Example Demo Reel

My instructor Yu-Ting posted his demo reel on Youtube. I liked how he showcases his rigging skills through screen captures, something I'm currently exploring. Thanks for posting.

The link to his demo reel is below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzRLcPPdMis

Free Maya Character Rigs

In order to complete the following exercises featured in this thesis, you will need a rigged character model that is capable of full body and facial movement. A good place to download a variety of character rigs can be found on the High End 3D site, it features free rigs to be used for animators of the following platforms: 3DS, Maya, XSI and Renderman. I've already tested the rigs below, some made the list and some did not, the ones below worked well. I also thought it might be helpful to post the two second tests of each rig to give users a better idea.

Please note that the following rigs have been reviewed under the Maya platform. Happy animating.


Basic Guy
by Tim Oberlander
homepage: http://www.timoberlander.com
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Basic-Guy-4284.html





Basic Guy Test Animation from randolfd on Vimeo.






Chip
by: Anders Fray
http://www.AndersFray.com
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Chip-4446.html





Chip Rig Animation Test from randolfd on Vimeo.


Andy Rig
By: Models and Rig by John Doublestein, Design by Craig Scheuermann, Textures by Ying-Chih Chen. Some rigging techniques inspired by Jason Schliefer, Aaron Holly, Javier Solsona, Michael Comet and Hamish McKenzie
http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/The-Andy-Rig-4697.html




Andy Rig Test Animation from randolfd on Vimeo.

Max
by James Hunt
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Max-for-Maya-4877.html





Max Rig Animation Test from randolfd on Vimeo.



Tiny
by Chad Vernon
homepage: www.chadvernon.com
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Tiny-4578.html





Tiny Animation Rig Test from randolfd on Vimeo.




Packageman
Javier Solsana
homepage: http://www.rigging101.com
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/PackageMan-4688.html


Boris with Facial Rig
by James Stone
homepage: http://www.jamesstone.co.uk/
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Boris-with-Facial-GUI-4659.html





Boris Rig Animation Test from randolfd on Vimeo.




T-Rex 1.0
ssnohv
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/T-Rex-ma-4606.html





Flour Sac Character
homepage: http://www.timoberlander.com
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/-Flour-Sack--Character-4330.html





Alexia with Face Controls
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Alexia-Body-w-Adv-Facial-Controls-Rig-4570.html






Grasshopper 2.0
by Harun Aydin
homepage: http://www.vertigo.com.tr
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Grasshopper-4561.html



Devil
by Model by Rahul Mehta -
Rig by Harshad Bari -
download : http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/DEVIL-4457.html





Devil Test Rig from randolfd on Vimeo.




Moom
by Ramtin Ahmadi
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/MooM-version-3-4346.html



Ollie 1.5
homepage: http://www.jugglersanimation.com/
download : http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Ollie-4466.html





Ollie Rig Test from randolfd on Vimeo.





Generi "Blue Guy" Rig
by Andrew Silke
homepage: http://www.andrewsilke.com
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Generi--Blue-guy--rig-4288.html




Lowman
homepage: http://www.animationapprentice.com
download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/character_rigs/Lowman-rig-with-face-blendshapes-4304.html





Lowman Character Rig Test from randolfd on Vimeo.

Assignment 9 : Creating a Demoreel

Assignment 9 : Demo Reel from randolfd on Vimeo.

Assignment 9:

• Create a demo reel with your examples thus far. Some tips:
• Start with your best work
• Add music that is nonspecific, for the above track, I used Soundtrack Pro. Its a program that has lots of beats and instruments and anyone can create a track that is royalty free and unique.
• Watch for timing and theme
• When creating a professional reel, include playblasts and not fully rendered scenes. Make the viewer see only your animation and do not give them a reason to critique your texture and lighting.
• In your demo reel, do not put the bouncing ball. It labels you "Student".

Thesis Part I Completion : Moving Forward

I went through the quarter taking a character animation class, in which we engaged in exercises that when taken in sequence would eventually build skill in animating character emotion.

These were the exercises accomplished this quarter and have been posted in this blog:

• bouncing ball
• 2 bouncing balls with differing weights
• drink box
• walk cycle
• run cycle
• pantomime
• hip turn
• one emotion
• gear change - two emotions
• creating a demo reel.

The question I encountered this week, is what should the next exercises be. In my thesis proposal, I had planned to do two major assignments that would be developed next quarter, dialogue with a single character, then dialogue between two characters.

I spoke to the animation instructor about it and he felt the dialogue exercises should be last, and that more should be done before being attempting dialogue. These exercises should be attempted below but in an 11 week it might be difficult to teach this to students. An alternative would be teach and develop a curriculum spanning 2 quarters (22 weeks).

• another gear change assignment of different emotions (2 weeks).
• an animation showing 4 emotions (these two would be blocked in pantomimes in the beginning) 3 weeks.
• a body mechanics animation (ie. a character jumping off of a high place or picking up a heavy object). 1 week
• Pantomime animation with 2 people. (1 week)
• Dialogue animation assignment with 1 person. (2 weeks)
• Dialogue animation assignment with 2 people (not sure if there's time for this one - 2 weeks).

These would be the animation assignments I have slated for next quarter.

