Martin asked me to step in and guide the effects efforts and after some discussion, and guidance.. I accepted.

I like where things have gone so far, but I'd like to shift the styles toward realism on the level of Shrek. I know thats a tall order, but I think we can come close with some hard work. I chose that movie because I see similarities in the styles, and I think the effects in Shrek work very well.

I'll post examples of what I'm talking about over the next few days (for fire, water, and some particle effects). If you want to jump in or have already and take this as a slant or something.. please contact me and let me know. I'll also be recruiting some talent that I know is out there as well, but there are lots of effects and the more the merrier.

If you have done some effects but haven't posted the projects for them yet, please do. I would like to take a look at everything to date.

On top of that.. I'd like to get some people to just "Play" with what AM can do ( Nancy Gormenzano.. that means you and you to Tinkering Gnome ;-) . I want to see if we can come up with something so cool or radical that it screams to be included in the movie. This goes toward scenery, i.e grass or trees.. clouds, cool particles for magic... the works. So if you just want to invent... here is your chance to go crazy.

Understand... I'm here to sort of hold the ship together.. not steer it completely. I want input and help and lots of it. I told Martin that I wanted to lean more toward guidance and less toward "hours and hours of effects creation" ;-) but I will do what it takes to get the job done, or until I get pissed off and run for cover ;-P I'm just kidding! ... really!

Let me know if you can help, PLEASE!!!

C

I'm here to do abit of dabbling. But only a little mind. I think the fire effects done by Bendy were great and similar to shrek. Also, I loved his rain effect. I wonder if the problems with that were sorted out....

Ooooo, I love watching threads like this, effects, effecst effects,Also Was it Bendy who did that nice Dust effect?

Good to see your on TWO C.

Michael

Thanks guys, yep I like what Bendy has done so far, but I want to push it. I mean really push it. I don't think anyone has really scraped the surface of what AM can accomplish in effects (with a little elbow grease and ingenuity). So when this is all said and done.. I want people to say... "man.. they wear that program out!"

I'm also hoping we can push the development of effects features for AM to new heights.. if we push hard enough ;-)

Besides.. its one of the funnest things to experiment with in AM.

C

Oh.. yeah.. in case its buried in the archive somewhere.

A long time ago.. I put together some particle emitters as base particle starting points.

Here are some sample images and a link to the projects and images. Play as you see fit. I'd like an encyclopedias worth or these by the time its all said and done ;-)



and the files

[url=http://www.colins-loft.net/free/particle emitters.zip]http://www.colins-loft.net/free/particle emitters.zip[/url]

C

If I may say so (and I will!) you are the perfect choice for the FX job.
No slight intended to other fine talent in the forum.

I'm looking forward to some awesome FX work in TWO.

Colin,

I volunteered for the following Effects:

• Whirlwind/Mini Tornado
• Inflating a Loon
• Water sloshing/Splashing in/out of water bucket/pale

As you said, we've only just started to scratch the surface of what can be done, but I'm in desperate -- well, maybe not -- need of Art Direction in order to go further.

Alright Aaver,

I'll give you some input if thats cool.

The Tornado/wirlwind effect is a good start, but perhaps we'll want levels of violence to it. I think the concept is good, but I'd like to see layers of wirling. ie.. a layer on the inside spinning the fastest.. another just outside spinning less fast and another more transparent layer spinning less around that... Then another layer with debris getting wiped around the funnel. At the base perhaps some dust and stuff getting kicked up off the ground.

Oh yeah and a cow swirling around in it ;-P.. just kidding about the cow.

The Loon inflating should be easy enough, I think. You might explore distortion cages and a pose slider. Perhaps separating the arms, legs, body and head.. as points of inflation.. could make for some cool popping action to the inflation, like a performed balloon. I like where its all going so far.

The water bucket.. is spot on, excellent. My only nitpick is that maybe the surface of the water could be more choppy and less symmetrical.. Something that should be easy enough with the new displacement.

Excellent stuff. I'll play around with these as well and see what pops out. Don't worry.. I won't duplicate your effort. I'm thinking that twister might come in handy for some other things.. and I know the bucket will.

Thanks for the contributions.. and I hope you can help out more if you have the time ;-)

C

RE: THE TORNADO
I know there's a whirlwind in Sequence Four when the Witch burst from her cottage to chase off Nick Chopper. In that case I think the wind is meant to billow out from the cottage's door so consider that when you think of the effect's scale.

I also think we'll want debris and streaks in the air in addition to the funnel(s).

The shape looks good and moves well too. Could that be duplicated and given different materials for the layering Colin talked about?

So you are looking for effects of all kinds. Here is a quick idea that popped into my head. its just the effect nothing disappears or appears but could.




[attachmentid=15079]

The effects are just prototypes and I really appreciate your input. Of course it's cool!

That sounds very reasonable. I'll see what I can do. To bad about the cow, though ;-P


This sounds like a lot of character animation and not so much automated FX as I would like. Hm. Maybe I'm not your man for this one. I will give it a try if no one else wants it, but I'm afraid I cannot promise Shrek quality.

Glad you liked it already, but I think it can be much improved.

Thanks, but please do duplicate it if you want to and that goes for everyone. If you find anything interesting in my projects, consider it your own and do something cool for the movie with it. For me it's more important what is done than who has done it.

I wont be able to do anything for some weeks, but when I have the time, I'd be glad to help.

/Anders