Maya Tutorials: Character Nose

    Worked on the nose today. It was tricky but I think I am getting the hang of extruding areas so that loops do not go right around the entire object like with my Year One models. This took me some time longer than the video tutorial but character modelling like this is still something I am working to get the hang of. But so far I am coming to enjoy using the multi-cut tool.

Character Project: Further Art Inspiration

Figure 1: Sketchbook work

    I drew some sketches today for the character project to investigate possible player figurines, peasants and a few Sha designs as well as an initial idea for the layout for the village.

    For the designs for the villagers I looked a little at how Chinese artists portrayed the human form for ideas on costume, fashion and even faces to get a feel for the setting. WHile they do convey a level of realism, there is also a degree of stylism, the two people pictured below achieve depth though interacting with 3D objects and perspective but while the objects they use are shaded and given depth, they are not.

Figure 2: "An Ancient Chinese Poet"

Figure 3: Animal portrayals in ancient China

    These two animals are likely for ma different era of Chinese art but what struck me was the very distinct eyes that look like they belong on other animals. However looking at these two artworks, Chinese artists appear to give an animation or posing to their subjects that might be rare or uncommon in real life.

Image References

• Figure 2: Robinson, S., 2012; ["An ancient Chinese poet"[; An Ancient Chinese Poet, Facsimile of Chinese Scroll; available http://cdn.mhpbooks.com/2012/07/making_of_jonathan_spence_pic_chinese_scholars_mj2010_1000px.jpg (last accessed 7th October 2015)
• Figure 3: [Unknown] [Animal portrayals in ancient China]; 9286520 orig; available at http://mmsamee.weebly.com/uploads/1/5/0/7/15074704/9286520_orig.jpg (last accessed 7th October 2015)

Character Archetypes: Mulan

Theatrical Poster

    For examination into character archetypes in the Hero's Journey, I examined the archetypes present in the 1998 Disney film Mulan. A story of a woman who disguises herself as a man to take her ailing father's place when the emperor of China calls for a draft to defend the kingdom from terrifying invaders. Most of the archetypes are there, some twists and like Kingdom of Heaven it appears to have more than one mentor figure who teaches Mulan.

    It felt somewhat appropriate given that my character project is set within ancient China. I felt that at least some of it could have helped inspire me into making a more solid image for the game and the setting. Conveniently this film contained the lion mythology; both of the stone statue variety and the costume commonly seen during a New Year festival parade.

• The Hero: Fa Mulan herself. She is undertaking the hero's journey.
• The Shadow: Shan Yu, the Hunnic general. While Mulan heads to war to retain her family's offer, he goes to war for conquest and to show strength. Going as far as (according to what he told two Chinese scouts) to consider the Great Wall as the Emperor issuing him a personal challenge.
• The Mentor: Mulan's father, Fa Zhou, fulfills the role of the wise old man who has been a soldier and fought for his country before while Li Shang acts as a more active mentor who trans Mulan to be a soldier.
• The Threshold Guardian: In order for her plan to work, Mulan has to pass herself off as a man, which nets her in trouble as she causes a fight on her first day.
• The Herald: The emperor's consul, who issues out the draft decrees, including the one for Fa Zhou.
• The Shapeshifter: The consul. While loyal to China and the emperor he spends much of the time at the training camp intent on making captain Li Shang to sound like a disgrace of a captain.
• The Trickster: While Mushu the dragon does have moments where he appears to enjoy himself, it pales in comparison to Cri-Kee who strongly lives in the moment.
• Allies: Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po. Three good friends with each other who come to see Mulan (as Ping) as one of the group.

The Jungian Archetypes

• The Child: Mushu. He starts off in a rather low position within the family shrine. Nervous at times and panicking whenever Mulan is in genuine danger, he does what he does to impress his elders.
• The Maiden: Mulan herself. She at first didn't think she'd see a soldier's life, as she starts off learning how to be a lady and is upset when she messes things up with a matchmaker.
• The Mother: Mulan's mother and grandmother are very caring of her, and when she disgraces herself with a matchmaker the two of them try to comfort her
• The Father: Li Sheng. As the commanding officer he is a clear authority figure that Mulan works to gain the respect for. When he does discover her secret right after she saved his life, he is respectful enough of her to discharge her rather than execute her as the law commands.

Image References

• Movie Poster Shop; Unknown date; [Theatrical Poster]; Mulan Movie poster 1998 1010268802.; available at http://images.moviepostershop.com/mulan-movie-poster-1998-1010268802.jpg (last accessed 6th October 2015)

Narrative Project: Initial Storyboard Idea

    We had some story ideas being passed around within the group so while there has been some concept art being developed, I looked into bringing the story into coherence though storyboarding. This is only a very basic idea; before a final storyboard can be submitted the story will need to be greenlit by the rest of the group.

    Some of the panels could be tweaked, that's fine as this is a basic version and the ending might also need some feedback as actually closing as story can be tricky sometimes. The important thing was knitting together the story ideas into something coherent

All the flashback frames have been edged in blue to differentiate them from the present-day frames mainly for identification purposes. I used the technique as a way to see how smoothly the flashback  sequences fit into the overall story.

Narrative Project: Pufferfish Ideas

I decided today to do some concept art for the narrative project's pufferfish protagonist. As far as is known to science the only known species of puffer that makes the patterns in the sand that so inspired us is Torquiguener albomaculosus, more commonly known as the Japanese white-spotted puffer.

     Although I have not entirely nailed down a specific design, I decided to make a pattern contact sheet. Even if this is not the form that sticks, I hope these designs can remain transferable. I looked into making something distinct and perhaps show our fish might be creative in some way. But because of the inspiration I also looked into making something that could be described as cute. So I'm not entirely satisfied with designs 1 2 and 3 on the upper panel.

Maya Tutorials: Pipeline One Part One

    I've been working myself back into Maya and getting used to the 2016 version of the software. So far I have completed the basic blocking ,refined blocking, mouth and eyelids. There is still a fair bit to do left but I feel I am making fair progress so far.

Initial Lip Sync Animation

    This is some very basic Lip Syncing animation, the first in learning how to sync speech to audio. Like everything in Maya this must all be put in manually, which involves listening to the audio over and over and over to get the right feel for how them outh moves.

    This test in particular is nothing elaborate, just a basic moving up and down of the character's jaw in time to the line being spoken. One key instruction for this stage was not to imagine the character's emotions or feelings (that would come later), the important factor at this stage is that the movement of the jaw is right, which will define what is being done by the rest of the face.