Extra Credit: CTN and Ottawa Animation Festival

CTN:

OTTAWA:

Creating Stereoscopic 3D Images

(Red/Cyan)

(Red/Cyan)

(Green/Magenta)

Recreating Cameras and Lights in Maya.

Original:

Maya:

Extra Credit: Lighting a Scene in Maya

Unlit

1-pt (Spot-light)

2-pt (Spot-light and Ambient)

3-pt (Spot-light and 2 ambients)

Special Effects in Animation and Live-Action.

My first two term paper scores were 88 and 90; I will not be writing a third term paper

Outline for the Third Term Paper

      I.         Introduction

a.     Evolution of special effects in movies from hand-drawn, practical, SFX (simulated)

b.     Introduce Lava topic

c.      Hand-drawn lava vs. Special effects lava

                                               i.     Fantasia 2000 vs. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith 

    II.         Fantasia 2000 by Disney 1999

a.     Firebird scene: https://vimeo.com/22856764

                                               i.     Effected animation by Ted Kierscey

                                              ii.     Character animation by John Pomeroy

b.     Layered animation

                                               i.     Movement depends on main character movement

c.      Animated in traditional

d.     Effectiveness success

  III.         Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

a.     Anakin vs. Obi Wan Lava scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r3cn6sIsfI

b.     Special effects done by ILM

                                               i.     Green screen

1.     All acting done in front of a green screen

2.     Markers for reference points

                                              ii.     Matte painting background

                                            iii.     Lava Simulation

1.     Layered approach

a.     Base à Steam à Sparks à Secondary animation àDebris

c.      Reactions between interacting forces are important

d.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iAIOuCNc4E

e.     Very Successful

   IV.         Conclusion

a.     Success depends on believability

b.     Key to believable special effects is how much you study the materials

                                               i.     Think about how materials interact

Stop-Motion Character Animation

For this project I worked with fellow classmates Kathy Chu, Ryan Eways, and Geoff Nakanishi. First we thought of a story and then storyboarded the sequence. After we tied down our story, we created the set and props. Then, we finally set out to animate. Because there are multiple cuts, we had to plan out which parts we could film all at once so there's consistent camera angles. We all helped each other out, doing different characters each scene but we always kept in mind the main movement we wanted and the story. Everybody animated every character at one point or the other. Overall, I think this film was successful because of how collaborative our group was.

Here are some pictures of our process:

Science Fact or Cinematic Fiction

When people think of movies that have broken laws of physics, they typically think of animated films. However, broken physics can also be found in live action films as well. It is very common for films, live-action and animated, to establish their own laws of physics in order to establish their own worlds. Some films intentionally create their own physics for both entertainment value and clarity. In this paper, I will be talking specifically about films that break Newton’s third law of physics. This law states that, “for every force, there is a reaction force that is equal in size, but opposite in direction.” The films that I will be examining in my paper are Megamind, The Matrix, and Captain America: Winter Soldier.

Megamind is a 2010 animated film from DreamWorks directed by Tom McGrath. Megamind is about the eternal battle between a superhero named Metro Man and a supervillan named Megamind. Metro Man is an “alien” who is sent to Earth by his parents and with his superstrength, superspeed, and superflight, keeps Metro City safe from Megamind. However, one fateful day, Megamind is finally able to destroy Metro Man and takes over Metro City. Soon, Megamind realizes that his villany does not make him happy anymore without a nemesis, so he creates one and it ends up spiraling out of control.

Even though Megamind is set in a superhero type world, it should still somewhat adhere to the laws of physics. Near the end of the film, Megamind finds out that Metro Man is actually still alive. So, he and Roxanne try to convince Metro Man to help him defeat his newly created nemesis. 

In this scene, Roxanne expresses his anger at Metro Man for faking his death by throwing several items at him including a large speaker and guitar. Surprisingly, even though these heavy items are being pelted at him, Metro Man does not move at all. This breaks Newton’s third law because there appears to be no reaction force happening to the force of the objects hitting Metro Man.

The second movie that breaks Newton’s third law of physics is The Matrix. The Matrix is a 1999 live-action film directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski. The film is set in a dystopian future where the reality perceived by most humans is actually a simulation created by machines. Humans are actually kept plugged into the simulator while their physical body is kept in tube for their body heat and electrical activity. The film’s hero is Neo, a computer programmer, who learns the truth and joins the rebellion in taking down the machines. Even though Neo is now awake in the “real” world, he returns to the simulated world to complete missions for the rebellion.
 
