Only 4 shots in 3D left till now. 2 are mine and 2 are vera's.

I'm responsible to do the C03S04 (a new added shot) and C04S01. Both scene are in the study room and both are using moving textures.
I spent sometime in timing, because stay overnight too much, brain's not working... effectively...

While for the hand and ncloth animation, it's kinda tricky. Because Vera and I are not satisfied with the modeling Dorothy left behind, Vera remade a new hand, smaller and easier for animation. But the ncloth need to interact with the original body. So it's two hands, one showed and one hide (thanks to Vera's genius idea!) 
Animation of the brush and hand are matched with the moving texture ( ink butterfly) frame by frame, bone by bone.

Everything is in Render Farm now. Hope they run well and faster.
Learn from the lessons, something need to be notified and highlighted for next render:
1. Check all the textures file place
(because we keep exchange files between three accounts, so when copy the scene and hand to the other, the file place for the shader is wrong.)
2. Check the layer's contents
(when divide the shot for render, make sure the related camera and light are also in the layer)
3. Check Render Setting for each layer
(When seperate layer for render, make sure the setting for each layer are right by clicking each layer one by one, especially the render camera)

We have marked 23rd as our inner deadline date. We gonna have our final version 1 before 23rd, and for 24th to 28th, we gonna have some inner screening among friends and get some feedback and comments for further development. Also on 28th, we will give our final animation to the music studio. 

I also made a list of things need further development in the storyboard based on the meeting with Eddie.

Yesterday, I had a conversation with the music studio, it's a nice chat. And I made a new version with timecode and music modify comments along the timeline. 

Wish we good luck! ​

I started to compose the whale falling shot. We discussed a lot on how to make the splash. Because all the tutorial we could find on making splash are Realflow or some high tech software, which we may not have time to download or learn. After the meeting with Eddie, we came up with a more effective way: use sources and particular overlay on top.
This method works perfect on the splash.
But the other problem is the sea is so realistic compared to the whale. So just like what I did to the C01S03 storm shot, I add a 'vector blur' to the ocean layer and make it less realistic but stylish.
Also, I add two layers of particular, one fog generated from the ocean plane, the other generated from sky grid, to smoother the and blur the scene.
Still the whale is the huge problem. Vera did the animation before, but the outcome is not really good compared to other element in the shot. So I redo it yesterday night, and this morning, I made a third version, add more subtle movement to the whale based on the second version.  Furthermore, in this version, I try to make the S02 and S03 in sequence, so I put the ocean layer of S03 on top 'add' to S02, to add more white foam. 

And the render time in After Effect got longer and longer... For 3rd, it took 2.5 hours. My laptop is dying for FYP...

I started composing this scene from yesterday, but still the outcome is not that good. Because I used some AE plug in which school's computer doesn't have, so I can only use my own computer. And I felt that my computer gonna burn at anytime. SOSOSOSO HOTTTT!
And it spent almost three hours to render and still didn't finish... I used the lowest quality......
Here is the low quality version of what I have done today.
And I have listed things need to be modified after show to Vera:
​1. The lightening is so regular, the second one can be longer.
2. render separately: divided the timeline into small part

Change the texture to another one made by Vera, more flower-like and stylish. 
Also, after showing the animatic to Amy, one of my friend, she gave some advice on the timing. We adjust the time for this shot, make the oldman eye-closed part longer.
And last time, when Vera rerender the old man part, the outcome's color is dismatch with the old one. We match all the light and their relationship and cannot find the difference. At last, we figure out that it is because the environment color of the Camera. We never know that this element will affect the final outcome, because that should be png, alpha.

I redo the first scene: whale falling today. Last time, if I remember right, it should be two months before, I made two version. One is the cloud moving backward while the other is moving forward. In terms of the cinematography, the previous looks better. And today, I add more animation to the cloud, to make them less 3D, I add another two layer of cloud with trapcode particle in After Effect. 
The cloud animation, which rendered out in maya is not that good, so the effect can only be depends on post-production.

Start making the C05S05, the underwater thing, so many problems to overcome. 
1. let the light go through the surface
2. deal with the ocean shader, make the wave naturally

​pics coming soon, hopefully :)




ps. Useful Tutorials and reference for Maya underwater
***
http://pol3d.blogspot.hk/2011/06/underwater-lighting-partivolume.html

https://vimeo.com/groups/svacomputerart/videos/128840555

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUjGoky4HPo

***
https://support.solidangle.com/display/AFMUG/Underwater+Scene+with+Fog

http://area.autodesk.com/tutorials/rendering_volume_lights_in_maya_with_mental_ray

We started the communication with the Music Studio (Production Yuan) and also a Junior friend who is studying in University of South California for music. 
This latest version of animatic is not just animatic, I have put the final animation into the timeline. 

