CAPSTONE

Abstract

During the pre-visualization stage in animation, Layout Cinematography takes both storytelling and cinematic shots using cameras to construct creative ideas that convey a variety of emotions to the audience. Blocking animation, angled camera shots, and the on-screen layout of characters are utilized in this process to convey the correct emotion for the context of the scene. Using Garvin Beltz's rigs for the models I created, I produced a 3D animation in Autodesk Maya that tells a story about two Clown Siblings who contend with Magician Cats. The camera and layout work of this project aims to highlight the relationship and trust between the Clown Siblings, their high-stakes rivalry with the cats, and the impending doom of saving their town in time shown through cinematic shots. With this animation, I work towards challenging my proficiency in storytelling through fast-paced chase sequences inspired by the films Lupin III and Akira.

1920x1080
16 Shots
40 Seconds
Rendered in Maya Viewport 2.0
Edited in Premiere Pro

Motivation and Inspiration

Expand on compositional and story-writing skills
Challenge my skills in character and camera animation
Inspired by fast-paced chase scenes as seen in Akira and Lupin the III

Story

I worked with Michelle Simms on the story to come up with the motivations of the characters and their relationships with one another. I didn’t merely want this to be a chase scene, but one with an interesting and heartfelt storyline that can relate to the audience.
I decided to focus the story on the two clown siblings, Sissy and Bubba, and how they utilize each other's strengths and weaknesses to overcome the obstacles to their main goal. Their main goal was to stop the cat magicians from stopping destroying the city.
Together we created a script that I could easily follow as I progressed through my planning of the 3D pipeline.

Ideation

I knew I wanted to create a story based on my relationship with my late brother. We both shared a passion for clowns growing up so I thought clowns best suited the characters and the light-heartedness of the story.
I wanted to come up with an antagonist to challenge them so I created magicians who ultimately became cats who liked to knock cities over.
I watched a lot of animated shorts and movies that helped inspire my shots for the chase sequence. I did some research on chase sequences as well, as well as magician tricks. I learned that magicians regularly use sponges in their tricks, so I decided to do the same.

Concept Art

Models

Modeled in Autodesk Maya
Cat head sculpted in Nomad

Motion Paths

Mountain was set to a live surface
CV curve was drawn along the mountain for the clowns
CV curve was drawn in the air for cat magicians
Since I animated the characters and props before I created motion paths, I created a cube group for both the clowns and cats that were set along their motion paths.
I then attached all the rigs to the cube groups. Then, I turned off the visibility for the cubes.
UKeys were applied to control the speed of the clowns and cat magicians.

Look

Rendered in Maya Viewport 2.0
Textures
Ambient Occlusion
Lighting
Shadows
Hardware Fog
Depth of Field
Shaded Brightness Three-Tone Shader
Toon Outline