Jason Hata's World

Software Update

2010-10-04T13:23:00.000-07:00

Well, after six years, I finally get to play with a windows computer again. lol I used BootCamp on my Mac to install Windows 7 and it works great. Now I'm able to learn new programs like 3D Studio Max. This is the program that was insisted upon to work with gaming. I also installed Unreal Editor by Epic, so that I can actually create gaming levels.

On top of that, I've gone through some brutal training on software that I may have been rusty on. I'm now re-learning Maya, Mudbox, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, and Final Cut Pro. Now I feel more confident in what I can produce with these programs.

The next entry will contain examples on my understanding of the programs.

Senior Thesis

2010-09-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

This is my magnum opus. This is the greatest art piece I ever produced. I'm a little upset that I wasn't able to finish as I planned, but I am pleased with how I managed to pulled together everything that I had in order to tell a story.

My thesis is about my grandmother during the evacuation to the Japanese internment camps. This project took about two years and one of the pieces that helped me graduate from the School of Visual Arts (2010). The figures are clay armatures, shot frame by frame with my Sony Alpha digital camera, in front of a green screen. Then I would key out the characters using Adobe After Effects and composite them onto 3D backgrounds, that I created in Autodesk Maya 2009.

This is a "low quailty" video that I'm uploading. The thesis is about 4 minutes in length, so I had to sacrifice the quality.

Senior Thesis by Jason Hata from Jason Hata on Vimeo.

You can see my original thesis here:

New Logo

2010-09-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

This is still in Beta form, but I'm liking it. Perhaps I'll play around to design a simpler one.

I was just bored when I came up with this logo. When I started to like what I was doing, I tailored the image to resemble my username's initials. By some people, I'm known as Old Friend (OF for short).

Resume 2010 - Careers in Computer Art

2010-09-21T00:15:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm in the productive mood, I wanted to start off my updating my resume first.

Jason D Hata_Resume2010

Getting my shit together

2010-09-20T22:30:00.000-07:00

After three months, I FINALLY have a new computer and thus, ready to work again. Complete overhaul of all my old work and making a fresh start. Goals to be done by October 1st:

√ Update Resume
√ Update Blog
-Start creating a more professional website
-Start an updated demo reel

Shit has to get done.

Back online

2010-08-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

All summer long, my computer was in the shop. It's great not being able to work and having to use a PS3 in order to use the internet. But it's great to get back to work. Being the end of August, I need to start looking to freelance gigs to, well, live.

To sum up April/May at School of Visual Arts, I graduated. I managed to get my thesis done just enough, to present on the big screen. I didn't sleep all night, because I was nervous and I also developed a cold. At the theaters, I did squirm in my seat, by seeing the tiny mistakes or how there was still so much more I wanted to add to my film. However, the audience seemed to love it. My instructors and students shook my hand and congratulated me on my movie. I think the greatest feeling was when people of Asian decent shook my hand and mentioned how happy they were that I wanted to teach the history of the Japanese Evacuation.

As much as I want to show my thesis online, I still want to tweak my piece and add to it. It's still not done and I don't feel comfortable presenting something unfinished. So while working to get money, I'm going to be working on my movie some more.

I was always told never to fall in love with your thesis. If you grow too attached, you'll being miserable for not being able to finish. Personally, I can't do that. This movie is what I have left of my grandmother. I heard Leonardo DaVinci worked on the Mona Lisa over the course of many years, touching up on it from time to time. This is my Mona Lisa. It's just something I'll be adding to, for the rest of my life.

Tender moment aside, over the course of the next few days, I'll be posting both pics of my backgrounds and screen shots of the movie itself.

This is it...

2010-04-16T00:40:00.000-07:00

My lifelong dream is about to come true. My movie up on the silver screen. I can't believe it and I also can't believe how fast this year went and at the same time, it was one of the hardest. Two years is too damn long to be thinking about the Japanese internment camps. However, the hard work and dedication to my grandmother and my family, drives me to go above and beyond.