I tidy up the storyboard, collect all the changes to the first version so far, so that the music studio will better understand our animation. Also, at the end of the file, we explain a little bit on our concept.

AND

WE finally come up with a working title: 归去来兮/ To be or not to be

Cheers!
​

C04 is the scene happened in Study Room, combining both 3D and 2D. The textures for certain objects (Lotus Hanging Scroll; Fish Plate; Lady Porcelain; Screen) are different based on shot. Some are normal static texture while some are animated sequence textures. Thus the file management and rendering plan is kinda complicated. So I made the chart below to make it clearer. 
Also, to make the render quicker, I only include the objects showed in the shot and the window side which cast shadows. 

http://arnoldsupport.com/2015/02/28/the-case-of-the-disappearing-particles/

This post helps a lot on the 'particles cannot be visible in reflection' problem. The way to solve this problem is kinda tricky! 
So the main point is that only particle which can be rendered with Maya Software can be visible in reflection and refraction. So when the particle type with s/w checked, the 'visible in reflection' and 'visible in refraction' boxs are checkable. Then after check them, change the particle type back to the one we want.

Creation Expression is here for reference:

seed(particleId);
float $rotRand=rand(180);
rotateMe=<<$rotRand, $rotRand,$rotRand>>;

rotateMe+=10;

Vera tried the particles for the splash when the whale falling into the sea. But failed for the 'size over lifespan' part, so we watched tutorials tgt to figure out how to make it. But still in the progress.

I scanned the calligraphy pieces made last weekend and did the uv textures for scrolls and book. 

problemSSSS today:
1. The texture for the old book: to create the old feeling, need some bumps.
2. When render the book, what see in the viewpoint is different with rendered out. It's blurry in the rendered image, cannot figure out why, maybe it't camera's problem (focal length?)
http://forums.cgsociety.org/archive/index.php?t-149906.html
3. Light fog effect:
Yesterday, I tried few times with the 'wallwindow file', but failed. The light fog works perfect individual, but when composite with the wall and windows, it came up with problemsssss. And run so slow. 
Tried with the desk top scene, kind of ok.
​

Busy in production, just want to say through images below.

As for the BGM, we found a profession studio to work for us. At first, he refuse us for his tight schedule, but after see our animatic, he said that was very attractive, thus agree to cooperate with us. Kinda proud!
It's called Production Yuan http://www.weibo.com/productionyuan?refer_flag=1001030102_&is_all=1
I first heard of him at last year CUC's  animation graduate screening. He composed for a short student animation I liked.
I'm so happy that he accept our work!!! Big progress!!!! 

Yesterday, we did the camera movement of Scene 3, finished 5 shots. Unfortunately, my computer got watered... so... we didn't finish the jobs as schedule. 

Today, I went to Shen Shui po twice for fixing the computer while Vera's not very well, so we still didn't progress a lot in camera movement.
I tried some textures today. (Brushwash, Zhenzhi, Brush)
​
Tomorrow, we will continue deal with the camera movement, so that I can know which part need textures.

for now, the modeling for the study room, furniture part almost finished, gonna deal with textures tomorrow if I can get up. So cold these days.
​

Today, me and Vera wrote down all the scene detailed and a timetable

Also, I tried some textures for the objects on the desk, using cylindrical mapping and projection mapping, but still need to adjust and find some good pictures for the texture

I started to do texture test these days. However, because of my limited experience in texturing and mapping, I just watch many tutorials but didn't come down to get any progress. 
Today, we meet Eddie at 13:00, the last meeting with Dorothy in person (she will leave tomorrow morning for her exchange, but we will keep regular meeting on Wechat)
Eddie see the progress of each of us, and solve the problem we encounter when we did it. 
Mine problem, of course, is texture.
He taught me how to do the projection today, I will apply this method to the desk, the treasure shelf and bookshelf (solid), and also all the flat polygon. So useful!
The keypoint for this method is just find the suitable picture as texture.
Here is the test.
​

This one, the texture for the desk works, while the Maozhan doesn't, because the maozhan is not totally flat, that one need UV mapping

