VISUAL EFFECTS ANIMATION

Download the complete set of Elemental Magic VFX Image Sequences here

    1. FEATHER OR LEAF DROP
    2. WHIPS, WAVES & FLAGS
    3. FIRE & FLAMES
    4. WATER & SPLASH
    5. EPIC GIF PROJECT

1. FEATHER OR LEAF DROP

Choose a feather or leaf as the subject of your animation and then spend some time searching the internet to find actual film footage for observation. Avoid simulations or CG animated footage so you can observe the source.

Workflow:

1. Research and Observation - Download your reference videos to a "Reference" folder inside your project so you can analyse the motion frame by frame. Go here to download videos from Youtube.

2. Layout or Sceneplaning - Open a new scene in Harmony and create a single drawing that to lay out the path of your falling leaf (or feather). Begin at one of the upper corners of your page and draw a simple line indicating your objects journey downward to the opposite lower corner of the page. Use F5 to extend your drawing to the end of the timeline (approx. 150 frames). Position Camera as needed and create a color card.

3. Animate object - Create a new drawing layer and begin animating your obeject straight ahead at 12fps with a well chosen brush tool. Extend frames and add drawings as needed. Use the render playback to view your work.

4. Export and Post to Discord - If you like what you see in playback, export a movie at 1920 x 1080 and post it to the Discord #special-effects channel.

Name File: simpsonB_leafdrop.mp4

Class Demo: SFX - PaperDrop - Camera Move - 031721

 

 

 

 

 

2. WHIPS, WAVES & FLAGS

 

Assignment: Animate a flag wave - Once youve animated a convincing wave, cycle it a few times and then come up with an interesting way to end your scene. Have some fun with it!

Workflow:

1. Research and Observation - Download your reference videos of flags waving to a "Reference" folder inside your project so you can analyse the motion frame by frame. Go here to download videos from Youtube.

2. Animate object - Create a new drawing layer and begin animating your obeject straight ahead at 12fps with a well chosen brush tool. Extend frames and add drawings as needed. Use the render playback to view your work.

3. Export and Post to Discord - If you like what you see in playback, export a movie at 1920 x 1080 and post it to the Discord #special-effects channel.

Name File: simpsonB_flagWave.mp4

 

 

 

3. FIRE & FLAMES

In Class Assignment: Rotoscope Fire Ball

Workflow:

1. Download the the Flaming Ball image sequence. Fireball - Frames.zip

2. Unzip and import the image sequence as a new drawing layer.

3. Translate the image sequnce on your screen so you can draw next to each image. Since this is an observation assignment DO NOT trace them.

4. Once you have rotoscoped the images, cycle them three times, export a movie and post it to the Discord #special-effects channel.

 

Assignment - Spontanious Combustion

Workflow:

1. Drawn Object - Draw an object you would like to combust. This can be a trace-off of a photo imported into Harmony or an original drawing.

2. Rough Animation - The animated combustion should happen in three parts lasting 6 seconds (144 frames at 24 fps). 1. Anticipation (48 frames), 2. Combustion (24 frames), and after-burn (36 frames).

3. Clean-up Pass - Make a new drawing layer in Harmony, choose a pencil tool of your liking, and clean up your rough animation pass. Adjust timings with inbetweens

4. Export and Post to Discord - If you like what you see in playback, export a movie at 1920 x 1080 and post it to the Discord #special-effects channel.

Name File: simpsonB_combustion.mp4

 

 

4. WATER & SPLASH

In Class Assignment: Rotoscope Golf Ball Splash

Workflow:

1. Download the the Splash image sequence. Golf Ball Splash - Frames.zip

2. Unzip and import the image sequence as a new drawing layer.

3. Translate the image sequence on your screen so you can draw next to each image. Since this is an observation assignment DO NOT trace them.

4. Once you have rotoscoped the images, cycle them three times, export a movie and post it to the Discord #special-effects channel.

 

Assignment - Diving Practice

Workflow:

1. Research - Spend some time on the enternet googling different types of dives and observe how the nature of the dive affects the shape and size of the splash.

2. Create Background - You'll need to set up a diving board in proximity to a surface of water. Is this an elegant dive from a diving tower or a canon ball splash from the low dive. You decide and build yopur backgrond layer acordingly. Build the diving board base, diving board and wanter surace all on seperate layers.

3. Place Floursack Character - Place your Floursack character on the edge of the diving board and frame your camera accordingly.

4. Rough Animation - The animated dive should happen in three parts lasting approximately 6 seconds (144 frames at 24 fps). Anticipation, dive, and splash.

5. Clean-up Pass - Make a new drawing layer in Harmony, choose a pencil tool of your liking, and clean up your rough animation pass. Adjust timings with inbetweens

6. Export and Post to Discord - If you like what you see in playback, export a movie at 1920 x 1080 and post it to the Discord #special-effects channel.

Name File: simpsonB_diveSplash.mp4

 

 

5. EPIC GIF PROJECT - FINAL ASSIGNMENT

For this assignment you will be take an animated GIF file from the internet and enhance it with at least two animated visual effects. Find a live-action GIF with an action element that you can push over the top with animated effects.

Workflow:

1. Research Source Material - Collect a number of GIF files with clear, discernable action with potential for animated effects. I recommend a half dozen or so.

2. Proposal Pitch - Post your top three to the Discord #special-effects channel and include a brief description of how you would use animated FX to enhance them visually.

Name Files: simpsonB_GIF_1.mp4 / simpsonB_GIF_2.mp4 / simpsonB_GIF_3.mp4

 

3. Track or Rotoscope Original Action - Import the original GIF file into Harmony. From there you will decide wether to rotoscope the exisiting action or simply use animated FX to hieghten the visuals.

4. Rough Animation - You will need to animate at least two FX elements into your scene. Once you have completed the rough animation, export a movie and post it to the Discord #special-effects channel.

Name File: simpsonB_GIF_rough.mp4

 

5. Revise and Ink & Paint - Make any necissary revisionas and complete ink & paint.

6. Export and Post to Discord - If you like what you see in playback, export a movie at 1920 x 1080 and post it to the Discord #special-effects channel.

Name File: simpsonB_GIF_final.mp4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephan Leeper - Central Michigan University 2021