California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) School of Information Technology and Communication Design (itcd) (BS) Digital Animation Capstone Proposal: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Non-narrative abstract animation: 21st Century Art + Technology in Motion ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By Mariko Nihonyanagi For: ~~~~~~~~~ CST 400 Senior Capstone Project Planning Dr. Bude Su Advisor: Pat Watson February 12 2010 Nihonyanagi Page 1
Table of Contents Pages I. Executive Summary ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 III. Solution Description ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9-10 - Project Description 9 - Project Goals 9 IV. Deliverables ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 11 - Project Deliverables List (With Descriptions) 11 o 3D Experimental Animation 11 o Capstone Website 11 o Capstone Poster 11 o Capstone Report 11 VIII. Timeline ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 27-30 - Milestones 27 - Timeline Fall 2009 28 - Timeline Continued Spring 2010 29 - Timeline Key 30 Nihonyanagi Page 2
I. Executive Summary The final deliverable of this capstone will be a short 3 to 5 minute abstract 3-Dimentional (3D) animation. Current visual design is screen based, which means it is animated by definition. All of this animation will be based on new or currently accepted theories of graphic design and visual art. This animation will demonstrate that despite the notion that animation is mostly viewed as a means to a commercial end that animation can be seen as something worthy of being an (fine) art and design form (show). It will explore this potential that animation has as a visual art. This animation will start out by demonstrating the student drawing simple geometric forms based on design theory. The forms will then morph to 2-Dimentions (2D). The final scene will be these forms transforming into a 3D abstract metaphorical animation representing a chosen poem, and then the poem itself. The animation process will start with a storyboard and animatic done by late fall 2009. Live, and 2D work will be done by the end of January 2010, as well as models for the 3D work. By mid April 2010, all animation and the first version will be done leaving one month to make revisions and work on the final presentation. This process will take approximately 400 to 600 hours. After Effects will be used for compositing and Maya for 3D work. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator will be used for any 2D work. Live action will be filmed using the department camera. The list price for the software and hardware needed for this project is approximately $12,223.73. The student already has all these products or will use the university s computer labs. The student will also take measures to ensure that all files are backed up on an external hard drive so as to reduce the risk of losing work. The final presentation and deliverables will include the final high definition 3D composite animation as a QuickTime movie on a CD. There will also be summaries of the project in report, Website, and poster form. Nihonyanagi Page 3
III. Solution Description Project Description The experimental 3D animation project will be a short non-narrative animation based on the idea of abstract forms in space. It will be an approximately 3 to 5 minute 3D focused animation that integrates the technical demands of 3D animation with design and art aesthetics. This animation will be set to a sound track, and may include other elements such as photo images, live action, 2D computer elements or special effects; but it will be mostly 3D in nature. It will have a focus character, but neither this nor the environment will be based in reality. Instead, it will be a brightly colored fantasy world animation based on the idea of abstract forms and design moving in space. The latter section of the animation will be based on a poem, creating a metaphorical landscape that matches the poem. Using a unique artistic view of the world, an experimental design based animation will be made that can only be done using the medium of the computer and 3D