New pipeline update to the Enqore's Academy course.
Hey there people.
So, as we prepare for the "Take Me Away" project, the A.R.N (Animation Rebellion Nation) has been doing tons of research and development in producing the animated music video (A.M.V) as well as beginning work on structuring the workshops.
The last session was with Chengetai Machacha and Eugene Ramirez Mapondera, and Cheng was taking us through Motion Builder. A mocap and Character animation application originally owned by Alias and now belongs to Autodesk since they bought Maya. Now, the reason we are exploring this option is because of the amount of animation data we have to create and that has forced us to look into a motion capture alternative. We plan on building a poor-man's motion capture rig using either Playstation 3 or Xbox Kinetics cameras. If we can get this working then we will have tons of motion capture data and that's why we are exploring motion builder to deal with that data, clean it up and create complex animations based on many different clips.
So, our task yesterday was to get a character rig from Cinema 4D into Motionbuilder. Then apply some Mocap data to this and finally bring that mocap data and retarget the animation from the motion builder rig, to our rig in Cinema 4D (the finall animation will have other components like cloth simulation and bone dynamics). We ran into a few glitches, namely that when you retarget the animation into the main rig in Cinema, it flips the character 90 degrees. We figured a quick work around of just parenting the rigg into a null and rotating that back. We will explore if there's a better way to do this BUT, that end of the pipeline works!
The next task is to get familiar with motion builder and also figure out a way to get the mocap data to begin with!
I will keep you posted.
Nqo
January 2012
Posted
by enqore
Bad Parenting: Where douche-bags come from
I have come to a realisation. Douche-bags and idiots are a problem created from bad parenting.
So, I know my fair share of douche bags. The kind of people you would like to bludgeon with a blunt instrument made from a baseball bat, razors, nails and chewing gum! (so that it sticks forever in their hair). I have come to realise though that this is due to the fact that some parents just didn't do a good job. The douche-bags never become douchy on purpose. To them, they never see anything wrong with any of their actions or the crap that spews from their lips as shit from ass (Spartacus quote)!
I think the government needs to create a budget for re-educating douche bags then reintroduce them into society... If they can't do this then maybe make douche-baggery illegal. That way, we can put them inside and throw away the key.
As a closing note... MOTHERS... IT'S YOUR FAULT!
January 2012
Posted
by enqore
Video Blog ep. 1_-_ Enqore talks Horror movie and introduces some of the team.
Hey there. So this is the official update of the Horror project we are working on. If you follow the blog you would have seen some of the images in this video though we have some new content to show.
Basically we have thrown around some ideas for the creature design and animated a test. Sime interesting stats at the bottom:
Creature concept - 2 days to build the model in Zbrush, topogun and Cinema 4D
Creature animation test - 2 days to rigg and weight as well as animate and render.
Creature designs - There have been a total of 6 creature designs. Some created by Eugene Ramirez of http://sigmadigital-studio.com
team - the team is about 6-8 people, all contributing in different ways. we are yet to finalize the crew.
Any enquiries about the film can be sent directly to me : nqo@enqoremedia.com
January 2012
Posted
by enqore
Chitauri Character render tests
This is an update on the Horror film project. This is a character I put together earlier this week. I managed to get a rig and some decent weights going using the awesome character tools in Cinema 4D r13 as well as the physical render. I had the model rigged, skinned and animation ready in 40 minutes! that kind of power is awesome to have... and quick. The combination of the new character tools and the render engine are one of the main reason I would recommend Cinema 4D to Afrikan studio set ups.
I posed this and used the progressive renderer to monitor roughly how long per frame in rendering I would need as well as what passes I would need to knock out to achieve somekind of realistic rendering. I will do another test with an image based lighting approach and see how that goes.
But at least I have tested the pipeline a bit. I will be done testing some time next week, hopefully create a 20 second test. Finalising the creature design is next on the list then i can start working on the final creature models for the movie. I am thinking of having 3 different designs.... we'll see....
This was built in Zbrush and I logged about 5 hours on it. I then spent another 3 hours in topogun. I think i will spend a week on the final models. two weeks maybe for the really detailed ones.
I also need to start figuring out which tracker I will be using for the handheld shots.
Thats it for now.
Nqo
January 2012
Posted
by enqore
The Handu "Take me away" Project beginnings
This is the first step of the Take me away project. The concept.
This is the central character in the animation. Through out the video he will be involved in a battle with evil robots. The concept of the character is that he is a modern age Sangoma. The setting is in the future of Afrika and the people have returned back to the old ways of ubuntu. The character is a Sangoma General, one of the leaders of a resistance. The suit he wears is meant to be a sangoma uniform and the metalic "amplifiers" on his midsection and forearms are a futuristic technology that amplifies his Sangoma abilities.
