This month's assignment is a liquid pouring scene that takes place on a beach, so it'll have you drawing on what you know of the foaming and shoreline animation you learned in the previous lessons.
As usual I've made a handout video to set you on the course for the scene. However, the big difference with this lesson is something I haven't done before in this course. I'm providing you with nothing more than the layouts, leaving the design and animation entirely up to you. This means that you interpret the layout as you see fit; you design the FX, do the animation and refine the timing for yourself. This is rarely the way things are done on a studio project, but for freelance or independent professional animators, it's quite common to be given a loose rein.
The aim here is to help you develop confidence in your own ability, which is something an experienced FX animator should have. As the FX expert, you should ideally know better than anyone else how FX should look and move. You have a lot to learn but if you're ever to be trusted -- and hopefully hired -- for your skill in this area, you want to inspire confidence that you're the right person for the job. Having said that, here's a friendly word of advice: Don't bluff your way through your career! I've known FX animators who masked lacklustre skill with over-confidence. Once you start work, it doesn't take long to be discovered, so any false confidence can leave you wide open for embarrassment.
My advice is to be confident, but honest with yourself about your experience and how much you have still to learn.
In the files folder for this level there's a directory inside called Layout. In there you'll find all the images for setting up this scene.
video 49_beach
Just to repeat, the design and timing are completely up to you, so make this scene your own. Whether you make it as realistic as possible, or add your own flourishes and style, there's no wrong way. Just demonstrate what you know in the best way you can.
