Computer Animation Arts

File hosting site has gone down Unfortunately, the site which hosts the downloads (scene files not the videos) on the Toolkit website has gone down with a technical fault. They are working hard to fix it but there is no estimated time for the maintenance. The site is American meaning that a lot of the repair work is happening overnight in the US which is during the day in the UK. If anyone is having difficulty downloading anything I will do my best to email you the files in the interim. Please send an email with your request. My address is: apostings@ucreative.ac.uk - Alan.

Toolkit 2 Submission: 16th May 2019 by 4pm Please upload all Toolkit 2 work (listed below) to your blogs and then make one ‘master post’ containing a series of links to your Toolkit 2 posts. You may wish to use your ‘Toolkit 2 Check In Post’ as a starting point. Animation Term 1: Moom poses (action / dramatic static poses). Term 1: Weight lifting exercise using Moom (Rendered or as a Playblast). Term 1: (Charlie Chaplin) dope sheet & ‘extremes/in-betweens’ pose test (as a playblast) Term 2: Inforgraphic/Title Credits Term 2: Facial Animation Term 2: Acting Classes (No upload/link required) Drawing (Analogue Work) Term 1: Life Drawing: Photographs of your drawings from term 1 Term 1: Character Design: Character Bible & weekly tasks (uploaded as a PDF) Term 2: Life Drawing: Photographs of your drawings from term 2 Term 2: Analogue Sculpting (Photo of your model) Maya & Associated Software Term 1 & 2:  Pipeline 1 Part 1 - Head Modelling (show the final model and m...

Year 2: Drop in/sign up tutorials. Please be aware that I will be in the CAA office today not on the ground floor as I mentioned yesterday. The tutorials are 'drop in' meaning that you can come anytime from 10am - 1pm to talk about/get help with either Premise or Toolkit 2. If you need practical help please open your files on a computer in one of the CAA rooms.  - Alan

Year 2: Infographic Submission Date Confirmation During the Maya class presentation I gave you a submission date of 14th Feb for your infographic (title credit sequence). Whilst this is technically 'five weeks' into the course I would like you all to have five full weeks to complete your work instead. Therefore the deadline has been extended to the Thursday 21st Feb to give you the full amount of time. Of course, use the extra time wisely.

Year 2: Toolkit 2 Maya Class.  Please bring your Jetpack Jones model with you to the Toolkit 2 Maya class on Thursday 17th.

Year 2: Toolkit 2 Check-in Submission 'Percentage'Spreadsheet - The Toolkit 2 check-in submission 'percentage' spreadsheet is now online. Please familiarise yourself with your percentage before attending your tutorial on Tuesday. You can find the spreadsheet on MyUCA under Toolkit 2 /  Teaching Materials

  Term 2 Timetables Term 2 timetables are now available on MyUCA in Premise / Teaching Materials   ( link ) . Please note these are still subject to minor changes. Collaboration: Thursday 13th December As a group: An animated short: Show this first before giving your presentation. A presentation (crit): Nominate one studio member to be your 'professional' spokesperson. A making of document: You can use this to present from if necessary or create a more bespoke presentation document. A studio blog: Up to date and containing all of the groups work. Basecamp: Please make sure your Basecamp is up to date, contains your animated short, making of document, and any other materials you think are relevant for assessment. Note: Please, do not delete or add anything to basecamp or your studio blogs after the final critique. As individuals: Personal blog: Please make sure your personal blog is up to date and contains your contribution to the Collab...

Toolkit 2 (Date change) The Toolkit 2 submission date has been changed from Monday 14th May to Friday 18th May by 5pm . This has been done to give you all as much time as possible to complete your work. Please use the time wisely and make sure to post your submission on time. Your submission post should follow the same 'etiquette' as your original 'check-in' post, containing links to all the relevant work ( found here ). Please note: The submission time is 5pm (not midnight, the weekend, or Monday). Your blog's will be checked at 5pm so please don't add to your posts after that time.  Premise (Submission r equirements) - Premise main project (including making of and/or presentation document) - Magazine article - Film reviews - Reflective statement (written after the critique) - Submission requirements: The Premise project is an 'individually' led project, meaning that their is no general list of things you need to inc...

