to reduce the relative feel. Maybe they could pop up from the floor or the sides.

This is a lot to think about and incorporate into the animation, so I think I will first do some more research into cardboard puppet shows and see what examples are shown. I think this will also help with the styling of the animation and the drawings that I produce from here on out. 

Animatic (without sound) | Fantastic Voyage

How the Body Fights Infection | Beckie Ryan from Beckie Ryan on Vimeo.

Fantastic Voyage Pitch Presentation and Animatic

Fantastic Voyage Pitch

How the Body Fights Infection | Beckie Ryan from Beckie Ryan on Vimeo.

Cell Experimentation | Fantastic Voyage

As my project is now going to be made using cardboard textures, I thought it would be of use if i experimented drawing some cells onto cardboard. I used a mixture of paint, ink and pens to create these.

Cardboard is a lot more porous than paper so it was interesting to see how the cardboard muted the tones of the colour. When I establish the parts that will be needed for my animation, I might do some similar experimentation to help with the colours.

1st Draft of Script | Feedback Wanted | Work In Progress | Fantastic Voyage

This is my script so far. I'm still working on the second half but it would be great to get some feedback for my work so far. If someone could check I have my cells the right way around too that would be great. I'm still a little bit confused on the science behind this but think I'm beginning to understand it now.

1st Draft

Sign how the body fights infection

Red backdrop 

X2 blood flow cam belts pop up

Sign this is the blood...

it's healthy at the moment 

B Cells

1 to pop up centre stage

Big flashing arrow to drop from top

Sign this is a B cell

it has 2 jobs

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Remove front parts from stage

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Warden tower to move in --> 

Sign one job is to keep an eye out for suspicious activity

Spot lights scan area. 

Infection

1 to pop up centre stage

Big flashing arrow to drop from top

Sign this is an infection 

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Remove front parts from stage

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Sign when it joins the blood stream, the 'wardens' raise the alarm!

Red alarms drop from ceiling flashing

SFX sirens

Sign then they attack 

Warden tower moves off stage <--

SFX "charge!"

Swarm of B cells moves in -->

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Set moves left

New set moves in (to represent magnification 

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B cells and infection clash

B cells enter from left and infection from right.

SFX battle sounds

Sign sometimes they need back up

Poster unfurls from top (wanted poster)

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Remove parts

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T Cells

1 to pop up centre stage

Big flashing arrow to drop from top

Sign this is a T cell

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Remove front parts from stage

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Sign they're here to join in with the fight

Sign a lot of effort goes in to fighting the infection

Sign this can be why we feel drained 

T cells move on from left and join the battle 

Developing Ideas | Fantastic Voyage

Here are some quick sketches I made while I was checking my research for the science.