sketchley
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Live Action Space Battleship Yamato
sketchley replied to capt.actionjackson's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
This may be down to a difference in culture. One could say that Western actors "overact". Subtlety is the key to understanding Japanese in real life. The same holds true for movies. Things like weeping men and a bubble coming out of the nose when sleeping are a different kind of communicative short hand (the latter being more prevalent in anime) than Anglophones are generally presented with, and that's probably contributing to the lack of apparent on-screen charisma. -
RM++ Project: Character: TF etc 01A Brera Sterne: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRcharacter/MCRcharacter.php#TMF - not much, though the interrelation chart may be interesting. Timeline 31A: In The Shadow Of The Airframe Evaluation Tests (Plus): http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRtimeline/MCRtimeline.php - for me, the highlight of this sheet is the insight on Guld, and why certain things played out the way they did in the series. (Well, the cause is given, not necessarily what sparked it off). Episode: M17A: Super Dimensional Fortress Macross Eps. 17 "Phantasm": http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRepisode/MCRepisode.php#SDFM - quite interesting, especially the insight on the production. In short, another unplanned episode, and is this the first of Kawamori's string of "bad luck"? (E.T. ripping off his bicycle in the sky idea)
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Differentiation. It's quite common in the visual design of movies and TV shows (akin to why not just the style, but also the colours of Buritai's, Exedol's and Kamujin's uniforms are different).
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Much improved, and the weight of the image is now on the characters - and (especially with the solid blue letters) the title is very clear. Though... you should be able to do all your compiling in Photoshop. Either lock all the colour layers to the lineart and move them around, or copy the finished pieces into a new file. Either way, Photoshop has infinitely more options and capability than Powerpoint (you'll even be able to create and modify the logo in it).
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Points for noticing that. I didn't, until you mentioned it. That definitely needs to be highlighted.
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Visually, there's no colour differentiation between the characters, jets, and the galaxy. As such, the weight of the image is on the center of the galaxy (the concentric lines of the galaxy, and it's where the lines of the characters' limbs, and the perspective lines of the jets all point to). I recommend two changes: - changing the colour theme of the galaxy (instead of creme-yellow, go for brownish-purple) - re-position the galaxy so that its center is behind the characters heads. Also, you may want to deepen the contrast between the highlights and shadows on the characters, as they look less solid than the galaxy behind them. Also, moving the tip of the foremost jet behind the leg of the blonde character will enhance the depth of the image (deepening the shadows on them to match those of the characters might also work, though if you want the characters to be the visual focus, you want them to have the highest contrast and differentiation from the background, so leaving the jets as is, and washing out the colours in the galaxy a bit more should achieve that). The rendering of the font is much improved (no more jaggies, yeah!). Though, the font itself looks Greek, and all those angular lines gives the impression that the publication will be quite technology focused, and/or black and white (right/wrong), with not much focus on characters, or the "greys" of real life. You may want to consider adding an external glow at around 25 to 50% opacity and 1~5 pixels radius around the letters in the title to help differentiate them from the background (the name doesn't necessarily need it, because the letters in it already sufficiently stand out from the background). The only examples I can give (that I have publicly available) are: what not to do: http://studiootaking.deviantart.com/art/Macross-Armour-7-0-54317980?q=gallery%3AStudioOtaking%2F142166&qo=0 - in short, it's too busy. Colour *may* help. The only thing that I did right was put the title at the apex of the kite, with the perspective lines angled to subtly draw the eye there. A much better example (but still not quite there): http://studiootaking.deviantart.com/art/Transgressions-Title-Page-55488165?q=gallery%3AStudioOtaking%2F142166&qo=8 - the highlight is the strong black/white contrast between the foreground and background elements. The problem is that that much black negates the black shadow around the boiler-plate title, and it kinda disappears. Nevertheless, all the major lines (reinforced by the blacks) are angled toward the negative space at the center between the heads of the robots. The conflict between them (and their pilots) being the focus of the manga, after all. Hopefully the two examples will help convey some of the points I've made (and looking at them has been nostalgic. Ah... the days before scanners and Photoshop...
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RM++ Project: History M 09A: The Battle To Return To The Earth: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRhistory/MCRhistory.php#SDFM - alas, nothing groundbreaking.
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#49 hasn't been released yet. Or are you referring to the initial release, and not the revised edition?
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RM++ Project: Worldguide 28A: Uniforms: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRworldguide/MCRworldguide.php - As usual, the stuff on the Zentraadi is quite interesting. The stuff on DYRL is..., well, confusing, and contradicts one of the pictures of the Zentraadi on the reverse side. (That said, the paragraph on the 2040 uniforms (not translated) does mention that Higgins uniform is close to that of Global's, and implies that it seems to have been the trend after SWI...)
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Complete: Mechanic: F etc 01A: Vajra: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRmechanic/MCRmechanic.php#MF - turns out that the original page has been expanded into 2 (the second of which has yet to be published). It's a good thing, as the detail presented is much more satisfying (the original came up lacking). Alas, nothing truly groundbreaking. But at least the line in the first episode about jamming makes sense. RM++ Project: Mechanic: 7 Varohta 01A: Fz-109 Erugaazorun: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRmechanic/MCRmechanic.php#M7 - another single sheet that's been expanded. The RM here brings back the M7+ VF-14 from the cold. Though, it raises the possibility that the M3 Dancing Skull version may just be a unique specification, and the *real* VF-14 is something we haven't seen, halfway between the Dancing Skull and Blue Rhinoceros versions! (Though, it's more likely that the Dancing Skull version is the real one, and the Blue Rhino one is exactly as the RM describes.)
