Your first original project...

[MikeV]

So I was thinking about what I'd like my first full project to be. That is, not individual exercises or animation tests, but a full-fledged animated short.

 

For me, it's going to be a short tentatively named "Mac", and it will be quite literally about a piece of macaroni. I have the overall story figured out; just need to nail down some specifics. I chose macaroni because, it's basically a thin tube and I think it would be a relatively easy shape to rig and animate, and should be well within my reach by the time I feel I'm ready to tackle it. There will only be one additional model in the film that requires any kind of rigging, and it will also be a piece of macaroni, so I'll be able to re-use a lot of the same actions. Everything else will be static objects for the most part.

 

I'm a ways off before I feel I'm ready to tackle that, but I'm working out the storyline, basic storyboards and such now.

 

When I have everything more finalized, I'll look into posting up some of the storyboards and such to show y'all what I have in mind.

 

I'm curious, though, what are/were/will be the first full project you've worked on (and I mean "you" collectively)? I'm really interested in what others' experiences were like working on their first "real" project. Did it come out as you had envisioned it? Better? Worse?

 

So if anyone wants to share, that'd be great! Doesn't have to be tons of detailed info. Just a summary, or if you've already completed it, perhaps a link to your vid. I think it could be an interesting discussion.

 

Thanks!

[Fuchur]

So I was thinking about what I'd like my first full project to be. That is, not individual exercises or animation tests, but a full-fledged animated short.

 

For me, it's going to be a short tentatively named "Mac", and it will be quite literally about a piece of macaroni. I have the overall story figured out; just need to nail down some specifics. I chose macaroni because, it's basically a thin tube and I think it would be a relatively easy shape to rig and animate, and should be well within my reach by the time I feel I'm ready to tackle it. There will only be one additional model in the film that requires any kind of rigging, and it will also be a piece of macaroni, so I'll be able to re-use a lot of the same actions. Everything else will be static objects for the most part.

 

I'm a ways off before I feel I'm ready to tackle that, but I'm working out the storyline, basic storyboards and such now.

 

When I have everything more finalized, I'll look into posting up some of the storyboards and such to show y'all what I have in mind.

 

I'm curious, though, what are/were/will be the first full project you've worked on (and I mean "you" collectively)? I'm really interested in what others' experiences were like working on their first "real" project. Did it come out as you had envisioned it? Better? Worse?

 

So if anyone wants to share, that'd be great! Doesn't have to be tons of detailed info. Just a summary, or if you've already completed it, perhaps a link to your vid. I think it could be an interesting discussion.

 

Thanks!

 

I think that is a great idea! It sounds easy enough and will help you learn alot!

I am not sure which project was my first (for 3d it was a star wars scene with a a-wing and a star destroyer (worked out quite well for what could be done back then) but I am not sure what the first real one was for A:M... one of my first (but not the first) was my fishy&flippy short... I saw Finding Nemo and wanted to do something cool with fishes too... it was not even anywhere close to what Pixar did there (I am not able to do that at all) but it was fun and it was a great project.

 

If yours will be like that (not qualitivise orsomething like that but just that much fun ) you will get addicted!

 

See you

*Fuchur*

[robcat2075]

I'm curious, though, what are/were/will be the first full project you've worked on (and I mean "you" collectively)? I'm really interested in what others' experiences were like working on their first "real" project. Did it come out as you had envisioned it? Better? Worse?

 

I got into A:M because i wanted a more capable 3D program where I was working, in the media department of a telecom company. I think this program opening was my first significant "thing" in that regard:

http://www.brilliantisland.com/demoreels/idl_150kbps.wmv (a small and compressed version)

 

 

There are some 2D elements done in paint programs but most of it is A:M

 

Ultimately it was a huge debacle for me. It turned out mostly like i expected and the producer who asked for it said he liked it, but later I found out he hated it and complained about me to higher ups as if i were some loose cannon who had completely disregarded his direction. (The only direction he had given me was to show me a 4-second sports show graphic that had a spotlight shining out of a stadium. He wanted something like that... but 60 seconds long!)

 

Apparently the company, and his career were going to be ruined if any member of the public saw those "dancing" antenna dishes.

 

That was 1995 or 96. I avoided major 3D adventures after that for quite a while.

[largento]

My first animated project was an animated Christmas card I did for Christmas of 2007. I only had one character finished (the snowmen were modified Thoms) and came up with the idea less than a week before Christmas and killed myself finishing it. I think I finished it around 2am Christmas morning. :-) It leaned pretty heavy on Flash.

 

I followed up with another

in 2008. This one used no Flash and had more characters. I think I did that one in about a month.

 

I haven't done another Christmas card since then, but I think I may do one this year.

[MikeV]

I think that is a great idea! It sounds easy enough and will help you learn alot!

I am not sure which project was my first (for 3d it was a star wars scene with a a-wing and a star destroyer (worked out quite well for what could be done back then) but I am not sure what the first real one was for A:M... one of my first (but not the first) was my fishy&flippy short... I saw Finding Nemo and wanted to do something cool with fishes too... it was not even anywhere close to what Pixar did there (I am not able to do that at all) but it was fun and it was a great project.

 

If yours will be like that (not qualitivise orsomething like that but just that much fun ) you will get addicted!

 

See you

*Fuchur*

 

Thanks! Yeah I'm pretty excited to actually see it on screen, rather than only in my head.

 

Do you still have Fishy & Flippy posted anywhere? On AM Films, maybe?

[MikeV]

I'm curious, though, what are/were/will be the first full project you've worked on (and I mean "you" collectively)? I'm really interested in what others' experiences were like working on their first "real" project. Did it come out as you had envisioned it? Better? Worse?

 

I got into A:M because i wanted a more capable 3D program where I was working, in the media department of a telecom company. I think this program opening was my first significant "thing" in that regard:

http://www.brilliantisland.com/demoreels/idl_150kbps.wmv (a small and compressed version)

 

 

There are some 2D elements done in paint programs but most of it is A:M

 

Ultimately it was a huge debacle for me. It turned out mostly like i expected and the producer who asked for it said he liked it, but later I found out he hated it and complained about me to higher ups as if i were some loose cannon who had completely disregarded his direction. (The only direction he had given me was to show me a 4-second sports show graphic that had a spotlight shining out of a stadium. He wanted something like that... but 60 seconds long!)

 

Apparently the company, and his career were going to be ruined if any member of the public saw those "dancing" antenna dishes.

 

That was 1995 or 96. I avoided major 3D adventures after that for quite a while.

 

Ah yeah, I saw that when I was checking out some of the stuff you have linked in your signature. That's a very cool video. I love how so much of it is sync'd up to the music, etc. What did the higher ups say about it? Did they share an opinion on it?

 

I had a similar deal when I was doing web design at a previous employer. My boss loved and approved everything I did. He'd given the final okay, and called the project "ready for launch" 3 times, only to want more changes a few weeks later, complaining and yelling at me that it "wasn't done yet". Was aggravating, to say the least. Being berated by an indecisive boss for doing my job.

[MikeV]

My first animated project was an animated Christmas card I did for Christmas of 2007. I only had one character finished (the snowmen were modified Thoms) and came up with the idea less than a week before Christmas and killed myself finishing it. I think I finished it around 2am Christmas morning. :-) It leaned pretty heavy on Flash.

 

I followed up with another

in 2008. This one used no Flash and had more characters. I think I did that one in about a month.

 

I haven't done another Christmas card since then, but I think I may do one this year.

 

Well you have more time at least... If you start now anyway :-p