LIMBO
& RAIN
June 5, 2002
This animation communicates a transformation.
I defined a heaven/hell scenario. However, I needed a strong
symbol.I came up with a toy top with feathers. It is a symbolic
vessel, and has strange contrasts. I trapped it within a hellish
world, to later sprout feathers and fly to heaven.
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PROCESS
AND PRE-COMPOSITIONS
I originally perceived a fairly wacky idea about a family of
tops who watched a flock of geese fly over their heads. (If
tops had heads). They would attempt to fly, jumping as best
they could, but eventually all they could do was spin. Baby
top, however, gets a little carried away, and falls down a set
of magic stairs, only to sprout hands. Hands? Well, it's not
exactly what he was expecting, but he rolls around with his
new hands happily. The other tops see Baby's bizarre transformation,
and they too, in turn fall down the magic stairs, allowing bizarre
and wonderful things become added to their shape. I envisioned
these tops to sprout feet, balloons, springs, lips
All
of which would effect the way that they got around. Springs
would allow them to bounce, hands would allow them to crawl.
They experienced all these strange transformations, except wings.
Dejected, they give up. Until baby top falls down the stairs
one more time, and spouts feathers. Feathers are close to wings,
and the instant Baby top spins, which is what tops are created
to do, he begins to rise from the ground and is able to fly.
The family follows suit, all spout feathers, and they all fly
away into the sunset.
Very surreal in a Max Ernst, Salvador Dali sort of atmosphere.
I still might pursue this story when I have a longer time
period to finish it. But for this project, however, I communicated
a transformation slightly differently.
Modeling and layout of the scene was done in three sections.
The rain sequence, the spin sequence, and the launch sequence.
Original the top was to be detailed slightly differently, as
my idea changed once I realized that I couldn't render fast
enough to meet deadline. So, I compromised certain things.

Raw environment model, unsurfaced. The model is upside
down and rightside up at the same time, Escher-fied.
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Environment model with "Limbo" surface. |
I
was attempting to approach photo-realism with the rain
in this animation. If you look closely, the droplets will
actually splash, bounce, and flow, depending on the angle
they hit a surface. Uncomfortable wetness. |
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© 2002 GDUNNE
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