[FINAL] Meteor Ride

Password: trixisforkids

The hardest part, for me, on this project would have to be time management (oddly enough). There would be times that I would overestimate my skills, so when reality came knocking at my door, I was behind. But I'm glad that I collaborated with Elyssa Davis because she really did help me when I had issues with the program or if I needed to learn a new technique. This experience was great because this was, I would say, the first collaborative school project that went well. Well in the sense that we weren't at each other's throats; we both wanted to get the project done, and we would update with each other our plans. This project was a great way to communicate and collaborate with each other; it was also a good reminder on why I liked collaborating with others.

[Project 4] Pitch

Synopsis
"Aster-ride" (WIP) is an animated short that explores a family's day out... in SPACE. This alien family goes out together to watch an asteroid rodeo. However, once the dad slurps his the last drop of his beer, he assigns his son, Spencer, to watch his little sister, Trixie. Yet the little girl may be a bit much for Spencer as she places herself in the ring. It's a wild ride for everyone of all ages.

Characters

Spencer is an apathetic teenager glued to his phone 24/7.

  

Trixie is a hyper-active 4 year with a taste for adventure and dangerous situations.

Dad just loves to drink beer. Goofy and lovable, this father of two tries to connect with his children, but it usually results in second-hand embarrassment.

Background

Calendar 

[Project 4] Characters and Environments

Dad color schemes

Environment Color

Environment Final Feel

Visiting Artist Response 2: Ji Lee

Ji Lee was born in 1971 in Seoul, Korea. He migrated to Brazil when he was 10. High school wasn't fun for him, but that changed when he pursued art. He moved to New York to major in Fine Arts before changing his major to Graphic Designs.

He did multiple projects including "Words as Images" (which focused on the letters to form an idea). So, during his college years, what he did was FUN. But then reality knocked on his door and said "HEY, SO A JOB"

So Ji Lee got a job in design, but his interest was in advertising. Design was all about aesthetics, seriousness, and it had a smaller audience. But with advertising, it's all about the concept, for him it was fun, and it presented itself to a bigger audience. He was influenced by Brazil to pursue design.

But his main message was all about doing personal projects. Because you can do professional work, but when you do personal projects, you can find new opportunities. For Ji Lee, it was creating a typeface that made letters into 3D space. He just had fun messing with new ideas. Even on Instagram, he had an idea and he posted it. His Bubble Project was also a personal project that integrated the consumer's voices.

But the thing is, he's not afraid to show his ideas. In fact, when confronted with the question of if he's afraid if someone takes his idea, he states that because he shares his idea the moment he has it, it's then harder to steal the idea. Because the idea is out there, so by sharing it he ends up with the claim.

But his final messages were:

• Work on personal projects
• "Ideas are nothing. Doing is everything."

This artist lecture was one of the best ones I've ever been to. He kept entertaining his audience, and there was never a dull moment. 

[Project 4] Characters, Environments, and Storyboards

Characters (done by Elyssa)

Side-by-side

Texture

Environments (done by Von)

*This one 

Too close to Spencer's jacket 

 *interest*

Too close to Spencer's jacket 

 Ice rink???

Calendar

[Project 4] Storyboard Thumbnails, Calendar, and More

Outline

ACT ONE

Setting: Space Rodeo (arena/asteroid belt?) Collects asteroids?

Film starts: Spencer, little sister, and parents are going to go to watch the Asteroid (Riding) Show.

Inciting Incident: Parents tell him to watch his little sister as they go get snacks. Spencer takes his sister to their seats (“You just can’t miss this one, folks”)

Plot Point 1: Spencer looks back to where his sister would be, but *GASP* she’s MISSING ( are they at their seats here?)

ACT TWO

Setbacks:  Spencer can’t find sister (Zoey? Joey? Lily?) He’s looking in the seats (down) trying to find his sister. Kinda worried, but eh, she does this a lot.

Protag react: BUT WAIT. What’s this? The announcer is saying something about a young rider??? This gets Spencer’s attention; he turns around and LO AND BEHOLD, SHE’S ON THE BIG SCREEN?!?! HIS SISTER IS IN THE ARENA WITH THE ASTEROIDS. Brother is horrified and jumps over onto the arena to get to her.

Plot point 2:  As Spencer tries to get his sister, parents go to call and check up (see they’re next in line)

(maybe he fiddle and juggles his phone? And hangs up on them? [Oh noooooo. Real chaos])

ACT THREE

Climax:  Sister is having fun; Spencer is freaking out. Asteroids are all over the place, making it difficult for Spencer to get to sister. As we deal with the fast pace of Spencer’s pov, we go back to the parents as they slowly pay for their snacks and drinks. He gets on an asteroid, manages to grab his sister before- WHAM another asteroid rams into theirs and THEY FLYYYY

Denouncement: Land in their seats? Happy sister, frightened/traumatized brother.

Ending: As Spencer is shaking in his seat and his sister bounces happily in hers, the parents gets back. The announcer says something like “My stars, folks. That’s something you’ll never get to see again.” Parents are all like “OH NO, WE MISSED IT.” Spencer passes out. (Eyes roll up and he slides out of his seat) His sister is bouncing in her seat and just chants “AGAIN! AGAIN!”

Rough Thumbnails

Done by Elyssa D.

Done by Von M.

Updated Calendar

March 31: Finished Outline, Finish some concept designs, Rough storyboards/thumbnails

April 5: Finalized designs, Roughly completed animatic, splitting up who will do which scenes

April 7: DEFINITELY A COMPLETED ANIMATIC, ALL ASSETS DONE, RIGS SET UP

April 12 and 19: At least 12 seconds of animation (each) [Subject to change]

April 14 and 21: At least 6 seconds of animation (each) [Subject to change]

April 26: Compositing/FX
April 28: DUE

Asteroid Designs

Designs by Elyssa D.

[Project 4] Concept Work

Elyssa and I would like to work on a collaborative animated project done with After Effects CC (with DUIK).

Short Synopsis

Spencer, an apathetic babysitter, is hired to take the cute little alien girl, (insert cute name here), to a Space Rodeo at a fair. However, taking care of this little girl is not as easy as it seems. Spencer must corral this little lil' buckaroo before her parents find out that she went missing. Join us as we go on a wild adventure filled with crazy, fun asteroid rides.

Outline

Protagonists: Little girl (name TBD) and SPENCER, the male babysitter

ACT ONE

Setting: Space Rodeo (arena/asteroid belt?) Collects asteroids?

Film starts: Male babysitter with little girl (male babysitter reassuring parents)

Inciting Incident: Sees “space bull ride”

Plot Point 1: Little girl is missing

ACT TWO

Setbacks:  Babysitter can’t find girl (Zoey? Joey? Lily?)

Protag react: Kid gets on asteroid, horrified babysitter

Plot point 2:  Babysitter tries to gets the little girl (who is on the asteroid); parents go to call and check up

ACT THREE

Climax:  Little girl has fun. Asteroids are all over the place. Babysitter gets on one of the asteroids, manages to grab the little girl before another asteroid rams into the other and then THEY FLYYYY

Denouncement: WHAM They fall right behind parents; happy child

Ending: “See you next Tuesday” parents say. The babysitter is both horrified and exhausted.

Initial Character Designs

Images above done by Elyssa Davis

Image above done by Von Muren

Environment References
A rodeo in space

Feel of Film

Something with more texture, so the final product doesn't feel computerized.

Rough Calendar

Estimated Run Time: 1-2 minutes (Median: 1 min and 30 sec)

Animation per person: 30 seconds - 1 minute (Median: 45 sec each)