Character UV Map's Applied to Models

So after a couple of set backs in regards to the character texturing/UV mapping, what with animation needing to take place and this being pushed back on the agenda, it was time to get it done. And below showcases the results of that. As we have strived to recreate a cartoon style, we didn't wish to do anything too flamboyant with the character textures, other than really instill an illusion of life on them, to make the man look like a man, and the monkey look like a monkey, and really that was the ultimate essence of that, and we needed to give them a little more personality, a little more heart, and make them look a LOT more thief-like, so hopefully with the combined colours and use of snappy little light heartedness to them, I have helped to breathe some new life into these models. 

I really strived to recreate a more realistic face texture, in regards to recreating blemishes and possible heated areas of the skin, and a tired-ness under the eyes. The film takes place in the middle of the night, so it was important to us that at least one of the characters looked tired, to give the story a bigger sense of plausibility - showcasing that this guy is actually pretty exhausted to be up at this time, it really helps push that through, and we really wanted to recreate that with the textures in the skin. 

Both of them collectively together, each containing their own bit of personality, but unified within the context of the film. 

Research and Inspiration on skin texturing - Peabody & Sherman 

You can see especially in the skins of Sherman, Penny & (Mona) Lisa how such simplicity is retained in the skin texture to tie in with the metaphysics and production design of the world being visually presented, and how the aesthetics of the computer shading allow to make sure that it doesn't look at all, either dead or too plaster-scene, it's an almost, perfect vynl-esque look that really compliments and utilises other aspects of the 3d software, which for our film would be very nice to achieve. 

Character Eye Textures

Character Eye textures for Maya. 

(Automatic Mapped) 

The one above is an eye texture for the man. Painted by myself to give him a more human quality to contrast the eyes of the monkeys. 

(Automatic Mapped)

The Monkeys Eye texture, again painted by myself was painted more in ties with an actual monkey eye, giving off a different shape quality and colour to the mans to really push their difference in species. 

Monkey Diamond Eye Texture (Automatic Mapped) 

This eye texture is for the monkey when the diamond is revealed to him in the 3rd act. At first I had a dollar sign texture on the eyes, but I was advised to change this to a diamond to keep in ties with what is actually in the vault. I do agree, and i feel this ties down the visuals better and keeps a vice grip on the happenings within the context of the story. 

First Monkey eye Texture. 

(Refined) 

(First Early Development)

Dynamite Sequence

I animated the first half of the dynamite gag sequence in which the explosion lever fails to work. This sequence cuts between two moments, the facial reaction of the man, and his hands pressing the lever -and the sequences intensify with frustration and confusion the more that the man's initial intentions are foiled. Below I have included a few spacing charts I thumbed out and some thumbnails of the sequences to make sure we could get it right. Sequence video's are in order. 

Composition thumb

I was advised by my tutors to really PULL that lever up, so that in a nice, cartoony way it didn't necessarily make sense, but that was ok to really push the action to work. 

I was advised to REALLY go for this one, really get it moving really fast, but still retaining a plausibility to it. I'm glad this was taken on board by myself and the team, as it really was fun to work with. 

Harley will then take the rest of this gag and animate it for himself. 

Diamond Reveal Rough Cut

Opening Rough Cut

Monkeys Facial Reaction to seeing Diamond.

In this shot, the diamond has just been revealed behind the vault door, and it's overdramatic swing open. Originally I had the monkey with dollar signs in his eyes, but one of my tutors suggested that it may be more in ties with the film, especially the diamond if the monkey actually had diamonds spinning around in his eyes. But the gag piece would remain the same - it would play a spoof to casino machines all the same. 

The shot with diamonds in the eyes now looks a little bit like this...