Just wanted to post a quick update to my research into the compositing process I plan to use for my animated short, Titan. The video below is the simple flat shaded rendering of my animated swim cycle. This sequence will be used later to transfer lighting and basic values of the background plate and whale model.

Then a wireframe version of the cycle was output of Maya, and printed out on paper. These paper frames would be the basis for the hand drawn contours produced next. Aside from simply tracing the wireframes, I experimented with adding details not found in the simple 3D model.

Finally, all of the passes were integrated. It is my hope these details along with the natural noise accompanied by hand drawn elements, will produce a 2D/3D hybrid that combines the flexibility of 3D animation, with what I see as the more interesting “flatness” of traditional illustration and animation.