dessertmonkeyjk

@dessertmonkeyjk.bsky.social

Some tech guy who likes to tinker with things. Occasionally does 3D art/animation stuff in Blender/Unreal/some 3rd thing. https://linktr.ee/dessertmonkeyjk

Still adjusting audio and other minor things (meaning I'll have to record another "take" as it's done through Unreal) but started assembling a rough cut of the final animation in DaVinci Resolve. Adding in subtitle and additional credits while I'm at it, currently looking at around 01h 10m length.

A rough cut of a Spyro animation in DaVinci Resolve 21.

...what do you mean the animation constraints fixed themselves? I swear I'm not making this up, Unreal 5 is driving me crazy behind the scenes🙃 For context, I was recording the animation just in case and that's when it started working again... I like Unreal but it seems it doesn't like me lol

No seriously, they all came back.
A list of animation constraints in Unreal 5 that were previously non functional.

Welp, it finally happened. All the constraints in the one shot that used them the most broke. Animation constraints is the most unreliable thing in Unreal 5 I ever dealt with, I'm NOT going back to fix it. Good news is I have some older footage to fall back on, so I can salvage it in post.

A sad display of a list of animation constraints in Unreal 5.5 that suddenly stop working, with no means to fix it at all.

Been mainly going through all scenes and finding/adding SFX here and there, while trying to audio balance everything inside Unreal. Some scenes (such as the video attached) feature physics props, so added some blueprint logic that triggers SFX based on how hard objects are hit. It mostly works 🧵

Back at it again, more or less just working through a to-do list (around 25+ left). Getting to the point where I'm confident at setting a deadline soon, at least with recording video/audio from Unreal. Mainly just getting one or two hurdles out of the way first.

Spyro and an elder (Ferran) taking a ride through a portal, with a sunrise on the other side.

Since it's summer break, I'll be out for a week so might as well post something. Been looking at adjusting audio balance and working on polishing some shots, one of them showing Spyro taking a cart ride back to a cavern space of some sort. (Yes, I know the wheels don't rotate don't worry about it)

About 8 hours already and the 2nd trailer is already surpassing Jar Confusion, the last animation I did that currently sits at 10k currently. I guess I did something right😅 Probably should resume animating this thing and not just stare at YouTube stats all day but appreciate the support!

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Animation is practically done, currently making small music snippets for the Spyro animation that still needed it. I might of gotten carry away with a scene of someone simply running out the door lol Yes, this is still the Spyro Soundfont collection I'm using

Well how about that, a new official Spyro game is on the way. Definitely looks interesting to say the least. Planning on posting a trailer for my animation project but gonna wait a week at least. Spyro kinda "flies" in it, this is the most relevant screenshot I got lol

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Wondering if something will happen if a few days? (Not related to anything official, planning on finishing this project regardless... also wanted an excuse to post another scenic screenshot from the end credit sequence I'm working on.)

Returning home...

Mostly got the music and animation polish done (aside from blocking & animating one last scene during end credits). Mainly taking to finish up things I had on the backlog (additional sky & terrain lighting, cleaning up other things, audio, 2nd trailer). Shot of evening & night for the 3rd location.

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Finished most of the music and starting to adjust the animation to account for it, mainly working through the 1st location. Also quickly made last weekend of a short scene to help show what the dragon elder Spyro is trying to avoid is doing (who otherwise flies in out of nowhere in a later scene).

Another music update covering scenes 7 & 8, with Spyro "borrowing" something. Starting to get the hang of it, just scene 9 to do then anim polish & timing adjustments for the music. Shoutout to Swordtee40 & KovutheVA! (The green dragon talks, but in an earlier scene but I'm mention it anyway.)

More music work, mostly got scene 6 sorted and 7-9 to do at this point. This section I was mainly trying to do something more "atmospheric" and also landed on the idea of the clock being part of the music. Took awhile to find what instruments worked best but I'm mostly happy with the result so far.

With most of the animation polished (aside from some minor things), starting to delve into making some music (first time doing so😅). Got 15 minutes so far in a week. Using Mixcraft 10 in my case, has basic video editing to help retime things so music & animation work well enough together.

Spyro in places where he probably shouldn't be. Got majority of scene 6 out of 10 done with dialogue all sorted out at this point. There's only so much I can post without spoilers so here's some more nice screenshots instead, with improved lighting overall.

A social gathering on top of a floating island illuminated by a sunset, with a tiny purple dragon hitching a ride on an unassuming dragon elder.Two dragons, with one flying/pacing around wondering if they missed their portal.Spyro sitting between a clock, lamp and a closed portal wondering if they'll make it in time.An annoyed elder dragon that's trying to not ruin Spyro's whole career after shaking them off their tail, pointing them in the right direction.

Spyro checking to see where they are while riding on a dragon elder who may not be aware they picked up a passenger. Mainly polishing scene 6, just couldn't help but post this one shot that I find amusing on so many levels. This shot crashed Unreal 5 in the past but it's more stable now.

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Updates will probably be more sparse as it's mostly just polish work at this point. Finally working on scenes in the second location and I'm super happy how some of the shots look at this point. I might of made things a little too big though, oh well.

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Last December I posted an early look on YouTube of the Spyro animation. This December I'm putting together a lengthy BTS video showing how I made it. Was planning on doing this after the animation was done but now just want to get it out of the way. Still polishing the animation itself.

A behind the scenes video for a Spyro animation project, edited in DaVinci Resolve

The 2nd part of the update (see my previous post) of Spyro essentially being given a task but not before consequences of his actions catch up to him, featuring Evan Duff and AnnoMorana. More info on my YouTube channel.