Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement
What are you most proud of in your 2-Hour Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?
One of my favorite things about my 2-Hour Presentation was how I was able to incorporate several of my own character designs into my slides and discussions.  These are the same characters I plan to one day incorporate into television. My peers today may actually recognize them in the future, when they have their own show.  This is my biggest goal in life, and I found it fun that I could share my characters with my peers.

(2) Questions to Consider
a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)?
P
b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?
P
(3) What worked for you in your senior project?
What worked best for me during senior project were probably the independent components.  They were the most fun projects for me to work on, and I was able to show off my skills a little bit.  For the first component, I created several scenes, conceptual designs, and sketches of my very own characters.  For the second component, I took two of my characters and depicted them in a storyboard, showing a short animation sequence.  I was able to use both of these components as part my 2-hour presentation.

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would have you done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?
  The hardest part about senior project was finding mentorship hours.  At first, I thought taking a class about your preferred topic was sufficient, and I had gained several hours from being in the class.  However, I was later informed that classes did not count for my senior project and that I was supposed to be job-shadowing or even working as a TA (teacher assistant).  If could go back, I would rally this information to my past self so I could seek out better mentorship.  In the end, I actually did manage to gain enough hours by working with my friend at her school, as well as working as a TA on the weekends for the Pasadena College of Art and Design.

(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples
  Senior project has helped me concentrate on my future goals in life.  I want to study character design further, as that is specifically what my topic was about.  My goal in life is to get my characters onto television, with their own show and everything.  My time at Pasadena’s College of Design for classes and mentorship has confirmed it as a place I may go to further my studies.

Random Post 10

    Probably the best part of my  my 2-Hour Presentation is how I  incorporated several of my own character designs into my slides and discussions.  These are the same characters I plan to get onto television someday.  Many of them have been redesigned so many times over.  Some barely look like how the started off.  Some I've dropped entirely, as I decided not to use their designs in the end. I'm sure a few, particularly my main character, Rico the dragon, almost everyone will recognize because I draw him the most and everyone has seen him at least once.  He has gone through the most redesigns alone. It is exciting that he and the others are going to "premier" if you will, in an official presentation!

Mentorship

Literal

Mentorship hours and descriptions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R865rEvO8H7YXgulHTjdk87ycBhw0RoMvlb3VWjN9D4/edit
Contact 1: Delia Fance – (626) 578-1587
Contact 2: Michael M. Barbin – (909)465-9978

Contact 3: Heidi Clauss – (951) 295-1737  

Contact 4: Shawn Bruce – (626) 396-2347

Interpretive

The most important thing I learned from my experience with mentorship came from my time spent at Duncan Studio in Pasadena over the summer.  I was surrounded by and even had the chance to meet the entire animation crew, who then allowed me to witness the complete process of character design for animation, from pencil to computer.  I did not realize that there were various artists that specialize in the various stages of the development process, much like an assembly line.  One of the most interesting things I was able to see were the model sheets for certain characters, such as Kung Fu Panda and Minnie Mouse.  These observations inspired what would later become my second answer to my EQ, which were Model sheets and Concept art.

Applied
The Animation Team at Duncan Studio helped me understand that the most important method of character construction was “knowing your character.” This basically means understanding your character from the inside out, knowing how the act and feel.  They shared with me how the emotions and personality of a character dictate their physical appearance and design concepts.  This is why I believe my 3P’s is the best answer to my EQ.

Mentorship: New and Old

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R865rEvO8H7YXgulHTjdk87ycBhw0RoMvlb3VWjN9D4/edit

Random Post 9

As for the other show, SpongeBob, it is what inspired me to get into animation.  Before then, drawing was a mere hobby, I never anticipated what would become of it. One day I was watching the show when I began to wonder how my characters would act in they were in a situation similar to that on the cartoon.  That is when it all started. I started by researching SpongBob, his creator, voice actors, and such.  Did you know SpongeBob was voiced by Tom Kenny? Did you know it takes 8 months to complete one episode? So much to learn, so little time it seemed.

 I became fascinated with the idea of seeing my characters on television!  It was something I decided to strive for.

