My main job was to animate our 4 eggs as well as set up the camera, and editing the previsuals together (bar music, Caitlin was in charge of adding the sound after I edited). This was constantly updated for our regular meetings with Niall and for presentation for Alec/ The Class.
For the first animatic I tried to follow the storyboard and 2D animatic closely while positioning the camera in appropriate places. Feedback was that the animation was at a good start for the eggs (at this stage the monster still had far to go), but many of the camera shots where a bit off such as when the eggs bounce off the bridge as it was at a strange angle. Another is when we have the POV from the monsters view, that it would be better to have the camera zoom into the eggs as the focus point of the frame is too small. Another thing notes was that there wasn’t a long enough build up of the monster, that we just show it, and instead we need to ease the audience into a reveal to add to the fear factor of this monster. Another point was that the introduction shot needed change, that it didn’t add anything to the story or magic, and just seemed like we where showing off our set.
For our second animatic the changes above where implemented along with many environmental changes. Already a strong improvement could be seen. The first introduction shot was changed to it moving down river, which was liked but the movement was too much and too fast, it needed slowed as well as to come from a different direction to give more of a revel of the environment. The shot of the eggs bouncing off the bridge worked far better, as well as the build up of the monster with the zoom in to the eggs – the shadow of the monster coming over – to the tilt. The monster still needed rigged as well as refining the eggs animation more including the environment.
Changed where made and the eggs began to be refined, though I still needed to add more weight to their jumps so they seemed less floaty. I was told to just make sure when refining this more to make sure the eggs personalities did show. The introduction shot still needed slowed down a lot even though it was now coming from a better direction. The main area of focus was now refining the monster and his movement – in how he looks down at the eggs in the tilt – how he slams down on the ground – having him grab the eggs and actually chew on them. There was also suggestion of making the vomit 2D instead of particles (which although had yet to be done was in discussion).
These changes again where made and everything was refined and more fine tuned from the animation to the set to the camera angles. Niall was happy with this version of it said there was little else feedback he could give as we had changed all that he wished really.
However after going through it after Phillip and I wanted to make the most of some of the monster animation, mostly in the vomit shot. We felt this was too static, that when you are sick you don’t just stand that. So since he had animated him being propelled forward, we decided to lower the camera angle slightly, making both the shot and animation a tad more realistic. (This version has the sound in it, although all of them did when creating it which was altered throughout to match the animation changes due to timing).
A minor change that was made after as well as one of the egg movements. Alec suggested having the egg bounce away instead of sliding. This change was made and everyone agreed it looked better for it.
Lorna McFall 