After receiving feedback on my previous backgrounds, I decided to use a more muted colour scheme. As a group, we decided that a more muted/subtle colour scheme would suit the style better. It would also make the characters stand out a lot more.

Below you can see my next set of background concepts:

As you can see, the layout is fairly similar to the previous set of backgrounds I made. However, I tried changing up the style more, so it would look more like a Chinese scroll drawing. I decided using a tan background/sky would make it look more 'authentic' as well.

I'm not too happy with how the leaves on the trees look, I don't think they suit the style that well. I may redo those in the near future.

This week during a group project meeting, we were all assigned roles. After being assigned roles, we went to go and work on what we were individually assigned. We used a Facebook Messenger group chat to keep in contact with each other and share our progress!

This method of communication works well, as we are able to work on our work independently but still receive feedback from each other. 

I was assigned the role of concept design for one of the sections of our animation. So during this week, I drew up some concepts for backgrounds and character designs for that one section.

Below you can see some concept backgrounds I drew up. This particular section of animation is set in ancient China, so we wanted to try and make the designs fit. At first, we weren't quite sure what style we wanted, so I just tested colours and brushes out.

These were the first backgrounds I tried out. I thought a fairly simple style would be best, since the focus should be mostly on the characters. I took colours from old Chinese paintings and scrolls to create the colour palette used. However, I couldn't decide whether lined art or flat colour art would look better, hence the two different variations. I also used a crumpled paper texture to make the background feel more like an older piece of art, or a storybook.

For one of our new modules, DGA 140, we’ve been placed in groups and asked to come up with an idea for a short animation based around the idea of tea. Before we decide on an idea as a whole group, we’ve been asked to come up with individual ideas to present.

My idea is based off a myth of Chinese origin.

Here’s a short summary of the myth-

- Takes place on Mount Ying T’ang

- Monks lived on the mountain and farmed

- Monkeys would come to the mountain and steal the Monks’ crops/harvest

- One year, the Monks decide just to share their harvest with the Monkeys

- The following spring, the Monkeys returned with bags full of tea leaves to share with the Monks.

- These leaves grew in higher trees and could not be reached by the Monks!

- This new tea was then called ‘Monkey Tea’

This legend seems fairly simple and easily adapted to an animation.

I drew up some potential designs for the Monk and Monkey characters, you can see them below:

I decided to use quite a simple style, because my target audience is a wide range of people, from older people to families. The simple style would also be a lot easier to keep consistent within an animation!

Another 3D task we were asked to do, which I'd forgotten to upload previously, was a character pushing against a box, before giving up and looking defeated. Below you can see my attempt:

We were told to use the IK and FK switch on the rig in order to make the hands of the character stick to the box as they pushed. This helped with making the animation look more convincing.

For our final 3D task of the term, we were asked to animate one of the rigs throwing a ball from one hand to the other, using the constraints mechanic we'd learned in a previous lecture. Below you can see my attempt: 

Personally, I found using constraints difficult, but after reading through the notes I'd made and practicing the exercise a few times I was able to create something I was happy with. I do think that the ball movement is a little slow, and the throw could be more dynamic, something to keep in mind for when I animate these kinds of actions in the future. 

As an extension to our 2D animated bird task from a few weeks back, we were asked to destroy our bird using any method we liked. Below you can see my attempt: 

I decided to make my bird explode. This was quite fun to do, I enjoyed drawing the bits of the smoke/explosion.

For our last 2D Animation task of term, we were asked to animate a simple walk cycle, with no extra or added detail. Below you can see my attempt:

I think this turned out ok! Although I think at some points, the character looks as if they're sliding along the floor slightly.