Wish me luck!

...Wow.

2010-04-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated in so long. How embarrassing. XD

For the most part, my thesis is due April 7th (hope that's a lucky number for me). However my thesis teacher wants to see it first on Monday. That gives me four days to complete my thesis. That also gives me two extra days to tweak my piece till Wednesday. I still have animation to do and all of that keying and compositing to do; not to mention sound. It looks more hectic than it sounds or that's what I hope at least.

Wish me luck!

Side Project: Female Sculpture

2009-12-20T18:13:00.001-08:00

Clay sculpture I modeled in David Cortez's class/SVA.

Female Sculpture from Jason Hata on Vimeo.

My attempt at a stop motion turn table.

Demo Reel

2009-12-15T08:41:00.000-08:00

Hata's Demo Reel from Jason Hata on Vimeo.

Last year's reel, but still holds all more computer art work. Hopefully, I can compile a reel of my clay animation.

Thesis script

2009-12-13T06:14:00.000-08:00

For the longest time, I've been trying to find a way for viewers to "enjoy the ride", while they watch my animation. I can't have a song, because it'll be too distracting. The characters can't be silent, because some people don't know about the Japanese evacuation. I can't just have music, because I don't have any good tunes that fit. Plus I do want people to learn from this story. So I decided to just tell the story myself. Hopefully, there can be music in the background, but this is the best I can come up with. I feel this is the best way to do it anyway. The two things I want to show the world are my story telling and clay figures.

When it comes to the ending, I didn't really want anything to be said. Seeing the family before the train is said enough. But I will recite a poem I wrote when the little soldier boy helps out my family:

Out of all the evil she faced during the evacuation
Out of all that was lost
She stood there at the train station
Until she heard something being tossed

A little soldier boy gave up his possession
He gave up his rations, just so that others may survive
My grandmother had never seen such compassion
These are truly the things that will keep us alive

She started to look around
For the little soldier boy she never knew
But he was too far to chase down
So Yuri called out and said “Thank you!”

Welcome to the Yano Family

2009-12-10T20:26:00.000-08:00

Not only did I make Grandma's older and younger sister, but I decided to re-paint the figures. My thesis is serious and realistic enough. I want to remind people this is art too. The intricate paint detail is a homage to Yoshitaka Amano's art style. I've always wanted to incorporate his essence into my piece, but he only does 2D work. I finally found a way to express that essence.

Also, because color is a major motif in my piece, I wanted to make sure each individual had a different color to them. The father wears mostly black and gray to evoke 'mourning'. Out of everyone in the family, he loses the most. The mother wears green garb to represent nature/life/health. Despite the events taking part in my piece, she tries to create "harmony" amongst the family. The elder sister wears blue and because I'm going to have her carry a baby with her, you can catch the biblical reference. The youngest sister wears all yellow, to promote happiness and joy, especailly since she's still just a child. But the main thing I wanted to point out is the yellow bow she wears. Yellow bows were worn as a sign of hope (And usually worn by women waiting for their men to come back from war, and we still see that today).

Yuri wears purple simply because it's my grandmother's favorite color. :) Purple combines red which is a very warm color and blue which is the coolest color. You see both of Yuri's faces during the story. She's rebellious, strong, hot and ill tempered; but when effected by the evacuation, you see her blue, upset side.

Just a bit of trivia, the three Yano sisters are named after flowers. The eldest sister is Sakura (Cherry Blossoms), my grandmother's middle name is Lily, and the youngest sister is Rose.

I also remodeled the father so that he looks younger. All the photographs that Grandma had of her father were probably after the camps.

*Side Project: Clay Figures

2009-12-07T01:49:00.000-08:00

Mostly focusing on my Senior Thesis, I neglected to stick to my roots. I've been making 1-inch clay figures for the past 12 years now and lately I've been too busy to make any more. I haven't made a little clay figure in about a year, so I took a break.

