Video inspiration

Like the Goldberg machine I'd like to use.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4234516011048285403

Then there's Duchamp Large Glass
http://www.toutfait.com/issues/issue_2/Multimedia/pop_suquet_2.html

For characterization (really cool)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7618827056985234493
This this piece suffers from the same problem that mine might have without a stronger story. While the basic story is pretty good (the character loses his head), and in many ways very similar to what I was thinking - many times it ends up looking like and animation exercise rather than a story. Nonetheless, the vfx are really excellent, and I happen to like the story quite a bit. Just think it limits the audience more than I would like to.

Synopsis (revised)

Synopsis

Two characters constructed out of a series of found objects each night engage in a contest to destroy the other. Partitioning the ground in front of them, they they use the objects around them to build implements of destruction to weild against one another. The night ends when (at least) one has been knocked to pieces. Then they pick (reassemble) themselves up read for the next contest.

On Rigging

Thinking the rigs for these 2 (3) characters should be relatively straight forward. The 2 main ones are essentially simple bipeds. All hard surfaces, so the skinning should be relatively easy.

For falling apart, thinking maybe adding dynamics. Attach the geometry with parent constraints with switches that key gravity fields. Make all the geometry live to handle collisions.

Point and aim constraints to handle picking up and moving items, be it on themselves or just items.

For the ball creature, just a series of arms, maybe with pistons. Thinking chrome...

Thoughts on story

Rather than the original idea of having each character do the same type of building (boring), each should be doing something entirely different (interesting). This should create foils, and the potential for good guy/bad guy interaction.

So how's this:

Thing 1 is a builder. He makes a horribly complex machine. Takes him forever - welding, and connecting, and cursing when things don't go right. The worker bee.

Thing 2 is the zen master. He builds a small device with a red button (mystery!). This annoys Thing 1 to no end. Thing 2 waits patiently. And taunts Thing 1.

The big day comes and Thing 1's device is unleashed. After an overly complicated servies of events and much heightened anticipation, finally the denoument - a small sphere is pathetically ejected towards Thing 2. It barely makes it to his feel.

Thing 2 chortles and presses the button. A wrecking ball swings in from off screen and smaches Thing 1 and his machine to bits. Triumphantly Thing 2 picks up the sphere. A hatch opens in the sphere and a series of improbably long arms extend and disassemble Thing 2.

Fade to black, and when we come back the two Things are reassembling themselves. Thing 2 picks up Thing 1's leg (a pen cap), hit him with it, and then hands it to him.

Fin.

Thesis statment (revised)

Title (possible)

We Do This Every Night

Thesis statement

There is a hidden world just beneath our noses with the fantastic and irrational happen. A character animation short, comped into footage, telling the nightly contest between two impossible characters.

Synopsis

The two character's story evolves over a week of evenings. After constructing themselves, they move of to constructing elaborate rube-goldberg machines which in the end the unleash against each other. Each night their building increases - working in bottle caps, rubber bands, and gum wrappers - until they unleash their creations, ultimately destroying themselves in the resulting violence. Last, the begin to construct themselves again.

Reference

DeChirico (the great metaphysician)

Brothers Quay (stop motion?)
Jan Svankmajer
Max Ernst

Character design/construction

Some notes on character design and construction.

Character will be made out of found objects from an alley/falling out of poster. He/they will also interact with these objects. Should look into renderers, just in case I need to use (learn) mental ray to match with footage.

Rigging is probably going to be the most complex element. Would like to have character construct and deconstruct themselves. Useful for having themselves adjust themselves based on task. At least be able to fall apart. Parent constraints.

thought continuing onward

The problem is with story - conveying this kind of emotional arc via animation might end up looking more like an animation exercise rather than a short, which is the intention. Especially true because of the complexity of the rigging and compositing.

I need the character to have a goal (problem). Maybe wants to get something, but it needs to fit within the reality of a hodgepodge character. Don't want to anthropormophize him - what exactly would a 2D character who finds himself in a 3D world need/want?

Since I already have a second character, possibly
have him interact with the first in some way, and have that be the story.

Above all, it shouldn't be philosophical masterbation. If I do that, it should be an essay, not animation. Keep in mind that first and foremost that this needs to be a story that can only be told in this medium - can't be done in live action, can't be done in writing.

Thesis statment [initial]

OK - for posterities sake, and so I can cring with embarrassment when I read it later, here is the original and already wildly inaccurate thesis statement and synopsis.

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Thesis statement

To use character animation and compositing into real footage to tell a fish-out-of-water story of a 2-D character who suddenly finds himself interacting in a 3 dimensional world. To push a story of a CG character becoming integrated in with the world. To show the fantasic things that happen just below our noses if only we would notice.

Synopsis

From a security camera recording the entrance to an after-hours club we see an old recycling poster. [Inciting event] and the objects fall out of the poster as a series of found objects to the ground below, assembling themselves into a hodgepodge character. The character awakens and stumbles about – now born, he tries to figure out what he is.

After stumbling around and learning to use his new body, he steps into a puddle that ruins his crumpled-paper leg. Limping badly, he assembles a new leg out of used matches and pen caps he finds. No wanting anything further to do with this world, he climbs up to the poster [maybe reassembles arm to climb] and starts banging on it, trying to get in. Giving up, he angrily tears his milk carton head off and punts it. Stricken, without a head, he crawls around until finding a surrogate: a bottle cap. He hides under a rag, sobbing.

Last, at night, he pokes his head out of the rag looking around. A pile of rubbish transforms itself into another character, waves him along. Surprised, looking back to be sure that its him that is wanted, he tentatively walks to the other character [maybe expand this part to push trust/distrust thing]. Walk off frame.

First Post

So here we go. Was thinking about my thesis and having all these ideas and thought to myself, "Self, you gotta get yerself one of them there blops that all them hids are getting." So off to blopping...