Neo’s main nemesis in the movie is Agent Smith, who he constantly fights throughout the film. In this scene, Neo is in a fist fight with Smith in the subway. Throughout the scene, the physics are actually pretty believable, but the part of the scene I will be talking about takes place around the 1:04 mark.

In this shot, you can see Agent Smith punch Neo. In fact, he punches Neo so in the chest so hard that he flies around 25 feet away. However, If you look closely, Agent Smith does not look like he put in the proper force for that reaction force. For that kind of reaction to happen, Agent Smith’s punch would have to have equal force applied. Agent Smith would have to put in a lot more effort than what was shown in the shot. Therefore, this punch defies Newton’s third law of physics. However, I believe that this wrong portrayal of the law was done intentionally in order to up the stakes and create a more climactic scene.

The next movie that I will be discussing is Captain America: Winter Soldier. This live action film was released by Marvel in 2014 and was directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. The film takes place in a world that is very similar to ours but features humans with super abilities. The film stars Steve Rodgers in his second movie as Captain America. In Winter Soldier, the main storyline features around Steve and his once-thought-dead friend, Bucky Barnes, who turns out to be the Winter Soldier. Both Steve and Bucky are genetically mutated humans and in this film, they both posses super hero like qualities. Using his abilities, Captain America battles the Winter Soldier and a terrorist group, Hydra, from taking over the world and killing millions.

In the beginning of the film, Steve is chasing the Winter Soldier when he finally catches up to him. At this point of the story, Steve does not know that Bucky is the Winter Soldier so he hurls his shield at him. The Winter soldier catches the shield with no recoil. This action clearly breaks Newton’s third law. This can be further proved by the fact that when the Winter Soldier throws the shield back at Steve, there is a reaction force. This scene both broke and followed Newton’s third law. If the film wanted to stay consistent, then the Winter Soldier would show recoil. However, by him not having a recoil, the director established that the Winter Soldier might actually be stronger that Steve.
As you can see, exaggerated or broken physics are not only in animated films, but in live action films as well. Directors typically break physics as a way to exaggerate actions. This is particularly popular in action films there needs some time for the audience to comprehend each action. Also, when characters break certain laws of physics, it gives them a sense of being a special being. Breaking physics is also a way for a director to establish their own rules of the worlds they create. I believe that the broken physics are done intentionally rather than in ignorance for the sake of creating impact. The physics are not necessarily real, but it’s believable in each individual film.

Outline for the Second Term Paper

      I.         Introduction

a.     Common for films to break the laws of physics in order to establish their own rules of their world.

b.     In this paper, I will be talking about films the specifically break Newton’s third Law

                                               i.     This means that for every force there is a reaction force that is equal in size, but opposite in direction.

c.      Film examples: Megamind, Matrix, Winter Soldier

    II.         Megamind

a.     DreamWorks (2010)

b.     Directed by Tom McGrath

c.      Film Description: Setting the superhero world

d.     Example of where it breaks Newton’s 3^rd Law

                                               i.     When MetroMan gets things thrown at him and but he doesn’t move at all.

  III.         Matrix

a.     1999

b.     Directors: Andy and Lana Wachowski,

c.      Film Despcription: Setting up the world

d.     Example:

                                               i.     Subway fight scene

                                              ii.     The recoils of the punches/kicks don’t match with the energy.

   IV.         Winter Soldier

a.     Marvel (2014)

b.     Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo

c.      Film Description: setting up Superhero world

d.     Example:

                                               i.     Captain America throws his shield at the Winter Soldier. When Bucky catches it there is no recoil. However when Bucky throws it back, there is recoil on Steve.

     V.         Conclusion

a.     Breaking physics is a way to exaggerate actions, especially for action films

b.     It’s a way for a director to establish their own rules

                                               i.     Not necessarily real, but it’s believable

Reverse Video Reference

Clip A:

Clip B:

Clip C:

Clip D:

Stop Motion Animation of Falling

To create my animation, I used the straight ahead method. So, that meant that I had to do some pre-planning. I  thought about the spacing I needed to create a believable fall and created small markers on the floor nearby for reference. I would also check my frames on my camera now and then to double check my spacing and timing. Most importantly, I kept in mind a small story that I could tell in this short animation and came up with a transformer chasing a balloon.

Here was my workstation:

Also, here is a bonus cut:

Why? Because no Transformer movie is complete without explosions. 