Random Post 8

It is actually quite interesting how I got into the animation field.  As a kid, I had two absolute favorite cartoons:  Pokemon and SpongeBob.

I watch Pokemon even now, and it is actually what inspired me to learn how to draw.  My dad helped me a lot, being a bit of an artist himself, aand I got books to show how to draw as well.  Because Pokemon was one of the only things I drew as a kid, it is why some of my characters bear a resemblence to Pokemon. This can be a problem, as those the designs for my characters were inspired by Pokemon, they are in no way based off of or associated with Pokemon.  Yet everyone, when seeing them for the first time, ask me. "What Pokemon is that?"

This is the main reason I sought out for a more "traditional" western dragon look when it came to redesigning my characters.

Random Post 7

After senior project I am hoping to get into a good college to study animation further.  My dream is to work at a company like Nickelodeon (I greew up on that channel) though I have a few others in mind.  The very characters you see now, my little dragons, are what I have in mind.  I want to make my own cartoon series, that is my goal in life.  And the dragons will be the stars!

Random Post 6

As the presentations come up, one cannot help but to begin to feel nervous.  I mean, you need like 10 slides for just one answer! How long are the slideshows supposed to be? 40 slides? 50? Is there an itermission?  What to do for activities?  It can be very nerve-racking, but it is also so exciting! One cannot help but to feel an extraordinary sense of pride and happiness and they discuss with a room full of eager viewers the topic they worked so hard on, something they may even be considering for a future career!  Prepare to be astounded, folks!

Random Post 5

My favorite part of senior project was when I took the class at Pasadena's Art Center. I learned so much about character design there, from how a character's looks can determine their role to how model sheets keep a character looking consistent from every angle.  It was not just infomative, it was fun!  i learned to bettrer develop my characters there and it gave me the idea for what to do for my first independent component.  I would suggest an Art Canter Class for anyone with an art-related topic!

Exit Interview Questions

1) My essential question is: What is the most important aspect of designing a character for an animated feature.
    My best answer would have to be my first answer, the 3P’s of character design.  It is important because it is the very first step in creating a character. It is actually the brainstorming process, where you decide how the character will look and act, all of which depends on the traits that you apply to him/her.  The overall appearance of the character is heavily influenced by personality and powers.  If this vital part of character development was passed over, then there would be no character to animate!  The storyboard could not be created if the character was not modeled, and the model sheet could not have been developed without designing how the character would look and function, even before they are initially drawn.
2) I came up with this answer over the summer, which started off as a sort of a funny incident. I watched several superhero movies over the summer, and because I love Pokémon, I was curious as to which Pokémon would most likely suit which hero. I did not want to pair off Pokémon with heroes based off of looks alone. I came up with 3 traits I was looking for in each pair: Power, Personality, and Physical Appearance.  While the match-making game was short-lived, my 3P’s idea never went away.
   Later on, while I was taking a character design class in Pasadena’s Art Center, College of Design, I rediscovered my 3P’s. I learned from my instructor that personality is very important in developing characters, as flat characters elicit no emotion or compassion from the audience.  Also, the physical design of a character can determine the character’s role in the storyline.  This was just like my 3-part answer, and I knew then that it was legit.
3) One of the biggest problems I faced was trying to find mentorship hours during the school year. I was lucky to have gotten 10 hours during the summer at Duncan’s Studio, a real live animation studio.  However, no other studio could accept high school students and it was already hard for the workers at Duncan Studio to allow me for the 10 hours.  They could not do this again for the school year. 
   Luckily, due to some work between one of my teachers and a close friend of mine, I was able to get my mentorship hours with my friend, Cat, at her mom’s school.  I also received mentorship hours on Sundays working as an assistant to an art teacher at Pasadena’s Art Center, College of Design.
   My second biggest problem was trying to find research.  I relied heavily on Internet articles, which provided excellent information I used for much of my senior project, but were not considered quality resources. However, while there are several books on animation, few actually concentrate on character design.
   This problem was a little easier resolved, as while I was receiving my mentorship hours at the Art Center, I had access to the College library, where I found excellent books to assist me in my research.  Two of the best books I found there were titled, The Art of Animal Character Design and Ideas for the Animated Short.
4)  My first significant source would have to be the character design class I took at the Art Center.  I learned so much about character design from this class alone.  I learned what model sheets and concept art were and how they were used, and I learned about character development and personality.  This class helped me better define my first answer (the 3P’s) and helped me come up with my second answer, model sheets and concept art, which involve drawing the character to get an idea for what it looks like and how to keep them proportionate from all angles.
   My second significant source would have to be this amazing book I found titled, Ideas for the Animated Short. It was a very useful book, taking about more than just animation.  It had a lot of information about creating a storyline and the role a character(s) play in it. It even mentioned common role a character may play, such as hero, villain, mentor, etc.  It also gave examples of movies displaying these themes. It gave me my idea for my third answer, storyboarding, which is the process of placing the characters in a series of panels (like a comic book) to come up with ideas for an animated scene. This was very useful to me, considering before I received this book I had not yet decided what I was going to do for my third answer.
5)  My final product that I have taken away from this experience would have to be an improvement in my skills as an artist.  I started off as a sort of novice artist before senior project, knowing little about the subject of character design and even struggling with designs for my own characters.  However, as I progressed through senior year, studying how to make convincing characters as well as how to draw them effectively, I strongly believe my designs have improved considerably.  For example, some of my characters, particularly a dragon, went under several different designs before I could settle on one I found suitable. He started off looking somewhat like a Pokémon and later better developed into a more traditional dragon.  Not only that, but I also learned how to draw him facing forward (front view, like on a model sheet).  A task I found difficult in the past.  This is very important to me, as when I finally get a chance to work in an animation studio, I plan on making a full-fledged cartoon series, with this dragon as my star character!

