2007 Autodesk Visualization Design Competition

[BuddyB309]

We hope to be done by thursday. The our animation doesnt consist of any complex characters that we have to rig and texture. Its mainly basic geometric shapes but they are animated very well. So the animation itself looks really cool. We dont want to over crowed the frame so we decided to keep it that way. Also we did a [i]lot[i] of planning and we all know exactly what is in each camera shot. So there is no time spent on stuff that the camera hardly sees saving quite a lot of time.
Also We've learned to be fast each person works on the specific part of each model that they are good at, like an assembly line. For example, one guy works on the model, hands it off to the guy who does textures, then it gets handed to the guy who does animation. We also set up a network so all of our files that we are making are using the same path so we are not spending time looking for the textures when the program cant find it. We also have strict rules in what to name your textures and .max files and where to put them on the servers. We also went to the extent of locking ourselves in a small little room (I gues you could call it a broom closet) to block out all external distractions. No one can come in unless we let them and when I assume that they are to distracting, i ask them to leave. We save any animated textures or any test renders that need to be renderd for when we go home for the night. The computers stay on and render out the files and then its done when we come back. We really have only emerged from our "Cage" for bathroom breaks, mountain dew, and food. This model works, I highly recomend all animation teams to use this model. We've gotten so much done in a very short period of time. Cause when it comes down to it, animation is only concentration.

Also the time that we have left is going to be use to finely tweek every little detail. Or we could make the most extravagant credits that the judges have ever seen!

[Drew]

Originally Posted by BuddyB309

We hope to be done by thursday. The our animation doesnt consist of any complex characters that we have to rig and texture. Its mainly basic geometric shapes but they are animated very well. So the animation itself looks really cool. We dont want to over crowed the frame so we decided to keep it that way. Also we did a [i]lot[i] of planning and we all know exactly what is in each camera shot. So there is no time spent on stuff that the camera hardly sees saving quite a lot of time.
Also We've learned to be fast each person works on the specific part of each model that they are good at, like an assembly line. For example, one guy works on the model, hands it off to the guy who does textures, then it gets handed to the guy who does animation. We also set up a network so all of our files that we are making are using the same path so we are not spending time looking for the textures when the program cant find it. We also have strict rules in what to name your textures and .max files and where to put them on the servers. We also went to the extent of locking ourselves in a small little room (I gues you could call it a broom closet) to block out all external distractions. No one can come in unless we let them and when I assume that they are to distracting, i ask them to leave. We save any animated textures or any test renders that need to be renderd for when we go home for the night. The computers stay on and render out the files and then its done when we come back. We really have only emerged from our "Cage" for bathroom breaks, mountain dew, and food. This model works, I highly recomend all animation teams to use this model. We've gotten so much done in a very short period of time. Cause when it comes down to it, animation is only concentration.

Also the time that we have left is going to be use to finely tweek every little detail. Or we could make the most extravagant credits that the judges have ever seen!

I wish it was that easy for us. For the 4 years I have been on the team Me and another student are still the only people who know the software. With 4 other students who want to learn our mentors need to get their priorities straight. They keep putting our Students onto other jobs and not dedicating to animation. I know you all know but they dont understand how many hours we put into these animations because we work from day to night, night to day. Robotics time, to class time, to home time. They are always proud of our work but never conciderate when we need to teach other students. We are seniors this year and off to college in september. What happens when the animation students dont know the software? well i guess we will find out. Im really excited though HERE WE GO!!!

[Testament-Doom]

Seems you have a team dedicated to 3D studio max, I like that.

As for me on team 555... I'm really the only animator, heh. There are a couple of people interested this year, but they need lots of training, since they're fairly new to it. Most of the ideas and what to do is coming from me, so... what will it be, a mass of people working on specific parts of the project, or a main creator that does practically everything that has helpers to help him along if needed, with the main creator teaching his apprentances when neeeded? Seems to be a nice little twist here . All in all, good luck. We're going to desgin the animation today. Always nice to have a bit of competition, no?

[spinmunky]

Originally Posted by BuddyB309

Also We've learned to be fast each person works on the specific part of each model that they are good at, like an assembly line. For example, one guy works on the model, hands it off to the guy who does textures, then it gets handed to the guy who does animation. We also set up a network so all of our files that we are making are using the same path so we are not spending time looking for the textures when the program cant find it. We also have strict rules in what to name your textures and .max files and where to put them on the servers. We also went to the extent of locking ourselves in a small little room (I gues you could call it a broom closet) to block out all external distractions. No one can come in unless we let them and when I assume that they are to distracting, i ask them to leave. We save any animated textures or any test renders that need to be renderd for when we go home for the night. The computers stay on and render out the files and then its done when we come back. We really have only emerged from our "Cage" for bathroom breaks, mountain dew, and food. This model works, I highly recomend all animation teams to use this model. We've gotten so much done in a very short period of time. Cause when it comes down to it, animation is only concentration.

