SIDigital Animation
Targets & Objectives
For this unit, I made nine objectives: three educational, three personal, and three industry related. I want to be able to accomplish each of these targets and objectives by the end of the unit.
For each division, I have made note of what my targets and objectives are, why I set these specific targets, a mid-semester progress update on Week 6, and an end of unit evaluation on my achievement of my targets and objectives in Week 12.
EDUCATION
1. Learn how to use UnReal Engine's cameras and sequencer
UnReal Engine has been steadily been entering the entertainment industry, especially with the introduction of UnReal Engine 5. With several projects like Super Giant Robot Brothers, UnReal Engine has become industry standard. Mikros Animation, one company I'm interested in, uses UnReal Engine in their pipeline. Therefore I think it would be effective for me to learn how to use UnReal's cameras and sequencer.
2. Improve splining and polishing on a performance test
I am confident in my blocking abilities. However I pay so much attention to blocking, I often find myself struggling with polishing the movement which ends up hindering the final animation. By attempting to improve my splining and polishing on a performance test, this would improve my final animations much more.
3. Do a performance test in Blender
Blender has its place in the animation industry. Most recently used in the LEGO sequence in Sony's 'Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse' (2023) and for grease pencil effects. Similar to UnReal, a number of companies have been using Blender for animation, modelling and rendering work. An example is Mikros Animation, who use it in their pipeline. By gaining technical knowledge of experimenting with Blender, I think I would make myself more accessible through other software.
1. Learn how to use UnReal Engine's cameras and sequencer
2. Improve splining and polishing on a performance test
3. Do a performance test in Blender
1. Learn how to use UnReal Engine's cameras and sequencer
I have not began this yet. I've been juggling familial responsibilities, work and a fair amount of new software. I identify this as a sign to pick up the pace and start working on this.
2. Improve splining and polishing on a performance test
I am currently blocking out my 'The Eternal Question' test, and I will polish that animation when it is done. Currently worried about not getting it done in time due to time lost in Weeks 4 and 5, but I feel confident.
3. Do a performance test in Blender
Learning Blender has been tricky. It's a new software that has similarities and functions to Maya, but has some differences which affect my intuitive thinking. For example, keying in Maya is by pressing 'S' key, whereas keying in Blender 3.6 is 'Shift + S'. There are small technical challenges which come with learning a new software, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. Having the leeway of doing a shorter and a bit simpler audio does help.
1. Learn how to use UnReal Engine's cameras and sequencer
This target was not accomplished. My main focus for my development work surrounded doing Performance animation work, that I did not manage to incorporate UnReal Engine into my pipeline yet. I attempted to incorporate UnReal into my Performance Animation with a fair amount of difficulty, but the specific objective of using cameras and Sequencers was not achieved.
2. Improve splining and polishing on a performance test
This target has been accomplished. Target was set and approved in Week 3 (10th Oct) and accomplished by Week 12 (11th Dec). I tried improving my splining and polishing on my two performance tests, and I am fairly surprised at how much my splining and polishing skills improved over time. I think my splining could still do with more work, but based on my previous performance animations, I think I've come quite far.
3. Do a performance test in Blender
This target has been accomplished. Target was set and approved in Week 3 (10th Oct) and accomplished by Week 12 (11th Dec). This was one of my main projects for the Portfolio Module. Blender was a struggle initially since it had similar keys, shortcuts and workflow as Maya, but it had small differences which provided a fair amount of difficulty. More can be found in my Development Work tab.
PERSONAL
1. Practice Guitar for One Hour a Week
I have had a guitar for a few years now, but I have as of recently lacked the motivation to play it. I think this unit is a perfect time to pick it back up. By the end of this unit, I want to be able to know and play guitar chords. This way, I will start off slow by building a habit and develop this further later on.
2. Exercise for One Hour a Week
I like exercising, but my problem is consistency. By doing this, I want to build a habit of going to the gym. By allowing myself "one hour a week" I feel as though it allows for me to have more flexibility in my schedule: whether its a full one hour or several increments culminating into an hour.
3. Develop three screenplays for chosen sector
While one of my roles is being a scriptwriter for animation, I want my educational goals to focus more on animation since I am pursuing a Bachelors in Animation. I am developing my scripts separate from the course, and therefore I consider it a personal goal. I have one script in progress called "Moments by Moments" and a few others currently brainstorming.
