like I promised

well, like I promised here's the Doctor's head.

it's not finished yet, mainly the mouth needs attention, but I've been modeling his body as of recent. when I can find the time anyway. still struggling trying to balance school, homework, my job, and this project. Mainly because good grades are important to me, if they weren't, I wouldn't have such a hard time ditching an english paper for this project. I'll find a way to make everything work though.

--Ryan

wiping off the rust.

gosh,m we finally got our computer problems resolved by running a network cable from Will's room to my room so there's no need for USB drives (which is what we were having issues with in the first place). got my workstation set up today with Will, really he set it up with a little help from me running cables. but it works really well as far as I can tell. now the only problem is with me.

usually a two week break wouldn't be a big deal for me, but because I'm still unfamiliar with blender I'm really rusty, it feels like I'm trying to relearn a piano piece I played years ago. I recognize the tune but it's still difficult at times. but, I think I'll be able to pull back up fairly quickly, I've still got the essential blender to help me out, and if I can't figure it out for myself Will can help me.

I'm still really excited about the project, the storyboard and animatic are pretty dang cool, still extremely rough and everything, but it definitely gets the ideas across. y'all should be excited.

download available! (among other things)

there was an update of images and even a download last night. after re-designing the soldier character, and a few new concepts of Kira, Koei's sister, we felt that it would be a good idea to update the images. they're actually pretty cool I think.

working on the storyboard has been fun so far, getting camera angles, shot transitions and a feel for what the shot is going to look like is just a really cool feeling. one shot in particular I'm excited about, it's in the opening sequence, and I don't really want to give too much away right now, but it's going to look really cool. I am seriously geeking out about it. I really want to get started on it. maybe an animatic would help the process out a bit.

I'm rambling, storyboarding is going well, and I think we can get it finished tonight. that's really all the news I can think of, except I need a different computer to work with because the one I was using wouldn't recognize USB memory devices. kind of stinks, and puts a delay on some things, but I'll be able to pull it off. all that's left is seeing who will model the soldier. I think I might end up doing that as will is going to model Kira.

check out the website if you haven't already! there's a cool wallpaper waiting to be downloaded. www.projectkoei.totodojo.com

Soldiers and story boards

whew, I feel absolutely useless to this project right now. I've been trying to work out a new soldier concept because we don't really have time to model rig and all that for an entire new character who would be able to express emotions. the soldiers as they are right now would have to be able to yell, cringe and express pain and all that. which would require a lot of work with the face. I was at work and I thought maybe using a Riot helmet with a reflective sheild would work, and after experimenting with some conceptual drawings and found one I liked. unfortunately it looks similar (but definitely not)to the Halo helmets from the well known video game series.
well, I left those conceptual drawings home this weekend, so I had to draw a new one to show my partner, and together we came up with something that will work. it requires a re-make of the soldier concept though. it's difficult because neither of us have really worked with armor before, and we're going for a very specifica look that is still practical to a point.

the story boards are going to start when we have some free time, and I am excited about finally getting the story down visually. to start setting up camera angles and what not. being able to block out the animations and everything I think will really help me get excited about the project. not that I'm not excited about it, I just have a lot going on right now and I feel as if I haven't been doing enough for the project. I feel bad about it really.

music is coming together, but it's not really my department, we're having a few friends of ours play instruments and it's going to be amazing. look forward to a little sample maybe.

learning to blend

well, I've been messing around with bender, trying to familiarize myself with the alien interface, and I think I'm getting the hang of it. obviously I'm not going to be as fast as someone who has been working in it for a while, but I think I've picked it up fairly quickly. it makes me happy actually.

I also found out that the UVSC library has some of the gnomon DVD's available for 3-day loans. I'm getting them today if everything goes smoothly and I'm hoping to learn some tricks of the trade before I start modelling the doctor's head in 3D.

another exciting thing is that UVU is taking a trip down to dreamworks in february, it's in the middle of the semester, and for a whole week, but I think it would be entirely worth it. I'm a little worried, they want us to put together a portfolio, but being a freshman I don't really have anything truly impressive to put into a portfolio, except what I did last year. I mean, I have a few sculptures I could use, but not much else. we'll just see how it goes, and if I can be one of the seventeen allowed on the trip.

I've also been taking a 2D animation class, and only now that I'm doing some of the stuff do I realize just how essential it is to 3D animation, it's difficult to describe why it's so important though, you just have to experience it for yourself really. Rodayne is a great teacher, and I look forward to working my pencils down to nubs.

all in all, I am excited for everything, from learning to blend, to my 2D animation class, and the prospects of visiting a major studio. I'm very excited.

finished sculpture

the sculpture of the doctor is finished! unfortuneatly it wasn't until today that we were able to take pictures of it, my camera seems to have wandered out of my apartment while I was away for christmas. (I'm pissed about it, so it's a little touchy)

anyway, here is what it looks like for those of you who check the blog, but not the site ( www.projectkoei.totodojo.com )

doctor sculpting

well, while sculpting the doctor character, I've discovered that lips, and ears are a pain in the butt. especially with soft clay, I often have to set the sculpture outside in the cold in order to work in some small details. it's quite tedious at times, but I enjoy it mostly. I've gotten it nearly finished, I just need to work in the details of the neck and refine the lips and ears a bit more. I think it's coming along wonderfully.

the good doctor

well, I have been assigned to create the doctor, from character sheets to modelling, and I imagine I'll be doing a fair ammount of texturing as well, but it's not my forte. I've got a small character sheet drawn up, and it looks fairly good so far, it will be scanned and added to the website soon, I'd love to read any comments on it.

storyboards and such are in the works, along with some more concept art. like will posted earlier, we (okay, so he) is breaking through the conceptual phase and modelling a character, giving it tectures and hair (which looks amazing). my main duty at the moment is to familiarize myself with blender, never having used it before it's difficult for me to get back into the swing of things. I feel as though I'm making some progress though, learning where the tools are and how to use them again is frustrating, but I'll do it somehow.

back to the good doctor, I'm planning on sculpting his head to get a better feel for his character, and what he looks like before I start modelling him in 3D, expect pictures after the christmas break. I look forward to continuing this project, it's going to be amazing.

the beginning

hello readers,

My name is Ryan Thatcher, and I'm one of the members working on project Koei. I'm pretty dang psyched aobut this animation so far, the concept art is looking really great, and I can't wait until we start recording assets, modelling environments, and all that jazz.

anyway, you know I'm excited to be working in 3D again, but I'll just give a brief over-view of what the purpose of this blog is all about.

this blog is a group blog, comprising the four team members, Will, Ethan, Eric, and myself will occaisionally write in this blog to update anyone who is reading on our progress, and what we as individuals are doing for the project. I'm hoping it adds a whole new level of connection between our audience, and us the animators artists and such. keep checking back for new updates as I'm sure there will be many. I hope that this will get you all as excited about this project as I am.

keep watching
-Ryan