Shot 1 Animation

The animation I have been working on is in Shot 1. The Tree unravels as a hand, follows and shoots up through the flying eagle, as if to grab it. The eagle is knocked out and starts falling, before it transforms into a dragon and flies past the camera, sweeping to the next shot.

Tree-Hand animation:

Eagle fall and transform animation:

Dragon transform and sweep animation:

Here is a video with all the characters together. The eagle and dragon animation overlap to allow the compositors to blend between them for the transformation. I've put it on X-ray view so the eagle and dragon can still be seen. I also animated the camera for this shot:

I've also uploaded these playblasts to vimeo, the quality is slightly better to view over there instead of on blogger. The password for the videos is 'GoingLive':

Tree-Hand: https://vimeo.com/92246473

Eagle: https://vimeo.com/92246472

Dragon: https://vimeo.com/92246471

All together, X-ray view: https://vimeo.com/92246470

- Lilly

Rigging the 'Tree-Hand' model

After finishing the 3D model of the Tree-Hand, it was onto the rigging. Treated the rigging as a normal human hand, with dual joints for better deformations. Made sure all the joints were orientated the same way:

Done a quick test once some of the joints were in place to check the fingers/branches were moving in the right direction:

Checking the joint orientations as I go:

All the joints in place and in the right hierarchy, next step was to Bind Skin of model to the joints:

Weight painting - came across a problem at first where weights I had just painted were being re-distributed when I moved onto another joint to weight paint, fixed the problem but locking the weights in the paint skin weights tool:

Continued painting skin weights:

Made sure the branches on the back of the hand only moved with the wrist joint so that they would still stand up fairly straight when the hand is first curled up and distorted:

The next step was to add controls for the joints, I colour-coded them for each finger/branch to make selecting them less difficult to see:

 Testing out the finished rig and controls:

Last step was to add a Global Control, which allows the rig and model to be scaled, moved and rotated together when imported/referenced into a scene:

- Lilly

Shot Checklist

The Shot List, for checking off each stage of the 4 shots, is now up on the Going Live board in the studio (Just follow the dragons). This should help us all keep track of each shot and how far through production we are:

- Lilly

Tree-Hand - extra modeling

As the Tree-Hand model looked a bit more like a hand than a tree, some extra modeling was required.

For a very quick test I made copies of the branches/fingers and attached them behind the main model. This showed me that they needed to be smaller and more subtle:

Decided that smaller and thinner branches would look better:

The tree-hand starts twisted around and is first seen from the side in the film. This also helps to disguise the 'hand-like' shape:

Showed Kieran the updated model and it was discussed that more branches could be added to the back of the hand and knuckles. When the hand is curled over to begin with, these extra branches will be stood up and also helping to disguise the hand as a tree. I modeled them at an angle as they will be moving with the hand, so when it curls over they will follow. If they still are not at the correct angle when the hand is curled, some extra joints will be added into these smaller branches to move them:

- Lilly

Animatic 'Transform Shot' - animating and timing

I've been helping out with sorting the timing and rough animation/layout for Shot 1. There was a limited time-frame to fit in the tree-hand grab, eagle transformation and dragon swipe. Kieran had already started it and animated about 7 seconds in of the eagle flying. This is one of the first drafts I did:

Feedback was to remove some of the pause before the tree-hand shoots up. Also to start moving the camera back when the eagle starts falling, to give a sense of the viewer falling with the eagle. For when the dragon swoops down and off screen, by moving the camera back, the full size of the dragon can be fitted in. This will also allow for some nice sweeping animation of the dragon.

Here is the latest version I made:

- Lilly

Tree-Hand Modeling

Started modeling the Tree-Hand which 'captures' the Eagle. 

Used one of the concept designs I had done previously as reference:

First version of the model - unsmoothed:

First version of the model - smoothed:

Wireframe:

Tried adding a very simple rig to test quickly if the geometry was going to do what we need the Tree-Hand to do:

Realizing that the model will be smoothed, in order to retain the sharper edges to match with the rest of the paper world, I added in more edge loops for the edges of the fingers/branches and roots. Elongated the branch/fingers slightly to add a bit more creepiness to it and this will probably allow more freedom for movement and entwining as well. Also modeled the second hand/roots which is curving in around the main tree-hand, based on the original concept design:

Discussed with others in the team about the hand looking more tree-like before it 'grabs' the Eagle. I suggested maybe adding more trees/branches behind it. These could then be entwined with the hand and then fall away to reveal the hand. Or another suggestion was to just make the finger/branches more contorted and entwined with each other before unfolding to look more hand-like. So there are a few things to try next!

- Lilly

Tree-Hand Moodboards & Concept Art

Looking through everything that is being worked on at the moment I realized that not very much had been done for the 'Tree-Hand' which entraps the eagle, so I've gathered some research into moodboards and created some artwork concepts.

Tree-Hand Moodboard:

Origami/Paper Trees Moodboard:

Concept Artwork:

I quite liked the idea of the 1st one I drew (top left) of the roots looking like a second hand clawing at the ground - this part wouldn't need animated though, just the main hand part of the branches. With two hands this adds a slightly more human quality, as if Morgoth himself is clawing his way up through the ground. Also the branches and roots look quite contorted which add a sinister and creepy feeling to the tree.
I also tried out a tree with the fingers/branches more closed inwards and claw-like (middle bottom).
Added a few leaves to the tree (middle top) which could be shaken or dropped off when the tree becomes more alive - as if the hand was in disguise.
Also drew a more simplified and origami design for a tree (right) which could be the surrounding trees.

- Lilly

Character Concepts

Done some character concept sketches for the Eagle and the Dragon, then I took them into Photoshop to test some paper textures and colours...

Parchment colours:

The Eagle on the left I made darker and had fiery golds shining through (as the Eagle is "corrupted by Morgoth" and goes through flame and sorcery to become a dragon):

Light parchment colours, was experimenting with how to make them look similar, as the Dragon morphs from the Eagle:

Experimented with adding flecks of foil gold to the paper texture as this is Smaug The Golden:

Tried a slightly cooler hue as I wondered if the paper Dragon might blend into the parchment-like map background too much in the film, depending on the final look of the background environment:

Turned up the contrast to experiment with the foil gold texture, kind of looks like fire on the surface of the dragon now:

- Lilly

Project Board & Paper Dragon

The main project board in the studio is starting to fill up with rough storyboards and moodboards, which different members of the team have contributed to:

Kieran's Hobbit map, which is the original idea source and inspiration for the film, is also up on the wall:

This is a gold paper origami dragon I made yesterday to help with reference for paper textures and possible shapes for the 3D model:

- Lilly

Moodboards

Hobbit Imagery:

Link to 'Hobbit' Pinterest Board

Paper Dragons:

Link to 'Paper Dragons' Pinterest Board

Eagles and Dragons:

Link to 'Eagles and Dragons' Pinterest Board

Illustrated Maps and Landscapes:

Link to 'Illustrated Maps and Landscapes' Pinterest Boards

Fire and Smoke:

Link to 'Fire and Smoke' Pinterest Board

- Lilly