W13
Waving – Ending cut
V1
In the final cut, the girl waves to the audience as if saying goodbye. While this seems simple, it was surprisingly challenging to make the hand wave with a natural curve. GEO reviewed my file and helped me use a different approach to achieve the same outcome. His guidance made the motion look smoother and more natural, and I learned a lot about refining character animation through alternative techniques.
V2 and final
The final shot features the main character waving and saying goodbye to the audience as the countdown finishes. This moment is accompanied by a stunning fireworks display, creating a celebratory and emotional ending to the animation.
The combination of the character’s farewell and the fireworks adds a sense of closure, joy, and excitement, making it a memorable conclusion to the project.
Initially, when I showed the previs to GEO, I had the girl going back to sleep after the countdown. He pointed out that it felt really weird, saying, “We should celebrate the New Year, not just go to sleep!” That feedback made me rethink the ending and adjust it to something more festive and fitting for the occasion.
Render for other shots in C4D
Countdown – typography
I created this typography in C4D, and it turned out really cool! I experimented with mixing textures like iron and silver, which added a sleek and metallic look to the text. To make it more dynamic, I incorporated a short, bold body style that gives the typography a modern and striking appearance. The contrast between the shiny metallic surfaces and the strong, compact font design creates a unique visual appeal, making the text stand out in the overall composition.
Design for fireworks
2D drafts I make in Figma
As for the fireworks, I wanted to maintain consistency with the overall animation style. To achieve this, I designed the fireworks in a flat graphic style, keeping them simple yet visually appealing. This approach aligns with the clean and cohesive aesthetic of the animation, ensuring that the fireworks blend seamlessly with the other elements while still adding a celebratory touch to the final scene.
I put the fireworks in Figma as testing and added a title card on top of the footage of the fireworks.
For the title card, I kept the typography consistent with the main title from the beginning of the animation. I also used the same colour scheme to maintain a cohesive visual style throughout the project. This approach ties the animation together, reinforcing its overall aesthetic and creating a unified look from start to finish.
I also found some references for the fireworks, but I decided to stick with a flat design style. This choice allowed me to play around with various shapes and combinations, giving me more creative freedom to experiment and craft unique designs that fit seamlessly with the overall animation style.
Simulation – soft balloon
There is a cut where a balloon inflates, seemingly about to explode. This scene conveys an intense motion, emphasizing the concept of “time is ticking,” building tension and anticipation for the countdown.
Balloon stimulation – tutorials
I also did a lot of lighting tests and found that adding a spotlight with shadows creates a more mysterious and moody atmosphere. It gives the scene an ambiguous but cool vibe, adding a sense of seriousness or excitement that draws people into the moment.
