Looking at mechanical animation, which focuses on four key elements rotation, positing, framing and timing. Due to its mechanical nature, the modelling will also be very smooth and man-made in presentation. The youtube link below highlights the main functions of the useless machine box which I used as a ground basis to develop this model and animated sequence.
(29) Useless Box Kit from ThinkGeek – YouTube
imitating a finger and a switch, the primary idea of the useless machine is to turn the switch back off after it has been pressed. In the first version, I created a mechanical arm that rises from the box in time with the switch. Being mechanically orientated in motion, the timing has to have a very perfect and controlled feel to it that lacks the unpredictableness of natural motion.
Taking this idea a step further, and using a rig to add a more enticing and performed character animation to the shot concept. For this, I tried to use an unconventional rig, a fish, and try to create its motion in a certain way to create a comedic effect in both timing and restricted movement. In this sense, I ‘broke’ the rig by overstretching the arm in a way that exemplifies the ridiculousness of the fish, an organic creature, appearing out of a box to cause mayhem. This was difficult in the sense of trying to make the fish appear and move ‘mechanically’ which contrasts with its biological nature. In order to improve this going forward, I think that the animation is stripped back far too much, it does not truly give life to the fish, or display much of his character and emotional state other than the brief smile presented before pressing the switch. To push myself further with this exercise in future, I intend to use new techniques much like those displayed in the class workshop, where I could potentially use animation paths to create polygons that form as the box opens and closes to add the comedic effect of something larger being inside the box that it appears to be able to psychically contain.