Here's the latest clay figures. I really should post my entire collection, but I'm too lazy. larks

The third time making Jill Valentine from Resident Evil. And a Zombie to go along with her.

Great Grandmother has been added

2009-11-23T07:31:00.001-08:00

I decided to do the rest of Grandma's family. I was going to make them before, but I've decided to incorperate them into the story. I wanted to keep the stop simple by only making it about the father and daughter relationship. However, I feel this'll make an even stronger emphasis on family values and what each of them lost. It's also good to show that Yuri is the rebel in the family by comparing her to her two sisters.

This is Yuri's mother. She was effected by the loss of her fine china that she had for a long time and valued them very much. Her jewelery were also taken. I gave her a green dress just for the sake of being able to easily pick her out in a crowd. Cause all of us asians look the same. Hopefully, I'll have enough time to squeeze in her story as well as Yuri's two sisters.

Just for kicks, here's my set up. This is what my room looks like clean.

Animation Test 2

2009-11-14T22:52:00.000-08:00

I wanted to test out the new model, before going about my thesis. I still need to slow down and get some more frames in between the movements. I also need thinner wire.

Animation Test 2 from Jason Hata on Vimeo.

*Side Project: Ori Gellman's thesis

2009-11-12T06:59:00.000-08:00

Helping out a fellow classmate, by modeling and texturing a scene for him. He modeled and rigged the arm chair, as well as the television and tv stand. He also modeled the door/door knob. I volunteered to do the rest.

Stranger completed

2009-11-04T03:19:00.000-08:00

The "Stranger" in my thesis has been completed, meaning all six of the cast members are ready to go.

The story regarding the "Stranger" relates to the story told in the Car Model post. The Stranger is not based on a specific person, but holds the essence of the evil men back then. In terms of design, I had influences from a slick businessman type style and (believe it or not) Count Dracula. The focal point of this piece has to be the eyes. Zooming very closely, his eyes are red. I also needed them to be wide because I felt seeing so much of the whites of his eyes made him look more sinister. He represents desire and darkness.

Car Model

2009-11-03T11:40:00.000-08:00

The model was created by Ori Gellman. To me, the car scene is one of the most important part of my thesis. This is the first time when we physically see what the executive order really did to Japanese-Americans.

During this time, those of Japanese decent had two weeks to pack up whatever they wanted in a single suitcase and that was all they could take with them. Because of this, many families had to leave behind everything else that they owned. Many would think that they were able to sell their possessions, but that is not the case. It's possible that friends of the Japanese families would buy or will be given the possessions. However, there were so many greedy men who's desire would make people's lives during the evacuation much much worse. These men/women would offer next to nothing, if any money at all for their possessions. For the most part, so much was stolen and there was nothing we could do about it. As awkward as it sounds, acceptance was the general atmosphere behind 9066.

In my thesis, a "Stranger" comes over to examine the car. Yuri's father walks over to make an offer. However, the Stranger's eyes admire what could be his. "Why pay for something, that'll just be free in a week?" He attempts to steal the car.

My Grandmother didn't really commit the following, however this action was done in reality and she kicked herself for not actually doing it. In my story, while the Stranger is stealing the car, Yuri is seen with a baseball bat and smashes up the car. The idea is that the car is going to be gone no matter what. So if you're going to lose the car...you might as why beat the shit out of it! Many Japanese simply placed the keys under the seat, in the clove compartment or under the mirror; as if saying, "Here, enjoy your car!" I wanted my Grandmother to do what everyone should have done during this time.

Little Soldier Boy completed

2009-11-02T22:24:00.000-08:00

This is the Little Soldier Boy. He's very shy and quiet, with no dialog in the entire story (even the dog has lines)

This character is based off a real life person who helped my Grandma during this time. In the real story, my Grandfather was able to get my Grandmother out of the camps for a day or so, so that they could get married in Chicago. After they got married, Grandpa had to return Yuri back to the camps. Both of them waited at the train station, when a sheriff came by, "What are you Japs doin here?"

