Yesterday when working on a animatic for a separate group module, I was able to throw together 1 minute and 16 seconds worth of material in just a single day.
Learning from that experience I’ve decided to do the same for my final year project. Below are the new character models for each character.
After I plan every shot with stick men and crude backgrounds I will re-do every shot with more detailed designs. I think this will be a quick and easy way to plan out the animatic before drawing everything up all neat.
After walking around the university the other day, I noticed that one of the buildings and the offices inside them looked perfect for what I had in mind for Tom's office, and the Bob Enterprise building in general.
My first trip back with a camera didn't work out so well because you couldn't see inside very good. Still I like the shape of the windows and the line pattern on the building.
Went back a few hours later when the lights were on, this worked out a lot better because you can now see all the details that inspired me to begin with.
This picture is pretty much perfect for referencing the desk and the computer that Tom will be sitting on in the opening shot. Although you can't see most of what is inside the room, the silhouette of the desk, computer and desk would work great for animation.
More shots of the rooms. No offence to anyone that works in these, but I love how pathetically small they look and that they are almost clones of each other.
And finally some more pictures that show off what’s in the room better, and allow you to see more of the details. I'll be using these pictures a lot when drawing out the animatic and for any concept art work I do for Tom room. In the future I may see if I can get inside one of these rooms to take more pictures, but I think they will look better and closer to the isolated look I’m going for from this far away angle.
When animating any character the main things you have to think about are body language and the way they move, a good way to figure out these thing are to figure out their personalty. What follows are descriptions for each main character, detailing some brief history, and information on how they think and who they are.
Founder and head of "Bob Enterprises" until he was bitten on the shoulder, by a zombie during a lecture on the importance’s of synergy.
Feeling more alive then ever after being turned, he UN-lives in a constant satisfied feeling of positive unchained bliss, similar to that of a drunk or someone on drugs.
Using the networking skills he acquired in life, has appointed himself manager and representative of the impending zombie hordes, who are gathered outside his ex business.
Has brain dead ignorance to the fact that his employees don't like him, even considers himself their friend.
Enjoys stamp collecting, good times, and easy listening country music.
Has amazing communicational skills, and exceptional singing voice.
Based on a series of animated shorts made for American comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live, creator Mike Judge took his characters and setting into live action with this smart down to earth comedy called Office Space. Judge who is best known as the creator of "Beavis and Butt-Head", wrote and directed this masterpiece of a movie, which satirize the tedious life of a pencil pusher, and just about how much they will put up with before they flip out and start doing things by their own rules.
As I've said before, a lot of what I have in mind for the animation based on Jonathan Coulton song, is inspired heavily by this film. While I'll get more into Coulton in a later blog entree, it is know that before all his internet music success, he spent some time working as computer programmer in most likely a dull office with an annoying boss similar to this movie. It would not be impossible to assume that he most likely saw this movie, and was either inspired or related enough to the characters from Office Space, that he may have based the character of Bob some what on Bill Lumberg. If this is not the case, then Coulton at least had as much experiences dealing with people like those featured in this movie, as Judge himself. All speculation aside, my personal view is that the song is essentially what you get when you cross dawn of the dead with Office Space, and maybe add a pinch of Evil Dead.
The Plot is centers around frustrated low level employee of Initech, Peter Gibbons. After taking in a group session with a hypnotist, attempting to have himself brain washed into liking his dull job, a hart attack causes his hypnotist to drops dead. This event causes Peter to stop caring about all the unnecessary stresses in his life, and after being unintentionally promoted due to his new relaxed uncaring attitude, takes revenge for his fired co worker friends, by hacking into Initech's accounts to steal a very nice redundancy package.
I will be drawing from the following scenes respectively, for character movement, directional camera placing, facial expressions, and humor tone.
In this first scene we get to see the differences and interaction between the main character Peter Gibbons, and his boss Bill Lumberg. Bill strolls into work very satisfied, while Peter drudges in and even hesitates to enter. This illustrates perfectly the dynamic I want for Tom and Bob, Peter clearly hates Bill, but is just pretending to do what he wants so that he'll leave him alone.
There are some great shots here to, which I'll refer to when doing the animatic.
Here is a quick scene between Lumberg and the character of Milton. Milton was the main character in the same titled series of animated shorts, which the movie was based on. One of the shorts even featured both of these characters in a similar type of interaction, which eventually carried over into this movie and this clip. This again works as more good examples for movement and expressions for Bob, as well as some possible reaction inspiration for Tom when he's hiding from the zombies
Another short scene between Peter and his boss, this time a different member of management. While Bob was based a lot on Bill Lumberg, this character also works as a good template for movement and mannerisms to reference. I really love the calm way that Peter tries to get across his point, and how he ultimately fails because the other guy is happy to talk but will not listen to a word Peter is saying.
While I didn't Have Jennifer Aniston in mind when designing the character Janice, while looking for reference clips I could help noticing the similarities in what I was thinking about for the chemistry between her and Tom. This scene between Peter and Joanna demonstrates well the kind of thing I’m looking to do in the animation in terms of character direction.
