Animating Process - Scene 0 (Intro Scene)

Probably would have been easier to call this scene 1 but what you gonna do?

Anyway this scene is the introduction of the character, shot in silhouette to maintain mystery and suspense.

Character is revealed!

This scene didnt take too long to create, he simply stands in the doorway with his hands on his hips in an impatient manner as the doors slide open. A target spot camera is placed behind him with high intensity to create a silhouette.

Here is how it looks at the moment:

Animating Process - Scene 1

Since I have a walking cycle animation already working I decided to start with one of the first scenes where the character walks into his laboratory. The shot focused on the characters legs since the final reveal of what he looks like is supposed to be dramatic.

Setting the scene

I set up a temporary floor and walls for the shot which I will probably texture later on. This scene will also be dark until the character claps on the lights in the room. The camera is link constrained to the line path setup alongside the character.

Setting the Walk Mode to Walk on Line

In the global settings for the CAT motion layer there is a setting to change the walk mode. Using walk on line makes the character walk forward from its starting position. You can also set the step time in frames and how far he steps in stride paremeters. I have already adjusted them here.

Camera View

 

 

Modifying the global weights of the motion layers

By changing the global weights of the motion layers in CAT you can blend between poses and animations. I created a standing pose layer for when he stops walking and slowly blend the weight to 100% until it takes full priority. I used the Global Layer Weights Curve Editor to tweak it until it looked natural.

 

Not perfect but a good start.

Animation Stroyboard

Finally got round to drawing up the storyboard for the final animation. I've had the text portion below written out for a couple of weeks now. In any case here is the final draft I have created.

Storyboard

Setting

A lab room full of equipment, there are tables with scrap littered about and a main desk with blueprints on them. There is also a blackboard with complicated maths on it. The room starts out very dark with no windows. The room is later illuminated by industrial lights from above which are clap activated. 

Intro

• Dark scene, door opens and some light floods in.
• Character walks in (Camera follows the characters legs as he walks).
• Character Stops. Camera switches to his hands.
• He claps and the lights above switch on.
•  Camera stays on his hands as he drums his fingers together thinking.

Set-Up

• Scene cuts to character smoothing out his blueprints with his hands on a desk. 
• Title of blueprint is easily visible "Doomsday Machine".
• Camera slowly pans back up to show characters face.
• Character grins menacingly and then laughs hysterically (classic evil laugh and pose)

Mid-Shots

• Shot of character putting on his goggles to work.
• Sound effects highlight most of the action as the character works on his machine.
• Camera shows scrap paper pinned to wall. "Greatest Inventor wins yet another award". 
• The picture is clearly of someone else. The picture has a red big cross on it.
• Couple shots showing character working on machine. - Using wrench - half underneath machine. etc.

Ending

• Machine is finished, character pushes up his goggles.
• Before pressing the button he is clearly excited, gesturing with his hands (fingers wriggling) and then slowly he presses the button on the machine.
• Machine makes odd noises, sputters, powers up and finally DING. Toast pops out.
• Shot of characters face - shocked non expression.
• Head falls and he droops all disappointed.

Post-Credits Bonus

• Character sitting in a chair munching on toast. 

Storyboard 1

Storyboard 2