Also the time that we have left is going to be use to finely tweek every little detail. Or we could make the most extravagant credits that the judges have ever seen!

I wish we could do that.. sadly we can't because I'm the only animator! well there is another but he doesn't know that much of Max and he is always goofing off.

[BuddyB309]

Originally Posted by spinmunky

I wish we could do that.. sadly we can't because I'm the only animator! well there is another but he doesn't know that much of Max and he is always goofing off.

It seems everyone seems to think we are top notch animation locked in a broom closet. Well, we dont have a team of top notch animators, I am the only one who know the program really well. The other animators know only the basics, I know im fast, and when someone is stuck on a problem i take the time to help them. Also that is why you have them do the same thing over again cause eventually, they will stop asking you for help cause they know what they are doing.

[RoboJedi75]

Originally Posted by BuddyB309

This model works, I highly recomend all animation teams to use this model. We've gotten so much done in a very short period of time. Cause when it comes down to it, animation is only concentration.

Yeah, it's an awesome setup. We tried that last year, and then one part fell... and the assembly line just dissolved.

I just wish my team had been able to get more experience in before now (most of my team is new/not-as-skilled members).

[Kevin Thorp]

One thing I've noticed when reviewing past winners is the best looking animations don't win. Autodesk is more concerned with the message.

So even if your team doesn't have a bunch of top-notch animators you can still win, if you have a great idea that fit's the "Think Green" theme.

[BuddyB309]

Originally Posted by Kevin342

One thing I've noticed when reviewing past winners is the best looking animations don't win. Autodesk is more concerned with the message.

So even if your team doesn't have a bunch of top-notch animators you can still win, if you have a great idea that fit's the "Think Green" theme.

Thats why I liked it when they handed out regional awards, the best animators won the regionals and the best message won nationals.

[Testament-Doom]

Anyone up for best looking AND best message, hmm? . A toughie to do, but maybe it can be done!

[BuddyB309]

Originally Posted by Testament-Doom

Anyone up for best looking AND best message, hmm? . A toughie to do, but maybe it can be done!

Yum, I smell the delicious smell of a challenge!

[Testament-Doom]

I can always sense which qualities an animation has on what sections and what they lack. Heard your completing your animation on thursday . Sure we're competing a bit but if you want, you can show me the animation and I'll help you out on if you're missing anything or what points you need to work on, both technically and message quality. I do want to help ya know, heh. Let's see which one uf us animators has the potential for that best message and best quality for an animation, push it to the limit!

[BuddyB309]

This animation is good, we are just sticking to the look of our idea and for some reason our look is really easy and fast to make. If we really wanted to we could make something like this. That video was made solely by me in a period of two months inbettween everything else I had going on. So mainly I could only worked on it durring weekends.

[Testament-Doom]

Very nice work there! You're like me, but not really lazy and can get things done, lol. I usually work in-between things too, but really when I do something, like my art peices, they take a day to do. I mostly sit and play video games a lot, so I'm a pro gamer. If I wasn't distracted by other things like games 24/7, I'd be 2-3x smarter with 3ds max, and that's saying a lot, I mean every nook and cranny of that program! I gotta work my butt off if I want to get the animation done this year looking its best. If not, I still got another year ahead of me, I'm only a junior

I got some suggestions on the video there, but then you're gunna send your robot after me, and umm.. yeah, don't want that! ^^;;; Any other peices you got? I wanna check em out.

[BuddyB309]

Procrastination and Trex on table

I am proud to announce........ahem......

RENDER NIGHT!!!! WHOO HOO!!!!!! WE HAVE IT COMPLETELY FINISHED AND RIGHT ON SCHEDUALE!!!!

It should be completly done by tomorrow if all the computers run smoothly and none of them crash. Sadly, I'm not going to release it untill a couple of weeks go by, some teams are still comming up with ideas .

[BuddyB309]

Wow, I never thought we could do it in one week. I really highly advise people to use our set up. One computer crashed durring the rendering but the computer that was dedicated as the server picked up the job and finished it. Popo308 will give you the specs, he set up the system

Our animation is gorgeous, I cant stop watching it, I cant belive that how simple it is but how complicated it looks on screen. My team has decided to wait upon releaseing it to animation comunity. We still have to wait on the reply on the copyrights owner.