Expanded Animation

Expanding Animation with Procedural Tools and/or Techniques

1 Machinima

We are used to cycling animation, but rarely do we recycle it. Machinima is the use of real-time computer graphics engines to create a cinematic production. Most often video games are used to generate the computer animation. Its culture is based on recording gameplay, which provides a context for spectatorship, effectively changing video game players into performers.

Red vs. Blue (2003) was a successful early episodic machinima. It’s a parody of first-person shooter (FPS) games, military life, and science fiction films. It uses the videogame Halo; Combat Evolved

Episode 1 of season1: http://youtu.be/9BAM9fgV-ts

This scene is the decision-making point of the branching narrative, 

In 2006, with the support of the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, I developed a pipeline to show “How to Use Machinima to Rapidly Create Interactive 3D Training Movies.”

2. Rapid Prototyping (aka 3D printing)

Link my Rapid Prototyping Workshop


Printers and Vendors in and around campus
Roski School of Fine-Arts
Contact: Ann Page, spage@usc.edu
Location: Harris Hall 112D
Class: FA436 “Art and Technology” http://roski.usc.edu/undergrad/areas/sculpture/436.html
Software: Maya, Rhino, Zprint
Hardware: zCorp 3D printer; 310 Plus printer http://www.zcorp.com
Printer Price: ~$20K (Used ones can be found for $7k)
Maximum dimensions: 10”h x 8”w x 8”d
Layer Thickness: 0.0035 and 0.004 inches
Material: Gypsum, water based binder and infiltrate (similar to super glue)
Material Costs: $8.00 per cubic inch plus cost of SA’s time

Cinema FabLab
Location: TBD

Software: Catalyst®EX
Hardware: Dimension FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling); Uprint SST
http://www.dimensionprinting.com/3d-printers/3d-printing-uprint-video.aspx
Layer Thickness: 0.010 in
Printer Price: ~$15K (ICT purchased used printe, $12k, 600 hrs of use)
Maximum dimensions: 6”h x 8”w x 6”d
Material: ABSplus ™ - production grade thermoplastic
Material Costs: $10 per cubic inch, $6 per tray, …



Online Prototyping Services: www.shapeways.com/
List of the printable material: www.shapeways.com/materials
Laser cutting of many materials http://www.ponoko.com/photomake http://www.ipfl.co.uk/
Services close to USC http://www.crystalline-rp.com/ http://www.dinsmoreinc.com/


LA Hacker space, The Build Shop, Korea town, Bryan Jaycox bjaycox@gmail.com Same printer as Roski
Library of Free STL models http://www.thingiverse.com/
Pattern-making software: http://projectspace.co.nz/stuffed.html http://tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en/
Scanning from Stereo-pair photographs ($14) http://www.scannerkiller.com/welcome.html
Scanning iphone app: http://www.trimensional.com/
Scanning Service http://www.xyzrgb.com/
Scanning from 40 photos: http://labs.autodesk.com/technologies/photofly/

3. The Body Scrub Device, a virtual fun-house mirror

Media: Interactive Installation; Hardware: Kinect sensor, dual-boot Mac mini, High Definition LED screen; Software: Unity game-engine, Zigfu plug-in, Photoshop, After Effects
Dimensions: Adjustable; Shown here on s 42" LED screen, with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Credits: The Body Scrub device was made for animators interested in interactive media. Its inaugural exhibition was at Mike Patterson, Candace Reckingier, and Nesli Ertien’s Rhythms and Visions 2, a Visions and Voices event. It was first discussed with Vangelis Lympouridis and Nesli Erten at the Whole Body Interaction Club, coded by Todd Furjmanski at the Game Innovation Lab, Nesli Erten created art for testing during development. and iterated as part of CTAN 462: Visual Effects, taught by Eric Hanson;


EXHIBITION HISTORY
2016 Field of Play, the Strong National Museum of Play, Rodchester, NY
2015 What Makes a Monster?, Doheny Memorial Library
2014 Wonderland Unbound, Doheny Memorial Library
Ghosting, Experimental Animation and Games,
2013 The Sideshow of the Absurd, Fine Arts Center of CO
Bedrocktober Fest, Bedrock Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Redefining Animation, School of Cinematic Arts Gallery
Society of Animations Studies Conference, USC
IndieCade Showcase at E3, Los Angeles, CA
Interactive Media Building Opening, USC School of Cinematic Arts, Los Angeles, CA
Firebird Rising, El Portal Theater, North Hollywood, CA
Rhythms and Visions: Expanded and Live 2, Visions and Voices, USC, Los Angeles, CA


In addition to exhibits featuring my filters, the have helped the following USC SCA Faculty and Students to make filters for their own exhibits
2015 What Makes a Monster?, by Brady Thomas Doheny Memorial Library
What Makes a Monster?, by James Cox, Doheny Memorial Library
2014 Elisabeth Raff, surface + depth: Media Arts + Practice UG showcase
Salon Make-Me-Over, by YoYo Lin, LA Art Walk
Glitch, by Joel Suarez, Bedrocktober Fest
2013 Blooming Flower by Nesli Erten, Rhythms and Visions 2
In Memoriam, by Christine Panushka
Redefining Animation, School of Cinematic Arts Gallery
Society of Animations Studies Conference, USC

4. Stereoscopy with the HyperView, i.e.: The Kneeler (2003)

The Hyperview offers the highest possible image quality for viewing stereoscopic images and animation. You can buy a hyperview from the Berezin Stereo Supplies website here. Or make one for a fraction of the cost by purchasing 4 front surface mirrors and some wood or plastic.




By Pamela Joseph with Kurosh ValaNejad, and sound by Liliana Mejia
Multimedia, multi-sensory, interactive, stereoscopic installation
Delivery Device: 4’ wide x 5’ deep x 5’ high
Enclosure: 5” wide x 7” deep x 8’7” high