Giving Cats a Voice

I love these videos. I have done it since I was young. You basically film a cat or cats and then talk for them. The videos below are two great examples of this. They are done really wellso much so that it looks like the cats are talking! Brilliant!

WOW A video of a real cat that lives in a Fish Shop!

WOW I just found a video of a real cat that lives in a Fish Shop! His name is Charlie and he is 18 years old.

Cool Walk with Hi-5ing Snake

Here is the bit with the cool walk and the hi-5 with the snake. Remus just needs bits adding and it all coloured.

2 Small Bits = 1 Bigger Bit

Well, here is the last posts video joined with the next bit. You will also see at the end is Remus sliding across desk because of the owner pushing him away. There is also colour here and there to get an idea of what colours things will be.

Its rather annoying that its taken me forever to do this bit and its only 16 seconds long! Grrr Argghhhh!

Look, Climb up, Little Walk, Meow

Well, this is what I've done from coming home instead of doing the rest of the Maggot Run (Gutted about it by the way! Really wanted to do it all. Annoys me that everyone else got to do the rest of the treasure hunt on great biking roads, having loads of fun while I'm stuck indoors doing work.)

Any way, you can probably guess what bit this is for. I made the first bit a bit spooky with a kind of exorcist feel with the stiff, straight look up and down. Thought it would be something a bit different from how I've done the rest of the animation. I also thought I'd pop in a blink.

Oh and sorry for no videos while I was making it and only showing you it all done. Just got into it and forgot to export any, even forgot to do progress saves. Lucky I'm happy with the final thing.

Is it just me or does he look cuter in this bit. Maybe its just because I actually added the pupil in this one. Yeah, that would make sense.

Changed Girl and Cat Slightly.

Due to my silly mistake of doing the cat first for this bit I have changed them both slightly. I've also coloured the last few frames of the cat as a test.

Fingers and a Bit of Colour and Tidy

Ok, I've added fingers and tided it a bit. I've also fixed the sandwich and added a bit of colour. She is now ready for colour although if I have time I will add a few more frames like I said I would earlier. As it is I think it works ok as most of the focus is on Remus.

Remus isn't very noticeable at the moment because he has no colour and needs some sorting as I changed how the arm will be positioned. Really I should have done the girl first. I've been putting her off though as I prefer animating animals. Silly really.

Any way, As you can see. Its really coming together :)

Girl with Remus

This bit of the girl is really coming together. Just need to sort the fingers and blinking now. I also need to add a few more frames so it flows better. Oh and of course make the background colour and add a keyboard.

I made her head bigger in this update, I think she looks more correct in her proportions now.

Girl Blocking with Remus Animation

This is the footage shown in the last post but I have added the Remus animation. I will need to change the size of the background as Remus' first bit slightly cut off. What happens is, the camera starts at a wide shot and then slowly zooms in as Remus jumps closer to the girl.

Remus' next bit is sliding across the desk after she pushes him with her arm.

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

I saw Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland the other day and I loved it, especially the Cheshire Cat. Although I have always been a fan of the Cheshire Cat because of how he is mysterious, mischievous, has a funny grin and the fact I'm from Chester in Cheshire so grew up seeing Cheshire Cat stuff a lot. I even used to go to a pub called The Cheshire Cat for meals!

The Cheshire Cat in this version was just amazing, he is just so stunning especially with the gorgeous blue stripes and Steven Fry's voice was so perfect. The smoke effects were also a bit of brilliant animation and made me really want to know how its done and have a go at doing it myself.
Below is a clip from the film of Alice and the Cheshire Cat so you can see just how incredible it is. I especially love how they make his eyes go bigger at certain points such as when he says "claws". Have a look.



What I thought was even more amazing is the work by the guy who designed the Cheshire Cat. I couldn't believe that he had made the image at the top using a graphics tablet!
Below is part of an interview with the artist, Michael Kutsche about the Cheshire Cat. It is well worth reading all of the interview so I have also added a link to it. I have also added an image of him doing the illustration of the Cheshire Cat on his graphics tablet. I so wish I could draw like that!

GK: In your early sketches, the Cheshire Cat is more human-like and is slight and slinky, with hot pink stripes and an unsettling, toothy grin, and your Mad Hatter wore industrial goggles and had less whimsy...

MK: Because it’s a Disney production [some of that] didn’t really have that mass appeal. It would have shocked the kids. Tim Burton is a big fan of that book, and the original illustrator. Tim had his own drawings in his London office, so he wanted to have a little bit of a classic feel, so that the animals were more like animals with a twist instead of having a far-off fantasy. Sometimes he gave like a very quick sketch that was really helpful. I would take that and make it really detailed.

http://www.timburtoncollective.com/labels/michael%20kutsche.html

Kutsche admits that he got the idea from a design by Kei Acedera and Bobby Chiu. Below is the concept art they did that inspired Kutsche's illustration. You can see that he didn't stray far from the original design.

