Environment models

In the story Hamish wears a bowtie, a pair of slippers and an apron so I needed to create these and attach them to the Hamish model.

Facial expressions

I am using shape animation to create the facial expressions for Hamish. I created a duplicate model for every separate expression, moved the points on his head/face until I had the expression I wanted, selected the main head model, chose 'Shape -> select shape key and then selected all of the other head models.

The image below shows all the expressions I have created for him.
For left to right and top to bottom:

First Line: Original face, rig for the eyes, left eyebrow up, right eyebrow up, scowl.
Second Line: Left eyebrow down, right eyebrow down, eyebrows down, mouth open, right mouth up
Third Line: Left mouth up, narrow mouth, 'f/v/s' shape, 'b/m/p' shape, 'l' shape
Fourth Line: 'Th' shape, 'f/v/s' shape variation, small cheeks, bigger cheeks, sad face

Building the rig

My previous experiences with rigging haven't been altogether successful, however I decided to give it a go. I created a very simple rig containing enough bones for the movement. When I attached it/enveloped it to the model the movement wasn't working. Creasing and twisting appeared and after researching how to create a more appropriate rig I realised that the built-in Biped Rig in Softimage would probably be the better option.

The rig on the left shows how it originally looked before I altered it to fit my model. The one on the right has been scaled down to fit the body parts of my panda model. All the separate pieces had to scaled down individually or it caused problems with the movement later on.

This shows the rig actually placed inside of the panda model. I had to scale down the neck sections as Hamish doesn't really have a neck, the part above that connects to the head control had to be placed higher up and the shoulders had to be adjusted slightly. I extended to spine because i designed him to be out of proportion, this was so he could have smaller, stubby legs and waddle rather than walk normally to compensate for his large stomach. I moved the waist control slightly down and put the hip control slightly above, this creates a nice movement in his stomach when he walks forwards.

Now that the rig is properly set up and adjusted to fit the model, I needed to start the enveloping process. Straight away I noticed that the legs were proving difficult, When i moved the model or the top of the leg controls I was getting strange creasing and twisting.

When I attached the model to the rig by enveloping it, the weighting of it was far away from what I needed it to be. To fix this I had to use weight painting in order to tell which points on the model to be controlled by which bones/controls. I had a major problem with this as some of the points where being controlled 100% by a bone and wouldn't connect to another bone, to fix this I had to choose the 'reassign locally' option, then make sure all bones and controls were showing by clicking 'show all'. I had to find the point number in the table and move the sliders needed across.

The neck section of the model worked surprisingly well, even though he doesn't really appear to have a neck I still want it to look like he has one, be it hidden, to create this affect I allowed some of the points in his chest to move when his head is rotated.

For the eyes I originally thought that I could control them by rotating the top eyelid, the bottom eyelid and the actual eyeball individually but after a quick test it was too difficult and time consuming to continue with it. After a bit of research I realised I could control it using a 'link with command' option, this links each individual rotation of the eye objects to a relative value in the Y axis of the curve controls. It means that I can use the position of a null or a curve to control the movement of a particular object/model. I am using the transition of two circle curves to control the shutting of the top and bottom eyelids on both eyes, then the rotation of a square curve to control the movement of the eyeballs.

After I had finished fixing the eyes I went back to the rig. It still needed tweaking so that when he bent forwards or slightly backwards there wasn't any creasing, I also hid the parts of the rig that I won't be using to save later confusion.

Continuing on from tidying up the rig and hiding any bones or parts that I won't be using to control my rig, I decided to use shadow bones to help. You can re position them outside of the model and you can use a different shape to make them easier to select. I decided to use rectangles and cubes as they still represent the size of the bones.

Most areas of the rig are now complete but I am still having problems with the legs. The back of the feet are creasing together, the stomach is moving too much when the leg is lifted and the foot stretches away from the leg. I tried to use weight painting to fix this problem but I was still having issues with it.

The main reason for the odd movement with the legs I believe is because I couldn't use the bones to rotate the legs and feet. I tried to rearrange the rig slightly to compensate the movement but in the end i deleted the original parts for the legs and built my own. I used a simple two bone tier, one for control the leg and the other to allow the foot to bend.

I'm now thinking that adding an extra bone to create a knee might make the movement more believable. At the moment he is waddling slightly, which is the look I was going for but I think it's too obvious.

