Creating Stereoscopic 3D Images

Recreating Cameras and Lights in Maya

Original Image 1.

Maya Rendering 1.

Maya Rendering Rotated 1.

Original Image 2.

Maya Rendering 2.

Maya Rendering Rotated 2.

Building a scene in Maya

Third Term Paper

My first two term papers scores were 85 and 85; I will not be writing a third term paper.

Outline of the Third Term Paper

·        Intro

·         Special effects are used in most films these days, from big explosions down to editing out mistakes made by the film crew.

·         CGI is most cost efficient.

·          Still have instances where film makers have to use good old fashioned trickery to make viewers believe they are seeing something that they really aren't.

·         Two examples of scaling characters in film to convey a large gap in size when there truly isn't one.

·         Lord of the Rings - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdna43L1fZ8

·         In Lord of the Rings, the story follows three Hobbits on their way on a great adventure.

·         The three hobbits are only supposed to be three feet tall, but are played by normal sized adult actors.

·         These actors played next to other actors portraying normal size or larger characters.

·         Unable to "shrink" in CG and make it look believable.

·         Had to "trick" the viewer into believing these characters were three feet tall.

·         First, had children or actors with dwarfism portray the hobbits from behind or in action scenes where faces were not shown.

·         The most ingenious part is the trick used with perspective.

§  Example of Frodo and Gandalf riding in a carriage together.

§  Filmmakers actually made two seperate seats, about four feet apart from each other, with Gandalf in the one closest to camera and Frodo in the one about four feet behind.

§  Both actors acted as if they were sitting next to each other and scene was filmed head on with the split between seats hidden so it appears as if they are sitting next to each other.

·         Example where effects are seamlessly done, without CGI.

·         The whole point is to make it look "real".

·         Called "forced perspective"

·         Casablanca (1942) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEWaqUVac3M

·         Used the same technique

·         Filmed in studio with a smaller scale plane and actors with dwarfism next to it to make it appear further away than it really was.

·         Done in the background to create perspective.

·         The storm was created in studio so they would not have to recreate the storm outside at an actual airport.

·         Didn't have the option for CGI animation during that time, so they had to be creative.

·         Effect was seamless and viewers didn't even notice.

·         Conclusion

·         Directors have many tools at their disposal to help tell a story.

·         Must be creative in order to tell a story seamlessly.

·         CGI is not always the answer as it can look "made."

·         Sometimes the best techniques are techniques borrowed from a time when they didn't have the computer generated option.

·         When it comes to films looking authentic, sometimes the best answer is the simplest!

Stop-Motion Character Animation

To create my stop-motion animation I began by drawing out my character in a walk cycle. I drew him in every key frame, then proceeded to cut each individual key out. I then built my scene with some random blankets and baby toys to help give my character a more believable environment. I then took a clear sheet of glass and set it between my environment and the camera. On the glass I charted out my character's basic walk. So all I had to do from there was place my character one foot in front of the other in the correct sequence as I taped them to the glass and took my snap shops.

TERM PAPER 2: Science Fact or Cinematic Fiction?

            Many people don't walk around every day having to remind themselves that if they run off a cliff, they will fall. This is because the laws of physics in the real world are part of what keeps us living every day. We must abide by them because it is part of the world we live in. It is what we understand, and since we know these laws to never be broken, we never have to think about them. One of these laws is Newton's third, where he states that , "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". In entertainment, particularly in the film and television world, the laws of physics are optional thanks to special effects and animation. Below are examples from film and television where Newton's law is broken to help aide in telling the story.

           

            Cartoons often play with the laws of physics because it is so easy to do. With animation, writers and directors can truly play with the laws of physics in way that a live action tv show or movie can't. In the clip above, at around 14 seconds, Coyote runs of the cliff and continues "running" through the air in a straight line until he hits a sheer wall of rock. In the cartoon, he is running from truck, and the premise of the clip is that he is running so fast to get away from the truck, that the momentum of his running carried him through the air as the ground fell away from him. If this had been recreated in the real world, he would have simultaneously lost the force of the ground acting upon him and then gained the force of gravity acting upon him. These two forces paired together would create an overwhelming force carrying him to the ground. In other words, he should fall to his death in this clip. This type of comical play with nature is a common theme in animation as it adds to the comical, entertaining storyline. Viewers expect to see things they would not see in their everyday lives because it is part of the entertainment. In this type of animation, animators can play with the laws of physics without being judged or held to the standard of comparison with the "real" world.