Something a bit extra that I found is a website that sells prints of the art that Kei Acedera and Bobby Chiu did for Alice in Wonderland! (Sadly not including the one above as that is now owned by Disney).
http://www.imaginismstudios.com/store/prints?_p=1&viewall=yes


The Making of the Cheshire Cat

"The iconic shot of Alice’s first meeting with the Cheshire Cat, who’s grinning at her from his tree limb, begins with what’s similar to a storyboard sketch, using an assemblage of low-resolution character stills."


"The scene moves to animation, where the character is dropped into a low-resolution environment: the images are kept low-res to allow Imageworks’ animators to create the Cat’s performance without having a lot of data to manipulate."


"The biggest challenge is to create a realistic cat that can generate the trademark exaggerated grin. Here, the all-important hair has been added, ensuring it behaves as it should, where it should be, with the Cat now curled on his limb."


"Here, final lighting is added, along with a full-resolution environment behind the Cat, including the flora and atmosphere added for visual effect."

You can also see that the trees in the background have one of Tim Burton's trademarks... curls. As you can see the branches are curled round like he does to objects, clothes, hair.etc in his other films. I was rather surprised how scuttle he was with it in this film.
I loved that he sneaked the black and white stripes in with a quick sneak shot of the Mad Hatters underpants too! Look out for it when you see the film. My friends pointed out that I spot really odd small detail things that they never do... kinda like that even though its probably down to my Aspergers.

Stalk Test Animation in Flash

Below is a stalk test I did in Flash. If I flip it to go the other way and fix the glitches then I could possibly use it in my animation.

One thing I noticed is that I curved his ears the wrong way to how a cat would actually do it as I did it all off memory and didn't look at my reference images until after. I've learned from my mistake and will make sure I have reference images when I next to a test.

I also didn't finish his stripes so its not a mistake that they vanish from his face half way through. I also didn't get round to doing his spots.

Remus Character Designs from Sketchbooks

Below are some more designs from my sketch book of Remus. I've even included early designs done using the 20secs method (which I hate! Its where you have only 20 seconds to draw a design and you can't stop to think for each one. Its 20secs one after another until you've filled the page).

Cool new Go Cat Advert!

Go cat have a new advert out with well animated 3d cats. Below is the advert!!

Cat movement images

I found this image that show frame by frame images of a cat walking and then jumping. Im sure it will come in handy.

Some more work from my sketchbook

Cat body language

I've been researching this as it will be important in making my cat actually act like it should. Below are 3 images I found explaining what different actions mean. I found them at http://www.messybeast.com/cat_talk2.htm This site also has a lot of information on cat's body language. I am planning on going through it all and picking out any comments that will be especially helpful.






I also found the information below at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_body_language I have included my comments in red to what I have seen from Remus.

* Disgust - Lifting and subsequent shaking of a paw or paws. The more paws, the stronger a feeling is indicated; this can sometimes be a four paw affair with each paw being lifted and shaken in turn. This is possibly related to the identical action that's displayed after stepping in water.
Remus must be rather confused then. He goes in the bath and does this at first but then runs around in the water playing.

* Aggression - The swishing or sweeping of the tail in a wide swath, mid-air or against a person means the cat is trying to get the person's attention. And if the message isn't getting through, the cat may simply leave the room.

* Contentedness - Kneading with the paws on a person or, for example, a favorite blanket or sleeping spot. Young kittens knead their mother's nipples to stimulate the feeding reflex in her so that her milk flows for the kittens to suckle on. Cats may knead for a short or extended period of time, the extended period is sometimes interpreted by people as a sign of discomfort or restlessness, but it is more likely the cat is happy. Most cats will demonstrate this for about ten minutes at the longest.
Remus does this a lot to his favourite blanket especially just before he falls asleep. He also sucks it and purrs. I can't see it being a sign of discomfort more a sign of comfort and happyness.

* Relaxation - Sprawling on the side or back and, possibly, rolling about; this may be seen, for example, when a person enters the room or stirs from their seat. The cat may display this at the same time as the person's movement.
Remus will just fall and sprawl on his side any where. He can he sat behind you in the kitchen and when you turn around he will then be sprawled. It does say its a sign of relaxation, maybe he is.

* Greeting - A particular sort of vocalization, such as a low meow or chirp, possibly with simultaneous purring.
Remus defintley does this! If I go away for a few hours or a day, I come home and he talks to me lots and purrs while doing it. Its as if he is telling me off for going, welcoming me and telling me what he's been up to all in one long meowing session. He rubs himself on me lots as well and almost falls over doing so. I know this means he is showing me that I am his and that he was attention.

* Affection - A pressing of the face or top of the head against a person's body, leaving a scent as a marking of territory.

* Submission - Upon being approached, it will fall down on its side, indicating it is not seeking attention and is unwilling to put up a fight.
Remus does this to Matt (my friend) a lot as he likes to play fight with Remus. I think he has learnt to trick Matt sometimes though as he will do this but suddenly attacking him. Its funny as soon as Matt attacks him back he will start licking him as if apologising and will surrender again.

More sketches

Short idea based on happenings with Remus

For where this idea came fom you need to look at my Remus blog. I've loved the idea of doing an animation with the feel of 'Simons Cat' and I feel what I have wrote below has that feeling.

Blue text is Remus' actions and red is mine.



