3D dimension

The video below shows the 3D dimensional background that I created in After Effects, unfortunately I had to keep the background stationary, due to the fact that the model I rendered in Maya, was in 2D (you can see this happening in the video as I pan around the object, the model goes flat). I created the 3D dimension by creating 6 solid objects that I made 3d, I then placed them in a box like shape around the camera to give it the room like effect. The reason I decided to create a 3D background was due to the fact that I liked the depth it gave to the animation when I zoomed in; unlike a plain background which would stay blocked and unnatural. However there were some disadvantages to this technique, the program’s (after effects) speed slowed and it was hard to navigate around the area because there are so many tools to use to pan around. I would definitely use this technique in the future

https://youtu.be/F67tvYiWLVw

 

an hour in after effects

This video clip shows me working for an hour on after effects in a lesson; I recorded me working because I wanted to show the time it took me to do a simple scene and also it shows me using the technique of rotoscoping.

I used the rotobrush tool because i can remove the background without a green screen, however the quality wont be as good as a green screens because I have to manually select the background that i am removing, which means if I rushed my work I didn’t select the whole object, parts of the object would be missing.

Sangsum Galaxy 4 advert

After my change of plans, I decided to look for further inspiration for my final major project. As I was searching YouTube for adverts, I came across this simple but effective Sangsum Galaxy advert. I liked how clean this advert was made and the way the model floats around the screen which is how I was inspired. By watching this advert several times, I could see that the 3D model could of been made in Maya and maybe they also used a far more complex after effects program, because of this, I became more attached to the advert due to the fact it was similar to what I wanted to create for my second idea. From this advert I chose to use the way they worded the designs, which became successful at making my advert look more like an advert.

Sangsum used pastel colours to make the advert more natural and soft to the eye, it also gives of the sense of peacefulness which is why I enjoyed watching it.

 

Science-Fiction

Though out the years science fiction has been a big part of our culture, and the most common appearance in genre. The first appearance of the word science-fiction was in 1851 in a book called “A Little Earnest Book Upon a Great Old Subject” by William Wilson; who describes science fiction as the truth of science within a pleasing story that ‘itself may be poetical and true’. Many believe we take for granted the rapid advance of technology, creating the superstition of the supernatural ruling our world, which is were the idea of robots is persuaded into stories. 

Science-fiction goes far back to the early greek civilization when the idea of superhuman beings resided on the Mountain of Olympus, and distant lands that inhabited one-eyed giants, six-headed monsters and other imaginary things of the impossible. But times have changed since then and the idea of the supernatural has rising to fantasy, films such as Mary Shelley’s frankenstein, to x-men. Though the idea of Science Fiction is based on technology, it still branches into other genres, such as horror, fantasy and romance for example: 

WALL-E, directed by Andrew Stanton (2008) Disney – PIXAR. The film is about the distant future where a small collecting robot learns emotions and begins a journey to decide the fate of mankind. This animation has several genres including science fiction; he was a normal robot that turns into an artificial intelligence, by learning over time. However this film is based on the fantasy side of science fiction, unlike the film Matrix.

Matrix directed by the Wachowski Brothers (1999). is a more realistic film about a super AI that has taken over the world, and a man who helps to rebel against these forces by using coding against coding. This film was inspired by the y2k bug, when the computer systems crashed, sending many into a panic, believing the assumption that computer will take over the world.

These two films are different due to the way they represent the idea of science fiction, WALL.E represents the more peaceful yet still action packed side of animation, where the robots try to help the humans. Matrix is filmed in front of a green screen, and the technology is trying to destroy humankind by controlling their minds.

Technical Robot

I came up with the idea of an Artificial Intelligence, due to the fact that i like the idea of a robot that can assist you and keep you safe without the fear of walking alone.