Acting Class 'Finals' Schedule 10am - 1pm Group 1: “Live forever” Jack, Douy Group 2: “Think twice” Joe, Anabel, Greta Group 3: “I’ve got to get through this” Ellie, Anastasija, Rachael Group 4: “Stop right now” Rhia, Ruth, Aureo 2pm - 5pm Group 5: “Back for good” Jess, Laura, Jen Group 6: “All that she wants” Alex, Karolina, Paris Group 7: “I should be so lucky” Graeme, Alexis, Michaela Group 8: “End of the road” Noah, Sandra, Polly Group 9: “Nothing compares” Krissy, Michael, Almu

Year 2: Toolkit 2 Overview Above is an overview of where you all are currently with Toolkit 2 (Drawing, Animation, Maya) based upon your 'checklist' submission. In some cases classes are currently active and in other cases the classes are finished. The percentages listed are calculated based upon both instances (see column titles). However, in all cases you are free to improve any part of Toolkit 2 for the final submission at the end of the year. Remember, this is just a snapshot of now and with effort you can change these percentages quickly. Pipeline 1: Please note that 'Pipeline 1' contains vital information that you will rely on in year 3. It contains 55 tutorials and is approximately 72 hours long. If you leave this tutorial to the end it is highly unlikely that you will complete it. Losing important information in the process. Character design: Feedback (from Justin) for your character design submission will be posted on your blog's on Monday....

Tuesday's Sculpting Class: The sculpting classes will begin on Tuesday 13th March. The groups (1 and 2) are detailed on your timetable.  In terms of what you will need to bring: 1) Printed out character images (above/ as we discussed in class). Including a front, side, and perspective views (where possible) scaled to approximately 7-8cm. Information on the choices are detailed in the full presentation available here . If you want feedback on your character choice upload your images to your blog with an @Alan. 2) Clay (Supersculpey) & Milliput: Both of these are available to buy from the University stores (in the theatre department). You will only need half a pack of Milliput so again you will may wish to share. 3) Tin Foil: You won't use a whole roll so you may wish to share this with another person. 4) Tools: A pair of pliers (you may wish to share these), an old drawing compass, and a sculpting tool. All of these items are detailed in the presentat...

Year 2: Just letting you know the Premise tutorials ( Thursday/Friday)  and Toolkit 2 Maya class (Thursday) will go ahead as detailed on your timetable. For the Maya class we will be going over your title credits submission, where you are with the Maya tutorials, and discussing the magazine article you're going to write for Premise. Therefore please bring work with you to do during the class whilst I'm going around the room talking with you one to one. You may wish to bring your Premise work with you too. Next week we will begin a new task as part of the Maya class. Year 3: Friday's 'drop-in' tutorials will be available again from 10am - 1pm.

Just letting you know your Tuesday Premise tutorials and Toolkit 2 sculpting classes are postponed. However, your Wednesday Acting classes with Dan Snelgrove are unaffected.  Alan sends his apologies and wants you to reassure you that things will be settling down again soon.  Alan expects to be in on Wednesday.  We'd personally like to thank you all for your patience and understanding during this challenging time. 

Week 1: Drawing from real life - Due to unforeseen circumstances, this weeks character design class with Justin has been cancelled. When Justin returns next week he is going to take you through the new drawing techniques he had planned for this class week. However, in the meantime we would like you to undertake the following self-directed task. Please complete this ready for next weeks class. Task: Drawing from real life - Please draw 10 life drawing / studies of the 'real' animal or person you inherited for this project (e.g a Giraffe or a Cowboy). Make sure the drawings are as accurate as possible and pay attention to detail. Whilst drawing make notes about your observations on a separate sheet of paper. For example, if the pattern on a Giraffe's skin is smaller or its head than its body or what the differences are between a real Cowboy and a movie version. The goal of this exercise is to understand the 'specifics' of your animal or person.  In...