At some point, a class about creating 2D illustration using Photoshop and line art like this will be organized and that will officially start off Enqore's Academy. After that class we hit some 3D skills and model the character itself and his accessories. Another class will go to building the robots he fights. We head back to 2D and hold a class for matte painting environments as well as explore bringing the 2D environment paintings to life via 3D projection.
a Rigging class as well as Motion capture/Animation class will follow to finally a compositing class. Editing will be the last thing.
Apps to use so far will be:
Maxon Cinema 4D (as scene assembly, matte painting extraction and some Character Animation work)
Pixologic Zbrusg (For character modeling and sculpting as well as texturing)
Topogun (for character retopology)
Adobe PhotoShop (for mattepainting)
Adobe After-effects (for compositing)
Sony Vegas Pro (for editing)
January 2012
Posted
by enqore
Enqore's Academy update
As you may know, I have been doing a number of workshops over the past few months in a bid to increase the number of digital artists in the country. All these workshops were free to get the information to as many artists as possible.
I have also been conducting a large amount of research into the best character animation pipeline for Africa, given that we have small studios and fewer artists to throw at a project. That means we need to devise a way to shed the fat in the technical process and allow for creativity to be hampered. I believe I have sort of found a workflow that could work. This came from very high level technical discussions I have been having with fellow CG geeks like Chengetai Machacha, Shingi Mtezo and Eugene Mapondera.
So! I have been devising two projects, creating a 3D trailer/music video project that will test out the workflow featuring shots with hair, rigid body and destruction sequences, matte painting, scene extraction, sculpting, compositing, character design. Because there are so many technical hurdles, I think this is the right time to document and create a workshop around it. every stage will have a workshop as well as a tutorial video. The result is a tutorial series that spans the entire Visual Effects pipeline while creating a hopefully awesome Anime style Music video.
I will be in talks with a bunch of venues soon and I have already talked to Roki and Zyon Black and made a dubstep remix to one of his tunes and that will be the soundtrack.
There will be guest lecturers to and as soon as I can figure everything out, I will post how the full course is structured and who will be taking which workshops.
Depending on participation from the donor community, I would like to still keep these classes free but we might also have to look at charging a fee, of which participants have been insisting i do. I will give out progress as its happening.
The music video is called "Take me away" and that maybe what the project will be called.
Hope to see as many new animators and digital artists there so that we can grow this damn thing! (the industry)
Enqore
Self Appointed general of the animation rebellion nation A.R.N... i just thought of that... i think it will stick!
January 2012
Posted
by enqore
Enqore's top 10 producers! (ZIM)
How things have changed! Zimbabwe has come a long way in music production, a lot of people have come and gone, others stayed. I have been lucky enough to work with many producers in my career and I have a list of who I think is hot. This is my personal opinion so please, don't send me hate mail! Some of the guys i will mention here are known, others not so much. Some are mentioned simply for their input in the industry, others for just shear technical skills! here we go!
*** Delani (step aside) Makhalima
The founder of Urban Grooves, the man that created the careers of many. Delani needs no introduction and in as much as music goes. Every fibre of the Zimbabwean urban music is influenced by Step aside in one way or another. That's why I didn't give him a number in my list. I chatted with him recently and after a decade off, the man is preparing a new hot project!
*** Kuda Musasiwa AKA Kane/Begotten Sun
Legendary producer whose career dates back as far as the track he produced for Mau Mau! what more is there to say? Kane has taught some of the best in the Biz including Jusa, Kazz (from BK and KAZZ) and so many more!
9) Mark Blaze
I have only met this man a few times but his reputation preceded him. One of Hip hop's finest producers, Blaze's beats are real soulfull and rich. Listenning to Munetsi's LP is a testament to how hot dude is. Mark makes it on this list by the strength of his music.
8)Tagz
Tagz is hard to ignore. All the tracks I have heard from him are on point. When his name comes up in conversation (which it does quite often), very few would call him Wack. His upmarket sounds have placed him solidly on most artists "A-lists".
7) Shay-Zar
Kwekwe originator, Shay-Zar is best known for the legendary hip hop compilation "Zim's Hip hop finest" which set Harare ablaze with its fresh and hard-hitting sound. Shay-Zar's mixing and mastering quality for club bangers is what earned him respect among the industry's elite hip hop community.
6) DJ Philo
Philo is one of those guys you never saw coming. His musical direction is heavily inspired by the drum'n'Bass/rock culture. He brought a new interesting sound to the scene and his beats are respected throughout the producer community. He is currently studying multimedia at the moment in Malaysia.
