Okay, so maybe it wasn't entirely just for fun. I was experimenting to see how well these types of toys could be animated. In the top video, the character's feet slide around a lot. This led me to the conclusion that such toys require tie downs if you don't want that to happen. The bottom video was an experiment to see how well the green screen can work. Unfortunately, the toys reflect the green screen, so you would either have to manually "clean up" all the green reflections one frame at a time or animate on a real set. This became very evident when I was putting together the animation below.
Unfortunately, there was too much green spill on this toy. To make the video look better for YouTube however, I simply tinted the video blue and added white noise (to make it look like a Star Wars security hologram).
So what was the purpose of all this experimentation? For the longest time, I wanted to make a Star Wars fan film. However, I wasn't sure what topic or story to cover in the Star Wars Universe. Then The Force Awakens was released a year ago. Personally, I was a little disappointed with the fact that it felt more like a remake despite it being an enjoyable film overall. I was also disappointed with Fynn's character and his defection to the rebels (oops, I mean resistance). I felt his character and that situation could have been explored more in the movie (most likely they will in eps. 8 and 9).
Well, I now have at least a story idea. However, I'm not that good at model making or puppet builds, and I can't afford someone else to make that stuff for me. Then I find out that Lego has released buildable figures featuring characters from the movie. The best looking one happens to be the First Order Stormtrooper. So, I bought it for experimentation.
Nice, sure there are limitations, but it still animates rather nicely once you know what those limitations are. Okay, but one of the real challenges is to see if you can make the character walk...
The video above features a small tie down table with predrilled holes. It looks like animating a walk with these figures is possible. Coincidentally, the star wars website announced a contest that asked participants to make a video related to the new movie Rogue One. Suddenly I came up with a very simple and plausible idea in order to meet the deadline. I had three weeks to make the film. The following video was my entry for the contest.
Unfortunately, the website for the contest would not upload my video file. I followed all the technical recommendations, and I know it wasn't my internet connection because the video had no problem uploading on YouTube. At first I was disappointed and angry, but now I am over it. The main reason I made this was to challenge myself as a film maker and animator.
I'm actually rather proud at what I did. I like how the set turned out. There are a couple of pieces of animation that didn't satisfy me, but overall I like it. The lighting is satisfying, but at the same time disappointing. On one hand, everything only has one shadow, simulating one sun in the outdoors of the planet. On the other hand, there is a visible hot spot from a light on the set that is clearly visible in the long shots and couple of the medium ones as well.
I feel I have really grown a lot as a film maker these past couple weeks. I also managed to make my first official Star Wars fan film. I can't wait to work on the film I have planned which would take place between episode 7 and 8. For now however, I must get back to other projects...
For Soil, I'm still experimenting with materials to animate. As expressed in other posts, I'm still trying to achieve a unique texture for each character. I have three of the characters figured out, so I have just one more to go really. I might even start building the puppets soon. I'm also cleaning out a garage on my parents' property, so I can have more space to animate, and to create bigger sets.
I'm also working on a couple of cartoons, but I'll give that update on another blog in another post.
Thanks for reading and may God bless you!
I'm actually rather proud at what I did. I like how the set turned out. There are a couple of pieces of animation that didn't satisfy me, but overall I like it. The lighting is satisfying, but at the same time disappointing. On one hand, everything only has one shadow, simulating one sun in the outdoors of the planet. On the other hand, there is a visible hot spot from a light on the set that is clearly visible in the long shots and couple of the medium ones as well.
Close up of set floor with lego tie down.
Tie down poking through the table, a layer of white clay, and a layer of kinetic sand.
A view from underneath.
Tie down easily snaps into the foot of the toy.
Palm tree with wire armature (see "roots") with paper bark and card stock leaves.
The hill for the back ground. The "roots" help keep trees in place.
The set up for the last shot. This is one of those times when my engineering education comes in handy. I adapted my rig to hold the tree trunk at the right distance away from the set.
This egotistical nerf herder thought it be funny to take a selfie at the end of production.
I feel I have really grown a lot as a film maker these past couple weeks. I also managed to make my first official Star Wars fan film. I can't wait to work on the film I have planned which would take place between episode 7 and 8. For now however, I must get back to other projects...
For Soil, I'm still experimenting with materials to animate. As expressed in other posts, I'm still trying to achieve a unique texture for each character. I have three of the characters figured out, so I have just one more to go really. I might even start building the puppets soon. I'm also cleaning out a garage on my parents' property, so I can have more space to animate, and to create bigger sets.
I'm also working on a couple of cartoons, but I'll give that update on another blog in another post.
Thanks for reading and may God bless you!
