Creating Stereoscopic 3D Images

  

Self-Portrait from New York City

 Santa Cruz Boardwalk

 

 Winter Park near the Aquatic Center

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

This is my personal work I've done during last summer. I used a toy figure to create these turtles through maya.

Recreating Cameras and Lights in Maya

IMG_5933

 

Maya IMG_5933

 

45 Degrees IMG_5933

 

IMG_5871

Maya IMG_5871

 

 

45 Degrees IMG_5871

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Extra Credit: Lighting a Scene in Maya

One Point: Directional Light

Two Point: Ambient Light

 Three Point: Spot Light

 

Building a Scene in Maya

This is my original non-lighting project

 

Outline for the Third Term Paper

Special Effects in Animation and Live-Action

I. Introduction

a. This essay will explain how explosions are created in live-action films.
b. Star Wars and Jaws are visual presentations that will also illustrate the different special effects methods in each film and describe how they were successfully used in the creative process.
II. Body


         1. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

a. Miniature model of Death Star was painted black and expertly constructed in great detail with explosives put in certain places to achieve maximum visual effect.
b. A computerized dolly was develop to help cameras film at various levels to enhance depth and perception involving the destruction of an evil space station.c. Gun powder and explosive chemicals exactly measured were combined by pyrotechnic experts to illustrate a realistic nuclear explosion of the Death Star.          2. Jawsa. A mechanical shark that had realistic feature was motorized and operated by remote control with pyrotechnic devices placed in the head area.
b. Small amounts of gun powder was use by technical experts to create an explosion as a shark moved into camera position for the final scene.III. Conclusion

1. The Star Wars explosion consisted of computer generated images and new technology that provided film quality to the destruction of Death Star.

2. Jaws mainly use mechanical devices and robotics that gave the explosion a surreal quality encompassing the death of a killer shark.

3. Both films were made and used technology from the 1970s that would be considered outdated by the film industry of today.

Stop-Motion Character Animation

Bucky O' Hare and Toad Air Marshall Soccer Game

 

    The video presentation depicts two characters named Bucky O’ Hare and Toad Air Marshall playing an animated soccer game. There were several steps taken to create the visual animation project. First, I gathered 6 or 7 background characters with cars to be an audience and used green construction paper to mark off lines for a soccer field. Second, the two main characters were placed in the middle of the soccer field. Third, a background of white boards were placed to the left, right, and back of the playing area. Fourth, photos were taken of each movement of the toy cars. Two characters on foot were photographed as they moved into the back area of the video. Fifth, the two main characters are moved a little at a time and end up in the middle of the soccer field. Photos were taken displaying the characters doing a spinning and flipping action as they got closer to each other for their athletic confrontation. Sixth, photos were shot using a start and stop technique to show a soccer ball progressively moving down the middle of the field. Seventh, the action on the soccer field begins as the characters get closer to one another and start kicking the ball. Various shots were taken as they progressively move from position to position in the presentation. Eighth, at the end of the video, Bucky O’ Hare scores a point by kicking the ball into the goal. Ninth, he spins around and is elated, while Toad Air Marshall feels disappointment and falls flat on his face. The last photos show Bucky moving to another animated position in the playing area. Finally, a flag appears as Bucky stands in victory on the soccer field.

Science Fact or Cinematic Fiction

 

