Further Research

After deciding that the animation would be object based, the next stage was to decided on what objects to base the animation on.

Looking at the different types of object animations for example

Moving

Sonny - I-Robot

• Walks on 2 legs
• has human like features
• believes he is human
• can dream
• Moves and speak like a human

The model for this character would have a biped, the mesh would be skinned to the biped using the skin modifier or physique. Basic biped animations build into max would aid in the animation, and morther would be used for facial expressions.

Lamp - Pixar Lamp

• cant walk, hops around
• very simple to look at
• emotion is shown using sound, the light and the shape of the lamp pole

For modelling this type of character bones would be used for the character and the mesh would be skinned to them. Emotion and expression are very difficult to achieve on this character and mother would not help as there are no facial expressions.

Static

House - Monster House

• has no visible possibility of movement attached to the house
• when moving uses objects from surroundings as limbs
• uses different parts of the house for areas of the face
• expression is shown by facial expressions

whilst stationary the character can use a morther to display the expression or emotion the house wants to show.there is no need for a biped but bones would be needed for the movement.

After a couple of different types of object animations had been looked at, monster house stood out the most, the character i had decided to create would a stationary object that would contain a face.