As an example, please see Rebecca Perez' demo reel, it features many of the assignments mentioned above and its a good example of what I'm striving for. She's a Disney Animator (perhaps Dori knows her) and she accomplished these exercises through the Animation Mentor class.

http://www.wik-id.com/reb/AM/Class2/A12/ALLanims_sm.mov

and

http://www.wik-id.com/reb/AM/Class1/A12/AM_Class1_Anim_comp_sm.mov

I'm wondering what feels the best to you as far as which assignments to go forward with. What do you guys think?

Thanks,
Randolf

Assignment 8 : Gear Change II

Assignment 8 : Gear Change Assignment from randolfd on Vimeo.
Critique:

• Watch for the rotation of the hip. Adjust this to create a better line of action within the character's spine.
• Get more of sway in the spine by animating the root, and having the rest of the body overlap, followed by head sway and arms.
• Get more of the "jacked up" in the main keyposes and do not don distort the figure too much.

Observations / Things to watch out for from the rest of the class:

• When animating overlap, animate the spine, head then arms. Hide these layers so can focus on each individually.
• When animating emotion, make sure we see the character realize the event..pause...then have the charater react.
• Watch for twinning in poses.
• Add moving holds. In poses where there could be a definite pause, other parts of the body should move as well.
• Add more anticipation.
• Make sure silhouettes are readable.
• Animate the scene for emotion, not just movement.
• The hardest task is to simplify the action to its essential elements. Animating a 22 second animation in a week will make for a weak animated piece.
• The character is always looking for or thinking of something.

Shaun Freeman Site

Animator Shaun Freeman has a nice page full of animation tips and tricks. Definitely worth checking if you'd like to improve your work. Below is a sample of some of the topics he discusses.

http://www.shaunfreeman.com/animating_tips/index.htm

• Using live reference.
• Moving holds
• Animating to the camera
• Animation Flowcharts
• Refing your work (I liked this one a lot)
• Characterization
• Blocking in Dialogue

Thanks for posting Shaun.

MIDTERM : Run Cycle

Igor Run Cycle from randolfd and Vimeo.

This assignment was given week 5, almost like an animation test. Students had two hours to complete the assignment.

Assignment 9 : Movie Pose Sketching Assignment

In this assignment, the student is to watch movies from various genres and is to sketch/capture the poses that make the scene work. The best movies to watch for this assignment are your 1920's silent films as their performances were based on body language clarity, timing and form. Below are some examples:

Assignment 6 : Hip Turn

Animated Hip Turn from randolfd and Vimeo.

List of Emotions

• Happy
• Angry
• Sad
• Surprised
• Excited
• Anxious
• Inquisitive
• Embarrassed
• Drunk
• Confused
• Sick
• Tired
• Loved
• Daydreamy
• Rage
• Depressed
• Irritated
• Constipated
• Inspired
• Annoyed
• Disturbed
• Bossy
• Groggy

Assignment 8 :: Gear Change

Animate a character showing one emotion, have him experience an event or conflict at which point he shifts to another emotion.

Due next week, stepped key pose of this assignment.

The example below is great example.

Assignment 2 : Animating Differences in Weight

Animating 2 Different Weights from randolfd and Vimeo.

In this assignment,we were to animate two balls to show differences in weight, and material. There's a little hitch / blur effect that occurs twice, once at the end of the first ball's bounce and second, when the big ball scares the small ball. I gotta check out the graph editor.

Assignment 7 : Animating One Emotion CRITIQUE

Animating One Emotion: Magrite Gout from randolfd and Vimeo.

Below is a critique from Samir Patel from Rhythm and Hues and Ruel Pascual for this exercise. The video is posted in this blog using vimeo. Let's see how things go as I'd like to post my animation examples on this blog for further viewing.

• Watch the pose distortion. Although this is good for exaggeration, be careful that you don't the bend the character so much that its out of character.
• Keep movement simple. In my animation, there are two poses, one to recognize the foot, and one to show emotion of the pain. The way I have it makes both poses unclear.
• Don't animate too much upper body or else won't see the foot.
  
• Incorporate a pause between these two poses so the audience can see them (the gesture and the pose).
• Use both hands to hold leg.
• Watch plant foot, establish balance.
• Establish a rhythm in the foot growth similar to a heart, instead of slowing growing. Adding a heart beat throb would emulate what happens in the body.

Below are were other comments/critiques to note when doing this assignment.

• Be sure the pose and silhouette reads clearly.
• Pay attention to overlapping action and follow through to prevent jerky movement.
• Establish the general movement and timing for the main shape. In may cases its the ball that is the root of the character. Establish this timing and everything else (arms and legs) should follow.
• What is the goal of the character? This leads to action.
• Ease In and Ease Outs and be sure to lock IKs.
• Break the movements down into sections and add pauses so that each movement is clear for the viewer.
• Be sure character has balance.
• Watch for broken or contorted poses which change the character.
• Always time the root of your character first.
• Watch for twinning in the poses.
• Push C and S curves in the poses. Whenever you have a spine moving straight up and down, you will always have stiff animation.
• Don't be afraid to exaggerate, you can always pull it back.
• Add "drag" in the limbs or face.
• Everythng in the body must move....moving hold.