Just the intro...frames 0-1007. Will probably tweak.

4813 frames to go. Oy.

YES! YES! YES!

nice start
more please

That was fun! I liked it when she zipped to the background looking for her cookbook. It looks hard animating her. Getting good silhouette and all that.

Looks like a 'show-stealer'... I am haunted by those eyelashes!

Nice start! Have you done a test render with the eye lashes? Sometimes they can obscure the irises. It's hard to hear what she says toward the end mainly. Seems like the background music is too loud.

Thanks all for your comments



Yes it is hard for me - it's hard to get a silhouette, let alone a good one, even without a complicated background. Her arms, shape are tricky. I had hoped for better facial expressions as well - something didn't come out right when I rendered. Her expressions seemed more asymmetrical before rendering. I thought I had made her eyes squintier and more unbalanced in places.



I have done some random partial on-screen renders to check out her hair, eyelashes, but I should try again. I didn't notice obscured irises, yet. With all those sprites (fire, smoke, bubbling goo) and hair, in the set, in combo with a ridiculously resource-rendering-hog torch lamp (that isn't seen) and has displacement material, ray traced shadow making light bulb - render times and complexity is out-of-whack. I would, probably-will, simplify the set for this song.

As for the balance of vocals, background music...I don't know what to say, other than, it is supposed to be babble. But I agree, it can be distracting, to not to be able to hear/understand the words, even if it is babble.

Tis truly a shame, to drown those unbelievable tones out, as of course we all know, you don't get world class raw voice talent like that every day.

Like Nancy said, when we did the mix about a year ago, it was just supposed to be background babble. If necessary I can do a remix and bring it up front more. In my mind, with this mix, before it was animated, I had envisioned her moving away from the camera for the last bits rather in moving towards it. When the actual Vocals start they should be more present in the mix.

If we need to adjust the overall volume a little I can do that, too. I'm just thrilled to see the melding of our artistic endeavors.

Let me know what you need, Nancy.

I saw bits of Ratatouille yesterday and noticed that the rats designs were similar to the witch. Round body and thin arms. It could be a good reference.
The facial animation looked good to me, Nancy.

Hi Nancy,

It has a nice feel to it - it feels right. Some comments:

1. Scene starts with the witch moving to the beat, then when she turns she stops. Not sure if this is good or bad but it stood out to me.
2. The camera is moving slowly left then right (watch the cage at the back in comparison to the statue)
3. The rapid move from front to back starts well but looks odd as it seems to slow down as she moves around the statue. I think it should stop at the left of the dragon, look then continue at normal pace around it and to the statues right. Also pan the camera as she moves around (or re-frame) so she doesn't 1/2 leave the frame.
4. I think the zoom in might work better as a cut.
5. I think the CU needs to be re-framed so when she moves her head she doesn't keep cutting the frame borders at top and bottom. It seems a little disconcerting.
6. The angle of her right arms forearm doesn't seem to change - whenever the arm is brought up it is always at 20-30 degrees to the horizontal.

Cheers

Thanks David for your comments - I appreciate it.

Yes, I too think my camera cuts/work/framing needs improvement - I shall consider your suggestions when I get to tweaking, else Holmes will be sure to monkey...which might be a better idea. Even tho he can't be trusted, he does do a great job...heh heh...(Nancy now is sensing thousands of daggers being loaded into catapults, with their guidance systems programmed for Cupertino).

Yes I had trouble with her arms -I'm hoping to get better with her. I'm still feeling awkward animating - will re-evaluate, when tweaking.

As for moving to beat - I am intending on mixing "telling story babble" and "sing/dance moments" - didn't want to do the whole thing to beat - I want there to be variation. You can count on more "busting moves, feeling the groove, getting jiggy" sequences.

Andy: Ratatouille is my absolute favorite animation movie - and animation style that I would love love love to be able to emulate. The Witch is hard to pose (for me). Some dodo thought that balloon sleeves, rigid exoskeleton skirt was a good idea...ooops ...uh...I think I was that brilliant dodo. I hope to become more fluid with her, maybe modify rig a touch if I can figure it out (just for song), regardless.