My Grandfather presented the paper work concerning Yuri's temporary leave from the camps. "...Well, it's a good thing you had this, or I would've thrown you two in jail." the sheriff said and walked away. Grandma was very upset and afraid. After getting married, she had to return to the racist world and horrible camps. Soldiers started to march by her. One by one, they kept on moving, until..."Thump!" Onto the seat next to my Grandmother, there was a cardboard box. Inside were rations, cans of soda, and magazines. My Grandmother was so happy, but when she looked up, all she saw were the marching soldiers. So in a loud voice, she shouted, "Thank you!" hoping the little soldier boy would hear.

In my thesis, I changed the story just a little bit. Instead of my grandfather, I had Yuri's father sitting next to her. It would've been too late to introduce another character. Plus, I needed to patch up the broken relationship between Yuri and her father, before the "train" arrives. The Little Soldier Boy sees Yuri upset on the bench, hesitates, and then walks over to quickly give her the box, before running off. To cut on time, I won't show what's in the box. I'll make Yuri's expression joyful to show whatever the contents are in the box, it has to be a good thing. His helmet is obviously too big on him. As stated before, Yuri didn't know who gave her the box. I wanted to keep that spirit and design this character perfectly to show cuteness, shyness, and mysteriousness. I want the soldier to hesitate a little, before making his way to drop off the box. I want to show that because this is such a racist time, the soldier boy might be scolded or made fun of for helping someone of Japanese decent. But for the most part, I wanted to show that whatever is in the box, it must've meant a lot to himself. By giving away his possession just to help out a Japanese girl, shows that kindness can be found among men of this time.

Production Sketches:

2009-10-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

I compiled all of my sketches and designs into a short video. There were many problems with what style I wanted to go with. In the end, I decided to go for a cute, fairy tale style. A cast of characters that would be seen in children's cartoon or something out of a Rankin Bass Christmas special. Despite the realistic story and serious atmosphere, I didn't want to have the characters reflect that. I went with a cute art style because I felt it would have been more upsetting that this catastrophe had to happen to such adorable characters.

Production Sketches from Jason Hata on Vimeo.

Beta versions of scenes for thesis:

2009-10-29T20:42:00.000-07:00

The scenes were created using Maya 2009, mental ray. Before going into detail about the importance of each scene, I wanted to point out that because I'm doing clay animation for my thesis, I had to kill all reflectivity on all the geometry. Unless I want to piss off the compositors helping me, it'll be a hassle to put reflections on all the objects in the scene. Likewise, I can't just ignore doing all that work, because it'll also look awkward if the character is walking around and objects that show reflection won't have the person's mirror image. So I turned off reflectivity, but it still look awesome.

This first scene is the family market. This is the where the story first takes place. It's also important that all of the scenes are colorful, because throughout the story, various possessions desaturate in color to represent "loss".

The next two is the kitchen scene. This is where the father explains to Yuri about Executive Order: 9066. That little ray of sunlight was simply added to test out ambient light from outside the window. Because of the grim atmosphere, that light won't be there.

The last pic is Yuri's bedroom. This is where Yuri will be seen packing her suitcase. The father walks in to catch Yuri filling her suitcase full of photo albums and scolds her. There will be more photographs on the wall as well, to show a deep dedication to preserving memories.

Animation Test I

2009-10-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

Just to get a feel on how to go about tackling my thesis "animation-wise", I created a few tests. Other than I need to get a better green screen, overall I'm happy with what I got. Keying/compositing is something I'll have to learn, but the animating part was not only fast on my part, but I enjoyed the process. It's a whole lot different than taking a rigged character from Maya and moving one body part at a time. The only downsides I feel about stop-motion is I can't tweak certain limbs. I'll have to re-shoot the entire movement if the animation doesn't look right. Also, gravity is not my friend in stop-motion. XD Just a minor problem I'll figure out as I go along.