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Didn't know that. Thanks. That said, on closer examination, the wings of the VF-17 and VF-19 are definitely not Lego (black construction paper?). So, I'll revise my originally comment: "the limitations of designs made COMPLETELY out of Lego."
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I think it's the limitations of the medium Kawamori-san has been recently using to design these things - Lego. Of all the VFs that I know of that he's designed with Lego, the wings don't fold away, and stick out from the back (the SV-51, the VF-25 series (YF-24, VF-25, VF-27, VF-29), and now this one (even though I haven't seen the Lego model of it, given Kawamori-san's sentiments on using Lego to design Valkyries, it's doubtful that he didn't come up with the design without using Lego)).
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If memory serves, it was one of his first designs (if not THE first) when he went pro.
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Well colour me pleasantly surprised. This week's issue has a new Worldguide sheet - uniforms. Sure, it doesn't have absolutely every uniform that's been seen in the series so far, but it cracks the door even wider for other non-mechanic, non-episode, non-heroine gallery sheets.
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Kawamori-san himself.
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RM++ Project: Episode: II 03A: Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II -Lovers Again- Episode 3 "Festival": http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRepisode/MCRepisode.php#MII - some parts perked my interest, but I think the sheet will appeal more to a proper MII fan.
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Take note: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/Legal.php and http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/About.php Also, my name is Sketchley. Sketch and Sketchy are different members.
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Complete: Mechanic: TF NUNS 02A: VF-171 / Destroid: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRmechanic/MCRmechanic.php#TMF - all three "mobile weapons" get a bit more expansion and refinement. On the other hand, the movie version of the VF-171 appears to be a combination of the TV version's VF-171 and VF-171EX (sans EX-Gear of course). RM++ Project: Episode: 7 25A: Macross 7 Eps. 25 "Late Night Duet.": http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRepisode/MCRepisode.php#M7 - quite a bit of insight into the major characters of the series. The topic on the Nature Sections leaves a bit to be desired - they're essential, yes, but why? One would think that Kawamori-san would be able to provide a specific reason for that... did the writers consult him? And a final footnote on my previous host: They sent me a mass-mailer job opportunity because I'm in Japan (part time, service type that requires Japanese fluency). Nevermind the history of the account, nor their misrepresentation of their service (or their lack of ability to stick to a contract). No thanks.
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I'm with Lorindor. There's only so many ways to convert a fighter aircraft in that configuration into a robot. It's really no stretch to say that the designers of both Robotech versions based theirs on the Macross VF-4, yes?
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The design (in the sense of the arrangement/conservation of parts) isn't bad. The finishing details leave a bit to be desired. If I'm understanding it correctly: - the front of the top of the engine nacelles swivel on the inner wing, expand and become the arms. - the lower part of the engine nacelles slide inwards, underneath the inner wings (eventually connecting to the fuselage, like the VF-1, and rotating to become the legs) - the rear of the top of the engine nacelles slide along the top of the inner wings. They don't rotate. Why are there circular fronts? Probably to a) be visually different from the VF-4 (Macross), b) give the impression of fuel tanks (akin to what the VE-1's FAST Packs did) and c) give a visual nod to the Alpha Fighter (sorry, the correct Mospeada name eludes me at the time of writing). For me, the part that lets me down is the legs. I know they're limited by the original designs, but those bulbous shin guards don't do it for me.
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RM++ Project: Technology 01L: Variable Fighter (Specialized Mission Variable Craft): http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRtechnology/MCRtechnology.php - surprisingly informative. More specifically the bit on the service life of the VA-3, though the stuff on the VB-171, VB-4 and VB-5 is noteworthy, so too the idealized operational usage of the VF, VA, VB, and VE.
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TBH, I always thought the same thing (he was shot. With a gun), and the line in MC took me by surprise. Though, in retrospect, the way that beam weapons are portrayed in Macross, is generally an elongated line from the gun toward the target. And that's something we don't see in that shot. As we don't see a missile contrail in the shot, its possible that it came in from below, where the VF-1's radar is less effective (thus, no on-screen warning of the eminent attack). Nevertheless, it ultimately doesn't matter how Kakizaki was shot down. The point of that scene is Kakizaki getting killed after teasing Hikaru about his love life.
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Ooh, I was going to mention him here, too (just never got around to it). Recently rewatched that movie - and he's one of the best things in it - especially as a great out-of-the-box thinker. (Ian McKellan as Death IS the highlight of that movie).
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RM++ Project: Worldguide 20A: Private Military Providers: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRworldguide/MCRworldguide.php - despite being focused on S.M.S., it was more informative than I expected: some actual numbers for the mobile weapons deployed to S.M.S.. They also have an additional pair of heretofore unseen ships, too.
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Complete! Ranka Lee x Rigaado / Sheryl Nome x SDF-1 Macross: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRheroine/MCRheroine.php - for some reason, the Sheryl/SDF-1 illo comes across as sacrilegious to me. The Ranka/Rigaado illo, on the other hand, is fun. Mechanic: TF ETC 04B: Vajra: http://sketchleytranslation.host-ed.me/MCRmechanic/MCRmechanic.php#TMF - I like how they actually put some thought into the Vajra in the movie version (take that, TV version!). This sheet does round out the Vajra that much more, but ultimately, the Vajra are still a pale protagonist next to the Protodevilun (whom also pale next to the sheer awesomeness that the Zentraadi protagonists are!).