For the simulated work experience, I got the chance to work with Trina (Siyu Tian) for her final project. My role in this project was to make Character expressions sheet, poses, and the background visual plan. For the character poses, the direction was to explore the character’s poses from different angle or perspective. I did several poses based on the script that was given to me and got to play around the angle of how we see the character.
For the expressions I also did several based of the script. And I was also directed to create some neutral poses for reference.
The next task is to create Background plan for the animation. For this work, I have to create four views in total (two views of the cartel or basement and two more for the classroom). As I write this post, I have only managed to create three of the four views.
In creating the basement, I was referring to the visual reference that was given by Trina, especially in terms of mood and colour. The mood that the scene was trying to bring is dark and creepy, hence the strong contrast of colour and lighting was used, specifically blue and red colours are used to brings out the mood. Other than the two views/angles of the perspective, I also detailed the door that will be an important object that the character tried to reach in the scene.
For the classroom scene, the direction is to make a contrasting mood from the basement. In drawing the classroom, I was facing a challenge in the more technical side, because I have to draw many chairs and desk and it’s been a long time since I attempt doing perspective drawing. Personally I am not quite satisfied with how the drawing turns out because I think I was overwhelmed while doing it and not focusing much on details. So if I have the time I want to revise the classroom drawing and finish the other view.
In my approach to adding props and objects in the scene, I refer to the background of this story, of how this story is about a character in a dream and in a real-life. So I tried to create subtle hints of how interconnected both of the world are. For example, I added broken chairs to the basement scene because there are chairs in the classroom, or the red flower in the classroom as a bridge to the red alarm and lighting of the basement. Overall, I was so excited about doing this project! I still feel like I can do more in my work if I have more time. In specific to my role in this project, I am grateful that I got the chance to do especially the background because growing up I saw many concept art book and how they included the concept of background as part of the world building, and now I got the chance to try and do it myself. Professionally, I think this project helped prepare me to other industry role besides the animating itself, which widen my grasp of understanding of the industry.