Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Cinefx 152 cover

my squid shot is on the cover of Cinefx. After reading it I feel like I need put more info about animation out there
.
- I have never seen the old boy eating squid reference.

-The shot was turned over to me with just a concept drawing. Then I found this footage to study how gorilla eat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTq_ZhhQLTM

- Initially I requested we need more extreme lip shape for this shot but was told our shape and texture won't hold up for the extreme stretching. Plus they will sim the lip.So I animate loosely on the lip, with jaw doing most of the work.

- months past they realized the sim and mcor are not going to work. I jumped back to the shot.

-after several back and forth. I went all out on our lip shape anim, tweaker and whatever pushing way beyond limit.

-Lana Lan did a lot of mcor work to make sure lip and squid stick together and have correct deform during interaction.


Tuesday, April 11, 2017

攻殻機動隊

Ghost in the Shell 2017

- a much simplified version from original material. Roughly based on 1995 anime film.
Several key plot changes made this new movie completely its own, but missing the spirit

-  I actually enjoyed the viewing experience in 3D. Several low angle shots with camera pushing into the lush environment were very effective.

- I appreciate the effort to recreate several iconic scenes from the 1995 film. It brought back nostalgia.

- 1995 film was far more realistic.

-In 1995 action scenes, you could SEE and HEAR bullet shell  falling all over the place; Major Kusanagi needed to change over heated gun barrel; the trash truck hacker swapped armor penetrating ammo and planted his foot for recoil......1995 hand drawn anim completely beat out the 2017 cgi here

- The spider tank scene was crucial in 1995 film.

- In 2017 version, the moving tank took away the suspense and unpredictables.

- All those static shots in 1995 tank scene created space for viewer to think, and take deep breathe.

- Cyborg doesn't blink.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

10 yrs veteran

I am a 10 yr veteran today. (3/5/2017)

10 years ago, March 5 2007, I started my VFX career at Rhythm & Hues Studios, working on Golden Compass.

Back in the day R&H flew me to Los Angeles for interview, Matt Logue and Keith Roberts chatted with me, we looked at my reel and they asked if I am ready to change my anim over and over again because thats the nature of business. I eagerly said yes!

The money in VFX was not great, but I've met great people and made good friends in the industry. I usually worked on movies tank in box office or involving talking animal, however that makes the few rare moment we accomplished something impossible much more memorable. And heck, I even started drinking beer because of VFX.

I want to say thank you, lets toast to the great 10 yrs and much more decade to come