Compositing And Special Effects

On our first week, we were divided into groups and each individual in the group should pick an existing title sequence and from all that sequences the group will need to identify what does this sequences has  in common. For the title sequence of my choice i decided to pick this

The interesting part is i never seen this series or even heard of it, yet no exagerattion this is probably one of my favorite opening sequences from all the western tv shows ive seen. The music and visuals blends so well giving me goosebumps, not just that its also really smart it shows the main theme/plot without giving it way too much, and moreover its different than your usual opening scene that usually relies on CG or heavy editing. I wouldnt dare to say that they use simple/easy editing, but sometimes less is more if you know how to do it smartly.

My other groupmates chosen these title sequences from these series



Now what made this intro sequence good are:

1.Show the part of the story without giving a way to much, like westworld they mainly show the robot/androids because the story revolves around them; Daredevil shows their theme revolves around the law and justice as they potray the symbol of justice itself the roman goddess of justice herself "Justitia" also she is potrayed blindfolded and just like the main character that is also a part time blind lawyer i think its a good representation that justice is blind, so hey i think thats really smart; and the last is the defenders they show that our heroes are teaming up together and all their different personality are potrayed by their shades of colors.
2.The visual and music syncs perfectly.
3. Good First Impression like what i got with "Dark" a good first impression really helps you get viewers

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Exercise

Exercise 1



Its not much but in this exercise i learned quite a few like
1. Basics on after effects
2. Ease in and out with the keyframe assistant
3. Using the graph editor to polish the movements
4. How to use TrkMat
5. Pre-Compose
6. Mirror effects

Exercise 2

We were given a demo on how to make a enviroment concept art and with that  we were tasked to make 10 thumbnails, 3 developed one and cleanups.

Thumbnails

Developed

Cleanup ( i had to change the midground because it looked boring and vague)

Exercise 3
We were tasked on creating a 3 matte painting by our lecturer by combining multiple photos into into one composition. we can either do it on photoshop and bring it to after effects or fully in after effects, i chose to do it first in photoshop because it doesnt as much ram and im more fimiliar with it. The end result was it has to have a motion/movement.

Exercise 4
This was my first personal exercise i started have an interest in Red Giant's Trapcode that seem able to generate abstract shapes in a cool way, so i did a low poly mountain structure thing

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Assigment 1: Opening Sequence Journal

Story
A number was all she was, a series of number. That is all she know about of herself. She knew she was a part of something big, but now all that she can see is that shes the only thing left of it. Woke up to the darkness she was lost, though  a thread of light still shine from one of the screen as if its calling out for her, it was obvious something awaits her.
Though a series of number was all she was, an answer lies within her.

Progress
I was inspired by few of my friends that they mainly use technique on what they are good at in this assigment, and i was inspired to do animate a digital painting. I wasnt thinking of making something like a frame by frame animation instead i will mainly the puppet wrap and add some particle effects.My main reference is mainly from the league of legends animated splash art much like this

The Moodboards

Im going with something with a cyberpunkish theme with aquatic and neon colors

The Storyboard

I tried to time the picture and the music, just so to see the general feel of it. Credits to the music by Zack Hemsey


This is the first update of the work

Second update
-Almost all finish all the greyscale painting
-Animated the first shot (might need some refining)



Third update
-Animated 3 scenes
- Colored most of the scenes
-Added vignette
- Glitchy title

Fourth Update
-Animated all the scenes (some still rough)
-Change the first scene to zooming out
-Cross disolve transistion on scene 4 to 5
-Camera movement for last scene

Fifth Update
-Every scene is finished
-Refine the text
-Added trasitions between scenes

Pretty Much Final
-Inserted names
-Reduce the time for trasitions
-Polish

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Assigment 2: Matte Painting

From the 3 out of Exercise 3 scenes i choose the on with the ruined lab. I believe this is the second project that made me familiar with after effects alll the progress can be found in the playlist

All the particle are mainly stock footage with black or green backgrounds except the water ripples the glowing stasis pod and also add color tint so it will look more dramatic and way better.

Final

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Final Assigment

Idea 1

For my first idea is a cyberpunk/sci-fi theme narrative. Video reference for my first idea is compiled within this playlist

So we were updated now that we can basically do whatever we want as long its still within the topic. Though with all this freedom its really hard to pinpoint the idea. And so after talking with lecturer i came to the realization to first choose a music only then i can start doing my work.

The first music that i try to find was something with a chant, "Salve Regina: A Templar Chant" was my first. But then i think its too long and just to monotone. And so i started looking for something more retro and i tried to look at Synthwave music compilation and i found the Perfect one. And so to at least have an idea i started doing a really rough "animatic" you could say

Idea 2
The responses wasnt that great so i decided to draw it again something that i think at least i excell at this was the first few scenes

This was my second attempt on making it look interesting. Before this actually i got to make the character first.


But then i scrapped it because i dont know where this is going so i changed the theme again, and this was the first shot that i thought i was going to use


Idea 3

i was thinking of creating somewhat a cyberpunk themed with duo tone colors with mafia and stuffs, but yet again it didnt clicked. And so i tried downloading trapcode my first try can be found at Exercise 4. Now from the music i imagined it needs somwhat like a tunnel scene where the camera pans deeper2 into the tunnel. after that i tried a few other features in trapcode that might fit my theme, though not everything is made with trapcode.

Final Idea

First Update

-Got the main shots done

- timed it with the music

-missing the last part/title

Second Update

-Minor adjustments on the animation(graph editor)

Third Update (Major)

after consulting with the lecturer
- add a few glitches here and there
-changed the transitions
-added extra particle effects
-add a 3d model in the third shot
- add some extra UI
-added one more scene at the last
- added a VHS effects on all the shots

Final update

-changed the bg color for the last scene
-polish the lights on the eyes in last scene
-minor adjustments on color & particle values

A few tutorials used can be found here in this playlist