The Physical Law of Kinetic Energy for Feature Films

   The physics laws of kinetic energy has been prevalent in visual presentations since the 20th century. These laws are constantly misused or broken to maintain the interest and action of the viewing audience. In my opinion, the three types of media that demonstrates the incorrect way kinetic energy is illustrated encompasses cartoons, live-action films, and graphic animation features. Cartoons are mainly designed for children and young adults from 5-25. The presentations contain outlandish events over a short period of time. In cartoons, kinetic energy involving speed are always shown and the audience doesn’t care whether or not physics laws are broken. People see cartoons as funny and the action that takes place as unreal. Live-action presentations are major films and the kinetic laws are designed  to stress the imagination of the mind. Car chases, supersonic speed employed by individuals and objects, and armed conflicts between opponents are depicted in a dramatic and comedic way. Kinetic laws demonstrated in these films are usually fantasy that can be possible in the future but modern technology has not been develop at the present time to accomplish these ideas. The audience is not concerned with whether the scene of kinetic energy is fact or fiction but only as a way to heighten the excitement of the film. Graphic animation sometimes combines with live-action films and uses 3D and visual effects that usually are not employed by other media. It presents graphically produced individuals as real people and places them in situations where kinetic energy is used inaccurately to escape danger or enhance superheroes in a positive way. In many scenes, the images presented are continuously breaking the law of physics by animation techniques that defy reality and could not be done in modern society. This paper will describe the physics laws of kinetic energy in a cartoon, live-action film, and graphic animation feature and demonstrate why these visual presentations could not be adopted in real life.
    The physics laws of kinetic energy are usually inaccurately illustrated in cartoons. In a scene from “Fur of Flying,” cartoon character Wile E. Coyote is depicted at a secret military base constructing a rocket that will help catch his prey the roadrunner. He finally completes his project, rolls it out to the desert, ties himself to the top of the rocket, starts and accelerate the projectile to supersonic speed, and begins to chase the roadrunner. During this pursuit, the roadrunner stops, while the rocket continues to pass him crashing into a mountain. The physics laws of kinetic energy are broken and cannot be applied for several reasons. First, a rocket slightly above the ground traveling horizontally at supersonic speeds would develop friction, which will create intensive heat and any living human being tied to the projectile would be burned beyond recognition. Second, the supersonic speed generated by kinetic energy would prevent Wile E. Coyote from remaining motionless in the center of the rocket, which would cause the projectile to veer off course and thus not capture the roadrunner. Finally, the wind force created by kinetic energy would blow into Wile E. Coyote’s body with such a velocity that it certainly will disintegrate him. Therefore, the scene that depicts Wile E. Coyote riding on a rocket breaks all the physics laws of kinetic energy, which makes it impossible to apply in real life.
    “Back to the Future, Part II” is a film that incorrectly gives many examples about the physical law of kinetic energy and their possible use in time travel. In one scene, the time travelers are making final preparation for their journey into space. Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) is packing some scientific equipment into the trunk of this futuristic car. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and his girlfriend Jennifer are loading boxes of personal items necessary for the trip. The travelers then get into the car, back out of the driveway into the street, accelerate at supersonic speed, and disappear into the stratosphere on their way to their objective. The plan is to proceed towards their future destination of Oct 21, 2015 and return to earth with new discoveries that would beneficial to mankind. However, there are several factors encompassing the physics laws of kinetic energy that would make it impossible for this to happen at the present time. First, kinetic energy would have to accelerate the velocity to the speed of light or a 186,000 a second, which would increase heat and causing the vehicle to break apart or be destroyed in space. Second, should the vehicle and the occupants survive this ordeal, there is still the relativity factor. In physics, kinetic energy changes both relative speed and time. For example, if an automobile continues towards its destination, the travel time of the individuals is much slower while the people on earth would not experience any change at all. Thus, the time travelers would arrive on Oct 21, 2015 believing their time reference is the same on earth. When they return to earth, they would discover that thousands of years have elapsed and the world and people would have changed for better or worse. Therefore, kinetic speed, relativity, and time distortion are factors that would make it impossible for modern day travelers to embark on a space odyssey like the journey depicted in the film.
    “The Incredibles” is a graphic animation film involving superheroes, who use the physics laws of kinetic energy to fight for truth and justice. During the film, kinetic energy enhances their special powers to destroy evil individuals, who want to rule the world. In one scene, superhero Dash is running through a forest pursued by villains that want to capture him. Eventually, he stops at a lake with his pursuers close behind him. Sensing danger, he employs his superpowers to run across the lake to escape his antagonists. However, while animators can create graphic characters to run across the lake, the physics law of kinetic energy cannot generate enough speed allowing human beings to perform the same task. The reason excessive speed is important is because every step taken by the runner must be done in a microsecond to distribute the weight, which will enable the surface tension of the water to support his body as he crosses the lake. Without supersonic speed, the weight of individual would cause him to sink into the water almost immediately. This is similar to a swimming pool covering that is supported by surface tension when spread out over the area but would sink to the bottom when rolled and thrown into the water due to the lack of weight distribution. Thus, kinetic energy depicting an animated character crossing a body of water could not be applied to individuals in a modern society.
    Cartoons, live-action films, and graphic animations have inaccurately used the physics law of kinetic energy to provide the vitality and dynamics in each scene and maintain viewer interest of the storyline. For example, cartoons encompass kinetic energy in its characters that allows them to commit beatings, explosions, and other acts of violence on its adversaries in a comical way that will be acceptable by young audiences. Despite the aggressive acts, the characters are never killed or harmed that might detract from the comedic content of the story and the loyalty of cartoon fans. Live-action films use kinetic energy mostly to provide some understanding of a futuristic world and a plausible way the physics laws of nature that are not acceptable today may become a reality through new technology for the next generation. Graphic animation uses the physics laws of kinetic energy as part of its special effects and digital processing department to enhance the storyline that usually provides fictitious characters with magical powers and an unreal world that will never exist in real life. Thus, the physics laws of kinetic energy serves the purpose of film producers, who are more concerned with the profits of motion pictures then providing understanding and knowledge about the scientific principles that govern our world.