            Live action films also often ignore the laws of physics with special effects and animation to add to the story. Though it is not as simple as animation, many of the laws of physics can be broken with the combination of stunts and computer graphics. In the scene above from The Matrix, the main characters continually shoot guns over and over with little to no recoil. Thanks to the world of computer graphics, the actors in this scene just had to run around the set carrying large, empty firearms acting as if they were shooting at each other. Later, the shooting sounds, the falling debris and other effects were added in. If this were to happen in a real world setting, the force it would take to shoot  a bullet out of the barrel would cause the gun to throttle backwards. This is proven by Newton's third law once again. The director most likely chose not to abide by this basic law because he wanted a more fluid scene. The characters are stealthy and matter of fact, and jerking their guns backwards every time they took a shot would not mesh with this idea. The fact that the viewers are not distracted by this jerking motion adds to the scene and allows them to focus on the storyline and exciting action scene.

            Above is another example where a live action scene has been enhanced in order to create a more exciting moment for the viewers. There are many examples in this particular scene from Charlie's Angels of kicks that cause the kicked person to go flying through the air. There are also examples from the same scene of very hard kicks that don't cause much of a reaction at all. Finally, there are also examples of people flying through the air and staying airborne much longer than they should. The kicks in this scene are lopsided. According to Newton's third law, the kicks given by the girls into the stomachs and other areas of the men fighting with them should cause much more of a reaction. The men barely double over, giving the appearance of very strong, almost superhuman men. This is meant to convey to the viewer how strong and formidable these men are to fight. The men should be seriously hurt and unable to continue to fight after these kicks. In the same vein, there are kicks from the men and women alike that cause people to go flying through the air. The kicks given here should not send them flying through the air, as the force needed to project something as heavy as a human body is much more than a simple kick. Finally, when these people are kicked, they are staying airborne much longer than physics says they should. As with the Looney Tunes clip above, the force of gravity should be bringing them down much sooner. Had the director stayed aligned with the laws of physics, this fight scene would have been much shorter and much less exciting. Every person in the scene would have been hit once and been laying on the ground in a very short time. Breaking Newton's third law here helps extend the scene and create a more exciting experience for the viewers.

            In each of the examples above, Newton's third law was broken in order to enhance the story that the writers and animators were trying to tell. If these stories were told with the correct laws, they wouldn't be the same. While we, in the real world, have to abide by these laws, the characters in these television shows and films do not. Being able to break outside of these simple laws helps the audience escape into different worlds where people are able to fly through the air, shoot large guns with no recoil, or kick men with iron abs and never feel pain. It allows directors to convey exciting and action filled stories so viewers will continue to come back for more. All in all, as directors, writers and animators continue to break the laws of physics, they will continue to delight movie goers and TV watchers throughout the years.

Outline Term Paper 2

·         Introduction

o   The laws of physics in the real world are part of what keeps us living every day.

o   We must live and abide by them because it is part of the world we live in.

o   One of these laws is Newton's third, where he states that , "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction".

o   In entertainment, particularly in the film and television world, the laws of physics are optional thanks to special effects and animation.

o   Below are examples from film and television where Netwon's law is broken to help aide in telling the story.

·         Looney Tunes

·         http://youtu.be/_d8ROhH3_vs

o   Cartoons often play with the laws of physics because it is so easy to do so

o   At 14 seconds, Coyote runs of the cliff and continues "running" through the air in a straight line until he hits a wall of rock.

o   He has simoultaneously lost the force of the ground acting upon him and gained the force of gravity acting upon him.

·         He should fall but doesn't

o   This is added for storyline.

·         The Matrix

·         http://youtu.be/Es2uYtSJh-Y

o   Live action films often ignore the laws of physics with special effects and animation to add to the story line.

o   In this scene, the main characters continually shoot guns over and over with little to no recoil.

o   The guns they are carrying and shooting should have a large recoil.

o   As the gun shoots the bullet, the force it takes to shoot it should cause the gun to throttle backwards, as every action as an equal and opposite reaction.

o   The director chose not to do this because he wanted a fluid scene.

