The Mysterious Traveller

This is an example of the blue screen technique used when animating the 2D leaf. The chroma key tool was then used to mask out the blue area around the leaf so that an image of the forest could be inserted in the background.

It's been a very strange couple of weeks, where the only thing to do is actually animate this story. However the Easter holidays and the upcoming Royal Wedding (masses of bank holidays) has thrown everything up in the air like they just don't care. What I mean is, the studio seems to be open on very random days of the week and alot of our group have dispanded for the time being. There are three days this week where we are able to animate in the studio so hopefully we can really crack on with Barney as he discovers the Money Tree. For the time being, as I couldn't do much back at home, I decided to make the most of the good weather and go a bit old school; sketching in the park. The drawing above started out as Hanley Park (Stoke-on-Trent) but my imagination got the better of me and thought it needed a bit more wildlife in the foreground.

The time has finally come. It's the beginning of the filming stage! Animation for The Money Tree project started today and it went quite well for a first shoot. The walk cycle was a little dubious because of the puppet and his lack of cooperation, however, May managed to have a good few hours to try him out and got some really good sequences to use. As I knew May was going to be animating my puppet from this day forth... I borrowed him for a quick session before so as to animate a minor scene in the now finished Living Room Set. It ties in with the storyline but may not be part of the final animation. There is a specific reference to a certain television show... something we may all have to get familiar with if we don't find a job after graduation!

The last week or so have been dedicated to the props of Barney's front room. The four of us divided up the various belongings that the main character would own (before and after the introduction of the Money Tree). My list included a new CD player, shelves, tables, old television and lamp. I also added a few other objects to the list such as a new pair of trainers and plug sockets for the walls.  An old sofa for the Woods - subtle hint that Barney wasn't the only victim A range of eyebrows, eye lids and pupils that can be attached to the face using vaselline  

This will be very similar to the final sequence I use for Barry's project. He quite liked the painting process and even though it was very slow going, it produced a very accurate speed and texture that the final hair growth will need to be like.