L6 Specialist Study 1

Aims

To move from the flat pages of the "DANDY Comic with the character of "Desperate Dan" of the 1950's and 60's to the 3D digital world of "Maya" and with the assistance of Motion Capture or motion tracking, (mo-cap) software and equipment and recording the movement and translate this to a digital model.

The Target Audience

With clear movement, performance and body language and several of the animation principles involved we should meet our target audience, communicating with a large eclectic European audience from around the world.

Added to this the "Hard of Hearing" audience, if we can employ "Sign Language" into the story.

Dissertation of 5000 words

Examining in depth how the Movements of one or more actors using motion tracking devices

(such as "Motion capture" and software "Motionbuilder ") to records only the movements of the actor, not his/her visual appearance.

This animation data is then mapped to a 3D model so that the model performs the same actions as the actor.

Using many different acting technics such as the "Method ", an actor may recall emotions or sensations and gestures from his or her own life and use them to identify with the character being portrayed. Can this acting approach help the animator in creating a realistic animation for todays audience?

Principles identified

1. The Illusion of Life.

(Studying the movement and body Language that would make our figures appear more life-like.)

2. Anticipation. (To prepare the audience for an action)

3. Staging. ( To direct the audience's attention, and make it clear what is of greatest importance in the scene)

8. Secondary action.

( Adding secondary actions to the main action giving a scene more life)

9. Timing.

(physical timing, say an object's weight to push or pull at)

(Theatrical timing can be either comic or aspects of a character's personality)

10. Exaggeration.

(A level of exaggeration depending on whether you want realism or comedy but not too much of either)

12. Appeal.

(Animation character corresponds to what would be called nature of the actor hero or villain)

Starting Point

An aspect of Animation that requires further study.

With the aid of MOTION CAPTURE (MO-CAP) software, equipment and cameras I will attach my 3D digital model to the movement of an actor in the studio.

With the Character acting, Body language and Performance recorded it will be transferred to the digital model and will give my animation model the movement needed to illustrate the simple story of this old cowboy "Desperate Dan".

Martin Tierney. Third year / L6 / October 2010.