·         The characters are meant to be strong and almost "super human"

·         They wouldn't have gun recoil because they are so strong and experienced shooting guns

·         Charlie's Angels

·         http://youtu.be/N3LqIYIqSrk

o   Same with the Matrix.

o   There are many examples in this scene of kicks that cause flying through the air, hen they shouldn't cause that type of reaction, as well as the opposite, where the kicks don't cause enough of a reaction.

o   Secondly, people are flying through the air, breaking the same principle stated above in the Looney Tunes clip.

·         Conclusion

o   In each of the examples above, Newton's third law was broken in order to enhance the story that the writers and animators were trying to tell.

o   If these stories were told with the correct laws, they wouldn't be the same.

Reverse Video Reference

Clip A

Clip B

Clip C

Clip D

The Laws of Physics in an Animation Universe

                        In our world, the laws of physics cannot be broken. Day to day, we must live by the laws of nature observed by Isaac Newton and countless other physicists. The world of animation, however, does not have to abide by these rules. Being able to casually break these laws allow story tellers and animators to tell a story in a way that allows for more fun, more comedy and more drama. A great example of what breaking these laws can do for comedy is Walt Disney's The Emperor's New Groove. In it, arrogant Emperor Kuzco is turned into a llama by his scheming advisor, Yzma and her thick headed sidekick, Kronk. Aided by an adversary-turned-friend peasant, Pacha, Kuzco must humble himself and use teamwork to get back to the palace to face his enemy. Among many other instances, Disney writers and animators play with the laws of inertia, gravity and path of action to aide in the comedic story telling of this adventure.

                        The law of inertia states, "An object moves with constant, uniform motion until acted on by an unbalanced force." This means that an object that is in motion will continue that motion until another force slows or stops it. During one scene in the movie, Yzma is tricked into a wheelbarrow that goes barreling down the steep hill where Pacha's village is built. During this, she is doused in honey and feathered. At the end of the hill, Yzma hits a rock and flies out of the wheelbarrow. Mid flight, she stop abruptly as she replaces a piñata tied to the end of a rope that a group of children are about to hit. This particular instance breaks the law of inertia. Yzma could not abruptly stop midair unless another force came along to stop her. Secondly, even if she was tangled by the rope and caught, she would still swing past the point where we stopped and slowly swing and settle into place. The animators chose to have her abruptly stop for comedic effect. It aided in surprising the viewer with an ending to the fall that the viewers would not expect. A second example of this come two other times in the movie. Both pairs of characters find themselves on a roller coaster ride that ends abruptly, casting them out of the seat. They are left standing upright. According to the law of inertia, they would be cast out must further than they are in the movie because they wouldn't have a force present to abruptly stop them just so.

                        The animators and story tellers at Disney also played with the laws of gravity. For example, in one scene, Kuzco throws a snack in Kronk's direction. Kronk tries to catch it in his mouth and steps backward off of a high platform serving as Kuzco's altar. As he falls off the platform, he hesitates for a moment before falling. In a real life scenario, Kuzco would just fall to the ground. Animated, the hesitation add a comedic level, as well as gives the viewer an opportunity to see Kuzco's face as he falls. In another instance, Yzma and Kronk are mid-chase with Pacha and Kuzco. They take flight over a gorge using Yzma's flying contraption. Mid way through the flight, they are struck by lightning, the contraption is burned up, leaving Kronk and Yzma unharmed, and they fall into the gorge. Aside from their miraculous survival of both a lightning strike and a very high fall, they stop mid air and hesitate for a few second before they fall. Again, they would fall without the hesitation.

