Expanding on the Visual effects reel.

infamousproduction0
Mar 10, 2021
3 min read

Updated: Mar 19, 2021

Due to bad health and finishing moving home I haven't been able to update this blog as regularly was I would like but I will be detailing everything that I have found in my research from the time of my last post until today. That being said I have been researching, making notes and watching more films when I can in order to get better ideas of how to develop the show reel.

Our new teacher Jonny showed us some basic actions we can use with After Effects in the first video (I will be watching the 2nd video and the class I missed today as I am now feeling more human again.) and I thought he had a lot of amazing ideas for things I hadn't even considered with only two clips and a line of text. The first video introduction was stellar and I look forward to learning more from Lee and Jonny as time goes on.

My Research findings:

I have to be honest, not a lot of people online have given very many good tutorials on creating Ryu's fireball, I watched a lot of fan videos that used the Hadouken effect but none really breaking down how to create it from scratch in a detailed manner using After Effects. I will admit that the extent of my drawing ability is that of stickmen, so I worried a little into what I could possible do as an alternative.

That's when I discovered two very awesome YouTube channels called "Surfaced Studio" and "RackaRacka", I will include a link at the bottom of the blog to take you to the channels.

The two videos I watched were:

1. STREET FIGHTER Energy Ball After Effects Tutorial:

2. ENERGY BALL VFX - Adobe After Effects Tutorial:

3. Real Life Street Fighter (Disclaimer contains mild gore and blood):

I have to admit Surfaced Studios videos were very well explained, edited, informative and gave me a lot of ideas going forward. The first idea that struck me as I mentioned prior I'm not a talented artist and my experience with drawing isn't as robust as I would like it to be, however the channel recommends a website called "Envato Market", and one of the products they sell is an RTFX Generator Add on for After Effects the link will be included at the bottom of the page.

But to summarise, the pack contains over 1000 visual effects, ranging from all kinds of neat flame, lightening, energy, smoke effects which is perfect for what I wish to create. I would have liked to make these effects myself but I have decided this is something I will pursue and teach myself in time as I have become fascinated by the process.

Whilst the RackaRacka channel gave me so much inspiration of what can be possible using these effects in live action situations.

I feel that this pack will help me get started and give me all of the free range I will need to experiment and get creative as it has everything I need. However, I think limiting myself to Ryu's special moves will not give me enough time on the show reel that I need, so I have decided to incorporate some of my other favourite fighting game protagonists such as Sol Badguy from the Guilty Gear series, Sub Zero from Mortal Kombat.