Gantt chart & Specification

This week I handed in the official specification for my project (below). As part of the specification I also re-made the Gantt chart I will be using the schedule the project, seeing as my project has changed quite significantly since my initial plan. Most of the major project work in my schedule is pushed back to start after February, after my Masterclass and Innovations projects are handed in. Once they are out of the way I will be able to focus almost all of my time onto this project and power through March and April, in order to hopefully start rendering in May. The lighting and rendering section of the chart runs through the project as I intend to constantly update my lighting with my assets, instead of leaving it to the end of production which could uncover some nasty surprises.

BA (Hons) Computer Visualisation & Animation: Level H

Title: Sleeping Forest

Author: Katharine Hill

1. Introduction

This project was inspired by the research that went into Disney's Tangled. The artists working on the feature aimed to create full CG environments that retained the charm and appeal of traditional hand-painted backgrounds, with the goal that a single frame would look like a painting. With that in mind, this project explores how CG can achieve the same appeal as traditionally painted backgrounds whilst utilizing all the advantages that CG has to offer, in order to create a kind of living illustration. Another part of this project is the exploration between space and narrative. This project explores how a presence or tone can be created and changed to help tell a story through the environment.

2. Aims & Objectives

In order to explore the theme of 'living illustration', study the paintings by Eyvind Earle for Disney's Sleeping Beauty and use his style to create a fully CG environment. The background plates painted by Eyvind Earle were chosen as they have a very unique painterly style which was inspired by pre-Renaissance European art, tapestries, and illuminated manuscripts. These inspirations resulted in a flattened, highly detailed stylization which will provide an interesting challenge to bring into 3D.

• Build a CG environment heavily inspired by Eyvind Earle's paintings.
• Use various dynamic effects to create movement and life.
• Create a short animation in which the camera will traverse the environment.

3. Implementation

THROUGHOUT: Keep lighting and rendering up to date throughout project

1. Research the style of Eyvind Earle and identify the elements to be taken into this project.
2. Create proof of concept to test the pipeline.
3. Plan the composition and progression of shots by creating a storyboard, block test, etc.
4. Model and texture a library of assets of varying LoD.
5. Model and texture a base model. Set dress using the asset library.
6. Implement dynamics to create subtle animation in the grass, leaves, and plants.

-STEPS 1-6 MINIMUM DELIVERABLES-

7. Implement growing thorns animation.
8. Add fluid simulation to create rivers/ponds.

4. Proposed Schedule

Completed tasks:

• Research on Eyvind Earle, his artistic style & influences.
• Identified key stylistic elements to be used.
• Finalised Storyboard.
• Draft block test.
• Preliminary research & tests on growing thorns.
• Modelling & texturing test.
• Created Gant chart for scheduling year.

December

• Block test – used to decide composition & timing.
• Proof of concept – take an asset through the entire pipeline.
• Lighting & rendering tests.

January

• Start modelling asset library (trees, plants, rocks etc.)
• Base/ground modelling & texturing.
• Check lighting & rendering with updated assets.

February

• Finish all modelling.
• Start texturing.
• Check lighting & rendering with updated assets.

March

• Finish all texturing.
• Set dress base model using asset library.
• Implement grass & leaf dynamics.
• Start implementing growing thorns.
• Check lighting & rendering with updated assets.

April

• Finish thorns.
• Implement water.
• Matte paintings.
• Finalise lighting.

May

• Rendering.
• Compositing.
• Report writing.

June

• Finalise report.
• Breakdown reel.