Alma Short Animation...Short Review

Just seen this animation short called 'Alma' Written and Directed by Rodrigo Blaas, at first it seemed so creepy because you know something wrong is going to happen, but I can't help the fact that this is a nicely done short animation movie. I found this piece really interesting, especially the storytelling, it catches your attention so quickly as your determine to know what's going to happen next. From my opinion, a few of the designs seemed as though they were inspired by the Art Nouveau movement, seen as the creators are based in Spain and me being such a big fan of the Art Nouveau movement, it's most likely to be the work of Antonio Gaudi that had inspired this short. (well it is my opinion!)...have a look.

New Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Wow this looks amazing, this is a film I am definitely look forward to watching!..From the weird/creepy/crazy designs created I just know that Tim Burton would be involved , only he could make this film look so incredible...the animation looks great! I really admire this guys work, and so does Johnny Depp by the looks of things :-)

Another Character Idea!...

Right, today I had drawn another character; something came into mind so I had to draw it out. Haven’t thought of a full storyline or synopsis yet, but it will be about a boy with an ginger afro, who gets bullied at junior school for being too urban, but although he is nerdy in his ways, his style seems to pays off when everything goes his way. Ideas in mind are saying that this would be a great character, if I create it in 3ds Max… :-) will post the images later, when I have access to a scanner!

The Front Pg

The front page to the comic The Insight, as I said it wasn't finished slightly. Overall I was quite pleased with this comic, despite the minor errors throughout! eg. size of writing should of been one size, obvious pencil markings.. etc

First Comic - The Insight...(late I know!)

So this was the first comic I created for the Identities Project, (my first comic ever!) starting from the first page. The front page and other areas throughout were not finished slightly but will do for now, as it still looks good enough to show ...oh yh the front pg will be posted above as it would not add to this post!...enjoy!

Back On The Scene

Well it is known that I haven’t posted anything for a while, my apologies for this… So what have I been up to? Well I’ve been doing a few things, despite the fact I didn’t succeed in my uni work (a looong story, I’m not proud of!). I mean, I always do my best in whatever I undertake, but this year with bad luck was taking the piss!!!...I will not stress over this now because it’s in the past, (although I was more than stressed at the time!) so I’ll move on with a pretend smile :-) and my head high and continue to state what I have been doing and what I’m willing to do in the xmas break.

So far I have written (in rough) a few synopsis's, designed a few characters and in the making is another comic strip, the storytelling stages were completed just before we started back at uni, from then till now I've been working on the designing stages. I will fill you in with more info and images of these later on (as I don’t have a scanner!). What I would like to mention is that the main character from each story is in development, and as I said early I will keep you updated on these. The comic strip I have created is a follow up of the comic I did for my identities project, the comic is called ‘Past Resident’ and is basically about my past of how I used to be and events that became my permanent memories. There are two more comics which will follow these, which are called ‘Who Am I?’ and ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’, but I’ll post info on these next time. In the comic ‘Past Resident’ I’m always on skates as it is one of my favourite hobbies, and based on this I have create yet another bunch of characters (all girls) and called them the ‘Hott Sk8terz’ (not apart of the comic Past Resident!)…yes yes I know, might need to change this title! Hmmm well depending on how the feel of things go.

Short but Sweet!...

At the moment im just planning my way through an idea/ideas I have in mind. so far, I have been doing a bit of research and reading a few animation books.

My plan is to design a few t-shirt deisgns, for my logo name ALKO Mii. After that I plan to create another comic anda create a few characters, creating a interesting storyline while incorporating my style (the ALKO Mii style). I'll keep you all updated with that very soon!

