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The New "Xander" Series, Intro and Episodes

PixelariusPixelarius Posts: 0
edited December 1969 in Art Studio

Hi everyone, I'm new to the Daz forums. I have been working on a new animated series for the web called "Xander". My business partner and I were interested in experimenting to see how far a single individual could go creating 3D animated stories in this day and age. I chose to use Daz Studio as a primary tool since much of the set design, wardrobe and figure rigging that normally goes into the process would already be done by many of you good people. Using Daz is kind of like having an entire 3D design department, without coming up with payroll every two weeks.

There still is a considerable amount of the process I do using other software (i.e. creating and customizing textures in Photoshop, modeling in Blender, and compositing using After Effects), but because most of the work is done in Daz, I thought it appropriate to announce the project here. By my own standards, I have to consider the series a work in progress. It's taken me a couple of episodes to get familiar with some of the quirks and the ins and outs of Daz. Still, as a filmmaker accustomed to working with an entire crew, I must admit I am starting to become addicted to being my own cinematographer, gaffer, actors, wardrobe, set designer, etc. Thank you, Daz, for making it possible for a single person to make a film without casting!

Here are links to the series intro, and the first two episodes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2tJCYAMMcI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTu7Aqu9yjg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab1FiMgr05g

Please let me know what you think! It's the only way I'll get better.

Comments

  • bighbigh Posts: 8,147
    edited December 1969

    very good use of DS - thumbs up

  • IvyIvy Posts: 7,165
    edited December 1969

    funny stuff..lol

  • Steve KSteve K Posts: 3,235
    edited December 1969

    Brahmman said:
    ... I am starting to become addicted to being my own cinematographer, gaffer, actors, wardrobe, set designer, etc.

    Yes, the good news is you're in control of everything. The bad news is you're in control of everything.

    :coolsmile:

    Looking good, I think I even see improvement over these three shorts. The lip sync is good, did you use Mimic? (I don't use DS so I don't know if it supports Mimic. I use Carrara, which does.)

  • PixelariusPixelarius Posts: 0
    edited December 1969

    Here here on the control paradox. I did use Mimic, but it was a standalone version 3.1. I then exported the lip sync animations and opened them in Daz.

  • bryanfbryanf Posts: 23
    edited December 1969

    Funny stuff... even I'm now wondering what Xander will do next!

  • BC RiceBC Rice Posts: 591
    edited February 2014

    I think you have a lot of talent (or, understanding of how to use the software), but I definitely think there's a disconnect between what this software is good at and what it's not so good at.

    Star Trek: Aurora is probably the best long form thing to ever come out of DAZ-studio based stuff, and even it struggles to work for people who aren't specifically fans of DAZ stuff and low budget CGI animation. There are Trekkies who love it, especially those who make fan film stuff themselves, but overall, as PHENOMENAL as it is, as amazing of an achievement as it is, it's always going to struggle to achieve a mass and broad audience because the subtleties of these low end programs simply aren't sufficient in mimicking 3D animation coming out of Maya and C4D suites. The flexibility just isn't there.

    So what is DAZ animation best for? Stuff like ROSA. Stuff that uses little subtlety + quick cuts and mocaps. That is DAZ studio's (and its related *stuff's*) strong suit. Aurora did use a ton of mocapping in the later episodes, which is partly why it's enjoyable even by non-low-budgeted CGI folks, but because it's traditionally paced, it just lands a little visually non dynamic and not compelling enough for the average viewer.

    So you might want to consider taking all this amazing knowledge that you have and adapt it to something with a quick pulse and immediate conflict. Get the camera moving at break-neck speeds, and always cut in after the action has started and get the hell out of the shot before the action ends.

    AURORA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mHyGlqsjsQ

    ROSA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG11zhX6_jo

    (and let me just reiterate, I think Tim Vining is absolutely amazing for what he accomplished on his own with Aurora. I've talked to him more than a few times and have HUGE respect for the man. He's a beast. I've watched Aurora at least four times)

    Post edited by BC Rice on
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