Podcast

Here is a podcast I made briefly showing Maya, and a final project I had done. The entire project took roughly 18 hours total to animate.

Revolution of Animation

Whether you are a cinema aficionado, or just a fan of casual entertainment, you can tell that animation has come a very long way! This is of course due to advancing technology. Artists are pushing the boundaries between the imagination, and your reality; dividing the lines between what amounts to simply entertaining versus creating an experience.

Although the technology and skills exist to advance animation, some movies and T.V. shows like to keep that fake looking feel. The main difference that keeps an animation from looking extremely fake, to more realistic is over-exaggeration. Some people really enjoy this style, especially children. Because children enjoy this, you most commonly find over-exaggeration used in cartoon T.V. shows.

I don't believe this style will ever come to an end, because people enjoy over-exaggeration. Sometimes people like to get away from real life, and creep in to a world that doesn't, or can't exist.

Motion Capture

Motion capture is a newer technology method on creating computer animation. Although this process doesn't take nearly the same amount of skill as traditional, or 3D animation, the result produced is a very realistic, smooth looking animation.

This approach requires a lot of equipment, which can be very expensive. In a room, there will be several cameras surrounding, covering a full 360 degrees. These cameras help capture the movement of the person(s) wearing a special suit, covered in reflective markers. The cameras pick up on the reflective markers, and map out the arrangements and movements into software that lets the artist manipulate the model and animation.

This method is becoming very popular for creating video games and movies. It takes a lot less time, and gives a more realistic look. A good example of this is Gollum in The Lord of the Rings. His movements were created by a man actually replicating the movements wearing a suit covered with the reflective markers. This process is the reason why Gollum's movements are so real looking.