2011 Animation Contest

[Tony.Wu]

Originally Posted by TsUNaMy WaVe

I'm new to that 3D animation thing, do you think I still manage to create a 30sec animation...?
I have experience on animating, but no 3D...

This is basically what goes into a 3D animation

Concept/Script/Storyboard

Modelling

Texturing

Rigging

Animating\Scene Setup

Rendering

Post Production

Submit!

Modelling is creating the objects that you want in your scene. Like props, Characters, Scenery...

To get you started here is a good site to go for tutorials;
http://area.autodesk.com/tutorials-tips

Texturing is "coloring in the models"

Rigging might be a bit painful and time consuming. It's basically setting up the models to be animated. Creating joints and skeletons, degrees of freedom if you like. Pretty much creating the tools you need to animate.

'Animating' is kind of Flash but in 3D.. Key Frames, stuff like that

Then Rendering is taking those scenes you've made and making them into presentable videos. Makes everything in your viewport shinny pretty much.

Feel free to ask any more questions.

Good Luck!

[TsUNaMy WaVe]

Originally Posted by SmurfinLennon

It depends what you have had experience with. FIRST requires that animators use 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya, or something else I can't remember to create your submission. You should at least be a bit familiar with the basics of the interfaces of one of these programs.
My first year, I learned most of 3ds Max by looking up tutorials, and for learning Maya I went to a 3-week summer camp.
I guess it depends how good you are with a) any of the required programs b) learning a program and/or c) following directions

If you want to give it a try and you need help, there are plenty of people here you can turn to. I can help a bit, but I'm kinda still getting the hang of it myself.
Good luck

I do use tutorials and good with learning programs, I hope I just make it in time... Thanks anyway

This is basically what goes into a 3D animation

Concept/Script/Storyboard

Modelling

Texturing

Rigging

Animating\Scene Setup

Rendering

Post Production

Submit!

Modelling is creating the objects that you want in your scene. Like props, Characters, Scenery...

To get you started here is a good site to go for tutorials;
http://area.autodesk.com/tutorials-tips

Texturing is "coloring in the models"

Rigging might be a bit painful and time consuming. It's basically setting up the models to be animated. Creating joints and skeletons, degrees of freedom if you like. Pretty much creating the tools you need to animate.

'Animating' is kind of Flash but in 3D.. Key Frames, stuff like that

Then Rendering is taking those scenes you've made and making them into presentable videos. Makes everything in your viewport shinny pretty much.

Feel free to ask any more questions.

Good Luck!

Wow thanks, now I can see all the "plan" XD
I'll come ask agian if I need to U.U

[Kevin Thorp]

My favorite tutorial on "How to make an animated movie":

http://vimeo.com/3347851

I suppose it's not very useful, but it's funny!

[Lesh_M]

If you're having trouble animating the rig, try this:

1. Select one of the bones.
2. Click the 'Motion' Tab.
3. Expand the 'Layer Manager' rollout.
4. Click and hold the 'Add Layer' button (next to the 'X' button).
5. Point to the first option and release, a new 'Animation Layer' is added.
6. Click the 'Setup/Animation Mode Toggle' button.
7. Start creating keyframes for the spline helpers (like 'CTRL_Head').

[SmurfinLennon]

Question for I guess anyone who knows the answer.
Can I open/use the iiko rig in Maya without downloading anything?
Or do I have to convert it from 3ds Max to Maya?

[Jreed129]

Originally Posted by SmurfinLennon

Question for I guess anyone who knows the answer.
Can I open/use the iiko rig in Maya without downloading anything?
Or do I have to convert it from 3ds Max to Maya?

It looks like you may have to convert the .max file that autodesk gave us into a .fbx file which is shared between maya and max for it to open. It doesn't even seem that there is a plugin or add-on you can download for .max files to go directly into maya.

Just my 0.02 I could be wrong I don't know maya that well.

[SmurfinLennon]

Originally Posted by Jreed129

It looks like you may have to convert the .max file that autodesk gave us into a .fbx file which is shared between maya and max for it to open. It doesn't even seem that there is a plugin or add-on you can download for .max files to go directly into maya.

Just my 0.02 I could be wrong I don't know maya that well.

I'm able to import the character, but the movable body parts (or the little circles around them that I don't know the name of) become a mesh instead...

[Jreed129]

Originally Posted by SmurfinLennon

I'm able to import the character, but the movable body parts (or the little circles around them that I don't know the name of) become a mesh instead...

Oh I do not know then.

If you have not noticed yet the FRC Animation tool kit has been posted:

http://students.autodesk.com/?nd=frc2011_animation

I recommend looking at it. I know our team had to come up with a new idea after the new information was presented