The Morpheus Rig
Here are some of the morpheus rigs I morphed including a woman, a young male and an older male.
It was really fun trying to morph the female figure. And the morpheus rig has so many rigs to play with and adjust so you can make the character look big or small, male or female. As above, you can see I tried to pose the female as well as her face to suit the pose. With the young boy I tried to look him look a bit non caring. I didn't manage to pose the older character however.
Lipsyncing
We learnt to do lipsyncing and how to manipulate the face using the morpheus face rig provided. (below)
We had to look at how the mouth moves and the different shapes they make as a person speaks . As you can see, each letter of the alphabet is manipulated and makes a different shape. We really had to take this into account to make the piece believable.
Above: I started to manipulate the face rig with the audo provided ('You doing alright there phil?'). When I heard the audio, the character seemed a bit weary of this 'Phil', so I tried to portray that with the eyebrows and the movement of the head. However, my tutor informed me that the shake of the head was probably a little too much and to lessen it. Also, that the nose should move a little as it interacts with the nose.
Below: I tried to fix what my teacher said and here is my lipsync below. I do prefer the extra shakes, but I can understand that to others it may have looked a bit too much.
Below: I tried to fix what my teacher said and here is my lipsync below. I do prefer the extra shakes, but I can understand that to others it may have looked a bit too much.
Modelling
Here was the modelling I tried to do to make a face. We were give the reference and then we had to model the face. Luckily we were taught about modelling a little last term, so I could get the head shape and manipulate it into a certain shape quite easily, however it was the more detailed things that I found hard to manipulate. The mouth specifically got me confused.
Animation Technique and History
It is always very useful to look at the various techniques and history of animation to help understand animation better.
I will be looking at the early processes of animation and how animation has evolved from 2D to 3D.
In the early days, animation was mainly made from rather ingenious mechanisms such as the Phenakistoscope or the flipbook.
I will be looking at the early processes of animation and how animation has evolved from 2D to 3D.
In the early days, animation was mainly made from rather ingenious mechanisms such as the Phenakistoscope or the flipbook.
Above is an example of a Phenakistoscope. According to wikipedia it works like this: "It consists of a disk with a series of images, drawn on radii evenly spaced around the center of the disk. Slots are cut out of the disk on the same radii as the drawings, but at a different distance from the center. The device would be placed in front of a mirror and spun. As the phenakistoscope is spun, a viewer would look through the slots at the reflection of the drawings which would only become visible when a slot passes by the viewer's eye."
This is probably the most familiar, early technique I remembered. It created the illusion of animation and led to various techniques of animation.
When the camera was invented, animation was allowed to grow. 2D animation became the new form of entertainment for children as Disney took animation to a new level and created the Golden Age of Disney with its many classics.
This is probably the most familiar, early technique I remembered. It created the illusion of animation and led to various techniques of animation.
When the camera was invented, animation was allowed to grow. 2D animation became the new form of entertainment for children as Disney took animation to a new level and created the Golden Age of Disney with its many classics.
Disney set the standard for animation and basically created and inspired the modern animation way of working. Although things may have slightly changed, the general outline of stages an animation must go through has stayed almost the same. From concepts to the final movie, animation work processes don't differ greatly wherever you go.
Below is a good example of the workflow of Disney in its early days when they made Snow White.
Below is a good example of the workflow of Disney in its early days when they made Snow White.
Nowadays, the actual process of animation has changed. Historically, animation was always thought of as 2D drawings all put together to make a moving piece. That has now changed with the introduction of the computer and 3D. Pixar is probably the most famous digital animation company in the world and changed the landscape of modern animation. The influx of CG (computer generated) animation has made animated films a lucrative business.
Like in this animation course, there are various animating softwares out there. Maya is the one we use, but there is a range that different companies like to use, some, like Pixar, even making their own software.
Like in this animation course, there are various animating softwares out there. Maya is the one we use, but there is a range that different companies like to use, some, like Pixar, even making their own software.
As you can see, there is a big difference with this 'making of' film in comparison to the Snow White one. Here, it shows the process of Brave, but instead of loads and loads of paper, there are loads and loads of computers in view. Of course nothing can replace paper, but the process has become much more fitted into the modern age of technology. Stylistically, computers are needed for the 3D effect anyway. It is also much easier nowadays to view animation tests.
Before, animation tests would have to be shot using a camera and then recorded then shown. Now, with a click of a button, an animation can come to life.
Before, animation tests would have to be shot using a camera and then recorded then shown. Now, with a click of a button, an animation can come to life.
Evaluation
My favourite part of all this was doing the lipsync. The Morpheus rig is a great rig to play with and is good for beginners to use. Lipsyncing and character animation is definitely rewarding and fun to do. The outcome is amazing to watch. Even getting feedback is really handy because my peers can tell me whether something looks right or not. In the end, the actual audio started to grate on my nerves, but the experience of doing the lipsync was fun.
I think the lipsyning was the most helpful out of our lessons. It made me more confident with Maya and it was the satisfaction of syncing wth audio that made me enjoy it so much.
Actually manipulating the full bodied Morpheus rig was another fun thing to morph. I wasn't a fan of modelling because I found it quite hard to do. I prefer the animating than the modelling or rigging.
Modelling is definitely not my strong point, bu something I am definitely willing to work on. I get confused with the many different tools that one can use, but I know it is a very useful thing to know. I want to be a concept artist, so I know that it is good to have an all round understanding of 2D and 3D concepts, so I can translate my work from 2D to 3D when needed.
I think the lipsyning was the most helpful out of our lessons. It made me more confident with Maya and it was the satisfaction of syncing wth audio that made me enjoy it so much.
Actually manipulating the full bodied Morpheus rig was another fun thing to morph. I wasn't a fan of modelling because I found it quite hard to do. I prefer the animating than the modelling or rigging.
Modelling is definitely not my strong point, bu something I am definitely willing to work on. I get confused with the many different tools that one can use, but I know it is a very useful thing to know. I want to be a concept artist, so I know that it is good to have an all round understanding of 2D and 3D concepts, so I can translate my work from 2D to 3D when needed.
Please click below for the next page where all my final animation work is: