Rough Cut...pt. 1

Here's the first unvailing of a rough edit of the first couple scenes of my short film. Could I fit any more prepositional phrases in that sentence? Now, of course there are many things I'm going to fix/add/create/re-do before the final version, like the backgrounds aren't final colors, the atmostphere and special effects in some shots will be added, and some timing issues will be addressed, as well as finishing the REST of the film! I simply wanted to let my loyal readers in on more of the story and cleaned up animation, so hopefully seeing some shots put together will do that. As always, comments and critiques are welcome. Enjoy!



Until laterz!

Cat Clock

I know it's been a couple days since I've posted anything, so I thought I'd put up this simple animation of Dakota Kid's clock. This is part of the first scene. I kinda like the design of it, and think it will fit in wonderfully to his bedroom...as soon as I finish it!



Until laterz!

Scene 1, shot 2

I've been working on the background color and style, as well as starting to figure out camera, compositing and such. Here's the first look at what this lil' film may look like, only with some more tweaks. Hope ya'll enjoy this glimpse!

Until laterz!

A little background

Tonight was all about backgrounds. I realized I needed some new backgrounds for some scenes that got shots added or reworked, so I've been spending some time creating them. Plus, I have one or two that need those tweaks to make it really work.

This is a hallway shot, but it's also a glimpse of what the completed bedroom will feel like, but MORE.



Here's a longer hallway view from the ninja scene.



And yet another hallway shot...



I am still figuring out the final colored look for the backgrounds, but when that gets figured out ya'll will be the first to see!!

Until laterz!

Walk like a ninja....

Just something to tide you loyal readers over until a post of more substance....and to keep me going on posts. Can't let my viewers down! For those who are keeping track, I'm into about the third week of full production this short. I think I'm pretty close to being on schedule. I had wanted to get one scene roughed per week...we'll see if that happens. Really, I just want to keep chuggin away. Not focus on being behind or ahead. This shot is in three stages. Some is roughed, some is cleaned up/inked and a couple frames are colored. Needed to see how the character looked in color. Here ya go..it goes quick!



Until laterz!

A cowboy's life...

The second to last costume design, the Cowboy! Enjoy...



Until laterz!

Red means GO!

So, after some comments about color choices in my Ninja costume from a long time reader of the blog...and big support for this short, I went back to a color combo that closer matches most peoples idea of what Ninja's look like. Granted, I thought at first the Marti Gras color scheme worked for my Ninja, I am growing to like this version better. What do you guys think? I am always open to comments you guys have about my lil' ol' short!



Until laterz!

A rough quickie

Today's post is a short one. It's another ROUGH group of shots. It goes fast and you may need to watch it a couple times to catch it all. This is the shortest scene currently of the whole short...and unfortunatly it's with one of my favorite costumes of the short. I'm trying to get the other scenes thumbnailed out so I can get those ROUGHED out soon.




Until laterz!

28 years ago...

...a buddy named Campbell was born! Happy Birthday, Bro!!

Still working..."rough"ly...

Here's the latest animation scene. Just a warning, it's ROUGH, but at least it gives you a glimpse at what I'm up too.



Until laterz!

Wonderful world of COLOR!!!

Inbetween drawing up some rough animation, I'm playing around with the colors of my character. Don't take these as the final colors, but these are the current colors for the Ninja and Superhero scenes. I'd appreciate any feedback on the colors or anything else to do with the character design.


And yeah...I know this color doesn't hide the inspiration for this superhero...but what can I say, it's a great color combo!


Until laterz!

to infinity...and BEYOND

Another glimpse of the last "imagination" costume...the space scene.



until laterz!

Ninjas and Superheroes and Dakota, OH MY!!!

Here's some of the further character designs from the short. There are a total of five "imagination" scenes in my short and so, five different costumes. Originally, I was going to have Dakota just pretend through the whole piece, but decided that it'd be cooler (and more visually fun) if he actually changed into what he was pretending to be...but you'll see more of that when you see the short!

until then..here's the sheets:

Howdy pardner!

Here's how Dakota imagines himself looking when he is in the western/cowboy segment of the short. I've been busy working on backgrounds and inking the turnarounds of the extra character costumes...more to come laterz!

Until laterz!

Dakota Kid...finalized!

So here's some of the first finished character sheets for the "normal" look of the main character, DAKTOA KID. I've finalized the five other looks of the character, but yet to get them inked and colored. Since I'm the only one that's working on this short, I'm not really needing to do finished sheets like these, but to be honest, it makes me feel a tad more professional! So without further adooo, here's the first character design sheets:

A new direction...

If you read my last post, one would think that I was bringing this current blog to an end. This would have been correct, except that I decided to change the direction of this blog. Better yet, I wanted to focus this blog a little more. If you go to my website, you can see my blog that has more random life and career stuff. I've recently decided to FULLY plunge into completing another animated short. The catch this time, I want to do it right and hopefully finish with a product I really feel proud of. SOO...I'm going to use this blog to keep all you LOYAL viewers updated on the production. I have, and still do, enjoy finding blogs from other animators telling and showing their creative processes. Now maybe I'll get some animators that find encouragement from this blog...and if not..at least it's letting a few of my friends see what I'm up to!

So..I'll be posting some pre-production stuff on here soon.

Until laterz!

Change of Blogs...

Hey all!

Just to let you know that I'm posting more blog stuff on my website....

http://www.aliengraphicx.com/DakotaKid%20Corral%20Blog/DakotaKid%20Corral%20Blog.html

It's just easier to keep it going on there. I may still use this page, but for now, check my website out for new stuff about me and see newer work.

Until laterz!

Dakota Kid sketches...

So besides the modeling in Maya, I've been reworking my design of Dakota Kid. I thought I had him nailed down, but then I realized I wanted to make him more animatable. The design style he was in was more flat Cartoon Network style...I'm going more for a traditional "old school" style. As well as something that has a little more volume to him. Having a small, short, squaty little character (which for some reason I usually design) makes it harder for me to draw some poses; hard to keep him on model..but I'll get it worked out. I'm also trying to get his face a little more concrete...it'll come. But for now..here's where I'm at:



Until laterz!

Look ma..no arms..

and the arms are roughed in. Not sure how fast the updates on this project will be, but I'll try to keep plugging away. I may switch to doing my own character so that I feel like something more then just coping a pattern of someone else. But it's at least good practice.

Here ya go:



Until laterz!

He's got legs...

And yet another stage of the creation. I've now got the torso and legs going pretty good. To be honest, I am not trying to create the perfect model..I'm just trying to further my skills with modeling. But at the same time, this will really help my OWN characters that I've decided it's gonna be cheaper and easier for me to model them..at least if I really want them realized.

So here ya go:



Next time..you have the right to BARE ARMS!!!

Until laterz!