Vigour

Vigour from Chang Dai on Vimeo.

Thesis film.©2011 Chang Dai

Gorgeous fluid motion and squash and stretch. I love how not staying on model wasn't too necessary and is what worked for this film! Also makes me realize how bad my squash and stretch really is. LOOK AT THAT FLUID MOTION. I have a problem where my stuff gets too stiff because I try too hard to stay on model. This is such true animation.

These are things 2D can do better than 3D or film. So many of us have forgotten that.

Too often, we try to make 2D too on model, too stiff, and too realistic. This video shows us that 2D doesn't have to mimic reality perfectly. If it sticks to its own style and strengths, it can shine brightly as an individual medium.

Stitch Dialogue Test 25

Stitch Dialogue Test 25 from Jennifer Hochman on Vimeo.

This is a dialogue piece from 2D Character II. I finished it up (mostly) and changed a couple of things, like the final key frames. Take a look at the old version to see the difference!

"What-what would you say you do here?" dialogue is from Office Space.

Stitch and the frog belong to Disney.


Edit: If the video is lagging for anyone, just go to Vimeo to watch it. :)

3am Doodles

Pins and Needles (SCN02 Cleanup With and Without Layout_03) (New Version!)

I recommend going straight to Vimeo to watch these. The compression and video lag isn't so bad there. In layman's terms, it looks better on Vimeo.

This is the cleaned up animation of the second scene in Pins and Needles. This first video is a rough composite with the incomplete layout. This is an updated version, version 03.

I've fixed anticipation issues and the upper arm, which was "growing" in the old version.


Pins and Needles (SCN02_ExportCleanupwithLayout_03) from Jennifer Hochman on Vimeo.

This second video is without the layout so that it's easier to see the character animation. This is also an updated version.


Pins and Needles (SCN02_ExportCleanupwithoutLayout_03) from Jennifer Hochman on Vimeo.

This scene is currently being colored by Kat Hochman. I'm considering making the harsh Flash colors semi-transparent so the figure isn't as harsh and flat-looking.

Pins and Needles (SCN04_RoughAnimationWithLayout)

Just a rough animation clip from the memory sequence.

With an incomplete layout (90%), of course.


Pins and Needles (SCN04_RoughAnimationWithLayout) from Jennifer Hochman on Vimeo.

3D Character I

This guy still needs some work.

This was my final project in 3D Character I after having not touched Maya in almost two years (intro courses). I pretty much had to relearn the entire program from scratch.

I still have a lot to learn about the graph editor, and he still needs a lot of tweaks based off that, but overall I was happy -- I worked hard to relearn Maya after only doing 2D for a few years.

3D_Dialogue_Burgundy from Jennifer Hochman on Vimeo.

2D Character II Dialogue Pieces

These are dialogue pieces from 2D Character II. (Taking 2D Character III now!)

Stitch is saying, "What-what would you say you do here?" which is a line from Office Space.

It's very rough animation and needs quite a few inbetweens (and ears). As for the animation, the thing that bugs me the most is his lack of anticipation before jabbing the frog with the gun.

As I go back and finish this piece, I'll correct that. :)

Stitch and the frog design belong to Disney.


Dialogue_StitchandFrog_DoHere from Jennifer Hochman on Vimeo.


This next piece is Jasmine saying, "Chocolate, who needs a reason?" The dialogue was recorded at SCAD. We worked with Performing Arts students; they voice acted and we animated to it.

It's very rough animation and needs a lot of work and inbetweens. A lot. I really prefer Stitch even though this project came after him -- though, I think that's just because I spent more time on Stitch.

I want to flesh this out, fix her giggle, and change the ending. I think it would be a stronger piece (subtle animation-wise) if at the end, Jasmine were to slyly look beyond the cupcake and say, "Who needs a reason."

Jasmine and Aladdin belong to Disney.


2D_Dialogue_Jasmine_Chocolate from Jennifer Hochman on Vimeo.

2D Effects Animation

This is the fire project from 2D Effects Animation. I just want to recapture it.

2D_EFXAnimation_Fire from Jennifer Hochman on Vimeo.

This is the water project from 2D Effects Animation. Aside from the ripples, there are just two frames in the splash itself I'd like to fix.

2D_EFXAnimation_WaterSplash from Jennifer Hochman on Vimeo.

This was the final, the book toss, in 2D Effects Animation.

2D_EFXAnimation_BookToss from Jennifer Hochman on Vimeo.

Pins and Needles (SCN02 Cleanup With and Without Layout)

Edit: I recommend going straight to Vimeo to watch these. The compression and video lag isn't so bad there. In layman's terms, it looks better on Vimeo.

This is the cleaned up animation of the second scene in Pins and Needles. This first video is a rough composite with the incomplete layout. Note: Some timing is still being worked out.


Pins and Needles (SCN02_ExportCleanupwithLayout) from Jennifer Hochman on Vimeo.


This second video is without the layout so that it's easier to see the character animation.


Pins and Needles (SCN02_ExportCleanupwithoutLayout) from Jennifer Hochman on Vimeo.

Pins and Needles Screen Caps

New screen caps for Pins and Needles are up! They've been posted to a private section of this blog to protect the ideas and materials until the short is finished. If you would like an invite to view the private section of this blog, shoot me an e-mail at jenhochman@gmail.com and please let me know how I know you.

A link to the private blog:
Confidential

Better

I worked on a normal monitor and managed to correct some of the issues, but it's still a little too washed out. Good thing I'm still working on it. I'll continue adjusting the brightness/contrast/etc. off the Cintiq to avoid further problems.

Another Layout

Edit: I just viewed these layouts on a normal monitor after working on the Cintiq.

They're way too light on this normal monitor. Stupid Cintiq making things appear darker than they really are. I need to learn how to adjust those settings.

It's also partially Monty Hall's fault for not maintaining consistency between their labs and equipment.

I'm going to fix this and then post again.

-

A mostly finished background. This is part of the 'memory' sequence, hence the different mood.

The line art:These few have the spotlight at various intensities. It's not exactly a true spotlight, but a "dreamland-memory sort of spot light." In other words, I am terrible at rendering light - much like that perspective situation!




I'm thinking the first, but with less intensity on the floor. There's still a lot to do.

Oh, these background comps are the "Grunge" version since the desk looks so dirty. I'm going to change that as I finish this layout.

720 x ?

I'm playing around with sizes and I'm a little stuck.

The standard is 720 x 540, but 720 x 480 looks so pretty with the layouts. I'm thinking of making the opening and end scenes 720 x 480 with black bars top and bottom to fit a 720 x 540 format. I think this will help separate those "real life" sequences from the "memory" sequence which will be 720 x 540.

Layouts in Progress

Working on coloring. You can see the photo reference in the second set of images.

I'm running into the same problem I always do: The Cintiqs in the lab here make everything seem like it has a higher contrast - darker. When I view everything on a normal LCD, everything is too light and washed out. I'll have to work on that. That is, if you guys don't prefer this low contrast.

Pins Layout Linework

Here's are two layouts for my senior piece, Pins and Needles.


I'm terrible with environment perspective, so I took photo references and stole the perspective from reality.

Hurray!

The layout is now resizing properly thanks to one of my closest friends, Nick Bartone. I'm going to plug his website as thanks. :)

www.nickbartone.com