Research Towers

Research Towers

Name: Pilar I. Perrault                      House: South                        Topic: Charracter Design for Animation

EQ: What is the most important aspect in designing a character for an animated feature?

General Information	History of Animation	2D Animation	3D Animation	Hybrid Animation	C.D. Physical Appearance	C.D. Personality	C.D. Powers	Model Sheets	Concept Art
1-ARTL An article about how animation is a form of acting.	61- BLG A blog about how certain popular video game characters rose to greatness.	3-ENCY An encyclopedia entry with facts and examples of 2D animation.	5- ARTL An article about computer animation.	30- BK A book about the basics of hybrid animation, a type of animation that combines 2D with 3D.	33- BK A chapter from a book that talks about character hierarchy and styles.	34- BK A book chapter about developing eyes and how they relate to expressions.	43- ARTL An interesting article that gives the reader20 good tips for designing characters.	36- BK A book about drawing characters, specifically teenagers.	35- BK A book that states the basics of designing characters.
2- BLRB An article about the importance of learning how to draw for animation.	75- ARTL A web article about the early roots of animation, including some examples.	8- ARTL An article expressing concern for the decline of 2D animation.	6- BLRB A blurb about doing 3D animation for a living and the kind of schools to consider.	31- BK A book about developing a pipeline for hybrid animation.	34- BK A book chapter about developing eyes and how they relate to expressions.	38- ARTL An article about how the lack of character development can kill a feature.	64- BK A book about designing animal characters.	44- ARTL An article stating the importance of using a model sheet for animation.	45- ARTL An article about the purpose of expression and model sheets.
4- ARTL An article about using non-human characters in demo reels.	76- ARTL A website depicting the history of animation in a timeline of events.	9- ARTL An article discussing the possible future of 2D animation.	13- ARTL An article about a computer system called 3D Studio Max.	32- BK A book about hybrid animation and the actually process of combining 2D and 3D characters in a scene.	35- BK A book that states the basics of designing characters.	39- ARTL An article talking about developing the spirit of a character.	65- BK A book about designing animal gestures.	45- ARTL 45- ARTL An article about the purpose of expression and model sheets.	50- ARTL An article talking about and showing pictures of concept art for Disney’s Wreck-It- Ralph.
7- ARTL An article stating the main principles of animation.		10- BK A book discussing animation starring SpongBobSquarepants.	14- ARTL An article discussing the current popularity of 3D animation and how it may fall in the years to come.		36- BK A book about drawing characters, specifically teenagers.	41- ARTL An article about how animation compares to today’s live action.		55- BLG A blog that talks about creating both concept art and model sheets.	51- BLRB An interview with a concept artist and what his job is like.
16- ARTL A news article talking about Tim Burton’s new film, Frankenweenie.		11- BK A book about Disney Animation discussing  how it all started.	15- ARTL Dreamworks Workplace		37- BK A chapter from a book talking about how costume can tell a character’s living and lifestyle.	43- ARTL An interesting article that gives the reader20 good tips for designing characters.		64- BK A book about designing animal characters.	55- BLG A blog that talks about creating both concept art and model sheets.
