Planning production of 3d Graphics Animation

Coming up with alternative beginnings to start my animation based on a rough concept sketch of a robot scouting drone shown above. Ideas for the opening of the animation first were to have the robot appear into the scene ether by being activated by an intruder and the robot would come out of an opening in the ground as shown above. Other ideas was to have it merge out of some type of surface like a wall or to have the robot come in via a opening portal or vortex which can be created using fluid or Dynamic Partial Effects in Maya. The final storyboard has the robot coming out of a portal then having it hovering and flying around what will be projected scenery from photographs in Maya with the storyboard shown below.

The photographs of the Police Station are viable shots to use in the final animation to be projected onto some geometry in Maya. None of these photographs represent a panorama. Although there are potential angles of the building and its surroundings to go back and gain panorama Photographs to apply to the final animation. Trying to get a view of a place that looks like it needs guarding gives a sense of belonging to the robot on patrol, so having a long and wide angles shots seem relevant for the robot to fly around in with also is an additional benefit to Panoramas. Other places of suggestion included Military Bases and Industrial Estates or similar places with large open spaces.

Looking at various places with different fences or rails of which resembles the sketches in the first four shots of the background in the Storyboard. Although the positions of view in the photographs above does not seem to go as well with the robots position and direction, and seems more suited to the other Police Station photographs with a better wide range of focus and vision with a two point perspective of the building also covering much more ground. Stages 6 to 8 on the rough sketches depict the robot opening up from a outer body that detracts as the robot boots up reviling its scanner and form which using close up shots when animated can give impact to the viewer. The retractable scene (stages 6-8) can be done a number of ways one of which can be used is Fluid Dynamics where the outer casing can be concentrated to flow across a surface or even brake the surface up and retract to a central point like nano-bots.

The Picture above has a URL Link Attached to the main video on YouTube.

The video Link above is a test of animating opacity of textures applyed to surfaces, that can relate and be applyed to the way the robot detracts its outer surface or how it might morph or even some type of force-field.

For some interesting but strange reason when applying a Difference or Intersection Boolean Type to the two objects in the scene is that it loses its default Material Shader. At the same time keeps the object so