Personal Project-Ninja

        Bonjour! This blog will be about one of my projects that I have done this semester in my animation class. The project I will be talking about is my ninja or story animation that I worked on forever. The project was supposed to teach us how to create a short animated slim, or an animation short. There were a few requirements but nothing too restricting. It was also very fun to work on something that we could make anything up for.

Process

    The process started with us watching some past students works to get ideas for our own short. Then we had a very brief discussion on what the requirements had to be. Some of the things that we must include were having a multiplane and use the puppet pin tool. After the rules were set in place we had a few days to storyboard and draw our characters so we can scan them in. It took me a while to try and think of what I wanted my story to be and how I wanted to do it. I eventually, after a week or so, decided on doing a story about a ninja. But not just any ninja, a ninja who isn't stealthy.  One who would trip and fall and ultimately rip his pants and end up having to go to a clothing store. After I got the story down, I then had to draw my character and took me a while too, until I just started looking up characters to reference. I also wanted my character to somewhat historically correct so I did look up a few ideas on what traditional ninjas would've worn but some of the styles would be too difficult so I stuck with really simple designs. Next, after the coloring which took forever, I got to put everything into Aftereffects. I had a hard time seeing how I would set it u but I eventually just started making new compositions for each new scene and just shortening them and clipping them when I needed to. The whole editing process took a few long weeks, especially with my trying to get this done and the musical and my homework. I actually just finished this project quite recently, which I am very proud of getting it done.

What Did I Learn? 

      I learned a lot while creating this project. I learned that I should manage my time way better and that nothing can ever get done in 5 minutes. But I also learned how to better use aftereffects like the tools and just getting the extra practice I need to be able to do well on my projects in the future. I learned how to keep my layers organized because I had about 60 for all the different body parts. This project was more of a final review with Aftereffects since we started in a 3D program a short while after this project was supposed to be finished.

What Would I Change? 

    I think I would go back in and clean up a lot of stuff. I think the biggest issue is the sliding that my character seems to do. But there are body things that are weird too. Some of the limbs don't match up so I would go and clean those up and maybe add some new layers for that hand and head since it was the same for every single part kinda making it seem really unnatural. I really liked the backgrounds that I created for this project, they look pretty ok for the project. I also like the story and I sorta wish I could add on to it but, where it is at now I really like it. 

Next Time?

  This was a great way to wrap up the 2D animation that we've been working on all year so far. I really enjoyed being able to create something. I also hope that I will remember all the things I learned for next time and that I will hopefully not take so long when I am working on it so my life won't be more stressful then it needs to be. 

Until next time,

SophietheFirst