1. Practice Guitar for One Hour a Week
2. Exercise for One Hour a Week
3. Develop three screenplays for chosen sector
1. Practice Guitar for One Hour a Week
I played my guitar consistently in the first three weeks. I was starting to get the hang of developing my guitar skills. Unfortunately, due to certain responsibilities and deadlines I was handling in Weeks 4-5, I didn't pick up my guitar once since it was not physically available to me. As of this week (Week 6), I have picked up my guitar again. I feel a bit rusty and unfamiliar since a consistency was broken, but I think I can continue this forward.
2. Exercise for One Hour a Week
I have been experiencing several motivational issues with my own self-image and my relationship with the gym and exercise in general. I am working around a solution for this, but currently not on track with achieving this set target specifically.
3. Develop three screenplays for chosen sector
I have completed my "Moments by Moments" script which a sample can be found here. Three more scripts are in development: "The Dreamway", "This is Our World" and "Regalian". Two of these will be developed for the end of the unit.
1. Practice Guitar for One Hour a Week
This target has been achieved. Target was set and approved in Week 3 (10th Oct) and accomplished by Week 12 (14th Dec). I enjoyed playing the guitar for these past twelve weeks. I have started feeling comfortable playing some chords, especially when I got a Capo and was able to play more chords more easily. It's become a new hobby of mine. I think I'll need more time to become better at it, but so far I am happy with where I've reached with guitar.
2. Exercise for One Hour a Week
This target was not achieved. I have often struggled with exercise due to personal reasons. Another major reason why I struggled with achieving this is due to a lack of community surrounding physical exercise, I find I work better when I have a community to communicate and build each other upwards.
3. Develop three screenplays for chosen sector
This target has been accomplished. Target was set and approved in Week 3 (10th Oct) and accomplished by Week 12 (14th Dec). I finished three screenplays: "The Dreamway", "Moments by Moments", and "Regalian". Through this, I realised I enjoy more dramatic genre of storytelling enhanced by humour to break tension. I think I am most proud of "Moments by Moments" since it has connected with several people in a way that intrigues and engages them. I don't think I am at the level of industry standard as of yet, but I am confident in my abilities given how recent I began screenwriting in relation to industry standard.
INDUSTRY
1. Go to two events (minimum)
Over the summer of 2023, I had been to quite a few events, including Festivus in June. I want to be able to go to two events I find on my own. I put the "(minimum)" to allow for additional events in the future if I am able to go to.
2. Review social medias once a week
I am active on social media in terms of my own personal interaction, but I don't usually post on my social media platforms. This objective is to help me be more active online and post more of myself as an artist and a person.
3. Make eight new industry connections
At events, I am able to connect with people and artists across the industry. I want to make, at minimum, eight new industry connections. Either through LinkedIn, Twitter (or X), etc.
1. Go to two events (minimum)
2. Review Social Media platforms once a week
3. Make eight new industry connections
1. Go to two events (minimum)
This target has been accomplished. Target was set and approved in Week 3 (10th Oct) and accomplished by Week 5 (27th Oct). The two events I went to in this time were 'The Directorial Debut of Disney Veteran, Andreas Deja "Mushka"' and MCM London Comic Con. More information on Industry Events can be found here.
2. Review social medias once a week
I have began to be more actively posting on Twitter/X since I've found artists I look up to on those platforms. Due to the regulations Elon Musk has enforced with AI and the fall of the app itself, many artists I follow are shifting to Bluesky, I have managed to get an account on the app, but I am working on developing myself there.
3. Make eight new industry connections
This target has been accomplished. Target was set and approved in Week 3 (10th Oct) and accomplished by Week 5 (27th Oct). I did meet familiar faces at 'The Directorial Debut of Disney Veteran, Andreas Deja "Mushka"' event, so they would not fit this group. However, there were new faces I was able to connect with and engage in industry level conversation. More information on Industry Events can be found here.
1. Go to two events (minimum)
Refer to "Mid-Unit Progress" tab. By end of Semester, I accomplished and exceeded this goal, having gone to 12 Industry Events from Week 1.
2. Review social medias once a week
This target has been accomplished. Target was set and approved in Week 3 (10th Oct) and accomplished by Week 12 (14th Dec). My attention was mainly focused on developing my LinkedIn and Twitter/X platforms. I had some instances on my Instagram account, and developed a variety of social media accounts like BlueSky and joining community groups on Discord.
3. Make eight new industry connections
Refer to "Mid-Unit Progress" tab. By end of Semester, I exceeded this number having made 28 new industry connections and contacts.