Audio Script

FOR HAMISH (HARRY LATHAM)


"Sigh" - panda is awake, lying in bed feeling fed up
"Deep breath" - he feels lonely when he sees the empty side of the bed
"Yawn" - the first one of the day
"Gulping coffee" - last mouthful
"Noise as he drops into his chair" - his armchair is rather solid
"Clearing throat" - as he opens his newspaper
"Sigh" - as a train roars past
"The usual please" - ordering takeaway for one
"Sigh" - he opened the door expecting company but there was no one
"That's enough for one day" - sad under breath to himself
"Yawn" - first one of the second day
"Gulping coffee" - last mouthful again
"Clearing throat" - begins reading the paper
"Agreeing noise" - like uhuh
"Moan with sadness" - he weighs himself and is overweight
"Bigger clearing of throat" - before he begins recording himself
"My name is Hamish, I'm 21, errr...built well! Non smoker, I'm a vegetarian, I like to cook and eat in as well as out. I enjoy chess, gardening and DIY. I like art and I have a pet fish. Errr...I don't like trains and...I hope to hear from you soon" - awkward recording his self
"Exhausted sounds" - long, hard day, he is very tired
"Sighs" - when he realises he hasn't had any replied to his advert
"Gasp" - when he realises the time
"Giggles" - excitement when he see's his possible 'mate'
"Big sigh" - he shakes his head with disappointment when it turns out to be the wrong sex
"Angry noise" - as he pulls his covers over his head


FOR CHARLIE (GEORGIE DUXBURY)


"My name is Charlie and I'm a Sagittarius, I am looking for someone aged between 18 and 22, medium build, I love eating in so he needs to be good in the kitchen, I like gardening, I dislike mess, non smoker and preferably good at DIY, maybe have a pet and some hobbies. Send me your videos below"

"Hi Hamish, I would like to meet you today, by the tracks at 11. I will wear a red carnation"

Project Update

I have been fairly quiet just recently as I have been creating all of the models needed for my project.
As soon as i have these completed I will add a new post containing all of the information.

I have been trying to fix all of the problems I have been having with the rig for Hamish (the panda).
I will add some screen shots, explanations and a turnaround video as soon as possible.

I have also been writing a short script for the two voice actors needed for my project.
This will appear in a new post shortly.

Panda Model Update

I have been working on the rig for Hamish the panda. I decided to use one of the ready made ones in Softimage but then adapt it to suit his shape. First i had to finish the model, here are some render pictures.

I then moved onto fixing the rig, enveloping and creating shape animation sliders for facial expressions.

First of all i did some research into emotions and face shapes, then looked at rigs previously done for faces.

This is a screen shot of the sliders i have created to control the facial movements/expressions:

This is a model board i have created to show my model:

Animatic mk2

After having taken on board suggestions of improvements by my supervisor i have changed the animatic slightly.

Plan Update

I thought i would add an update from my plan, at the moment i am unfortunately slightly behind schedule.
This is due to earlier parts taking longer than i expected, i'm sure i can catch up in the next couple of weeks, this is because i have a daily plan as well as this one and some days i have given myself only one or two tasks to complete.

Story Sections

I have sectioned the story up into individual shots. This is so that i can animate it scene by scene or section by section instead of trying to do the entire story all at once. It also means if the file corrupts or fails, i will only have lost one scene (i will of course make sure everything is backed up regularly).

1.      Zoom in on the house – front window (camera fades in and zooms) – FULL SHOT

2.      Zoom in to Hamish asleep in bed – MEDIUM CLOSE UP
Alarm goes off, Hamish lifts his arm out, turns it off & rolls over – MEDIUM CLOSE UP

3.      Camera cuts to Hamish rolled over – MEDIUM CLOSE UP
He makes a move to get out of bed – MEDIUM CLOSE UP

4.      Camera cuts to Hamish sitting up & yawning. He looks round his room – MEDIUM CLOSE UP

5.      Camera cuts to Hamish getting out of bed & walking out of his room – FULL SHOT
Camera pans & follows him as he walks towards the kitchen – PANNING

6.      Camera cuts to the kettle etc in the kitchen as Hamish makes a cup of coffee (he walks off screen) – fade out – CLOSE UP

7.      Camera fades in to Hamish drinking at his dining room table, he plays with his food & walks off screen – MEDIUM SHOT

8.      Cut to Hamish in the shower – LONG SHOT

9.      Cut to letterbox as the paperboy delivers a newspaper – MEDIUM SHOT

10.  Hamish collects the newspaper & drops it on the table on his way to the bedroom – PANNING FULL SHOT
Hamish gets his slippers & puts them on – FULL SHOT