21- BLRB An awesome article about different careers in animation.		12- BK A book about Disney Animation and some of their early works.	17- ARTL An article talking about how an animator working at Pixar perfected a method for animating hair/fur.		43- ARTL An interesting article that gives the reader20 good tips for designing characters.	46- ARTL An article about creating characters with personality.		65- BK A book about designing animal gestures.	57- BLG An interview with Landis Fields, a visual development artist.
25- ARTL An article that discussed the type of animation (CGI) in Disney’s Tron.		22/23- BK A book about Disney Animation and using live action as a drawing reference.	18- ARTL An article talking about new technology developing for CGI animation.		47- BLG A blog talking about why animals are so appealing in cartoons.	48- BLG An article that tells the reader about the purpose of animals in cartoons.			64- BK A book about designing animal characters.
27- ARTL An article about stopmotion, a type of animation using puppets/figurines.		66- BK A  book about creating animated shorts.	19- ARTL An article about the development of the (awesome) movie, Hotel Transylvania, a recent CGI movie.		48- BLG An article that tells the reader about the purpose of animals in cartoons.	49- BLRB A blurb that talks about making characters look cute.			65- BK A book about designing animal gestures.
29- ARTL An article about, GenndyTartakovsky, creator of Star Wars (cartoon series) and Hotel Transylvania.		69- BK A book about animal “landmarks” (using anatomy to make even stylized cartoon animals look like they are moving naturally).	20- ARTL An article about the introduction to 3D animation.		49- BLRB A blurb that talks about making characters look cute.	56- BLG An awesome site all about bringing out a character’s personality.
40- ARTL An article about Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob Squarepants.			24- ARTL An article talking about the history of 3D movies (the kind that require the special glasses).		62- ARTL An article about designing animal-like characters.	64- BK A book about designing animal characters.
41- ARTL An article about how animation compares to today’s live action.			26- ARTL An interview with Pixar’s President, talking about how animation has changed over the years.		63- ARTL An article about designing human-like characters.	65- BK A book about designing animal gestures.
42- ARTL An article about motion capture Technology, a type of animation that picks up on an actor’s motions.			28- ARTL An article about how the evolution of digital technology (and how it may develop further).		64- BK A book about designing animal characters.	66- BK A book about discovering attitude for animal-based characters.
50- ARTL An article talking about and showing pictures of concept art for Disney’s Wreck-It-Ralph.			66- BK A  book about creating animated shorts.		65- BK A book about designing animal gestures.	71- BK A book on animating emotions in characters.
52- ARTL An article about Pixar firing one of their directors, Brenda Chapman.			69- BK A book about animal “landmarks” (using anatomy to make even stylized cartoon animals look like they are moving naturally).		68- BK A book about exaggerating an animal’s features to make it more cartoony.	72- BK A book on animating emotions in characters.
53- ARTL A list of statistics regarding animator wages from the year 2007.					70- BK A book about drawing dragons, but goes into creating personality in characters through shapes and facial expressions.
54- ARTL A list of statistics regarding animator wages from the year 2012.
58- ARTL An article about creating storyboards for filming.
59- BLRB A short piece on storyboards and camera angles.
60- ARTL An article debating on whether or not storyboards are important.
73- BK A book on creating animated shorts with a special chapter about storyboarding.
74- ARTL A website about storyboarding, what it is, and how it is used.