Stage 2 Evaluation

I started the animation pathway full of optimism to learn programs and methods of animating. I wanted to learn skills and such that would aid me in drawing and to learn how to recreate movement through drawn works. When I started I had no idea how much I would enjoy the stop motion project. Mainly due to the fact that I thought it would be very slow and very tedious. However, so far, I have found it my favourite project. Creating a practical 3D model and moving it around is what cemented for me my want to pursue computer animation.

Every project has taught me a little more the importance of timekeeping and maintaining a schedule. The first project of the Gif taught me how long animation took. I ran out of time very much in the GIF project. Something I have still not really been able to catch up with. However, the mistakes made on that project meant that for future projects I had a more internal idea of how long each process would take and what needed to be done by certain dates. Resulting in the Stop motion project to go forward a lot easier as we had set days in which we needed to check off certain things that needed to be done. E.g. we had certain days for which the storyboards had to be done etc.

Similarly, I applied that knowledge to the last animatic project where I knew roughly how many panels of storyboard had to be done by certain days so that I would finish by the deadline of the project review, and I needed some sort of time management so that i wouldn't spend too much time on the backgrounds of my work. As I found myself working on certain panels and scenes for way too long. After a little while, i made myself a small checklist on a rough piece of paper and ticked off things on it only once i had completed them. This gave me feelings of accomplishment and kept me pushing forward in the last week.

Similarly, the animation pathway has taught me so much in terms of the programs. Before I began I had no idea how to use premier and a very small idea of how to use photoshop. Both now being programs I feel quite practiced at and am gaining ever more confident with. So something i feel I have gained from this pathway was the ability to take risks and try new technological things. I found myself trying lots of new things in terms of editing and sound design. Something I had zero interest in before beginning this pathway But found myself enjoying quite a lot.

Similarly, before this pathway, i had never used some of the technology that I am now quite familiar with. E.g. I had never used a DSLR camera before, But thanks to the workshops and help from classmates and teammates I now know what they are and how to use them to get a good quality image. For the Final major project, i will implement many things I have learned over this pathway. Time management will be key. I plan to keep a small diary where I can note down in the morning what I need to get done on that day so that I have a checklist. Ticking of a checklist will make me feel better about what I need to get done and make it feel like I am making progress so I do not get disheartened and lazy, much like in the animatic project. Similarly, I wish to utilize many of the programs we have had workshops on and using techniques from some of the projects to create my final project. E.g. Layering and storyboarding. I do not really want to create a full-blown animation for my FMP but I'm sure I can utilize these techniques well enough in the FMP.

Similarly, I will get together many references for this project as in every project we have been stressed to get as many real-life references as we can and draw from real life.