Behind the Scenes (#StopMotionSeptember)

I had some creative ideas that I tried to execute during #StopMotionSeptember. While I was using Modibots figures for most of them, I did end up building a few fun puppets in the process. Regardless of the outcome, they all brought a learning experience.

Above is a simple paper puppet I made for the day theme "Float." I wasn't entirely satisfied with how the animation ended up turning out. Maybe one day I will re-shoot it.

One of the days theme was "Fly" and I really enjoyed the crow puppets I built years back when I did the "Byrd VS Gravity" short film. This little guy was inspired from that part of my brain. ;)

Above are a few different angles of the initial armature I built. I simply used coiled aluminum wire and epoxy for the main skeleton. Following that, I built out a lot of the hollow areas with aluminum foil, so it could be light and easier for me to add a coat of Sculpey.

Above is right before I baked the lil' guy.

I actually live-streamed myself painting it after the bake on Instagram Live.
But I do have a periscope broadcast of me gluing the feathers on.

Some shots of the finished bird on its rig before shooting.

I am glad I built this guy! He is super cool. :)

Check out my previous post to see the clips of him in the compilation!

Reverie

So I recently finished up a new animated short I call, "Reverie."

This actually started out as an acting exercise... (as most of my projects do...) and I decided to just keep animating until I got bored. Unfortunately, I had to stop animating abrupting because I recently relocated from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles.

Oh god, don't even get me started on how much my laptop, that I had to use to shoot on, kept giving me problems throughout the whole shoot. I swear, I can't get a break when it comes to technology and having to wing everything. It really build character consequently, so I'll take it.

I should probably consider building a motion graphic portfolio soon.

A video posted by Rob Sassi (@stoprobsassi) on Jul 8, 2015 at 2:07pm PDT

Above is a shot of the basement I was working in. It's a clutter! Wouldn't have been the wiser.

And lastly, just a little still from the short.

Now onto editing together a new demo reel!

First Girl Puppet and Trying New Things! (My work in progress so far.)

SO... I started this puppet awhile ago, but finally got around to finishing it.

Here are a bunch of progress shots leading up to the final product!

It all started out with these design sketches.
As time went on though... I had a better concept for what this character would do, so I changed her clothing entirely.
But the next step was to plan the armature.

I made slight changes to the armature to be more practical with what materials I was working with. Also, I felt the hands itself needed to be larger so the pantomimes were easier to read.

 Then I started to build out the form with aluminum foil, as well as added the placement for the wooden bead eyes.

 Here, I have added the sculpy already and baked the puppet.

 For this puppet, I wanted to try using latex, so there was no leftover armature wire to see.
I had to hot glue cotton balls in all the areas I wanted to cover, so the latex would stick.

 Here is a shot from after the latex was applied. I tinted it with acrylic paint.

A picture showing the "hair" hot glued to the strands of armature wire.

 I also had to make clothes for this puppet.
Above, I have stabled my fabric to a pattern I designed for my puppets underarmor/spandex.
Below are a couple pictures showing before and after the pattern was removed.

                       I ended up hot gluing the spandex layer to the body.

Now I had to work on the outer layer.

Started to sew the final headbands, sweatbands, and leg warmers.

 And here we stop at my current process!

It still turned out a little rough, but I was more focused on making something I could animate with, while trying out a new process.
It should look good in motion!

Also, this isn't completeld yet. I am currently adding more detail as we speak!

I'm very excited to show you the final product and to start animating! Stay tuned.

Byrd VS Gravity (A Stop motion short by Rob Sassi)

Like I promised, here is my post dedicated to my second Byrd short, Byrd VS Gravity.

Initially, I had no reason/will to continue using Byrd as a character. I didn't want to get caught up in the whole "Tom and Jerry" scenario and around the time Byrd VS Worm got finished, I had invested a hefty amount of time into it, that I wanted something fresh.
It all occurred to me while chatting with my good friend, Trung Le, that I could make the stories about Byrd, and not about the relationship of Byrd VS Worm.
I decided overtime that I wanted to make a few episodes about Byrds' first few days walking the earth, which would all happen sequentially.

I will admit, at this point, I have a small series planned out (no more than 9-10 episodes), but being one person and trying to work on my portfolio to get a job, etc, I haven't planned on pursuing past the second short as a of now. It would be ideal to have more people work on it with me, or to pitch the idea to a company, but alas, time will tell.

At the time though, I had to find a nice way to blend the ending of Byrd VS Worm and begin Byrd VS Gravity. That's when I thought of doing a short where Byrd meets some crows, feeling they might be alike and that he could possibly fly.

 

I studied the way a crow's bone structure was, so I could make a puppet that had accurate joint movements.

 

And added feathers with hot glue, one by one...

Above is a scene I animated with three flying characters... probably one of the more challenging shots I had on the film.

A shot of the rig. I just used a bunch of tied of strands of armature wire.

I guess something worth mentioning, is the final scene before the credits where you 'think' Byrd is flying. I shot that on three plates, being the ground plane, Byrd and the background. I've never tried to animate a camera trick like that before, so it was a learning experience all together. The hardest part, was trying to move the camera in space, along with the objects, to try to convince you they were moving together.

Anymore questions are welcome below in the comment section...
But otherwise, here is the link to my film!

Byrd VS Worm (A Stop motion short by Rob Sassi)

 Everyone starts somewhere, and my somewhere was a walking skeleton named Byrd.

I initially made this character as a joke in MSPaint, while sitting in computer animation class, waiting for the rest of the class to catch up.
My neighbor thought it was hilarious, and at the time I was looking for a character to work with for my animation 2's walk cycle... and if you know me, I enjoy taking advantage on an open assignment.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT, THE DEAD NAIVE WALKING BYRD WAS CREATED...

But he wasn't perfect.

This was my first turn around I did with my initial design, but I needed to add more appeal.

 Of course, I was pursuing a more stop motion approach at the time so I pushed the sculptural feel of Byrd... and this is what I came to before I started to build him. Somehow, everything I do turns out cute... oh well...

I wasn't as keen to documenting my process as much as I am now, so I am sorry to inform that I don't have much to show of the armature I used for Byrd, etc...

Also, this was my first "real" short that I invested time into, and I literally had no storyboards! I pretty much just had the general idea, and went with it... There were a lot of little things I added on the spot... But I really enjoyed how this turned out under the pressure... but wouldn't recommend it.

I was still pretty new to animating with a puppet, so experiencing first hand what I could get away with and such, was a very exciting time!

I made a simple story, a character with a goal, and it was reasonable for one person to handle. I honestly never thought Byrd would become such a big deal (or develop as much as he is at this point in my head!), but apparently people are still talking about him at Edinboro, even now that I am gone.
I did end up producing a sequel named Byrd vs Gravity, but I shall do a seperate post talking about that project.

Thanks for the read, and below is the link to my animated short, Byrd VS Worm!
(Filmed Fall 2010 @ Edinboro University)

PS. I composed the music in this!

Lunchtime Predictions with Nostradamus

And here's what I've been working on for about the past month...
I also only used an x-sheet for the first 1/3rd of the lip sync... so enjoy!

Clothes for my Puppets!

Here are some more progress shots of my puppets I am building.

Going to paint these babies tonight. Made the clothes out of newspaper… obviously. The puppet on the right has his mouth on, which is made of clay… and I will be sculpting the mouths frame by frame. Eyes, brows and wrinkles, etc will be made from clay, and stylized in an unique manner.