My Little Animation Nest

Happy Squish (Renders)!

2009-10-03T15:14:00.002-04:00

Just a quick update of some renders of Mr. Squish. These aren't his final colors and he still needs some weights painted, but he's got all his facial expressions!
I'll be posting his emotions test soon!
Some Mama Tamata renders will be coming as well...

Squashing Mr. Squish

2009-09-17T14:56:00.003-04:00

Life in the CA world is getting busy.
I'm finding less and less time to do things outside of college.
But oh, we all know it's worth it! My thesis is going well.
Mr. Squish is starting to get some facial expressions from blend shaping!
I'll post some funny faces soon...

Squish Squash - Updates

2009-09-13T20:38:00.002-04:00

Just a texture update and size comparison!

Squish Squash - Round 4

2009-09-12T22:11:00.005-04:00

Don't worry Mr. Squish, Steve liked my story very much...
He gave me great advice on character design formulas as well as great techniques to make my shots even better. I am so humbled by his praise for my camera shots that Steven Spielberg also uses. He enjoyed my story and I could not be happier with the feed back I got from one of the greats. If you don't know who Steve Hickner is, then I highly suggest you look him up. Thank you, Steve. (:

The following screen shots are of my complete model of Mr. Squish and Mama Tamata. Mama Tamata's colors will most likely change and perhaps her hair-do as well for I was told she needed to look more 'leafy.' Enjoy!

Squish Squash - Round 3

2009-09-05T20:15:00.003-04:00

Just some modeling updates. I have some of Mama Tamata, too, but she has no eye-lids therefore she is rather frightening right now so I will leave her out.

But here is Mr. Squish!
He has no hands yet because I decided to remake them.
But look at his shiny eyes! :D

I love him...

Squish Squash - Round 2

2009-08-28T19:14:00.005-04:00

Here are some initial sketches of Mr. Squish. I was watching my mouse, Cookie Monster, explore her habitat and groom herself, so I couldn't help but draw some inspiration pieces of Mr. Squish. He is a warm blooded critter who looks like a reptilian of sorts, but acts more like a rodent.

I started to model Mr. Squish's head in Maya today!
I am sooo excited, I can't wait to see him move...
(these are just rough, rough, rough beginning by the way... I will post the complete and finished model once it is ready!)

And here we have an animatic with music for your viewing pleasure!
It's a little different from the boards in the last post and there will still be tweaks to the shots as I go along. Enjoy!

Squish Squash - Round 1

2009-08-20T17:19:00.004-04:00

This shows my boarding process for story ideas.
First I board out all the major detail, with camera movement ideas and the basic layout and composition for each shot.
Then after this will follow an animatic, so we can see the story in motion.
This particular story is my thesis idea I'm pitching.
Wish me luck!

Inside Joke, Sorry....

2009-08-13T19:47:00.003-04:00

I project of epic proportions.

A collaboration piece between myself and my boy.
I did the opening animated scene.
The rest is all thanks to the master of abstract projects, Turkish Delight.

Dante Part. 2

2009-08-09T11:47:00.006-04:00

Color studies for Dante and his apartment.
Sometimes it is just doesn't pay to be old-fashioned.
So, ta ta, Dante! It was nice working with you...

Dante Part.1

2009-08-09T11:34:00.005-04:00

Another thesis pitch that I did not go with:
Dante the Italian immigrant to America in the early 1900's.
Just some character deign and set design work.
Color studies will come in "Dante Part. 2"

Just Like Me! Mostly...

2009-08-08T13:40:00.005-04:00

The sun just came out and I feel good.
Much better than yesterday, oh man, what a horrible night's rest....

So as a little present, here is a caricature of myself, in 3D.
With a little movie.
Enjoy.

(Above) A shout out to my boy on my shirt, if you can see it.
The tree suddenly turned white and chrome like. Strange....

Master Minds Need Not Apply

2009-08-07T20:09:00.002-04:00

So I just read on the news that some pathetic chum blamed his cat for some racy illegal stuff he downloaded. Excerpt from article, "According to a sheriff's report Friday, Griffin told investigators that his cat jumped on the computer keyboard while he was downloading music. He said he had left the room and found "strange things" on his computer when he returned."

