ADVANCED ANIMATION - EXERCISES

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21/04/2025 - 30/07/2025 (Week 1 - Week 14)
Thanaphorn Daensaad / 0350930
Advanced Animation / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Exercises


List
Lectures
Instructions
Exercise 1: Bouncing Ball Animation
Exercise 2: Pendulum Animation
Exercise 3: Emotion Poses
Feedback
Reflection


Lectures
Week 1
On this week, Mr Kamal gave us a brief on the module where we will be learning 3D animation. This allows us to only focus on animating it with existing model rather than modeling. We were briefed on the coming assignments consisting of Exercises, Project 1,2&3. The past seniors' work were shown as an example for us to achieve the high grade we want by matching the same quality outcome. Mr Kamal first talked on 3D modelling in detail from what's involved in it, the kind of job we can apply for and more.

Week 1 Miro

In exercise 1, we will be experimenting with a bouncing ball for four different weights: football (medium weight), ping pong (light), beach ball (very light), and bowling ball (heavy). In the upcoming week, we will concentrate implementing squash and stretch techniques in bouncing ball as well as animating a pendulum.

Week 2
This week's topic is on applying the animation principles in animating the bouncing ball animation which creates the fluidity.

Week 2 Miro


Bouncing Ball Animation Tutorial 
We downloaded the blender file for ball animation Mr Kamal posted. 

Step by step
Deform
Add mesh [Cylinder] > Add horizontal subdivision > [Object]-[Apply]-[All Transform] > Add modifier
[Add]-[Armature]-[Single Bone] > Edit mode > Pose mode 
Object mode > Ctrl + P 
Weight paint > Data > Bone 

Add bone chain 
Edit mode > Select Joint > Press E to exclude

Master Control (Below the ball, with arrows)
[i] > location > move to 25th keyframe > locate ball > [i] > location

Always calculate & make the X linear
Object Data Properties > Motion Path > Calculate 
Interpolation Mode > Linear

To make sure the ball don't curve downwards
Locate ball at 49th keyframe > Update path > Go back to 25th
Right click > Handle Type > Free
Straighten the path > Update path > Locate ball at 37th frame > Update path > Adjust arc > Update path

How to add rotation
Yellow > [i]-[rotation]-0 > Last frame > Y axis - -360/-720 > [i]-[rotation]


Week 3
On this week, we learnt about squash and stretch to add into our bouncing ball animation.

Week 3 Miro



Instruction
Module information booklet


Exercise 1: Bouncing Ball Animation
In the first exercise, we need to find references and observe the difference of each ball's physical property and its weight. Then, analyse and animate it in Blender.

How does it affect
The timing and travel distance of each bounce (Contact pose to Contact pose)
The overall timing that determines the number of bounces
The height of each Up pose when it bounces

Reference given
Squash and Stretch - 


1. Soccer ball (Medium weight)
For the soccerball, I studied the weight allows the ball to drop in a normal gravity rate. Therefore, I ploted the keyframes and adjust the arcs. I also reduce or increase the number of frames when I think it's needed to better replicate it.


Final Soccer Ball Animation

2. Ping pong (Light weight)
For the ping pong, the weight of the ball is lighter than the soccer ball previously so this affects the speed of the ball bouncing. To do so, I did the first half arc with less frames and adjust the arc. Then, slowly increase the frames to show that the ball was losing its bounce.
(couldn't open the ball rig to change the ball huhu)

Final Ping Pong Ball Animation

3. Bowling ball (Heavy weight)
The bowling ball is the heaviest object compared to the others. Therefore, the weight affects the inability for the ball to create that many bounce like the others. So, I started the first half of the arc in small frames (makes it drop hard onto the ground).

Final Bowling Ball Animation

4. Beach ball (Super light weight)
For the beachball, as it is the lightest, will take some time to fall compared to the other balls. I treat the animation like the ping pong ball but more frames.

Final Beach Ball Animation

5. Squash and stretch
Mr Kamal guided us in class on how to do the squash and stretch with our previous tutorial file on the first arc. Then, we did the other arcs on our own as our homework to understand the principle better. Though, I think I need improve it further.

Final Squash and Stretch Animation


Exercise 2: Pendulum Animation
In the second exercise, we need to animate the pendulum object moving from left to right on the screen. I followed the tutorial animation we did in class then refined it, as well as add lighting to render it. 


Final Pendulum Animation


Exercise 3: Emotion Poses
In this exercise, we have to find image/ video reference for action poses that show the 4 emotions, including happy, sad, angry and scared. Based on the reference, I observed the poses from the study and posed the character to show line of action, silhouette, weight. I also posed the facial expressions to better show the action and emotion. 

I think the lighting and rendering played a big part in conveying the emotions and I am especially proud of that. I feel like I could improve on the happy pose lighting to evict a more joyful feeling but other than that I am proud of my work. 


Final Angry Pose


Final Happy Pose


Final Sad Pose


Final Scared Pose


Feedback

Exercise 1: Good study of reference. The ping pong ball needs more bounce, quicker by lowering key frames 
Exercise 2: Good
Exercise 3: The sad pose - the weight of the guy can be more on the wall as shown in the reference photo. The happy pose is good, scared is good. Angry pose needs more curve on the arm so it can show a better line of action. The rendering is good with the lighting 


Reflection
I had fun learning about 3D animation, I had the most fun doing the emotion poses. I think I can do better for the first two exercises

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