                        Finally, Disney played with the characters' path of action. In one scene, Pacha and Kuzco fall from a rope bridge that has broken. As they fall, Pacha is able to catch himself on a ledge with one hand while holding Kuzco with the other. Kuzco swings and hits the canyon wall, lodging his mouth and nose in a small hole. This action causes a colony of sleeping bats to awaken and fly out of their little cave. Since Kuzco's mouth is blocking their exit, they fly into Kuzco's mouth and then out, propelling him upward. The bats dislodge him from the hole and rather than falling down, the bats change his path of action so that he swings upward to the top of the canyon. He pulls Pacha with him and they land safely at the edge of the cliff on their feet. First and foremost, while the bats may have the force to dislodge Kuzco, in a real world situation they would not have the force to propel him upward, let alone with enough force to carry not only Kuzco, but a character the size of Pacha, who is about three times bigger than Kuzco. More importantly, the bats would not have the force to change his path of action from falling due to gravity, to flying upward due to their flight. The animators chose to use this to move the story along. After the characters miraculously live after their impending death, Kuzco laughs. As Pacha is standing on the ledge, the ledge gives way beneath him. Kuzco grabs Pacha by his poncho and drags him back to the ledge mid fall. Kuzco celebrates that he saved Pacha's life, thus inadvertently proving that he is capable of caring for others. In terms of physics, the force of gravity should have taken both Pacha and Kuzco over the ledge, taking into account that Kuzco's teeth could properly grip Pacha. In the real world, with real physica, Kuzco could not change Pacha's path of action enough to save him from falling off of the ledge.

                        One of the best parts of animation is being able to change the way we view the world. Part of this is being able to play with the outrageous things that could never happen in our environment. This allows animators to create a more fun, playful or dramatic story for the viewer and keep their audience engaged in the story they are trying to tell. The Emperor's New Groove is no exception. The animators and writers of this movie were able to tell a great story in a believable world while bending the rules of physics to create a fun, comedic story line.

                       

                        

Outline for Term Paper: The Emperor's New Groove

                        

1.       Introduction

a.       Our world lives by laws and rules.

b.      Animated world doesn't have to!

                                                     i.      Writers and animators use it to tell a story and add comedic or dramatic value.

2.       Breaking the law of inertia

a.       Yzma vaulting down the hill in a barrel; she hits a bump and flies through the air only to suddenly stop mid air in the place of a piñata that a group of children are about to hit. Law of inertia, "An object moves with constant, uniform motion until acted on by an unbalanced force." Should have continued to fly until she hit an object or fell on the ground.

b.      Both times that Yzma and Kronk as well as Pacha and Kuzco ride the roller coaster and end up in Yzma's secret lair, they jump out and land right outside their cart. In reality, the law of inertia should have them landing much further out.

3.       Falling and neglecting gravity

a.       At the beginning of the movie, Kuzco throws Kronk a snack, which Kronk tries to catch in his mouth. While doing so, Kronk falls backward off of the very high platform where Kuzco and Kronk are standing. When Kronk falls, he hangs in the air for a second before falling. Kronk should begin his fall immediately if adhering to the law of gravity.

b.      Yzma and Kronk are struck by lightning and hang in the air for a second before falling. Same concept.

4.       Path of action

a.       Kuzco and Pacha fall off a bridge. Pacha catches himself with a hand while grasping Kuzco, who swings against the cliff and lodges his nose into a hole. Doing this wakes up a colony of bats that fly out of the hole, filling and then flying out of Kuzco's mouth, propelling him into the air and up to the top of the cliff, where both Pacha and Kuzco land safely on their feet.

5.       Conclusion

Video Analysis of Path of Action

Tracker Video Analysis of Falling

Shooting Video Refrence

Mini Portfollio

Pine Cone study created in early 2013, acrylic on board.

I am an aspiring concept artist majoring in Animation/Illustration. I've been studying and attending art classes for only the last two years. Before that I was working towards an Engineering degree, where I studied software programming, vector math, electronics and calculus based physics. With that experience I feel like it gives my work a degree of technical quality that helps to further my passions for art. I hope that as I continue to learn and better my craft I will find fulfillment in my future endeavors.

The child eating oatmeal was done during my second semester at SJSU, and it what I consider my first successful piece of art. The project is known as the "Reversal," because we began by blacking out the entire canvas with charcoal then proceeded to use an eraser to slowly build up our values. 

Total time: 80hrs.

My first 3d Animation class in Maya.

First Post

This is my "First Post" and first blog.
Woohoo!