Outline for the Second Term Paper

I. Introduction
a. The laws of physics are constantly broken in cartoons, live-action, and graphic animation presentations.
b. This paper will identify a law of physics that is incorrectly used in the public media.
c. Kinetic energy will be analyzed in cartoon, live-action, and animation films to demonstrate that they cannot be applied in real life.II. Body

         1. Fur of Flying
a. Cartoon depicts Wile E. Coyote tied to a speeding rocket and chasing Road Runner through the desert.
b. Physics law of kinetic energy would increase the rocket’s heat that prevents anything from surviving the ordeal.         2. Back to the Future, Part IIa. Live-action film illustrates futuristic automobile moving at supersonic speeds taking travel adventurers forward towards a certain time.
b. The physics law of kinetic energy would distort and change time reference for people but not send them forward to another dimension in history.         3. The Incrediblesa. Animation character Dash runs across the lake to escape evil villains.
b. Physical law of kinetic energy makes it impossible for individuals to generate excessive speed, which would accomplish this activity. III. Conclusion

1. The physics law of kinetic energy in cartoons, live-action, and animation films are constantly inaccurate and done for the entertainment of the viewers.

2. The principles of kinetic energy depicted in visual media could not occur in real life.

Reverse Video Reference

In this assignment, I took each of the following animation clips and shoot video in which I recreate them as accurately as possible.

CLIP A

Animation

Real-Life

CLIP B

Animation

Real-Life

CLIP C

Animation

 

Real-Life

CLIP D

Animation

Real-Life

Stop Motion Animation of Falling

Pumpkin Plunge
 

 

 

    The following sequences were used to create the pumpkin image. First, a sketch was drawn and colored involving a chasm between two cliffs. Second, in the spirit of Halloween, several small pumpkin heads were obtain through the computer with different facial expression.

 

 

 

 

 

    Third, double-stick tape was placed on the back of every image. Fourth, each pumpkin was shot with a camera individually as movement was made, which indicated bouncing up and down.

 

 

 

 

 

    Fifth, for the images that did not make it across the cliff, a pieces of torn pumpkin face were created to make it appear that it had been smashed at the bottom of the chasm. Finally, the pumpkins that did make it across the chasm to the other side of the cliff landed safely on the X spot.



The Laws of Physics in an Animation Universe

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

 