In honor of Youri Dekker

The Laws of Physics in an Animation Universe

            The film I will be dissecting for its laws of physics is, “George of the Jungle”.  “George of the Jungle” is a live-action film directed by Sam Weisman in 1997. It is based on the American animated series that aired throughout 1967. The film stars George, a man referred to as “the king of the jungle”, who lives with a talking ape, a toucan, a small capuchin monkey, and an African elephant. Though this film is live-action, it possesses a combination of real-life physics and cartoony physics in order to achieve a unique entertaining style that is reminiscent of animated films. “George of the Jungle” is a film that takes place in our world but with a Tex Avery sense of timing and exaggeration in acting and movements.

            The first law of physics in this film’s universe is the principal of unbreakable bodies. The running gag in the film is that George swings from vines and constantly runs into trees. Hence the well known phrase on the movie, “watch out for that tree.” During the film, George can be seen slamming into the trees at such a high velocity that it leaves an imprint of his body on the actual tree. Because his body hits the tree at such high force, his body sticks to the surface for a few seconds after for comedic timing.  Every time George hits a tree, he is dizzy but otherwise completely fine. Another example of the law of unbreakable bodies is when a tour guide is thrown off a bridge and falls down a 1,000-ft ravine and survives with minor cuts and bruises.

The law of unbreakable bodies also suggests that characters poses super human strength. Near the beginning of the film, George gets into a fight with a lion. He is able to kick and throw the lion as if its only 30 pounds. At the end of the scene George uses his super strength to spin the 500-pound lion on the tip of his finger like a basketball. Realistically, that wouldn’t be possible, but in this film where they are trying to achieve comedic movements, it is believable.

            The second law of physics in this film is the cartoony sense of gravity. Throughout the movie there is no consistent law of gravity. When George falls from the trees after hitting it, there is a dely. When George swings from the vines, the timing is very even. In some scenes where George is swinging from the vines, his arcs do not seem to have a distinct pivot point so there seems to be no arc at all. These examples demonstrate that the film’s universe also breaks the physics of circular arcs.

Another property to notice is that when George is swinging on the vines, there is very little to no indication of drag on his body or the flexible vines either. Because the vines are flexible and organic, it shouldn’t be straight. The vine should have some offset of amplitude from the top of the vine versus the bottom. The broken law of gravity is also very noticeable at the start of George’s swings from his tree house to the jungle. His body does not show a sign of gravity pulling him down toward the earth and the vine acting upon his path of action.

            Lastly, “George of the Jungle” has an exaggerated cartoony timing similar to the style of Tex Avery animations. Falling times are consistently slow and there is no sense of slowing in or out. The film uses a lot of blurs and increased frame rate to sped up the movement during fight or action scenes. There are also moments in the film where time seems to slow in order to catch a reaction shot in anticipation of an action. For example, In the scene where Shep, George’s African elephant dog, is shooting coconut cannonballs out of his trunk, the timing is significantly sped up to increase comedic timing. However, when the coconuts finally reach their target, the timing slows so that the audience can relish the moment where the henchmen get hit. This also applies to the timing of how George reacts after he hits trees, sticks, and then falls to the floor.

Another example of the exaggerated movements and timing is how the characters move. Shep also has his own sense of timing and weight. He is a large 5,500 kg African elephant who acts like a dog. He romps around and fetches sticks around the jungle. However, in the real world that you and I live in, an elephant would not be able to move around that quickly. His body weight and proportions would not physically allow for that type of quick movement.

            Later in the film, George travels to San Francisco and has an incident where a paraglider is tangled in the lines of the Golden Gate Bridge. To save the man’s life, George must create the world’s biggest “vine” swing on the bridge in order to reach the man and untangle him. This is the one time in the film where the circular arc looks completely realistic. During this part in the film, the film takes a more realistic approach on physics. There are correct paths of action with drag and weight. This scene stands out from the rest of the movie because of how much more realistic it is compared to the rest of the film. My hypothesis is that the physics of the jungle differ from the physics of the urban world on purpose. That way, the two different worlds are easily distinguishable.

           “George of the Jungle” is a cartoony live action film with its own laws of physics. I believe that the cartoony physics are done with wise intent as homage to the animated series. However, I did find that throughout the movie, the director would constantly change the laws he established from shot to shot. Nonetheless, the movie is so goofy that it is not too noticeable and the audience buys into the physics because of the humor and timing of the gags. Overall, I believe that the director of this film was successful in capturing the cartoon inspiration in a live-action medium.