11.  He stomps to his chair, gets comfy and reads the paper – FULL SHOT

12.  POV Hamish – the sound of a train can be heard, he drops his paper & looks outside – FULL SHOT

13.  He gets up & walks over to the window – FULL SHOT

14.  He looks outside of his window (his stomach growls) – CLOSE UP

15.  He walks back over to his dining room table (focus on NO MESSAGES), picks up the phone & rings for a takeaway – CLOSE UP
He plays chess, right paw for white and left paw for black – MEDIUM CLOSE UP
There’s a knock at the door, he gets up & goes to answer it – MEDIUM CLOSE UP

16.  Hamish opens the door – FULL SHOT

17.  Camera cuts to the front door, Hamish looks down & picks up his takeaway. Shuts the audience outside – FULL SHOT

18.  He sits on the floor, turns his TV on & begins to eat. He gets up & walks over to the dining room table – MEDIUM SHOT

19.  He empties the contents of the takeaway onto his plate & goes to bed (fade out) – FULL SHOT

20.  Fade in to Hamish in bed, staring at his alarm clock – FULL SHOT
He yawns & sits up – FULL SHOT

21.  Camera fades to him sitting down with a cup of coffee & he goes for a shower – MEDIUM CLOSE UP

22.  Camera cuts to the door where the paperboy pushes the daily newspaper through – CLOSE UP

23.  He gets the paper, drops it on the table & goes to get his slippers – MEDIUM CLOSE UP
He puts his slippers on & heads back to the living room – MEDIUM CLOSE UP

24.  Hamish sits in his chair, grabs his paper & begins to read – MEDIUM SHOT

25.  Camera cuts & zooms in on the advert – CLOSE UP

26.  Camera cuts back to Hamish as he jumps up & heads for his computer – MEDIUM CLOSE UP

27.  Hamish types the address & searches for his perfect panda mate – MEDIUM CLOSE UP

28.  Camera cuts to the advert on the screen – CLOSE UP

29.  Camera cuts to Hamish on the scales – FULL SHOT

30.  Camera cuts back to the advert – CLOSE UP

31.  With that Hamish jumps to his feet & goes to his bedroom – PANNING FULL SHOT

32.  He puts on a bowtie & heads back to the computer – MEDIUM SHOT

33.  POV camera, Hamish begins setting it up – CLOSE UP
He has a rush of nerves & runs to the bathroom. After a flush he returns & records himself (camera cuts to black) – CLOSE UP

34.  Hamish flicks his radio on & grabs the books off the shelf, it breaks & he uses one of them to fix it – MEDIUM CLOSE UP

35.  Camera cuts to 4 sections (books being opened) – CLOSE UP

36.  Camera cuts to 4 sections (books being opened) – CLOSE UP

37.  Camera cuts to 4 sections (books being opened) – CLOSE UP

38.  Camera cuts to 4 sections (books being opened) – CLOSE UP

39.  Camera cuts to Hamish going to the shop – FULL SHOT

40.  Camera cuts to the clock. It fast forwards an hour (door slams at the end) – CLOSE UP

41.  Hamish returns with a bag – FULL SHOT

42.  Four sections – He puts an apron on & tries to cut bamboo but can’t hold the knife – MEDIUM SHOT

43.  Four sections – He puts a plant outside – MEDIUM SHOT

44.  Four sections – He tries to rake but a train ruins it – MEDIUM SHOT

45.  He lifts a pet fish out of his bag – MEDIUM SHOT

46.  He puts a flower & bamboo in a vase – MEDIUM SHOT

47.  He tries to cut & stick but the paper keeps sticking to him instead – MEDIUM SHOT

48.  He goes back to his computer has no reply so goes to bed in a sulk (fade out) – FULL SHOT

49.  Camera fades in to an empty bed – FULL SHOT

50.  Camera moves to show Hamish sat at his computer – MEDIUM SHOT

51.  Camera shows a reply from a panda (flashing envelope) – CLOSE UP

52.  Hamish sees the time & rushes for his bowtie – MEDIUM SHOT

53.  He heads for the door, walks down his path & hides behind the main building – PANNING FULL SHOT

54.  POV Hamish, he sees a panda approaching – POV LONG SHOT

55.  Camera cuts to see Hamish’s reaction – CLOSE UP

56.  Camera moves out as Hamish slopes back inside – FULL SHOT

57.  Camera cuts as Hamish slams the door. His number 2 swings & falls to the ground (fades out) – CLOSE UP

58.  Credits & Hamish pulling the covers over his head – MEDIUM CLOSE UP

Animatic

I've had real problems with the timing for this project, I included way too much content and cutting it down was difficult. This is because most of it was important to be able to tell the story, but it soon became clear that parts of it were over explained and unnecessary.