Another scene with Milton and Lumberg. Through out the movie Lumberg continues to take and take from Miltons character until he eventually snaps and burns the building down.
Here is some footage of Lumberg talking to all the employees. Good references here are of crowds and how the way Peter is positioned really stands out among the other office drones.
Some more interaction between Peter and Lumberg. Peter really doesn't want to work on the weekend but he knows that if Lumberg asks him he will cave, so Peter is hiding from him in an attempt to slip out of work without his boss seeing him.
I like this part of the movie, because it shows that Joanna is just like Peter, and also answers to a dumb annoying boss, who also bothers her with pointless corporate BS. Mike Judge himself plays her boss, as a sort of cameo reprise of the Bill Lumberg he voiced in his original animated short. I like how her boss wants Joanna to obvious wear more flare in almost a threatening way; he just won’t say it for possible hint of legal implications.
Peter disturbingly dreams about Lumberg having sex with Joanna after hearing that she slept with a Bill Lumberg, who unknowing to him just had the same name. The end bit where his neighbor is talking to Peter through the wall, works as good reference for when Bob is speaking to Tom and Janice through the wall at the end of my animation.
After witnessing the death of his hypnotist, Peter finally gets the courage to ask Joanna out. I figured this would be a good clip to reference a short exchange between Tom and Janice after he saves her from the hordes of zombies.
Again more good stuff for the end of the animation, to show how Janice and Tom reacted to Bobs speaking through the wall of their well protected hiding space. Bill Lumberg continues to try and contact Peter, but Peter just doesn't care anymore.
The final scene between Lumberg and Milton. Lumber continues to be a total ass hole to Milton giving him perfect reason to snap and set fire to his Lumberg's business. This is a great piece for Bob, Lumberg maintains his complete customer service like attitude towards Milton, even though he and him are placed in an absurd area where there would be not point in deluding each other any further. Bob has the same approach to Tom, he doesn't care that he's a zombie, he's still his boss and he still wants to remain professional.
Now that Peter no longer cares about work, he no longer cares about Lumberg. The big thing of note from this clip is the way Lumberg pretends to himself that Peter still respects him and continues to act as if Peter has been fair and is doing what he asks. I want this to be the way Bob walks away at the end of the video while the other zombies are chewing on the doors.
Lumberg tries to have a word about Peter's behavior. It backfires.
And finally the ending moment when Peter sees his place of work and personal prison burn to the ground. At first he looks so what confused as if not knowing what to do, then he sees the guilty looking Milton sneak away and he lets out an almost insane laugh. Tom has witness his daily hood die, all his co workers either eaten or turned into zombies, but he got the girl, found a place of safety, and feels more alive then he has in years.
Next I'll be looking at a few more films that have inspired this animation, the Evil Dead Trilogy.
Work is going well; I’ve completed the rough pencils of the three main character models, in the process of deciding whether or not I will bother to create the two secondary ones Bill and Jill, or either cut them for generic zombies or just wing the designs in the animatic stage. Also the generic zombies will either be the same one copied and pasted a bunch of times, or I’ll make three that I will copy and paste a bunch of times.
Tom
Bob
Janice
Most likely I wont do as much prep work for later designs since as I write this I’m at risk at falling behind schedule, and must do what I can to move on to stage 2. The above designs will work as the main guideline for the animatic drawings, although I will be drawing the animatic in flash and the designs will most likely improve. I will do final cleaned up versions of all three when I get to the colour part of stage 3 in the project plan.
After doing some research by looking at more zombie designs, I redesigned Bob to look a little more creepy and ghoulish. I felt the previous design looked a little too young and friendly, and while I am going for humor, I still want Bob to look like more of a threat.
I started by drawing out a non infected version of Bob based on his current design. I did this so I could home in on his key features, as well as try and figure out what the character was like before he got infected. My idea was that when human Bob was uptight and very self important in the way that he stands, once he became a zombie, he loosened up a little sort of like when stricken person tries alcohol or drugs for the first time. I like to think that Bob is a lot happier as a zombie then as a human.
So far the changes are mainly in the eyes and the ripped off part of his mouth. after looking at the pictures below I was able to add more details to these areas which in turn make the character look more messed up, which I think works well.
The blank eyes were taken from this drawing that I found here.
The ripped off jaw was inspired by these two above images, first taken from The Haunted World of El Superbeasto DVD, and the second here.
Lastly I took a look at this fan drawing of Jonathan Coulton to finish off the hair. This image can be found here.
Here is my 3rd attempt at cleaning up the characters. I am very close now to drawing up the final model sheet rotations that I will refer to when drawing the animatic. At the moment I am completely happy with the look of Tom, finally getting his hair right by taking another look at the Peter nodding toy on the Office Space Merchandise image. Janice’s Hair still needs a little more refining, and in the next drawing I will try to make Bob a little more taller and bulk as I feel he looks too young at the moment.
