These images were created using Maya and Zbrush and are part of the animated teaching modules I created in my old job in Medical Imaging. The models were created to teach children about anatomy.
Medical Modelling – 1
animation
Walking and Running – After Effects Test
As mentioned earlier I was due to have an animation screened at the Neon Digital Arts Festival in Dundee back in November. This screening did not happen, but I’ve uploaded the video here for people to view it. It is not a great piece of work and was just to test as I’ve been learning to use After Effects as an animation tool. This is a precursor to a longer (and hopefully better) animation I plan to start early 2012.
Disappointments
Unfortunately I’ve had a few disappointments over the past few weeks.
One major disappointment was that the animation that was due to be screened at the Neon Digital Arts Festival was cut from the programme at the last minute. I got an email the day before the screening to say that there was not enough time to screen it.
I was disappointed but can understand why they would want to screen an experimental piece. I personally think this animation would work better in a gallery rather than the big screen. Never the less it was still annoying considering they accepted the animation on the first hand.
The second disappointment was the fact that the Comic Book anthology Murky Depths has stopped publishing their anthology. I had a script accepted to this publication and it was waiting for an artist to complete it before publication. Murky Depths is a well respected anthology and having m work published in there would have been a major coup. I also enjoy reading it. So another missed opportunity, considering Wasted Magazine went into liquidation earlier this year and they were due to publish another 2 of my comics.
At the moment I have a script waiting for an artist at another publisher. They have had the script for about a year, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
These set backs happen and I’m getting use to it now. The work that was due to be printed in Wasted Magazine, has found its way as a webcomic at Somnambulations. I also plan to release my Murky Depths comics as webcomic, but more on this later – this is one of my new projects that I will blog about later.
Current Projects – Part 1
Project 1- After Effects Animation – Shadow Puppet
A few posts back I mentioned that I would list what I am currently working on and the projects I am either trying to get off the ground or about to begin. I’ve decided to separate this post into sections – one for each of my 3 new projects and a reminder of the projects that are still ongoing.
I’ve been learning to use the After Effects animation software. Instead of just following tutorials I decided to create a short film for the Neon Digital Arts Festival. This will be uploaded to my Youtube channel next week. I’ve also created some animated logos and titles – I’ll upload these later as well. Basically I’m trying to incorporate this to my work and use the character animation tools of the software. I’ve used Flash and Maya for several years now and it is time I expanded my horizons. I plan to complete a short character animation by early next year. The progress of which will be uploaded here.
A screen shot of the character design is below. After loads of sketches this is the design a came up with (the image was created in Adobe Illustrator and will be exported to After Effects). It is based on Indonesian Shadow Puppetry. In the New Year I will begin to Storyboard the animation and get started with the animation itself.
Cartoon Cinema
I’ve created a new interactive application to present my new Flash Animations. This is on my Portfolio website and shows 3 animations. The Dog walking, Dog Falling and the man throwing the ball. These were just animation tests, but I thought this was a good way to present them. I’m going to do some more Flash Animation over the up and coming months so I’m going to create more Cartoon Cinemas.
Please see my portfolio to view the cinema.
Animation Screening at Neon Digital Arts Festival
I am screening a short experimental animation as part of the Emerging Artists screening at the Neon Digital Arts Festival in Dundee. The screening is at 2pm on Saturday 12th November 2011 at the Dundee Backpackers – 71 High Street Dundee.
More info on the event here. Tickets are free but need to be booked in advance from here.
The animation is a very short experimental piece and it is called Walking and Running. I’ve been learning to use After Effects and the animation is the results of what I’ve been doing. I’ll post up the animation to my youtube channel after the screening. I’ll also post a link to this on my blog.
New Showreel – Winter 2011
I’ve just updated my showreel and uploaded it to Youtube.
It’s about a minute less than my last one so I’ve taken a lot out edited a few clips and added some new stuff. The reel is viewable below. Eventually the link will be unusable when I upload anew showreel and take this one down. My plan is to update my showreel every 3 months. So an update should be due in January 2012.
Flash Animation – Throw Ball
Another Flash Animation, this one shows someone throwing a ball. Just an animation test, but I’ve added it to my Showreel and the Cartoon Cinema. The image below shows the drawings that make up the animation.
Flash Animation – Dog Walk
Been doing a lot of Flash Animation recently. It’s been a while since I’ve done a four legged walk cycle so I thought I’d give it a go with a dog. The animation is on my showreel and is being presented as part of my Cartoon Cinema, which is on my Portfolio website. More on the Cartoon Cinema later. The image below shows the walk Cycle.
Flash Animation – Dog Fall
Now the I’ve pretty much wrapped up the live project, I’ve concentrated my attention on doing some Flash based animation (in my spare time I am mainly writing – I’ll blog about this later). The image below shows the sequence I’ve recently completed for a cartoon dog. It’s mainly just a practice but I think it looks good.
The final animation will likely make my portfolio.
The animation itself is short and I am about to complete a background for the sequence. I’ll post the final piece up here when I add to my portfolio and I also post up the another flash animations when I get around to finishing them.
Steven Fraser 