Student animation blog which discusses the process implemented in the creation of projects and the idea and thoughts that have evolved through them. [To be continued as a personal animation project blog.]
As the style of the story is set in the 1940s, I had to do some research into what the women of the time wore. I looked at various outfits as well as hairstyles. Here are some of the things I found most useful, and combined to make a concept piece of what Rosie's mother would look like.
Clothing:
I like the knee-length, short puff sleeves the most here. For the neckline, I quite like the second and third one (they are the same image) but I think I like the colour of the last one the most. I might try and make a dress that somehow incorporates these aspects.
Hairstyles:
I like the first one quite a lot, but I think it needs the sleek smoothness that is more prominent in the second. It would be much tidier if I did it like that, as well as easier to make and animate.
Here is the rough concept piece that I came up with after my research:
With firearms first developed in China, hand held cannons as well as ground cannons were soon born. Through either the Silk Road or the Mongol invasion during the 13th century, gunpowder and it's weaponry were brought to Europe.
16th century cannon; http://www.fotothing.com
http://en.wikipedia.org
Among the most recognizable of the ground cannons developed, was the 16th-18th century cannon. Though it has not changed much from the earliest recorded English cannon of 1327, all that seems to have changed is that they then came with wheels.
Granted, early models were smaller; however they tended to fire arrows or other ammunition and are not exactly what would be definitively recognisable as being a cannon. Such models of the the inbetween progression staged include the 'ribauldequin', the 'ribaldis' and the 'grapeshot'.
Alas, though cannons were a great asset in wars and a development that stayed around for many centuries, it was not until 1716 under King George I that a permanent unit was formed specialising in the operation of a cannon. Previous to this time, units were formed specifically for a war and disbanded afterwards.
As such, I have chosen to model my puppet's outfit after this time, as it frustrated me as to what he would wear to accurately depict the time of the weapon. Aware that each segment of an army is kitted out differently, with huge ranges of difference such as between a pikeman and a cavalier, I was a ware that if I got it wrong, it would look quite bizarre. As such, the compromise on this is that a unit that normally comprises of around 5 personnel, for the sake of this animation I have reduced it to just the one person.
http://www.thegarrison.org.uk/history/index.php
With the outfit finally sorted after much research, I then had to animate it. So, what is the process of firing a cannon, how can I replicate it with a singular person in place of a properly manned military unit? After looking at this video below, I was able to emulate the process a little, along with some effective transitioning to aid in the preparation of the load-fire sequence. Further, as the character then disappears off screen, where the other half of the cannon itself is and we cannot see the ignition, merely a suggestion of the actual process to firing. I think this might be okay, as the focus of this is more on the progression of projectile weaponry as opposed to how the mechanic behind each phase has developed through time.
Our final project of the year was based on an object which we found to be of interest in Leeds City Museum. I chose the stuffed badger from the basement. Coincidentally, badger's are one of my favourite animals because of the Bodger and Badger Show I used to watch as a kid.
However, not everything about badger's is all fun and daisies. There is a darker side to their existence, which has cornered them into having to be a protected species. This is because of illegal badger culling, based on the idea that they are the cause of spreading of bovine tuberculosis, a disease that can be fatal to the economy of a farm. Farmers blame the badgers for the infection, and although there is truth in that they are something of a reservoir and carriers of the disease, it is not entirely true to say that they are to blame for the disease. In fact, there is evidence supporting the theory that it was cattle that first gave the ailment to badgers.
Regardless of the truth, when farmers find traces of badgers and foraging on their land, especially near their cattle, they are going to do something about it. And that is where I'm taking a stance on this, as though it is understandable as to why they kill them, it is in truth illegal to do so, and I want to cherish the idea of silly little badgers being innocent and mash potato-y.
As regards to research, I took a look at various online sites such as the Badger Trust and the CBAG to gather information, as well as talking to my Dad who is in the farming industry and is well versed with the situation and what the badgers mean to the farmers.
