Main idea
My theme is how the imagination conjured while reading books becomes reality. Nowadays, with the times changing, more and more people are reluctant to read books, preferring instead to scroll through their phones. Yet reading is actually a method that can stimulate one’s imagination.
Pre-production
This project was produced using live-action filming techniques, so I selected several locations conducive to relaxed reading as my shooting settings. These included parks, lakesides, and apartment lounge areas.
Model
Regarding assets, I utilised two pre-bound models sourced online. I then built upon these to create the animations required for my project.
VFX
In each shot, I rendered the imaginings that occur when people read books through visual effects imagery.
For the first imagined shot, I created an effect of magical plant growth. The primary approach to its creation: I first used SOP to define the vine’s morphology and employed curves to establish its movement trajectory. Subsequently, noise was added to the vine to enhance its detail. The vine was then volumetrised and assigned a plant material. Finally, based on the vine’s motion, I created ground fractures, scattered debris, and the dust clouds generated by the shattering.
The second imagined shot involved creating an effect where a robot surfaces and crashes into the water. The primary approach was as follows: I first animated the robot in Maya, then imported it into Houdini to generate the water effects based on the animation. I created a FLIP Tank, added a Static Object for the robot, and enabled Volume Collision. Crucially, I ensured the collision object’s scale and substep settings were appropriate, otherwise the water would have penetrated. When the robot struck the surface, I generated a large number of FLIP particles at the point of impact to simulate splashing. Furthermore, the instant the arm entered the water, it would disturb the surrounding liquid, creating ripples.
The third imagined shot involved creating the effect of a meteor shower descending upon a city. The primary approach was as follows: I first crafted several meteorites of varying sizes and shapes using spheres. These were initially positioned high in the sky, with gravity applied. Different initial velocities were assigned to each meteorite to simulate multi-directional descent. Finally, particles were emitted from the meteors’ tails, driving the Pyro Solver to generate flames and smoke.
Final work
Reflection
In this personal project, I failed to manage the overall length of the narrative effectively and underestimated the workload, resulting in the initially conceived story set in the laundry room not being completed within the limited timeframe. To meet the deadline, I had to create a new, shorter story. While this ensured completion, it fell significantly short of the original concept in terms of narrative depth and impact, lacking sufficient tension and emotional resonance. Additionally, the special effects were not sufficiently refined, resulting in several shortcomings in the final visuals.
This project highlighted that the importance of preliminary planning in animation production far exceeded my expectations. A reasonable story length and accurate workload estimation directly impact subsequent production schedules and quality.
For future similar projects, I must prioritise improvements in the following areas: Time Management and Project Planning: Establish storyboards, production workflows, and workload assessments early on, incorporating buffer time to avoid reactive modifications later. Narrative Cohesion: Even under time constraints, ensure the story possesses a clear beginning, development, and conclusion to enhance the animation’s appeal and expressiveness. Technical and Detail Refinement: Strengthen practice in special effects and post-production to elevate the overall visual quality and polish of the work.