With the popularity of movies like Ice Age and Shrek, the genre of 3D animated films has established its place in 21st century culture. 3D animation programs such as Alias|Wavefront’s Maya have made creating 3D characters and 3D animated projects possible. What’s more, there’s a demand for 3D animation over and beyond what animation houses and movie studios are currently producing. Now, the fast development of the technology is bringing costs down and the character-creating tools in off-the-shelf software programs are vastly improved. The massive use of this new technology in the production of TWP, will allow us to explore fantastic worlds to a depth not possible mere months ago. The core animation team of TWP works together for already 5 years. The average professional experience of an animator in our company is 10 years. The animation department of TWP was founded more than 3 years ago and since that time new talented animators have joined us. 3 years ago we began to produce 3D animation. First it were separate objects, now we create the whole range of 3D products: Movies 3D, CD PC-MAC Games, Online Games, Mobile Games, Technical Models, Screensavers, Photo realistic visualization. A dramatic benefit will be the ability to reapply digitally generated material. Once our characters, monsters and scenery have been created and stored in the computer network, they are as maneuverable as any digital data, and can be reused in future episodes.
Animators, programmers, sound producer and testers – all of them take part in animated cartoon development.
We use 3D technologies to produce:
Movies 3D CD PC/MAC Games Online Games Mobile Games Technical Models Screensavers Photo Realistic Visualization
Movies 3D
Movies 3D
Get to know how we began 3 years ago:
Thief of Baghdad
Shaman
Real Time
Babysitting
CD PC/MAC Games
Online Games
Mobile Games on Flash
Mobile Games on J2ME
Technical models
Screensavers with well-known characters
Photo Realistic Visualization
Project Management and Communication
The regular communication between programmers and customer is managed by a coordinator. The coordinator informs the customer about actual project status, forwards the questions from and to the project team. We create a unified projectname@thewebproduction.com e-mail address for all developers to ensure that each team member is always informed on updates. We developed special online tool to manage the creation process of 3D animation: Customer Lounge.
Customer Lounge
In general for discussing and approval process we use our own online software – Customer Lounge, where the customer may read all the information about present state of the project and view drafts of characters and backgrounds, lay-outs, pilot, each released part of the project and Microsoft project plan. Every customer receives a unique login and password that allows him to enter the individual project directory. Also a User’s Guide can be downloaded. During the project the Customer Lounge grows constantly. The use of Customer Lounge keeps the customer informed and allows him to have access to the project information at any moment.
Approval process
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project contains timeframes of the project and provides our clients with the list of functionalities. Before the project starts we calculate the required time and evaluate the plausibility of the project. The result is the planned budget. Microsoft Project is useful in tasks distribution between employees.
In general creating of 3D sequences - Movies 3D, CD PC/MAC Games, Online Games, Mobile Games, Technical Models, Screensavers and Photo realistic visualization consists of the following stages: 1. 2. 3. 4. Developing an idea – Scripting Pre-Production Production Postproduction
1.
Developing an idea – scripting
A good script ensures the success. Therefore it’s important to think over the script in depth. The script of the movie is delivered by the customer, written by one of our professionals or created in cooperation with the customer. In the first case we receive the script and estimate its plausibility. The delivered script can include sketches of main characters and backgrounds. If it meets our requirements we proceed to Pre-Production. In the second case we develop the script that also can embrace sketches of the main characters and backgrounds. The script has to be discussed with the customer and finally approved by him. Working in cooperation with the customer we exchange ideas and arrange meetings. As a result the script is formed.
2.
Pre-production
Pre-production is the preparatory phase. That is the most important part of production process. We develop the detailed plan of further work on this stage. Prior to developing the storyboard the director has to consider the following questions: What software will be used? How much engines will be used for drawing? How much human resources will be involved in the project? The production process is planned in Microsoft Project.
2.1. Drawing the storyboard and developing the timing
The script is a base for the graphics artist to draw a storyboard – which is a series of sketches graphically representing the actions described in the script. The storyboard allows the scriptwriter, director, producer and animators to visualize and to estimate the project. Timing – movement calculation in time, calculation of the cartoon duration. Storyboard includes the following information: Object placement in the scene Atmospheric information Color information Camera motion Storyboard can be both black-and-white and color if color information is important for the scene. The signed storyboard conforms that we and our clients speak about the same objectives.
Storyboard sample
2.2. Record music & sound
Using the comic, the music composer and the sound editor create and record musical themes
2.3. Track Breakdown
The editor cuts the soundtrack according to the exact duration of the movie and breaks it down into parts. In general it means just a simple phonetical analysis of the dialogues and the definition of the exact position of every sound in relation to the film structure.
2.4. Recording the dialogues with actors
The animation fully depends on the exact synchronization of the pictures and the soundtrack, that’s why the animator should get the tunes, sounds and dialogues even before he starts drawing. Only in this case can he reproduce the actions correspondingly.