Clay Animation Test 1 from Jason Hata on Vimeo.

I think out of all the shots, I love the shot of Scotty the best. Besides the camera "twitching" because I used frame blending in After Effects, I absolutely love the dog's smooth movement. The tail wagging is perfect.

I also like the first shot on the lower right, Yuri kneeling down to pat Scotty.

*Side Project: Dragon Quest VIII "Hero"

2009-10-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

For my computer sculpting class, our assignment was just to pick a character to sculpt, create a wire armature, add clay, and sculpt the basic forms and make sure you have the right proportions. I chose to do the "Hero" from Dragon Quest VIII. I've been sculpting for about 12 years, but I'm not used to such large pieces. This is a 12 inch figure, where I'm usually used to 1 inch little clay figures. That is until I worked on this piece. Now I feel confident that I can pull through no matter what size the artwork needs to be.

The hardest part about this sculpture would be the drapery of his over-coat. The Hero is wearing a tunic underneath and I needed to make sure I didn't disturb the first layer of clothes by adding the coat.

I also couldn't finish this piece without the cute little mouse, Munchie!

This was made by Super Sculpey. This is the clay that I usually work with, because the consistency is just right for creating extreme detail, being stable in terms of not warping during the sculpting process, and at the same time being pliable, soft, and mold-able enough to create the forms I need.

Characters for Senior Thesis

2009-10-27T19:35:00.000-07:00

Because this is the first post concerning my Thesis project, I'll go over the summary. This is based off a true story about my Grandmother through the evacuation to the Japanese internment camps during World War II. She was twenty years old when the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred and my project will be a montage on all the events that my Grandmother experienced.

There will be six main characters, and about ten additional characters. This will be the first four, the other two still need to be worked on.

This is Yuri Yano, the main character of my story and my Grandmother as a young girl. She used to tell me how much of a rebel she was back then. To put things in prospective on how aggressive she was, she was sent to a girl's etiquette school over in Japan, but after a few weeks, she got herself kicked out. She was very caring, but rebelled when she felt an injustice. It's very sad that she was accepted into the University of California for Nursing when Executive Order 9066 was issued. She and the rest of my family lost so much.

This is her dog, Scotty. In reality, my Grandma had to give him away, because the camps didn't allow animals. In my animation, I slightly changed the story to have the father take the dog away. It stays consistent with the theme of having our lives/possessions being taken away during this time. Scotty is supposed to represent "the observer" in my story. Children, for example, are observers as well. They can't comprehend what this evacuation is about, however it still effects them as a scary occurrence.

This is Yuri's father, Juro. Despite being the father, he ends up being the antagonist of this story. It's very ironic how in reality, he was the one who lost everything during the Japanese evacuation. There's a time in the story where my Grandmother packed her suitcase full of not clothes, not jewelery or food; but full of photo albums and photographs. The father scolded her, telling her that we can only bring "one" suitcase and one suitcase only per person. Only necessities should be packed. I want to show the Father vs. Daughter conflict to reflect society vs. authority. The viewer isn't going to grasp the concept of what the evacuation feels like. So instead of soldiers policing the town and taking things away, I'm portraying the father as the one taking things away from Yuri. Almost all people has experienced a conflict with a parent or someone else that stands as an authority figure. I also wanted to show how this evacuation destroyed not only what we owned, but destroyed the families themselves. There will be a few instances where the father and daughter fight and argue, where their relationship used to be so good and happy.

Just as a cameo, I added in my Grandmother. She's the one who survived the Japanese internment camps during World War II. To the audience, she's just an old lady shopping at the market. But to my family and me, it's our Grandma. She went through so much, I needed her to be there.

First Post!

2009-10-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

First step in becoming a famous artist. Basically, this'll be the place to dump all of my crap. Wish me luck!