Skirr

(1)

Rochester Institute of Technology

RIT Scholar Works

Theses Thesis/Dissertation Collections

2012

Skirr

Melissa Tierney

Follow this and additional works at:http://scholarworks.rit.edu/theses

Recommended Citation

(2)

SKIRR Melissa Tierney

MFA Imaging Arts/Computer Animation SCHOOL OF FILM AND ANIMATION ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK May, 2012

________________________________ Skip Battaglia, Chair

Professor

School of Film and Animation

________________________________ Tom Gasek

Assistant Professor

School of Film and Animation

________________________________ Brian Larson

Assistant Professor

(3)

CONTENTS

Abstract 3

Thesis Report

Original Concept 4

Goals 4

Styles and Influences 5

Production Pipeline 5

Experience 8

Appendix A – Proposal 10

Appendix B – Storyboards 15

Appendix C - Character Designs 24

(4)

ABSTRACT

SKIRR is an animated graduate thesis that showcases 6 different environments and the

life within them. It focuses on the beauty of life and art, and the creation of both. This film is

comprised of 3D, 2D, and stop motion animation. It was produced digitally using various video,

audio and animation software.

The following paper outlines the development and production of this film. I address

concept, style and influences, goals, production process and overall experience. To further

(5)

CONCEPT

The idea for SKIRR came along while I was in a phase of almost exclusively watching

nature documentaries, particularly the Plant Earth series. I was in awe of this beautiful high

definition footage and felt inspired to create a series of vignettes that would showcase small

glimpses of creatures and environments of my own design. Expanding further on the idea, I

decided to employ my strong interest in art history and have each scene be inspired by specific

movements in art history. I chose particular styles that I have the most interest in and draw from

regularly in my work. I wanted to make a film to create a feeling of awe and wonder in the

beauty of life and art, and the creation of both.

GOALS

When considering the type of thesis I wanted to pursue, I had several goals I wanted to

achieve with the project. More than anything, I wanted to really challenge my skills as a

technical artist. My previous film had only featured a robotic character, so I knew I wanted to

create multiple creatures that would deform and move organically. I also knew that because of

the number of characters in my film, it would be most efficient to implement as much looping

animation as possible. As such, I wanted to focus on basic motion cycles such as walks, runs,

and flight and swim cycles.

Additionally, another goal was to really push my art directing skills and create a number

of different styles throughout the film. With only two films previously completed, I wanted to

provide more variety to my portfolio that I would soon be shopping around. To achieve this goal,

(6)

Lastly I wanted to maintain an organized production. Previous films had been on such

short production pipelines that all order had been abandoned and navigating files was a mess. I

wanted to thoughtfully plan out each pipeline step, document, label and organize my work in a

way that was not only useful to me, but could also be picked up and understood by anyone else.

This was a goal in effort to prepare for working in larger productions with others after graduate

school.

!"#$%&'()&*(+$,%(-%!&

! "#$!%#&'()'(!*+!,-./$,!)'!!"#$$%),!*'$!*+!-#$!+)/01,!0*,-!2*0)'&'-!+$&-34$,5!6-!),! )'+/3$'%$2!7.!,$8$4&/!&4-),-)%!0*8$0$'-,!)'%/32)'(!%&8$!9&)'-)'(:!743,#!9&)'-)'(:! )//30)'&-$2!0&'3,%4)9-,:!;4-!<*38$&3:!&'2!0*2$4'),05!"#$,$!&4$!&//!,-./$,!-#&-!6!24&=! )'+/3$'%$!+4*0!4$&2)/.!)'!0.!=*4>5!"#$!/&,-!,$%-)*'!*+!-#$!+)/0!),!&!0&,#!39!*+!&//!*+!-#$,$! ,-./$,!%*0)'(!-*($-#$4!&,!*'$!/**>5!

! "#$!%#&4&%-$4!2$,)(',!&4$!)'+/3$'%$2!+4*0!-#$!,-./$!-#&-!-#$.!&4$!4$'2$4$2!)'5!"#$! +),#!),!9&--$4'$2!=)-#!$&4/.!-4)7&/!2$,)(',5!"#$!/)?&421,!+&%$!=&,!)',9)4$2!7.!9&)'-)'(,!*+! @&9&'$,$!0*',-$4,5!"#$!<*38$&3!,A3)44$/!&'2!7)42!&4$!$B-4$0$/.!*4'&-$:!+$&-34)'(!0&'.! %348$,:!+/*=)'(!/)'$,!&'2!,0&//!2$-&)/,5!C&,-/.!-#$!-4$$!+4*(!)'!-#$!0*2$4'!,-./$!+$&-34$,!&! ,)09/$:!%/$&'!2$,)('5!D'8)4*'0$'-,!&'2!9/&'-,!=$4$!,)0)/&4/.!+&,#)*'$2!*++!*+!-#$,$!,-./$,5!

&

./0),-"*0(&.*.%$*(%!

(7)

"#$!0&H*4)-.!*+!-#$!+&//!A3&4-$4!=&,!,9$'-!2$,)(')'(!%#&4&%-$4,:!,-*4.7*&42)'(!&'2! %4$&-)'(!&'!&')0&-)%!+*4!-#$!+)/05!"#),!94*%$,,!-**>!/*'($4!-#&'!$B9$%-$2!&,!6!=&,!,-)//! 4$+)')'(!-#$!,%4)9-!234)'(!-#$!,-*4.7*&42!94*%$,,5!

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

(8)

>'*=)'(!#*=!03%#!,9&%$!=&,!&%-3&//.!,$$'!=)-#)'!&!,#*-:!6!=&,!&7/$!-*!$++)%)$'-/.!%4$&-$! $'*3(#!9)$%$,!-*!+)//!-#$!,%4$$'!=)-#*3-!%4$&-)'(!0*4$!-#&'!'$%$,,&4.5!

