pixelmech

Thanks Charlie - I like the 60's teal too - a shade of tan is a good idea. The one I am going with is the most recent - with the 2 antenna. Tom

Heyyy Mike I was wondering when we would begin to see some of this. That shot looks good, you've whetted my appetite! Give me more

Thanks Ben - ideas to consider I like the half sphere idea first, I may try that.

Update - added the wheel section - what do you think? I need to rework some of the parts (although the problems don't show up in toon mode yet). Something is really bothering me about his 'hands'. Going to have to revisit them. Also elbows..what I have is the easy way, but maybe something more 'robotic.' I'm just concerned about rigging it.

Very nice - did you rig it yourself? Thanks for sharing!

Ok, here's another one that I did very quickly (had to squeeze it in at the end of lunch - so the artwork is literally just thrown together). Last night my mind was running with ideas and this was just one of them. Right now I have this stuff as vector art in Illustrator, but I might prefer to hand draw it. I have to think about it... Anyway, like I said I could use these for storyboards of parts of the mm, not sure yet.

I think I am going back to the wheel. Stay tuned for an update.

That looks great! I can't wait to see the movie

Zach, I really loved it and voted for it. My only critique doesn't have anything so much to do with you. For whatever reason, Shaggy's rig doesn't perform well IMO. Maybe it needs to be smartskinned or something, I'm too much of a newb to know. So when you animate him, he is not as fluid as he could be. But because of the whole feel of the movie, I don't think it really took anything away. I too couldn't quite read it all at the end, but I got the gist. A well deserved win! EDIT: I see luckbat made a somewhat similar post. I totally understand your reasons for going that direction. Like I said, I didn't see it as a big deal. And I think your point about just jumping in with "stock" material and animating is very valid. That is why there is little else in my movie but 2 characters - and one is a copy of the other! Tom

Thanks Rodney - frankly I'm slightly overwhelmed by how much people like the strip! (Ok, granted - it's a small sample of people!) I think I might try doing another one or two this week. I had a lot of fun with it and I'm thinking I can almost use them as a sort of storyboard. I'll post back what I come up with. I'm also thinking about going back to the wheel. I wanted to avoid animating the wheel... but if I don't do something because I think it's hard (even though it fits the character better) I'll never learn. Tom

Slight update to show the arms and hands. I'm struggling with the levitator/propulsion piece. I was not happy with the other one so I'm going to try something else.

Thanks Tiffany. Everything is pretty rough right now, I'm not sure what colors I'm going to use. Keep in mind he's supposed to be more than just a retro tv - he is the 'supercomputer' of the day, albeit slightly off-kilter

Rodney, yes - there is some great stuff here. I would move it over - possibly sticky

Thanks...the screen actually is rounded, but I think you are saying then it might of had another flat piece over it. Anyway, I'll have to see what it looks like when I figure all this toon stuff out!

Lots of good replies here, let me just say Tiffany, excellent job for your first piece. I bet you found out how much work it is! Take what is suggested here with all you learned, apply it to your next piece and you will be surprised at how much progress you will make! I enjoyed the movie though, and thought it was well done. I too like the writing on the chalkboard! Tom

Last one for now, added 'rabbit ears' for antenna, and some computer buttons. The antenna will be able to rotate and go in/out, should help make him expressive.

Update with the new screen...

Funny Charlie I was thinking the same on the screen, so you confirmed it for me. I'm going to try that. I like your other suggestions too - as I work on the detail I may use a couple Thanks! TOm

Ok, here's an update of the square guy - comments? Note it is still very rough and I am having a real hard time with the toon shading, but I will make a separate post for that when I am ready. Tom

Very nice! Welcome aboard, be sure to show us more of your stuff

Thanks for the comments! It does have the diver feel, I kind of went for that actually. I too feel as though the square one has more potential for character - and Peter I think you are right on the asymmetry thing. And curmudgeonly () was exactly the feel I wanted..so I must be somewhat on the right track with the square one - I'm going to explore that one. And Nancy, I was going for that old tv look exactly Thanks for the comment Peter, that's all I have right now but I like the characters. I wanted to try and develop it more but never had time, but I've gotten interested in it again so... first I want to try and get the next MM done, and I'm already behind schedule! I do have a script partially written for it, so I gotta get on this modeling!

Here's a possible different direction for the bot - consider this very rough. No detail, needs arms and some more character. What's better - square or round?

No prob Scott. I'm not sure he's anthropomorphic enough...I may play with another version that is more round/organic. He has to be expressive with only arms and his screen. The decal is a good idea, I wasn't sure you could do that, animate decals. That's the way I'd like to go.

Well here's a crack at the as yet unnamed robot guy. He'll be a floater, no wheel. I'm not sure if I am going in the right direction with this or not, so any feedback is appreciated. This is also my first render with toon lines and it is totally messed up. I'm also wondering - can you make a layer a part of a model? Say if I wanted to display stuff on his screen, it might be best to make it a layer...

ROTFL I asked the same question in the other thread...I'm such a loser!