technology. Project Goals The goal of this project is to create a short animation based upon the abstract models (e.g. fantasy flowers and forests) previously designed by the student for a past animation class. The beginning of the animation will start with the student drawing a simple grid based design that will morph into 2D vector shapes. The ending will have these shapes turn 3D and then transform into an artistic rendering based on a short poem. For further details on this process see the Usability Testing and Evaluation Plan sub section. This is to be an expressive, complex and abstract design based animation that would be worthy of showing at a local art venue, such as The National Steinbeck Center. Nihonyanagi Page 4
IV. Deliverables Project Deliverables List All the following deliverables will be included as an electronic version on a DVD.. - 3D Experimental Animation The final animation will be 3 to 5 minutes long. It will be in a resolution of at least HDTV 720p. It will be in a QuickTime.mov format. The bulk of the animation will be made with the 3D software Maya, as it is what is taught at CSUMB. - Capstone Website The website will be made with simple html and possible CSS. It will be posted on the CSUMB server. The website will include a short description of the project, link to a digital copy of the 3D experimental animation and final capstone report(, and section for the student s resume). - Capstone Poster This poster will advertise the student s 3D experimental animation for the capstone festival in May 2010. It will be a large (movie poster size) printed poster created with software such as Photoshop or Illustrator. It will feature images from the final project, as well as a description of the project. - Capstone Report This report will be a written document that will detail the process of creating the capstone project. This will include any preproduction materials such as storyboards, concept art, and written descriptions of the 3D experimental animation. There will be a hardcopy of this report. Nihonyanagi Page 5
VIII. Timeline Milestones Task Task Description Start Finish Days Animation 1 Preproduction 9-17-09 2-26-10 163 1a Research Other Design Based Animations 9-17-09 1-25-10 131 1b Develop/Write Basic Experimental Animation Idea 10-12-09 10-24-09 13 1c Create Storyboards 11-30-09 12-3-09 4 1d Create Concept Art of Models 11-30-09 12-9-09 9 1e Find/Create Sound/Music 2-12-10 2-26-10 14 2 Production 12-11-09 4-17-10 127 2a Create 3D (2D) Models for Sets/Scenes & Animation Focus, Film 12-11-09 2-28-10 79 i Texture Models/Scene 12-11-09 2-28-10 79 ii Light Models/Scene 12-18-09 2-28-10 73 iii Shade Models/Scene 12-18-09 2-28-10 73 2b Animate/Composite Models/Scenes 12-11-09 4-17-10 127 i Block Scene/Animation 12-11-09 3-8-10 87 ii Edit to Sync Sound to Animation 3-9-10 4-17-10 40 iii Key and In-Between Frame Creation 3-9-10 4-17-10 40 iv Create Model Rigs/Deformers/Expressions 3-9-10 4-17-10 40 v Create Maya Cameras for Editing Shots 3-27-10 4-17-10 22 3 Postproduction 3-27-10 5-20-10 55 3a Test Renders of Animation and Revisions 3-27-10 5-14-10 49 i Test Rendering 3-27-10 5-14-10 49 ii Compositing Test Render[s] 3-27-10 5-14-10 49 iii Final Editing of Sound etc. 3-27-10 5-14-10 49 3b Final Production 5-15-10 5-20-10 6 i Final Rendering & Compositing of High Definition Animation 5-15-10 5-20-10 6 ii Create Compressed Version of Animation 5-15-10 5-20-10 6 iii Put on Final CD & Animation Website 5-15-10 5-20-10 6 iv Show at The National Steinbeck Center m-d-yy m-d-yy 1 Other 1 Capstone Proposal 9-17-09 12-11-09 86 1a Capstone Proposal 9-17-09 12-11-09 86 1b Basic Idea Uses Work From 2 Previous 3D Classes* 8-25-08 5-8-09 257 2 ITCD ILP Portfolio Site* 8-27-07 12-4-09 831 3 Final Capstone Presentation & Report 1-25-10 5-21-10 117 3a Final Capstone Report 1-25-10 5-21-10 117 3b Create Animation Website 3-27-10 5-20-10 55 3c Create Animation Poster 4-17-10 5-14-10 28 3d Create Final Capstone Presentation 4-17-10 5-20-10 34 3e Practice Presenting Final Capstone Presentation 5-7-10 5-20-10 14 3f Present Final Project 5-21-10 5-21-10 1 # Of Tasks 38 Total Days** [Dark Pink] 541 *Most work done in previous years, not included in Total. **Total includes days that overlap, actually 2 semesters. Nihonyanagi Page 6
