In Week 03 of Advanced 3D Computer Animation, Professor Ting Liu introduced technical workflows in Maya, focusing on parenting, constraints, and locators. The session explained how these tools are used to connect objects, control interactions, and organise animation scenes efficiently. I learned how parent constraints allow one object to follow another while maintaining animation flexibility, and how locators can be used as reference points for positioning and motion control. These techniques are widely used in production when characters interact with props or environmental objects.
Step 1: Planning the Animation
Alongside the technical workshop, I began planning the Heavy Object and Change of Mind assignment. The brief required a character to interact with a heavy object while clearly communicating a change in intention or decision. I initially developed a concept involving a character lifting and carrying a hammer before changing direction. My focus was on combining body mechanics with storytelling so that the audience could understand both the physical weight and the mental shift.
Step 2: Receiving the Feedback
After submitting my animation, I received strict feedback from Professor Ting that:
“The idea has potential, but the change of mind is not clearly visible in the current version. The audience should understand exactly when and why the character changes their decision.”
“You can add a little humor to your narrative as well”
“You should explore alternative narrative solutions that would make the emotional transition easier to read.”
This feedback made me realise that a strong animation concept needs more than an interesting action. The audience must clearly understand the character’s thought process through movement and timing. I revisited my planning and focused more carefully on visual storytelling rather than only the action itself. The session helped me understand how narrative clarity and body mechanics must work together to create an effective animation.
Step 3: Replanning the Animation
Step 4: Receiving the Feedback
After submitting my planning, I received strict feedback from Professor Ting that:
“You need to show at which part the change of mind is happening”
“You need to record the reference as well”