Cheers!
Almost finish the most difficult modeling part.
Here are some details.
All the detailed textures and the decorations are made with polygon, will assign textures later.
​

Just finish the exam yesterday...
​We will take the weeks during sem break for production. I'm in charge of the modeling for study room. So far, it's still the raw model without any texture test. 
Making list for the study room (all as polygon):
Desk (ink holder, brush stand, brushes, books, scroll, brush wash, zhenchi, maozhan on the top)
Chair
Treasure shelf twin (with antique items inside)
Bookshelf (with books, scrolls, book boxes and antique items inside)
Scrolls on the wall
Screen
window,
roof

Next Monday will be a Holiday, and I'm day off on Tuesday, so me and Dorothy decided to fully use these days to do preproduction: finish concept art, finish storyboard, finish half animatic (Vera went back Beijing with all the writing jobs and some concept art).
Yesterday, Me and Dorothy stayed at CMC for a whole day, from 9AM to 11PM (because the studio closed at 11PM). I only drew one concept art, and Dorothy, sitting next to me, almost finish half storyboard...How slowly I am...Fortunately, I finished it by today, and start another one.

​9AM-10:45AM
WE HAD THE MEETING IN SCHOOL'S LIBRARY ( I WAS LATE, MISREMEMBER THE MEETING PLACE AS CMC...).

AS I SUGGEST YESTERDAY, EVERYONE THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY REALLY WANT TO DO FOR IN THIS ANIMATION IF THIS IS OUR LAST ANIMATION WORK. WRITE DOWN SOME KEYWORD OR ELEMENT.

MINE IS HERE: 天空中的大鱼，龟背上的客栈，车站，水墨

IN OUR BRAINSTORM, WE MENTIONED 
WALL PAINTING IN DUNHUANG 敦煌壁画
庄周梦蝶
逍遥游
大鱼从天坠落

AND HERE IS OUR RESULT FOR DISCUSSION
晴天->阴天，云，下雨，雨水变成鱼（START）
园林（大气）
乌龟背上的园林（ENDING）
逍遥游，庄子，梦蝶，
DOCUMENTARY THE SEA
雨滴（慢动作）-倾盆大雨
屋檐下的画
鹿角 树枝
文鳐鱼 鸟
物我合一
仙鹤
HOME ASSIGNMENT:
THINK ABOUT MORE ELEMENT OR OBJECT CAN SWITCH BETWEEN EACH OTHER, THINK ABOUT THE SEQUENCE, HOW THE STORY SHOULD BE NARRATIVE. 

1PM
This is our first official meeting after semester begin. Compare with the previous one in Beijing, it is more serious. Because at that time, we were not sure if we can be in a group, while now, we need to figure out a proposal. 
Me and Vera spent one whole afternoon on this Wednesday to read books on Zhuangzi (庄子）and some Chinese myth stories aimed at generating more ideas. On Eddie's Monday course, we realize the significance of a good story, so we decided to rethink about our ideas we had in Summer.
I and Dorothy and finished the self-introduction to emphasize our strengths, and Vera has started writing. This happens 2hrs before our meeting with Eddie.

3PM
During the meeting, Eddie told us the things we need to include for the proposal, and more important, he emphasize the timetable, like what we must finish during semester A and the situation of last year.

3:20 PM
After the meeting, we start to write the proposal. In order to work efficient, we wrote an outline tgt and write separate on the outline, then combine our three's writing tgt. 

12AM Library, with Vera
We were sink in the books. I grab lots of book on Traditional Chinese literature eager to find inspirations.

My original thought on FYP ( when we are not yet a group), is telling a story of journey of a BIG FISH, who can fly. This idea came from the Internship I did in Summer for  a Animation Film which gonna come out next year called 大鱼海棠. I also draw a picture on this imagination.

And after saw another short animation video, and based on the stories I read on Chinese Monsters and Ghosts, I have another story here:

I told Dorothy and Vera about my idea about the BIG FISH when we hang out (Pizza's great).
And the story seems to be interesting. We start to think about to group for FYP.

So far, the story is not complicated, but we have an idea on the beginning of the animation.

广阔无垠的海面上，大雨欲来，有什么在风云间游走。忽而，一将死大鱼（鲲鹏，逍遥游）垂天而落，顷刻间，大雨倾盆，水中出现一条条小鱼（大鱼变化而生）