Remus the naughty cat


I'm working on laptop and eating a ham sandwich at the same time.

Remus stalks around the sofa, hiding, popping his out in various places. He then runs to his toy box and knocks it over.

I look up and awwww grrrr and roll eyes but go back to work.

The whole time Remus is looking Innocent but as soon as he sees I am looking away he grabs the Cat Nip bag and carries it to under the stool and rips it open.

I look up just as it happens.

Remus is eating it and smacking it (his pupils go big during eating).

I run to him yelling.

Remus runs off.

I get there go awwww as bending down and try to pick up the spilt catnip.

While doing this Remus comes back and starts jumping and rolling in it again and getting in the way.

Once only crumbs are left I go back to work.

Remus carries on messing the crumbs until he notices I'm eating my sandwich. He sneaks up and sits on the arm of the sofa.

I look at him and move the sandwich away.

He sneaks around the back and meows at me and looks at sandwich.

I shake head and move it back to my left side.

He waits till I'm not looking and goes behind me.

I look around think hes gone.

He then sneaks back to my left and he reaches to my sandwich in my left hand and licks my sandwich!

I look and then look away but suddenly shoot my head back and snatch my sandwich back.

Remus still has his tongue out during this but the jumps off the sofa as I wave my hand and look angry. He runs to the other side of the sofa and hides at the back of it.

I've been watching this but as he looks calm, I go back to eating my sandwich and working on laptop.

Remus suddenly pops his head up and does the glare he does when hes going to attack me on the stairs but then stops and meerkats to scope the room. He looks up and sees the string at the top of the curtain. (Zoom in as he notices it). He then goes back to the stairs stalk pose, wiggles his bum and shoots up the curtain as he's reaching...

I jump up and grab him and put him on the floor and finger wag him, he goes for my finger so I growl. I then fix the top of the corner and turn around to find him finishing my sandwich! I awwww and fall to sit down flopped on the sofa. Looking defeated.

He looks at me and pulls out one of his toy mice and puts it on the plate and slides it to me with a big grin.

My mouth drops and just turn eyes to camera and roll my eyes.

Some stories on Cat's that I found

I have been looking around on forums for peoples favourites and using search engines for stories. The ones below are some I like the sound of. Some are books though so would have to either get them from the library or buy them. One thing I'm dissappointed in is that none of them are funny and I got my heart a bit set on that. I will keep looking though.

Gobbolino the Witch's Cat by Ursula Moray Williams
Why was I ever born a witch's kitten? Why - oh, why?" With his bright blue eyes and sparky magic whiskers, no one could mistake Gobbolino for a kitchen cat, but that's just what he longs to be. So, while his sister Sootica learns how to ride a broomstick and turn mice into toads, Gobbolino sets off to find a nice warm fire and a family to care for him. He has many adventures along the way and makes many friends, until he finally finds the home he dreams of. First published in 1942, Gobbolino the Witch's Cat continues to delight children - a true modern classic.

Catkin by Antonia Barber
Told in folkloric cadence, Barber's story is about the rescue of baby Carrie, who was switched for a changeling by the Little People. The hero of the tale is a multitalented cat called Catkin, so named because he was "...so small that he could sit in comfort on the palm of a man's hand." Because Carrie was stolen while in Catkin's care, the furry fellow risks all to venture into the enchanted land inside the hill. There, of course, he answers three riddles, the last of which frees Carrie but also binds him to that land forever. Posed with a final dilemma, the Lord of the Little People seeks guidance from the Wise Woman; her solution is to have the child and cat spend each winter in the underground realm and return to their own land each spring.

Slinky Malinki by Lynley Dodd
There are a few books on Slinky Malinki. He is one of the cats in one of the author's previous books, "Hairy Maclary Scattercat" - a feline character to match the canine Maclary. It features the adventures of the stalking and lurking adventurous cat Slinky Malinki who is a common cat during the day but becomes a thief as night falls. Written for pre-school children, with rhythmic, rhyming text. It has become a best-selling bedtime story book in New Zealand.

Winnie the Witch by Korky Paul and Valerie Thomas
Winnie the Witch has a problem. Everything in her house is black. The carpets are black, the chairs are black, the bed is black with black sheets, the pictures on the walls are black and there is even a black bath. Winnie likes it that way. But Wilbur the cat is also black and, when he closes his eyes, Winnie can’t see him against all the other blacks in the house. After she’s stepped on him just once too often,Winnie decides that a little magic will do the trick. ABRACADABRA! and Wilbur has a red head, a yellow body, a pink tail, blue whiskers and four purple paws. Poor Wilbur! Even the birds laugh at him when he tries to hide up in a tree. Luckily,Winnie thinks of a new trick that can put everything right!

Remus Blog

I just created a new blog to record all the naughty or funny things that involve my cat, Remus. He is a Bengal Cat and was born 14th May 2009. This is to give me ideas for a short that I am hoping will be the similar type of stories to the Simon's Cat shorts just with 3D characters, hand-drawn backgrounds and involve my own characters, the cat being Remus. The link to my new blog is below.

http://naughtyremus.blogspot.com/