5)Zyon Black
Like Philo, Zyon Black is among the Elite-geeky producers who never leave their "lair". That's the only way anyone can account for his mad skills. Technically, I should think he is one of the dopest producers I have ever come accross. His music ear is very unique and his Dub-Step beats will blow your mind away! I recently paired him up with Roki to do a remix of a skit called "take me away" and the result was amazing!
4) Roki
Roki has grown as an artist in all the different ways. Roki is a classic example of extreme artistic gifts as well as a nerd-like approach to his music. Watching him plan a song from the beginning is like watching a master mind premeditate a murder. His new Karma LP is the proof.
3) Take 5
Another man who needs introduction, Take 5 came out of the era of Delani, when "Urban Grooves" first started. Take 5 has gone on to become a phenom in the industry, producing statistics that few can rival. Chamhembe Vol 1 sold over 60 000 copies! 60 grand! The only other LP that can boast those numbers is Delani's "the future". Take Fizzo is also known as an all round great guy, his character is unique and he has great energy. I don't think i need to mention that he started the careers of many such as GCI from double trouble (aka Lady thug), Mafrique, XQ and Stunner, Tererai among so many more!
2) T-Krued
The Bulawayo heavy weight, T-Krued has been at it for just over 10 years. He has arose to become the man you see when you need some of that good ol' grimey hip hop. He is best known for his mixing and mastering, producing clear, crisp records with his eyes closed. Very few can compare.
1) D.S
I think D.S. has earned his stripes in the game. From the Movip days, DS has dedicated his all into music production. His sound is so much in demand that if there was a platinum list, DS would be on it. DS is also known for his professionalism and his legendary Dry Jokes.
*** Legendary status
January 2012
Posted
by enqore
The Horror movie WIP first glimpse
Some of you may know, some may not... basically, Enqore Media has embarked on its most ambitious step as a studio. All the research we have been doing on a technical level in the way of animation and Visual effects will be put to the test in the form of TWO full feature length films!
The work in progress that you see is from the horror movie, this creature is meant to be an alien/goblin character that resides in the inyanga mountains and is one of the elements responsible for the disappearances that occur in the mountains. This is the newest creature concept, though its still a work in progress. The next step is to get into rigging and producing a small visual effects shot with the creature in a live action shot and interacting with the environment. After this stage, we will finalize the creature design (also taking into consideration that this design is by Nqobizitha Mlilo and Eugene Ramirez of Sigma Digital will have some swell concepts to see soon.). After that we will build the final model we will be using in the feature.
TECHNICAL SPECS
For those of you who like technical details:
Modeling and texturing was started and completed in Zbrush 4r2. Using the new and incredible features of the applications such as dynamesh, polipaint and its various sculpting tools. Then the model was shiped off to topogun, a retopologising tool. There a low resolution mesh was made and all the detail we put in the model was transfered into different maps. Finally brought into cinema 4D for lighting and rendering tests as well as setting up the skin shader.
The trailer for the movie is expected to be released in march.
January 2012
Posted
by enqore
My revenge on idiots will be animated...
Dumbasses beware!
One of my new year's resolutions was to not lie to people as much, especially not for the sake of being socially polite. I have decided to not mince my words anymore and tell it as it is!
Sometimes when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When life gives you idiots though... what to do? I have decided to turn it into a profit!
My intricate plan involves taking idiots who try their best to make my life hard and turn them into animated characters. There wont be any name changes to protect anyone's identity (otherwise the purpose of even animating them is lost!). I will take this animated feats of stupidity that are indeed based on real life events and post them on online. This will send the marauding hoards of the internet to the online channel causing it to become one of the biggest internet viral videos EVER! The folks over at google/youtube will then call me up and offer to make me partner and I will become rich from the product placement on following episodes.
This will cause a great bout of depression from the idiots because they will have enough sense to realize that they have made me rich. I will laugh at their miserable expressions and toss them coins from my limo.
Characters will include: music artists who constantly want free stuff (like videos), ignorant acquaintances who insist on getting worked up everytime i forget a name, pathological and unskilled liers who insist on teling you the lamest of stories, as well as strange characters one is forced to deal with because of one reason or another.
Beware.... and be very afraid...
January 2012
Posted
by enqore
joh! this workout tore me a new one!
To kickstart the new year, I began a hardcore health regime. I started by following BOB harper's inside out workout... WOW! I was sweating bucket loads in the first 10 minutes! Nothing like a workout to show you how out of shape you really are! I have a lot to do before i am fit again.... here's to the new year anyways!
January 2012
Posted
by enqore
enqore
