Context

Another area that I wanted to clarify in my head before the submission of 701 was the context of my project and practice. I decided to look at my project as a whole again and define what context was informing my work.

I think this was important for me to do this as my project has changed so much since the start that being able to redefine my context will really help me as I start to move forwards and progress with the project. 

Why am I making it?

• I am making this project as I enjoy making stop motion and stop motion puppets. 

• I want to upskill and learn how to use digital sculpting and animation softwares such as ZBrush, 3DsMax and Maya. 

• I want to learn how to make and print stop motion puppet heads that use replacement faces. I like VR animation, games and VR painting.

• Having a stop motion in VR is really interesting to me, I want to see how it is done, does it give the same emotions when viewed, if it feels different to see stop motion in VR compared to the usual clean cut animation that is found in it. 

Wider influences - 

• Phil Tippett and Mad God

• Isle of dogs behind the scenes

• Orbital

• Gymnasium

• WeVR

• Kaleidoscope

• Tippett studios

• Felix and paul

• Quay brothers

• Svankmajer

• Laika

• Mackinnon and Saunders

• Aardman

• Foundry - software

• 3D printing

• Digital softwares - ZBrush, Maya, 3DsMax (Autodesk suite) Adobe medium, tilt brush. 

Identify current field of study - 

I am a stop motion puppet maker and animator working with the area of stop motion, virtual reality, games, photogrammetry, interactivity, materials testing and more.

I am investigating the combination of traditional animation skills and techniques with digital and modern processes. With the aim of using this mixture of traditional and digital to test stop motion in virtual reality. 

I am looking at the use of modern softwares such as ZBrush, Maya and 3DS Max and use of VR with Adobe medium to sculpt and create 3D printed puppet heads with replacement faces systems and possibly replacement hand gestures, combined with the traditional processes of puppet production, such as armature building, costume, casting ect to create a fully functioning stop motion puppet. 

The designs and creating of the two puppets for my project will focus on character expression and interaction between the characters developing and leading towards audience and character interaction. 

The testing of various input methods that can be used to capture stop motion footage and then input the footage to be viewed in a virtual reality environment. 

Identifying a production pipeline that successfully works to produce, shoot, edit and composite a finished stop motion animation that has been created which can then be viewed in virtual reality. That also has the possibility to progress into an interactive, stop motion and virtual reality animation. 

Other research -

To have looked at the theories of the importance of touch in the making of animation, if traditional processes still have relevance in a digital world and how characters can be used to interact with an audience to make the viewing of animations more immersive.  I will see if these theories impact my stop motion footage. An example would be that if I create a puppet using 3D printing and traditional techniques which is then 3D scanned, rigged and animated digitally if I compared this to a puppet created using the same method but that was animated using traditional stop motion techniques would the amount of touch involved in the production stages impact the finished outcome.

Seeing if stop motion animation has place and relevance in a digital world.

Seeing if character interaction with the audience has an impact on the viewer experience and if this experience is a positive or negative one. 

Research and learning of how to use the various softwares, what do I need to learn? Do I need to be competent in it, or do I just need to learn to use certain tools?

Haptic technology where is it going? What's happening in it? 

Photogrammetry - how to do it, software, equipment?

Stop motion - using 3D CGI sets, using 3D digital rigging, 3D scanning 

What's happening now in haptics, touch, photogrammetry, stop motion, 

Ethical Issues

Woman working in the tech industry

Largely traditionally male dominated areas of stop motion and virtual reality. 

Is this going to impact how it's received? Will I need to prove that I know what I am talking about before people will listen?

Is it going to impact me when I research? Will I be able to get the same answers from people compared to if I was male?

Sustainability of stop motion puppet production, and materials used.