Now... I've blamed the cat and even the dog on many things when I was a kid.
But when you are caught with something like that... I mean, come on.
Don't make it worse than it has to be.

I just wanted to rant a little, but I don't want to link the article. Too disgusting to even type.
But I did imagine this guy's cat, and all cat's everywhere, setting up elaborate schemes to get rid of their owners....

Pharaoh Phollies

2009-08-07T16:48:00.004-04:00

Character exploration for a senior thesis idea.
He was inspired by Sherman, but he is no where near as cool as Sherman.
Sorry Pharaoh, you didn't make the cut.

For some reason I just like taking the humps off of camels' backs.

A Deathly Day for Fruit

2009-08-07T16:22:00.010-04:00

This just shows off my light and texturing skills back in Sophomore year. Was a very fun project because I love spooky themes!

The objects were given to us pre-made, so I did not model them. But I had to set up the scene and landscape and texture everything.
There is also a short video that shows a night time setting as well!

And here is a random still life from Sophomore year of some fruit, just for fun!
Again, the models were given to me but I had to set up the scene and texture each piece.

Sherman the Humpless Camel!

2009-08-07T00:49:00.005-04:00

Sherman the Humpless Camel is my baby.
Here's some of the first little doodles I did of him.
Poor guy... just don't call him a horse and he'll be your friend forever.
And now Sherman is in his own cartoon!

Four Stories to Keep You Coming Back For More

2009-08-07T00:01:00.012-04:00

Please enjoy! :D

A Time for Scribbles

2009-08-06T23:43:00.008-04:00

This entry is just full of silhouette scribbles,
done with the scratch board tool in Corel Painter X.
So much fun....

Here is an intriguing process of discovering characters:Some scribbles...

Some more scribbles...

Even more scribbles...

I think these are scribbles...

Yep, definitely scribbles....

And another page of scribbles for good measure.

So then I take my favorite ones, such as these five seen above.

Then I rotate and twist the image around and see what sorts of crazy little ideas stem from the mere silhouette. Three is a good number but I would recommend doing as many as you please!

Then a finalization of the characters I extracted from the scribbles.
Fun project, all in all. (:

How Blue Bird Got His Color

2009-08-06T23:26:00.004-04:00

Some composition and story telling techniques practice.

Robie the Boring Robot

2009-08-06T22:54:00.007-04:00

Remember this little guy?
From RadioShack?
He'd eat your quarters... so much fun.

Just some modeling hooplah.
There's even a little movie of him doing a 360...

The Dapper Drunk...

2009-08-06T21:17:00.006-04:00

...didn't end up being so drunk.
I had to simplify things in order to get Mister Demon here in and out as quickly as possible.
He also retired his tux for a more...full body leotard. Way more comfortable if you ask me.

His date is not impressed.

Public Service Annoucement - Drugs

2009-08-06T21:01:00.006-04:00

Oh there is a nice story behind this one....
So a friend of mine has this certain saying after being repeatedly disappointed by humanity.
So much drugs and nonsense in this world, he just couldn't stand it any longer.
He was not going to be a fool to anyone, anymore.
Either people were going to play nice with him and be his friend, or they would suffer the consequences of treating him like dirt.
So either you're his "friend".... or his "b!@$*"

And believe me... you'll want to be his friend.

Anyway, I love my dear friend Gene and I also share his hatred for people who do drugs and just waste their lives away and endanger themselves and those around them.
I think this would be a very effective way to keep kids off crack and heroine and coke, etc.
Don't you?

I might not get a job after this.... sigh...

Donchoo Just Love....

2009-08-06T20:55:00.004-04:00

My apologies... my sense of humor ranges far and wide in the spectrum.
Who doesn't enjoy a pun?

I highly recommend that movie by the way...

There's A Monkey On My Back?

2009-08-06T20:45:00.006-04:00

This little guy was born to swing from the trees and jump short distances.
To be a monkey.... oh what a life that would be...

Charlie the Sock Monster

2009-08-06T20:14:00.005-04:00

I love Charlie.
This abomination to laundry everywhere was created for a project in my Traditional Animation class back in Sophomore year. A couple of animations soon followed.