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

;+-$4!4$'2$4)'(!&'2!$2)-)'(:!6!%4$&-$2!&!,%4&-%#!-4&%>!-#&-!7$,-!%&9-34$2!-#$!0**2!*+! -#$0!+)/05!!P*4>)'(!+4*0!-#),:!V4$=!W&99*--*!&'2!;'24$,!Y3)4*?!%4$&-$2!-#$!,*3'25!

M$'2)'(!'*-$,!&'2!2)++$4$'-!8$4,)*',!7&%>!&'2!+*4-#:!=$!&44)8$2!&-!-#$!+)'&/!,*3'2-4&%>5! !

(9)

%1.%/*%(-%&

& Z8$4!-#$!/&,-!-#4$$!.$&4,!*+!=*4>)'(!*'!!"#$$&%6!#&8$!/$&4'$2!&!(4$&-!2$&/5!P#)/$!-#$! +)/0!=&,!%*'%$)8$2!&'2!*4)()'&//.!9/&''$2!&-!U6":!&!(**2!9*4-)*'!*+!-#),!+)/0!=&,!%4$&-$2!)'! ),*/&-)*'5!P)-#*3-!-#$!%*',-&'-!+$$27&%>!*+!0.!9$$4,!&'2!&%&2$0)%!%*003')-.:!6!=&,!+&%$2! =)-#!0&>)'(!&!/*-!*+!%4$&-)8$!&'2!-$%#')%&/!2$%),)*',!0.,$/+5!T/-)0&-$/.!-#),!=&,!&!(4$&-! ,-$9!+*4!0$!7$%&3,$!6!(&)'$2!03%#!0*4$!%*'+)2$'%$!)'!0.!&4-),-)%!2$%),)*',5!6!&/,*!#&2!-*!2*! &!/*-!*+!4$,$&4%#!-*!+)(34$!*3-!&!/*-!*+!-#$!-$%#')%&/!&,9$%-,!*+!0.!94*H$%-5!R$)'(!)'!&!

%*003')-.!*+!0.!9$$4,!0&.!#&8$!()8$'!0$!-#$,$!&',=$4,!+&,-$4:!73-!-#$!,&-),+&%-)*'!*+! ,*/8)'(!94*7/$0,!0.,$/+!=&,!8$4.!4$=&42)'(5!

! P#)/$!6!2)2!,9$'2!/*'($4!*'!-#),!+)/0!-#&'!)')-)&//.!9/&''$2:!-#$!$B-4&!-)0$!&//*=$2! 0$!-*!+34-#$4!2$8$/*9!)2$&,!&'2!,9$'2!0*4$!-)0$!&')0&-)'(!&'2!9*/),#)'(5!T/-)0&-$/.!-#),! =&,!$B-4$0$/.!4$=&42)'(!7$%&3,$!6!=&,!&7/$!-*!/$-!0.!+)/0!'&-34&//.!2$8$/*9!*8$4!-)0$:! 4&-#$4!-#&'!43,#)'(!-#4*3(#!-*!0$$-!&!2$&2/)'$5!!"#$!$B-4&!-)0$!+*4!94$I94*23%-)*'!=&,! $,9$%)&//.!#$/9+3/5!X*/),#)'(!-#$!,-*4.7*&42,!&'2!&')0&-)%!(&8$!0$!&!(4$&-$4!3'2$4,-&'2)'(! *+!$B&%-/.!=#&-!-.9$!*+!+)/0!6!=&,!%4$&-)'(5!!

(10)

S&-#$45!P#)/$!-$&%#)'(!0.,$/+!-#$,$!'$=:!-$%#')%&/!&,9$%-,!*+!E&.&!=&,!2)++)%3/-:!-#$4$! )09/$0$'-&-)*'!)'!0.!+)/0!4$&//.!&22,!-*!-#$!+)'&/!94*23%-5!

! 6!4$&//.!-$,-$2!0.!&')0&-)*'!,>)//,!=)-#!-#$!8&4)$-.!*+!%#&4&%-$4,!&'2!%*09/$B)-.!*+! -#$)4!&%-)*',5!W4$&-)'(!&!43'')'(!A3&2439$2!*4!+/)(#-!%.%/$!=&,!,*0$-#)'(!6!#&2!'$8$4!2*'$! 7$+*4$5!"#*3(#!&')0&-)'(!=&,!%#&//$'()'(!&'2!4$=&42)'(:!6!>'*=!-#$4$!),!,-)//!4**0!+*4! )094*8$0$'-5!6!/$&4'$2!6!,-)//!#&8$!&!/*-!*+!=*4>!-*!2*!-*!)094*8$!39*'!0.!&')0&-)*'!,>)//,5! ! "#4*3(#*3-!-#$!%*34,$!*+!)-,!%4$&-)*':!!"#$$!4$0&)'$2!4$/&-)8$/.!%/*,$!-*!-#$!

,-*4.7*&42,!*4)()'&//.!%*'%$)8$2!)'!U*%#$,-$4![!.$&4,!$&4/)$45!W*09&4)'(!-#$!+)'&/!94*23%-! -*!-#$!&')0&-)%!6!+)4,-!0&2$:!-#$.!&4$!4$0&4>&7/.!,)0)/&45!"#$!+)'&/!,#*-,!+$&-34$!0*4$! 2.'&0)%!%&0$4&!&'(/$,!&'2!0*8$,:!7$--$4!2$,)(',:!&'2!&!0*4$!4$+)'$2!$2)-5!"#$,$!