Scavengers Linetests

Scavengers linetests from Eleonora Di Massimo on Vimeo.

I collected few line tests from my graduation film and decided to put them together. I can finally see some progress in the animation, where I put most of my energies this year. Also, I'm a fan of rough line tests, and in the case of my film, these lines make look the character a little bit more "alive".

Scavengers- early concepts

These are some early concepts/ presentation storyboard frames from when I was still developing the film idea. When I came up with the final design for the foxes, I had this crazy idea of inking all the frame traditionally using ink and nib. When I came to realise that i could not make it in the time given, I  tried to re-create the bold lines digitally. Didn't work quite well, and it would have still slowed down the production, but I like how the lines work. Colour, on the other hand, has been an issue I didn't solve until the week before the hand in, after some precious suggestions from my main tutor.

Foxes, foxes and more foxes!

Because foxes was all I saw for quite a while this year.
I have been quite busy working on my graduation film lately and that's the main reason why I haven't updated this blog in a while.
Here's an early storyboard I did back in February.

Fox line test

A 30 sec animation line test i presented last week for my graduation film pitch. Also, my first "serious" animation i've done in TVPaint. I feel like i'm starting to get hold of it.

Fox sketches

Fox studies for my graduation film project.

Ink brush + Photoshop CC

Beware of the Kelpie!

I've presented a re-adaptation of the Scottish/Irish folktale, the Kelpie, as a possible idea for my graduation film. For people not familiar with it, the kelpie is a water spirit who shapes into a horse to attract his victims and drown them. It either invites naive people to ride him, or pretends to be a horse drowning. 

Apparently it's quite a popular choice as an animation idea, so I eventually had to go for something else.

These were some experiments for the animation style and the character designs.

Evergreen valley: Final film

EverGreen Valley from Eleonora Di Massimo on Vimeo.

Finally, it's done! The more i look at it the more i notice all the mistakes i've done. I've learned a little bit more about compositing in After Effects, which is actually pretty funny if you have a computer which doesn't crash so often. I'm quite happy i decided to experiment a little bit with the medium, instead of going for the classical animation film look.

Evergreen Valley: Presentation Storyboard

These are all my frames for the presentation storyboard. I eventually went for a hand painted style, which set me a lot of challenges, but made me more confident with my idea.

A black bear witnesses the destruction of his home and runs away terrified. When he comes back, the fertile land has been replaced by a wasteland, and he seems to be the only alive being left.

Evergreen Valley: Concepts

Few concepts i did for my second film project. I've really struggled to find a simple but effective storyline and a nice visual style. The film is about deforestation and destruction of natural habitat.

Animal watercolours

So, i have an idea for an animated film, featuring a bear and possibly a deer. I was not really familiar with bear anatomy and i wanted to experiment a little bit to find a drawing style that would have appealed to me, so i did some photographs studies.

The Encounter: final film

The Encounter from Eleonora Di Massimo on Vimeo.

 And here it is. I'm not too satisfied with it, but at least i've learnt quite a lot about time management when it comes to planning out the whole production.
Also, i've come to hate the basic Photoshop brushes, so i'll guess i'll use some costum ones next time.

BAA Sting: Character Designs

As part of my After Effects classes, i have to work on a sting for the opening of the British Animation Awards 2014. It's a pretty interesting task, and it really makes you play around with the subject. These are some character designs i've been producing.

The Encounter Line Test

I was required to have a 10 second line test for my critique assessment and this is what came out. Animating an interesting scene from the film was highly suggested, so i went straight to the point where the boy encounters the wolf.
This was my first time animating in photoshop and i think it's pretty decent, although it could be smoother.

The Encounter: Presentation Storyboard

Presentation storyboard for my first second year film, The Encounter. A little boy sneaks into the woods and while fooling around has an encounter with a black wolf that teaches him to be more cautious.