Scientists from Honda have created; over many years of research (1986 – ) A robot called ASIMO, this robot does’t have a will of its own but it is aware of it surroundings  through advanced coding that sends information to the camera, commanding the robots movements. It all started with Masato Hirose (the Chief Engineer of Honda R&D) when he applied for a job at Wako research lab; which performs research in four main areas, such as aircrafts, gas turbines, lightweight/ driverless automobiles and of course robots. When Hirose was hired he was sent to the project described as a dream of the Honda, but we know it as ASIMO. The dream was to create a two legged assisting machine, that can keep the lonely in company and help the many, however for Hirose, it was a long and unrealistic dream. Every test the machine would take its first step and topple over, but Hirose never gave in and eventually the prototype E1 was completed, it was the start but still not enough as the machine would walk at a slower pace than a person would, sending Hirose back to the drawing boards. He began to study the walking cycle of every being that could walk, from animals, super models to sumo wrestlers and even turned his associates into mummies, learning which part of their body would contributed to walking with each step. After learning the complexity of walking, Honda was finally able to create a robot with dynamic movement, that could shift its center of gravity. In 1996 Honda announced their development and research on the humanoid robots, and in 2000 ASIMO was introduced live in Aoyama, Tokyo. The Journalists cried out in surprise, amazed when the small robot walk out onto the stage beside the president of Honda Motor, Hiroyuki Yoshino.

 

   

Advertisement

The first paid television Advertisement was on the 1st june, 1941 during a basketball game in the USA it lasted for 10 seconds but never less, it made a critical impact on the world, with new ways to sale merchandise and cast short news reports. Soon after this, it became popular all around the world, each company selling slots for advertisements in a different range of prices. But even before TV adverts, there were many different types of advertisement, even before the idea of television came along. Such as posters, which became popular in the world wars when they needed more men to fight for the country, and radio shows, where the hosts where paid to slip in a catchy brand name.

Throughout the 21st, advertisement has been a part of our childhood and culture, everywhere you look advertisement can be seen anywhere, the videos underneath are examples of futuristic ads that caught my eye. I choose these two because i like the way they’re presented. The future tennis is the brand Lacoste, in 2012 they pictured how tennis will be payed in the future and advertised it; i liked the way they made the tennis player move, nice and smooth, also the style of the character and the little futuristic detail, such as the lines on the floor and the barrier that the tennis ball hits.

 

Inspiration

The musical fantasy, Labyrinth (1986); the film told a story about a young girl who wished away her step-brother to the goblin king (David Bowie), who will keep the toddler, if Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) cannot complete the labyrinth within the time limit of thirteen hours. As soon as I heard the soundtrack to Labyrinth, I became hooked, playing it every second of everyday. Through the songs David Bowie poured emotion into his music, making me feel close with the characters, and giving me a better understanding of the story; for instance, the ballroom scene when the Goblin King begins to slowly fall in love with girl and attempts to make her feel the same way, Bowie shows this by using the song “as the world falls down” this song descibes how he sees her sadness and wishes to take her pain away; a romantic gesture which shows one sided love, in a short amount of time. In the same year as the film was released, a book was also published, The Goblins of Labyrinth (1986), which is an encyclopedia of goblins within the movie. The sketches are beautiful drawn with a small caption describing the characteristics of each creature; I automatically fell in love with the style of art that Brian Froud portrayed, especially the way he made the illustrations come to life with realism; he also uses a pale colour palette, making the drawing seem historic but not as vibrant, as other illustrated books would be, giving this illustrated book it own unique style. The clothing and staging for Labyrinth seems almost gothic (1980); which is a style that combines romance and horror into historic clothing making a new type of genre, by doing this the director (Jim Henson), made the film seem even more magical and real. Each character has a different type of clothing which resembles there personality, for instance the Goblin King’s outfit shows his alluring, devilish side and armour that refers to 15th century knights and for Sarah, her outfit resembles her purity and innocence, which in fact attracts the Kings attention with a 18th century dress.

 

Labyrinth (1986) film. Directed by Jim Henson. [DVD] AND IMDb [Online] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091369/ [Accessed: 28/03/15]

Sketches by Brian Froud and captions by Terry Jones (1986) The Goblins of Labyrinth (Published in October 1986 by Pavilion books)

Goth subculture (1980) Wikipedia [Online] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goth_subculture

“As the world falls down” [song] David Bowie [DVD, CD, Online] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_the_World_Falls_Down