A Quick Moment

Not happy with what I wrote in my essay!!! ...I had written too much, and had to take some paragraphs out, and think i have taken out the relevant info!..so I wont be suprised if my grade isn't gud, as I didnt provide enough info, well I think anyways! and again I have dissappointed myself as I really enjoyed this brief/assignment. :-(

Chosen idea for my interactive box

This is my chosen idea for my interactive box, just a rough at the mo. I chose to use my room as the showcase/box because it is the best place that represents me, it holds all my belongings and memories (this could be both personal and random)and becomes the place I spend most of my time in. It took me a long time to think of a descent idea for this area as it becomes the main attraction to the package, using my room was initailly my first idea, but my ideas became frustrating after a while because I didnt know how i wanted my room to look or what view or perspective it would be in, and although I don't think it's that attractive it will have to do! as I am spending to much time thinking!

My Finalized Ideas really!!

Logo: ALKO Mii













I'll explain the details later!

Avatar:


















(I know! balls out of shape, bt at the mo thats a minor!)



Interactive box:
bedroom

AV:
'I Dance city'

Others:
-comic strip/manga/urban style
-pixilation

My Early Stages

Some work I should have posted up, from my earlier stages!:


This is some info about me, it includes my style and interests. This is one of the first stages I did before doing any sketches.








This is my identity mind map, stating a few areas that become apart of your identity/personality.











Just some info on inspiration, research an interactive box ideas (not to mention, my idea for the box has been chosen and is in development).








This is a rough sketch of some of my identity.













Logo Designs








These are the thumbnail sketches I did for my logo ideas( there is more, but this is all I will show for now. By the way, my final design has been chosen and is in development!).


Avatar Designs





These are the idea sketches/thumbnail sketches I did for my avatar, I will post up my progress with the avatar later.



















There is more sketches of my avatars, but this is all I have selected to show for now!!

Recent Stages: Character Description

I created a size guide for my avatar, basically it just shows various sizes of my avatar and informs what size I will use for my chosen design. I am likely to create my avatar in a small size, to indicate my height (because I'm small) and exaggerate on this by creating a chibi character.

My idea is to exaggerate on the things that become obvious to others, things I'm known for (eg.wearing a hat most of the time!)... making obvious the things I am known to do, have, wear even say!

I wanted my avatar to be different (visually) from the real me, to indicate that I am different in style and humour, then I would portray my personality through this chosen avatar, by creating interactive story. But i have not decided on this has yet!

Interactive box items

Icons
Just a little post of the icons I am willing to use within my interactive box/package,these are the icons you will need to click on to view the elements:

-Note Pad- Poems/poetry -(Pixilation)
-Book/magazine- storytelling for avatar -(urban manga style)
-Teddy bear- Character/avatar (profile)
-Picture/Posters -AV -(Dancing video)
-whiteboard/drawing desk -(ALKO Mii productions) -piixilation
-Dices-(logo)

represents:
-note pad- emotions/feelings/thoughts
-Teddy Bear -keeps itself to itself (obviously haha)
-Adorable/collectable
-picture/posters- creativeness/interests
-whiteboard/drawing desk - creativeness/ambition

Google watchers!!!

I've heard about this google street thing, and how you can view your house-virtually!. As part of my identity package, I was thinking to use my street/road to represent my ends (or where I'm from as others would say!), so I thought I would check it out...

...I entered a postcode and I was amazed on what I was seeing...at first I was happy on seeing my house on the web, as I am missing my home town and peoples (made me reminisce)...but then seeing it in so much detail and good quality, I began to find it scary!!... There is a glimpse of my house above!

...I find it amazing how this world is so determined to watch everyones movements, although this not live footage. In its virtual design it makes you feel as though your the camera roaming around the streets. It's scary because I feel I am being watched, though this isn't the cased, I almost feel intimidated!...Technology is changing so rapid, we all assume its for the best, when in fact, so much changes is all for a negative downfall...I ask myself do I really want to see the future?!

Model Time!

oh boy...i'm excited!! today i'm makin the dough for my model, i have never attempt this before so i'm excited!! haha...the best part will be creating my avatar can't wait!...i will inform you if this idea i have for my avatar, is going to plan or if it becomes unsuitable for what i am trying to accomplish.

