Tai Shan

Now that I look at it again, you're right. I'll work on weighting the thumb so it bends and creases more naturally. Thank you for the feedback!

Thanks! Update: finally we see the trio in action! The action is still wooden as I'm finding my animation feet. The camera is fairly active this time. Rush.mov Biggest hurdle I had to overcome this time: wrists! Geddy's wrists. I cheated with Alex's model by covering his wrists with cuffs. When Geddy reaches with his left hand to fret the guitar, his wrist twists and it looked painful. CP weights helped smooth the twist a bit.

The final animation will be more than a straight music performance. There will be cutting back and forth between the musicians and a story of sorts. This model is featured in the story section: What do you think? I'm trying to maintain a balance of simplified detail and believability. Does it still read as a motorcycle?

I only have small knowledge of Rush so I don't know if they are that reserved in their actual stage performance, but I can imagine putting a lot more "body language" into the playing motions. Yeah, the actions are a bit wooden, robotic -- not like a live Rush peformance. I'll work on that. Thank you for the input!

Thanks!

This video has Alex playing guitar in the intro. Errr... I'll get him palm-muting and fretting properly before the next video. The volume is also back to normal. Rush___Neil_and_Alex.mov How does the animation look so far? Go ahead and be honest.

This next video is a bit longer -- 13 seconds. It features some work on the snare, a floor tom, and cymbals. Rush_0000.mov Please check it out and let me know what you think.

Here is a little animation test that I worked up today: Neil hits the snare drum twice. It's not much, but it's a start. Enjoy. Snare_Drum.mov

Yeah, that's a great video. Fantastic work. I'm not even going to try to top it. My goal is to make cute/funny characters that surprise you with how well they play their instruments.

Thanks for the offer -- it's one of the best compliments I could receive. I'm probably going to keep this a solo project because I'm learning so much from the experience. Check out the links below and you'll see that my animating skills need to improve as much as humanly possible! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXNqTjKKTvU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjgGk78UQPA

Neil has been rigged. Working on some actions for him.

Woohoo! Modelling is complete for the most part. It might be hard to see in the picture, but Neil does have drumsticks. Next up: Rigging!

Another quick update: the first major pass at the drum kit is finished. I'm gonna go lie down now.

Hey everybody, Minor update: started on the drums today. Let me know what you think.

Thanks, robcat2075. @Kelley: Great job! Your method of generating clothes might be instant, but that just makes the results all the more impressive. Time-saving and effective. I would be using this method for my characters except that I tend to remove torso geometry that is concealed by clothing -- to help keep the patch count at a minimum. If my characters took off their clothes, they would look like the Invisible Man. Please follow this whim! I'd like to see more of 'Captain Thom.'

Thanks, everybody. Because I try hard to make the most out of as few splines as possible, your compliments mean that much more. I'll be sure to post updates as the project moves forward. @Rodney: You're right -- they're not unibody. Initially, the body is one mesh while I check for anatomical proportion and design cohesiveness. When molding the torso to become a shirt, I detach it from the neck and arms. Then, pants are detached from the torso/shirt; the shoes are separated from the pants. It's a quick method to keep the splines of the sleeves, cuffs, and collars from curling at the ends. It's more than that. This method is very liberating -- kind of an OOP approach to modelling. Happy New Year!

Thank you for the kind comments, everybody. It gives me the courage to roll up my sleeves and get this animation project moving. @George: Rush is my favorite hard-rock / progressive-rock band. The clothes are from photos of them at different concerts. The fact that their colors match is entirely by accident on my part. @Xtaz: I've got the rig ready and I just need to assign the CPs. Here are some wireframes. What do you think of them? I don't know if my modelling skills are practical or efficient. @nino banano: Yes, I'll be animating them in sync with one of their songs. Right now I'm working on story ideas. @John Bigboote: Your Rolling Stones video is awesome! That must have been a lot of work. It's jam-packed with so many subtle character nuances that made me smile. Even your avatar knocks me out. My animation won't be a straight performance video, but I have a feeling that you'll see Neil banging away with the sticks at some point.

Hi everybody, I'm a big fan of the rock band Rush and cannot resist using the boys as models with which to improve my skills. Attached is my latest effort to render (from left to right) Neil, Al, and Ged. Comments and criticism are appreciated. Feel free to rofl; I gotta toughen up my ego anyway.

Here's a sneak peek at The Professor: I'm going to take a little break and get some distance, some perspective. Right now, Neil's face looks so off-model to me that I'm ready to quit 3D modelling altogether and take up underwater basketweaving. Tai

Thanks, totlover. Next project: Neil Peart! Tai

Hey A:M users and Rush fans, I was never content with how my Geddy model came out -- particularly his face. It just didn't seem to do our favorite Canadian bass player justice. So, after being inspired by what I see here on the forums, I got off my duff and pushed myself beyond my limits. Here's an update: Note: Ged's fingers look a little stubby because I'm going for a more Thom/MySims/Mii-like body type. This update was brought to you by the letter "Sssssss" because I love Snakes & Arrows and Subsurface Scattering! Tai

For my fellow Rush fans -- and everybody else too -- here's a little animation test: Geddy_with_SSS.mov I'm sorry if it looks like I'm making fun of the Gedster. This is my first attempt at character animation and I know my efforts don't do him justice.

Thanks for the compliments and encouragement, everybody! I'll post more after I'm done rigging Geddy. @arkaos: I haven't decided yet, but I'm leaning toward the Fender Jazz Bass.

Hey all, The rock band Rush is coming out with a new album soon. To show my appreciation -- and to pass the time while waiting -- I've started working on a little fanimation. Right now, I'm at the modelling stage. Here's what I've got so far: Feedback and constructive criticism are welcome. A:M's SSS feature rocks! Btw, I'm sorry if it's inappropriate to post this. a proud donor to Neil Peart's motorcycle gas money, Tai

These images ... are easily some of the most beautiful, lifelike 3D art I've ever seen! Every picture looks like photo of handcarved figurines and objects. The characters' designs have the power to bring laughter and tears. Those designs are then faithfully rendered in three dimensions with skill and impeccable taste. It's A+ quality work all the way down the pipeline. Also, it's a tribute to the creators of the magnificent 3D tool A:M and the skilled users who make the best use of it. Somebody needs to be paying you gobs of money to make this happen. Awesome work!