Timeline Fall 2009 Task Description Start Finish Hours Basic Idea Uses Work From 2 Previous 3D Classes 8-25-08 5-8-09 300 Capstone Proposal 9-17-09 12-11-09 55 Research Other Design Based Animations 9-17-09 1-25-10 21 ITCD ILP Portfolio Site 8-27-07 12-4-09 92 Develop/Write Basic Experimental Animation Idea 10-12-09 10-24-09 4 Create Storyboards 11-30-09 12-3-09 8 Create Concept Art of Models 11-30-09 12-9-09 12 Find/Create Sound/Music 2-12-10 2-26-10 16 Create 3D (2D) Models for Scenes & Animation Focus, Film 12-11-09 2-28-10 125 Texture Models/Scene 12-11-09 2-28-10 15 Light Models/Scene 12-18-09 2-28-10 5 Shade Models/Scene 12-18-09 2-28-10 5 Final Capstone Report 1-25-10 5-21-10 55 Animate/Composite Models/Scenes 12-11-09 4-17-10 98 Block Scene/Animation 12-11-09 3-8-10 2 Edit to Sync Sound to Animation 3-9-10 4-17-10 14 Key and In-Between Frame Creation 3-9-10 4-17-10 48 Create Model Rigs/Deformers/Expressions 3-9-10 4-17-10 24 Create Maya Cameras for Editing Shots 3-27-10 4-17-10 10 Test Renders of Animation and Revisions 3-27-10 5-14-10 39 Test Rendering 3-27-10 5-14-10 30 Compositing Test Render[s] 3-27-10 5-14-10 7 Final Editing of Sound etc. 3-27-10 5-14-10 2 Create Animation Website 3-27-10 5-20-10 14 Create Animation Poster 4-17-10 5-14-10 12 Final Production 5-15-10 5-20-10 19 Final Rendering & Compositing of High Definition Animation 5-15-10 5-20-10 12 Create Compressed Version of Animation 5-15-10 5-20-10 1 Create Final Capstone Presentation 4-17-10 5-20-10 6 Practice Presenting Final Capstone Presentation 5-7-10 5-20-10 3 Put on Final CD & Animation Website 5-15-10 5-20-10 2 Show at The National Steinbeck Center m-d-yy m-d-yy 4 Present Final Project 5-21-10 5-21-10 1.167 Nihonyanagi Page 7 Aug 09 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 December 2009 21 28 4 11 18 25 2 9 16 23 30 6 13 20 27 4 11 18 25 Total Hours* 605.2 *Total Hours does not include grey rows.
Timeline Continued Spring 2010 January 2009 February '09 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 Task Description Start Finish Hours 1 8 15 22 29 5 12 19 26 5 12 19 26 2 9 16 23 30 7 14 21 28 Basic Idea Uses Work From 2 Previous 3D Classes 8-25-08 5-8-09 300 Capstone Proposal 9-17-09 12-11-09 55 Research Other Design Based Animations 9-17-09 1-25-10 21 ITCD ILP Portfolio Site 8-27-07 12-4-09 92 Develop/Write Basic Experimental Animation Idea 10-12-09 10-24-09 4 Create Storyboards 11-30-09 12-3-09 8 Create Concept Art of Models 11-30-09 12-9-09 12 Find/Create Sound/Music 2-12-10 2-26-10 16 Create 3D (3D) Models for Scenes & Animation Focus, Film 12-11-09 2-28-10 125 Texture Models/Scene 12-11-09 2-28-10 15 Light Models/Scene 12-18-09 2-28-10 5 Shade Models/Scene 12-18-09 2-28-10 5 Final Capstone Report 1-25-10 5-21-10 55 Animate/Composite Models/Scenes 12-11-09 4-17-10 98 Block Scene/Animation 12-11-09 3-8-10 2 Edit to Sync Sound to Animation 3-9-10 4-17-10 14 Key and In-Between Frame Creation 3-9-10 4-17-10 48 Create Model Rigs/Deformers/Expressions 3-9-10 4-17-10 24 Create Maya Cameras for Editing Shots 3-27-10 4-17-10 10 Test Renders of Animation and Revisions 3-27-10 5-14-10 39 Test Rendering 3-27-10 5-14-10 30 Compositing Test Render[s] 3-27-10 5-14-10 7 Final Editing of Sound etc. 3-27-10 5-14-10 2 Create Animation Website 3-27-10 5-20-10 14 Create Animation Poster 4-17-10 5-14-10 12 Final Production 5-15-10 5-20-10 19 Final Rendering & Compositing of High Definition Animation 5-15-10 5-20-10 12 Create Compressed Version of Animation 5-15-10 5-20-10 1 Create Final Capstone Presentation 4-17-10 5-20-10 6 Practice Presenting Final Capstone Presentation 5-7-10 5-20-10 3 Put on Final CD & Animation Website 5-15-10 5-20-10 2 Show at The National Steinbeck Center m-d-yy m-d-yy 4 Present Final Project 5-21-10 5-21-10 1.167 Total Hours* 605.2 *Total Hours does not include grey rows. Nihonyanagi Page 8
Timeline Key Sections Symbol Sections Symbol Animation Other Preproduction Production Postproduction Capstone Proposal ITCD ILP Portfolio Site Final Capstone Presentation & Report Nihonyanagi Page 9