Cat & Dog Armatures

I started making these armatures last week. I took photos with the new Nikon d5200~ The depth could be better (I think the bundle I purchased is for sight-seeing and travel), but it works. 

 I found these picture frame hangers in the garage (my dad used to be a custom picture framer/gallery owner) and I thought that they would be great for feet. 

My first time making tails. I tried one that is removable and one that isn't. I think the removable one may have balance issues due to the weight... but we'll see what happens later.

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I really should be in studio right now... but I figured that I might as well update this blog since I'm not working. I did some animation tests too, but I haven't gotten uploaded them to Vimeo just yet. Maybe later. 

Ultimately I had to remake Robby... but it was for the best. He looks a lot better now:

 

(toddler clothes from Salvation Army)

 

And for funzies-I saw this video today: 

I can't stop watching it... I'm pathetic.

KISS

Some new stuff from last week. I wish I could elaborate more about my ideas, but I don't have the luxury to do so at the moment. But here's a phrase that I'm trying to abide by for the rest of this project:  

"Keep it simple, stupid."

because I have a nagging tendency to over complicate. And above all, I'm pretty stupid.

Robby

So this is the nearly final version of Robby's head- he still needs some paint on top of the gesso that I primed onto the surface- but that can be done later. His antenna and eyes are replaceable which I'm glad for, but it took some time to figure out how to construct things...

His mouth shattered, as you can see by the slit on the bottom piece of the wood. Luckily it wasn't too noticeable and it was an easy fix.

The handlebar took me three tries. I had to bring back some freshman 3D learnings to make the joint above that left a gap for the metal bar to go through. I then molded propoxy on and sanded it down to what it looks like now.

Lamby

I made her a new hair piece lol. I'm hoping to finish her shirt by the auditorium test... we'll see if that happens.

Set

I want it to be a simple high school auditorium with three parts- the front curtains (two of these for either side) the back curtains (just a back panel), a crowd, and of course the base board that Robby stands on. 

I was ready for failure with the curtain but it turned out better than I thought.

Here's a sample I did before the actual thing- pretty simple. ALOT of adhesive spray. Too much. I'm pretty sure my IQ went down by 2 points from the fumes... 

But it worked so whatever :P

A silly paper test I did to figure out how to make paper puppets for the crowd, and other characters for the beginning of the film. Didn't work (I need stronger joints that hold him upright) but it was fun to make- I like making silly looking things. This is Mr. Won, by the way.

tick tick tick

Some slow working this week... I really have to pick up the pace. 

So I wanted to make Robby a new boombox head. I wasn't satisfied with the last one's craft/design, and I also wanted it to be uncomfortably larger than his skinny body. I'm aiming for the look on the bottom right:

For Lamie I'm keeping her flashy pants, but I'm going to give her a casual shirt and bow. As much as I like her last outfit, its too tacky for the story I have in mind:

Robby

[I'm hoping that I can some replacements for his eyes...]

[I painted the foam with india ink first, but I could tell that the foam would depress easily over time so I covered it up with black nail polish instead. Thank God it worked...]

And these are all of the photos I have... I'll post more of my progress tomorrow. 

Oh- I also made a scrunchie for Lamie!!! ...yeah, really unproductive week.