My mood board- (representing me)

I wanted to present a dark side and a light side, to indicate my background and my future. I have made it so it states two things instead of one, I created it in a way that the past seemed dull and my future seems bright (mainly based around my background and what I have achieved so far), but it also represents me as a person, being negative and positive at the same time, and overall combines my emotions and feelings.

On the dark side I wanted to place things that were negative, whether it was a situation, interest or thought. I also wanted to include things I hate (such as time!) and things that become important to me but I hide it inside (such as family situations, and the Scotland flag).

On the light side I wanted to indicate my interests, hobbies and abilities, things that make me happy and think positive towards. So I included CD’s (music), anime and inspiration. Overall I think this mood board represents me quite a bit, and feel happy in what I have created.

I used the city for the background because not only do I come from a big city, but cities are known to be very busy, and so my mood board represents that of a busy lifestyle.

...the moodboard I used here is not the original! I have lost the original piece somehow, and decided to give you what I called my 'backup bredrin' lol... well people i see it as a sign from god..maybe his sayin im showing you too much and you don't need to kno it! but hey, this one is just as interesting..!

AV ideas

My ideas for the AV element/s:-
• Dancing
• Pixilation
• video footage

DANCING
•I consider myself a dancer, so I am thinking to perform a dance routine or even choreograph a dance performance. I mostly freestyle,but its all street dancing, so if I intend to do a dance it would be in a urban environment.

•Another idea I have is to incorporate my interests into the dance routine I will perform, hopefully this will contribute towards portraying my interests as well as my abilities.

PIXILATION-white board animation
•I have a passion for animation, so I have considered on doing a pixilation piece for this. The idea for the animation is to animate or even advertise my chosen identity logo in some way. I am also creating a model of my avatar (before I create it in 3Ds Max), so I intend to create a pixilation for this too.

•Another Idea is I also write poetry, so I was thinking to write a poem about myself, obviously, but have a note pad jotting down my words, and maybe me speaking over it.

VIDEO
•Well i love fashion!!! so Here I was thinking to use some footage of my fashion show I did whilst at college, it was recorded by my dad, but I’m still thinking about this idea because he can’t video for shit, so the footage isn’t that great!!!...i think this idea would be great as the collection i had designed reflects my personality and style! an is something i am incorporating into my package.

My Creativity

Last night I had a great talk with one of my family members, and the information gathered in the subject we were talking about became useful for the identities project. Some how we got on a topic about me and where I’m going with this passion I have. Then I was asked what is it all for? The same question I was asked in the seminar!

I answer, it’s mainly for me but there becomes a number of reasons, obviously it’s an interest but has progressed to another level, enabling it to be more than just an interest and more of something that lives within me. I believe I am gifted, and it’s not about me wasting the opportunity or not, but I want to see how far I can or will go to achieve my goal. There becomes a number of reasons simply because has I grew up with this passion to be so creative, I found other important reasons for me to obtain this passion.

One of the reasons is within my family (meaning mom, dad, and siblings) no one really has a nice living, no one is doing what they wanted to grow up and do, they are just doing the basics to survive (hustling others might call it). I mean, where I’m coming from wasn’t an easy living, but it wasn’t that bad either, were surviving but not in the right way. Thinking of the hard times I had ever been in and the hard times we still go through always provides me with the energy to continue. So yeah, you would say I am driven by my past, situations, issues and memories, because they all contribute to the cause of this passion that bubbles inside me.

Another one of the reasons is to prove my dad wrong, his playing this quite clever game and I must admit its working very well. His thoughts are me having kids at a young age and will not succeed in my studies. He doesn’t think I can’t do it, because he knows I’m dedicated, but instead he thinks that something stupid will throw me off track, like having kids for instance. I have already proved part of his thoughts wrong, because he didn’t think I would make it to uni, (he thought I would have them that early!). I am the only one close within that has made it this far. But the point of his game is, he doesn’t want to get his hopes up so he says things he knows I will react upon. By being negative his making me want to prove I can do it, for my own good, and from his view, if I fail, inside he will be disappointed but on the outside he would say I told you so.

