3D Short Timeline?

commander riker · Mar 2010

Working on a 3D short. I have to create a time budget for it. Basically it needs to give an idea of how long it will take for concept, script, modeling, texturing, rigging, etc all the way through finished product.

Trying to cheat a little bit by seeing what others have done (we artists call them references, right =P). Anyway I've got 3 months. I'm thinking approximately 2 min of animation and looking for a rough plan of action. Betwixt Google and a couple of Preproduction/Production books I have I'm not finding anything.

For sure someone on the internet has something...

Cyrael · Mar 2010

Speaking from experience, 2 min is too long for a 3 month short by yourself unless its not really animation heavy. Stick to 30 sec to a min of GOOD animation, texturing, lighting, modeling, etc. You will be more happy with the result. It also really depends on your strengths and weaknesses, plan around that. It also depends on the number of characters (keep it 2 or less) A little more detailed explanation of what you plan to do will help us help you...

I did a 4.5 min animation in 4 months and worked like 80 hour weeks to complete it and was still not happy with the result. I already had the story and concept in my mind so it was about 2-3 weeks for modeling- 2 weeks for rigging, a week for lighting and texturing, the rest of the time for animating (2.5 months), didn't have hardly anytime for post was still rendering while composing the score...(it was my senior thesis) the result was mediocre at best because I tried to do too much, limit yourself and you will be better off for it. you can see the result here.

Good luck though bc it can be a really really fruitful journey. :-)

Also if you have the money (like 30 bucks) pick up Ideas for the Animated short - it will be really helpful in developing this and can give you a decent timeline as well.

Karmageddon · Mar 2010

May I recommend this book, How to Make Animated Films: Tony White's Complete Masterclass on the Traditional Principals of Animation :
[ame]http://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Animated-Films-Masterclass/dp/0240810333/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267672746&sr=8-1[/ame]

Good luck

aesir · Mar 2010

Cyrael wrote: »

Speaking from experience, 2 min is too long for a 3 month short by yourself unless its not really animation heavy. Stick to 30 sec to a min of GOOD animation, texturing, lighting, modeling, etc. You will be more happy with the result. It also really depends on your strengths and weaknesses, plan around that. It also depends on the number of characters (keep it 2 or less) A little more detailed explanation of what you plan to do will help us help you...

I did a 4.5 min animation in 4 months and worked like 80 hour weeks to complete it and was still not happy with the result. I already had the story and concept in my mind so it was about 2-3 weeks for modeling- 2 weeks for rigging, a week for lighting and texturing, the rest of the time for animating (2.5 months), didn't have hardly anytime for post was still rendering while composing the score...(it was my senior thesis) the result was mediocre at best because I tried to do too much, limit yourself and you will be better off for it. you can see the result here.

Good luck though bc it can be a really really fruitful journey. :-)

Also if you have the money (like 30 bucks) pick up Ideas for the Animated short - it will be really helpful in developing this and can give you a decent timeline as well.

While I mostly agree with this sentiment, it's possible he has a really simple idea that doesn't require a lot of animating or modeling or texturing. Maybe it's a super slow zoom in on some planets for 1:45 and 15 seconds of a spaceship zooming into the screen.

Valandar · Mar 2010

aesir wrote: »

While I mostly agree with this sentiment, it's possible he has a really simple idea that doesn't require a lot of animating or modeling or texturing. Maybe it's a super slow zoom in on some planets for 1:45 and 15 seconds of a spaceship zooming into the screen.

I would be highly disappointed if it was that.

Cyrael · Mar 2010

While I mostly agree with this sentiment, it's possible he has a really simple idea that doesn't require a lot of animating or modeling or texturing. Maybe it's a super slow zoom in on some planets for 1:45 and 15 seconds of a spaceship zooming into the screen.

haha this is true. and I second Valandar would that be the case. :-P

commander riker · Mar 2010

aesir wrote: »

While I mostly agree with this sentiment, it's possible he has a really simple idea that doesn't require a lot of animating or modeling or texturing. Maybe it's a super slow zoom in on some planets for 1:45 and 15 seconds of a spaceship zooming into the screen.

Oh snap! How'd you know?!!?! No. It's basically a courtroom scene with two characters. There will be a lot of dialogue (facial morphs) and probably some dramatic gestures from the character on the stand.

Thanks for the replies! Yeah, I'll definitely check out the books (Zilk and Cyrael).

commander riker · Mar 2010

P.S. Cyrael that's a really nice project you got there! Quite an undertaking. Nice choreography! I really like the camera bumps in the fight scene.

JacqueChoi · Mar 2010

What is the purpose of this? Is it to actually make a moving piece of cinema? To show your animation chops? Or to show your modelling chops?

If it's for animation, I would stick to the premade model given to everyone at 11secondclub.com and maybe spend time polishing up on your animation skills.

If its for modelling, I would spend the 2 months working on a really top notch highly detailed model.

If you go the route of actually wanting to make an animated short you plan on entering into festivals, and maybe make some kind storytelling impact as a storyteller/director, 2 months is WAAAAY too short.

You should spend a minimum of 2 months just storyboarding and shotblocking for a 1min animation.

Hate to sound harsh, but nobody will care much for your film. Not a single employer on this planet will appreciate the efforts you put into learning absolutely everything.

No company wants to hire a Jack of all Trades/Master of None.

3D Short Timeline?

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