X

Xiaoyu Liu

Abstract

"X" is an animated graduate thesis film. The entire animation including credits was 5 minutes 36 seconds long by the time of my thesis screening at SOFA, RIT. The story was initially developed to express the emotional side of robots (or intelligent machines) and finally was changed with a new idea to put the emotional elements into the robot program itself. The story takes place in a robot factory and the main character is a newly produced robot named "X-100". X-100, as the 100th robot product, is facing a crucial test determining his eligibility for being a qualified product. All ineligible robots will be destroyed. In the test, X-100 decides to save the life of his teammate so he loses his chance to pass the exit. Finally X-100 is successfully determined to be a qualified robot because he activated the final teamwork system by saving the life of his friend, which is the true goal of the test.

This short film is an animation utilizing 3D animation production techniques. It was created in 720P HD with a high quality stereo soundtrack and was completed with a number of 2D and 3D digital media software programs including Autodesk Maya, Sidefx Houdini, The Foundry Nuke, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Photoshop, Avid Pro Tools, etc. This thesis essay outlines my overall production process for "X", every single stage of creation as well as each success and failure is described.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Computer animation--Technique; Computer animation--Themes, motives; Animation (Cinematography); Animated films--Themes, motives; Artificial intelligence--Drama; Robots--Drama

Publication Date

12-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Imaging Arts (MFA)

Department, Program, or Center

School of Film and Animation (CIAS)

Advisor

Atia Quadri

Advisor/Committee Member

Peter Kiwitt

Advisor/Committee Member

Mark Reisch

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at TR897.7 .L489 2014

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

IMGART-MFA

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