Announcement on the Projects:
All projects will be critiqued in-class. Here are the critique resources we went over in class.

Project 1: Falling Bowling Ball and Water Balloon

Project 2: Game Modding Breakout in Processing

  • There are no files to hand in, only show up and participate in the workshop on 1/23.
  • Software: Processing

Project 3: Animating Cause and Effect in Maya

Project 4: Empathetic Body Language in Maya

Project 5: Walk Cycle

  • Before 6:00am on 3/2:
    • Upload the video and name it using this naming convention: "Project 5 Smith " (you replace "Smith" with your own last name).
    • It may take over an hour to upload the video.
    • Add the movie to the ConstructionImage group.
    • You may want to test out uploading a movie to your own account well ahead of the deadline.
  • Also, bring the file to class on a CD or jump/flash drive, just in case there are problems with YouTube.
    • Animate one of the character models provided (see Project 4 above) so that it does a complete and looping walk cycle.
    • DO NOT simply create a "normal" walk cycle. Select an emotion, state of mind or motivation that the walk cycle should convey (for example: exhilerated, runway model, depressed, sexy, zombie, etc.).
  • Software: Maya
  • Duration: The loop itself should be around 1-3 seconds. But make it loop several times in the playblast. The playblast should be no less than 10 seconds.
  • Resource Links:

Choose Project 6A or 6B

Project 6A: Monocontent Fetish

Project 6B: Model an Creature or Environmental Object in Maya

Final Project: Smorgasbords of Motion

  • Before 6:00am on 4/20:
    • Upload the video to YouTube and name it using this naming convention: "Final Project Smith " (you replace "Smith" with your own last name).
    • It may take over an hour to upload the video.
    • Add the video to the ConstructionImage group.
    • You may want to test out uploading a movie to your own account well ahead of the deadline.
  • Also bring the video file to class on 4/20 by burning it to a CD or bring it on a jump/flash drive.
    • Create a video using Maya and After Effects. You may use media created by others from the internet or any other source, including video from YouTube, or music and sound effects from SoundDogs. If you integrate media that you did not create, be sure to modify it and add a considerable amount of your own material so that the final piece is "legitimately" your creation.
    • There are 3 criteria for the Final Project:
      1. Convey a short story that has a beginning, middle and end. What the story is about is totally up to you but try to adhere at least minimally to Aristotle's Poetics for the narrative structure.
      2. The video must use an abundance of motion for at least 20 seconds. This means that most of what is on the screen is changing during this time. This part does not need to be continuous, it can be broken up into smaller segments spread throughout the timeline of the video.
      3. A 3D object that you created and animated in Maya is to be rendered and used as an element in the video for at least 20 seconds. The 3D element must be an essential piece that contributes significantly to the story. You will most likely want to render the object with an alpha channel so the image is already cut-out when imported into After Effects.
  • Software: Maya and After Effects
  • Duration: between 1 to 2 minutes
  • Maya Resource Links:
  • NOTE - To import the series of rendered Maya images into After Effects:
    1. Select Import File
    2. Check the box that says "Targa sequence"
    3. Locate the first rendered image from Maya
  • Idea Links:

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