“Who Framed Roger Rabbit” involves cartoon characters called Toons, who interact with humans on a daily basis. The main animated character in the film is Roger Rabbit, who lives with his wife Jessica in a Hollywood suburb named Toontown. It is 1947 and Roger is a movie star, who works for R.K. Marron, the human owner of Marron Cartoon Studio. The plot encompasses live main action character Eddie Valiant (Bob Hoskins), who is a private detective and hired by Marron to investigate the alleged rumor that Jessica is having in extramarital affair with Marvin Acme, who owns the suburb as well as the Acme Corporation. Valiant takes and shows Roger photographs that seem to establish a loving relationship between Jessica and Marvin Acme. When confronted with the evidence, Roger becomes upset and runs away. During the separation from his wife, Acme is murdered and Roger becomes the prime suspect to the crime. Later, Roger hires Valiant to prove his innocence. During the course of the investigation, Roger and Valiant are constantly chased by animated villains, who are trying to kill them and prevent the characters from learning the truth. Eventually, they discover that Judge Doom and his weasel associates committed the murder to gain control of Toontown, destroy the suburb to build a freeway, and develop businesses that would appeal to sightseers and motorists. However, Judge Doom and his accomplices are killed and Toontown is saved from destruction. The film has many action sequences involving animated characters that defy the laws of physics and cannot be applied to real life.

Gravity and lift involving the laws of physics appear throughout the film. For example, an elephant is observed flapping his large ears allowing it to fly near a building, while looking through a window and watching two individuals having a conversation. There are several reasons why this cannot happen in real life. First, the elephant has a huge body mass that overrides its ability to remain in the air, which would result in a gravitational pull towards the earth. Unlike birds, the elephant does not have a proportional body to equalize its weight and enable it to fly or be suspended in mid-air. Its large ears are also not wings and cannot act as a flying device. Second, an air lift to stay high above ground could not be done because an elephant would not be able to generate enough wind support under its large ears to remain in the air and fly like a bird. A bird also has hollow bones enabling it to soar  through the air as opposed to an elephant’s ears that are solid and would not permit it to overcome gravity or gather enough air lift to fly. Thus, based on gravity and lift, an elephant flying through the air could not happen as depicted in the film.

Kinetic energy and dynamics also occur in many live and animated adventures by the main characters throughout the story. In one scene, Eddie Valiant and Roger Rabbit enter a parked car, which is used to escape from the animated villains. Eddie starts the automobile and begins to accelerate to avoid being captured and killed by his evil pursuers. The automobile increases to supersonic speed as the vehicle recklessly proceeds through Toontown where it eventually stops at the Acme Corporation, without the car being damage or Eddie and Roger hurt in anyway. This sequence is an example of potential and kinetic energy that may be acceptable in an animated film but not practical in real life. For example, the average driver may not have the ability to endure the sonic boom or control the automobile through the city at supersonic speeds, which would result in accidents and may prevent the occupants from surviving the ordeal. The dynamics of the situation would also effect the occupants and structure of the vehicle for several reasons. First, the car is a standard automobile and is not engineered to absorb the enormous stress that may be placed on the vehicle. Second the environment outside the vehicle could greatly be effected by the sonic boom and wind force generated by accelerated speed initiated by the passing automobile. Windows and glass could be shattered and people may be injured or killed by the wind force and speed as the automobile proceeds through the city. Thus, kinetic energy and dynamics that is shown in the motion picture cannot take place in real life as illustrated in the film.

Inertia involving the use of firearms can be observed during the armed confrontations between Roger Rabbit, Eddie Valiant, and the evil villains. In one instance, Eddie and Roger are being chased down a dark street by Judge Doom and his henchmen. As they turn around the corner to escape their antagonists, the evil villains fire several rounds of ammunition towards the main characters. As the bullets approach Roger and Eddie, they stop, turn, and proceed around the corner hoping to hit their target. They fail to kill Roger and Eddie, who enter the Acme Corporation for safety. Based on the physics law of inertia, this cannot possibly happen as depicted in the film. Inertia is caused by a force that moves an object such as a bullet at constant speed in a straight line. Bullets fired from a weapon do not act on their own when searching for a target. The bullets would need another force if they are to change direction. Therefore, the bullets fired at Roger and Eddie would continue to move in a straight line and eventually fall to earth due to gravity. Thus, in order to shoot at their targets, the villains would have to run to the corner and fire another round of ammunition towards the main characters to accomplish their goal. The films idea of inertia only works in animation and not in the physical laws of reality.