2.5. Creation of character sketches
The final sketch of the character – color sketches form all perspectives – is called a Model sheet and is further used as a basis for drawing all the characters. The character sketches have to be approved by the producer. Using 3D we create both realistic human models and cartoon characters:
2.6.Background sketches are drawn in 2D
They have to be approved by the customer.
3. Production
On this stage characters and backgrounds are modeled.
The stages to create the character in 3D:
Sketching Modeling Lighting - Shadowing Texturing Set up Rigging Animation Facial expressions Approval
3.1. Cartoon characters
Cartoon character sketching
The first step in creating a character is drawing a sketch in 2D. Either customer delivers a sketch or animators work it up guided by customer’s description and own fantasy.
Cartoon character modeling
Then 3D animator proceeds to model the character. During the process of modeling animators determinate: How will the character move? Where will it bend? From what angle will it be viewed? The result of modeling process is an invisible mesh of the character that is his contour.
Cartoon character modeling
We create all kinds of characters. Generally they are classified as typical and unusual. All the movements of a typical character are human-like. The most created characters are typical therefore this area is investigated in detail. Nevertheless, because we expect from typical characters to move human-like, development of such characters demands extensive experience in 3D animation. Unusual characters don‘t have personality in real life, for example an iron.
Lighting – shadowing of cartoon character
Lighting and shadowing add the feeling of reality to any 3D scene. Lighting gives volume to the characters and makes them like tangible. First animator determinates, where attention has to be focused. Light type used for illumination depends on the type of subject that has to be lighted. Virtual source of light illuminates the character, and animator can correct the mesh if it casts unnatural shadow.
Cartoon character texturing
Until this phase the character represents only a collection of digital data. The texturing is the process of character painting. In contrast to traditional animation where every frame has to be painted manually anew, 3D objects are painted only one time. It reminds of a model shot.
Cartoon character setup
Setup is the development of the character’s skeleton. To imitate the action the animator sets the skeleton going. It ensures plastic and coordinated motions of the character. That’s one of the most important tasks of animator because the correct set up of bone structure determines the accuracy of motions.
Cartoon character rigging
Rigging is the process of the mesh deformation adjustment according to the underlying bone structure of the character. Skin automatically determines what areas of the applied mesh are assigned to a particular bone.
Cartoon character animation
The final step of character creating is animation. The animator enlivens the character moving his bones of the skeleton. The animator creates key frames. In-between frames are generated by the special software. Thus software accomplishes the functions of in-betweeners in 3D animation . Sample of key frames:
Cartoon character animation
After the final visualization the animator can operate the character like he wants by moving character’s bone structure. Animated character is published in Customer Lounge where the customer can review and approve him or reject.
3.2. Realistic human model Realistic human modeling
Realistic human modeling
Realistic human modeling
Realistic human model texturing
Additional features & animation
Realistic human model facial expressions
Modeling the character includes the development of morph targets for facial expressions. Morph target samples
3.3. Conversion from 2D to 3D
A 3D Model can be made on basis of a 2D model. Many people know the Peanuts and especially the main character of this cartoon movie – Snoopy. Now Snoopy takes part in new 3D animation movies.
Sketch
Snoopy modeling
Snoopy modeling
Snoopy lighting and shadowing
Snoopy texturing
Finished model
Finished model
3.4. Use 3D in 2D cartoon films
At present objects, made in 3D, are extensively used in 2D animation. The combination of 3D and 2D animation is a standard today. It is determined by a potential of 3D technologies: a character can be turned at every angle without repainting. Both 2D and 3D models of the same character can be used in a cartoon. The replacement of 2D model by 3D model can happen in the scene with special effects like in the following picture. The audience doesn’t notice the appearance of 3D models – “stunt men”.
Creation of 3D models for 2D animation
3.5. Creation of backgrounds
Every object of the background is created separately. As soon as a new model is created we place it in our own Models Bank. All the interior objects are kept there. The background is assembled by a number of objects that can be turned at every angle. Cartoon backgrounds:
This backgrounds stylize like 2D animation. The use of creating the 2D look-like backgrounds in 3D consists in possibility to move the camera. Thus large quantity of backgrounds made at different angles arise.
Modeling a background
The background can be sent to the customer for approval on the modeling-phase.
3.6. Rendering
The final stage of the 3D animation is the integration of all created characters and backgrounds. The result is the number of finished scenes. The characters have to be placed into backgrounds during the rendering. The rendering speed depends on the hard- and software used. Faster hardware is reducing rendering times, or allowing for more complexity in the same amount of time.
4.
Postproduction
4.1. Assembling
On this stage all the scenes have to be assembled.
4.2. Music and sound
Music and sound join the movie.
4.3. Visual effects
Various visual effects are superimposed on frames.
4.3. Visual effects
Visual computer effects are widely used in the modern animation and cinema to intensify the expressiveness of action and escalate the sensations.
Contact:
The Web Production 11th line 38 Vasilievsky Island 199178 St.Petersburg Russia Phone: +7 (812) 320 47 00 Fax: +7 (812) 320 47 01 e-mail: info@thewebproduction.com