Although gaining qualifications does take part in it as well, that was mainly to help progress where I really intend to go, I spent so much time exploring different areas that seemed creative to me (now I feel so old at uni!), just to see what I was capable of doing but most of all to see where most of my skills and creativeness lie. Still, my creativeness lies in a lot of different areas but I have to be dedicated to one, and I have made that decision already, but I know if I don’t make it in the area I intend to chose or I lose interest I know I have back up and can count on my other options.

Back 2 basics-

For the last week I have been in hiding really, I had injured my ankle at football so I decided to give it a rest. Still in pain, I went back to lectures this week, thought I was wasting too much time (and time is never on my side, so I need as much as possible). This weekend I was planning to go back home to visit my family, (since I didn’t get to see them over the Christmas!) but I figured I’m behind a little and need to get back on track, so my trip isn’t going happen again!...

What I intend to do this weekend is…
• continue writing my essay
• Finalize my logo idea
• Develop further ideas on my box

Thoughts and Thinking’s

Right, I have an idea in mind for my showcase/box but don’t know if it’s too simple (in style that is), as far as my identity goes I can confirm that I am not simple! So do I need to change this to suit the projects brief? Not to make things difficult or to state what I have in mind is wrong, but to show as part of my identity I’m not a simple person! Well I guess it is up to me of what decision I make and besides it is the first idea I had come up with, so more development is needed anyway. I suppose it would make more sense to develop this Idea I have in mind and to do a lot more research in this area.

Logo- I had already designed a logo, but I was told to design another, which I don’t mind doing. It gives me the chance to develop another series of logos that become more ideal to me and the project. My logo has not yet been used or seen, so what I’m thinking to do anyway is keep the name of the logo and just incorporate different shapes, styles, compositions along with colour.

Showcase/box ideas- overall I think that this part of the project will be the most difficult sector to achieve, as it becomes the most important part to represent our ideas/elements. It has to be eye catching and attractive, entertaining and meaningful whilst also creating an environment that somehow represents you.

For some reason I want the use of dices shown in my showcase, I must admit I am obsessed with the objects and some how they need to be included! They have no purpose really, apart from me being obsessed with their existence. I had developed a logo for myself in the past, which included dices and could some how use it by incorporating it into the showcase/box idea, well…actually I have come up with an idea already and will definitely develop this to see what will happen and if it will be relevant for the project.

Avatar- I have designed a few characters of myself before, so I shouldn’t really have any problems when it comes to creating another, matter of fact, I have created a few other designs already, and I like quite a selection of them. The only problem I will have is representing it as a 3D character! I also have to think about my avatars behaviour to portrait my personality, in which I am thinking to create some kind of story.

Mind-maps- a few mind maps were created just to confirm an outline of myself. The first mind map was just to indicate what identity and personality meant to me, whilst also stating their definition. I wrote down some words that can becomes apart of the identity package, such as nicknames, interests, lifestyle and birthmark/s. Stating these areas, using all of them will be over doing it for my character I think, so what I intend to do is choose the one’s that defines me the most and develop their positions.

Another mind map I created was about me being described by others, using key words that most described me visually and physically. Recreating this mind map I separated it into two areas one area completed by people that are closer to me and seem to know me well (Family), the other, I had asked a few people at football (NTU) what they thought about me and jotted these down, making a mind map from it after.

Mood board- my first mood board is just combined with a series of things I like and what identifies me as a person. The next one I will create will define emotion, style and an understanding of how I work, and how I am portrayed. I will also create another mood board for my showcase/box, just to get some ideas of what I might include in the showcase/box and obviously include its theme/environment style.