The physics laws of nature and the environment are normally broken by graphic animators in films. They are outlandish and designed to enhance the comedy and drama of the presentation. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” was an effort to illustrate the physics laws that would provide wholesome entertainment for the audience. The main characters and villains were depicted in such a way as not to frighten individuals, while employing a storyline and plot that would be acceptable to the viewing public. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” was a movie that displayed modern graphic techniques, which would introduce and excite that viewers to the wonders of animation films. Roger Rabbit’s main purpose was to be a financial success and present a film mainly for the 18-40 age group. The graphic animators did not care if they took liberties with the laws of physics or made any sense of a story. They wanted to present a film that would be enjoyed by individuals for two hours and not to provide an education into the physical laws of nature. Thus, the film did not present an accurate account of physics laws but may enhance knowledge and understanding about why various natural and environmental aspects of our world work in a certain way.

Outline of the First Term Paper

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Introduction

A. Live-Animated Feature Film: Who Framed Roger Rabbit (104 minutes)
B. Thesis - Who Framed Roger Rabbit blends real and animated characters with physics in many ways to illustrate a humorous dramatic storyline.

Body Paragraph

A. Gravity and Lift:

1. Animated elephant flapping his large ears to remain suspended in mid-air while looking through a window.

2. When Eddie went out the door to avoid the creepy version of Jessica Rabbit, he is floating on an empty space with no room, which he notice that he is about to fall to death.

B. Kinetics and Dynamics:

1. Cartoon and live-action subjects in an automobile chase increase their vehicle movement from regular to super sonic speed to escape animated villains.

2. Eddie Valiant used the elevator to go up but it went too fast, which made him sink to the floor.

C. Inertia:

1. Live action character fires pistol bullets at a fleeing villain that stop in mid-air and curve to the target.

2. Eddie used a hammer, which release a punching glove that causes the Dip to flow out of the machine.

Conclusion

The laws of physics by animated and live action characters can not be apply in this film.

Video Analysis of Path of Action

Video Analysis of Path of Action

Run and Jump (5 Jumps)

This is me running and jumping 5 times.

Run and Jump Chart

 

 This chart shows me how good my jumps are. The x-axis indicates how high my jump is at. The y-axis demonstrates how far my jumps will go from right to left.

Run and Jump (1 Jump)

There are key frames I add to this video that lets me see how high and far my jump is at.

Tracker Video Analysis of Falling

Tracker Video Analysis of Falling

 

This is a chart of me dropping the ball and let it bounce couple of times. The graph indicates how the x and y axis of the ball bounces towards me.

Dropping the Ball

 

I've been practicing dropping the ball and let it bounces couple of times. It appears that the ball keeps bouncing towards me.

Shooting Video Reference

Shooting Video Reference

 

 

 

 

This is me tossing and catching the ball.

 

 

 

Fourth Down at Half-time

 

 

 

 

Frame 27, the ball went about 5 feet into the air.

Frame 36, the ball was dropped about 2 feet.

Frame 44, I safely catched the ball.

Mini-Portfolio

Mini-Portfolio



 

 

 

In July 2008, "Bottles" is one of my favorite artwork I've done in color pencil that took me a week to finish. I added some multicolor to blend from light to dark, which gives the reflection of the bottles more perspective.

 

 

 

 

Bottles

 

 

In August 2008, "Glass of Water" is one of my hardest drawing. I use only eight colors for this project and it took me about a week to get every detail of the water and the bubbles from the glass. The pouring water into the glass creates a lot of bubbles, which gives the water more realistic on how much people drink water a day.

 

 

 

 

Glass of Water

 

 

In December 2011, "The Nutcracker" is a project I've done on my final at ANI 51a. The instructor likes my final project, because unlike most modeling classes I animated my character, which gives it the outstanding texture and movements of my model.

 

Nutcracker

 

My name is Steven Strangio and I've been in school for almost four years and I'm planning on graduating in 2015. I'm a transfer student that came from Sacramento, who has been working on making 3D Modeling and Animation. I am training to become a video game designer and modeler, who wants to make the best video games for worldwide. I've been spending many days on modeling characters, buildings, and objects for the job in future years. My goal is to become a famous video game designer, who works at a company that makes alot of popular video games and travels the world for my creation.

The First Post

The First Post

This is my first blog to the students from enrolling Physics of Animation 123.