Underwater Dance: A School of Fish in Motion – Week 9

Concept 

This week’s sketch is all about the movement of a school of fish. I wanted to show how they can swim in different patterns and scatter around, just like real fish do in the ocean. The main idea is to create a fun and lively underwater scene where the fish either swim together in formations or move freely, giving a sense of both community and individuality.

Code Highlight

One cool part of my code is the generateFormationPoints function. This function creates different shapes for the fish to follow, allowing for variety in their movement. Here’s a snippet of how it works:

function generateFormationPoints() {
  targetPoints = []; // Reset the target points array
  let shape = random(['doubleSpiral', 'wave', 'school', 'dna', 'vortex', 'shoal']); // Randomly select a formation shape
  let centerX = width / 2; // Calculate the center x position
  let centerY = height / 2; // Calculate the center y position
  let size = min(width, height) * 0.3; // Determine the size of the formation

  switch(shape) {
    case 'doubleSpiral':
      // Generate points for a double spiral formation
      // Logic for creating double spiral points...
      break;
    case 'wave':
      // Generate points for a wave formation
      // Logic for creating wave points...
      break;
    // Additional cases for other shapes...
  }
}

In this function, the fish can follow different patterns, like spirals, waves, or even formations resembling a DNA strand. Each time the function runs, it randomly picks a shape for the fish to follow. This keeps the scene dynamic and adds a layer of excitement to the simulation, as the fish move together in beautiful formations.

Embedded Sketch

Reflection and Future Ideas
I really like how this sketch turned out! The way the fish swim together creates a beautiful underwater scene that feels lively and realistic. The switch between swimming in formation and scattering around adds a fun element to the animation, making it engaging for viewers. I especially enjoyed seeing how the fish react to the different target points and how smoothly they transition between formations.

For the future, I see many ways to improve this project. I’d love to add more complex behaviors, like introducing a predator that chases the fish. This would add tension and excitement to the simulation, showcasing how the fish react to threats and change their behavior to survive.

Additionally, I could enhance the visuals by adding more details to the fish, creating different types and colors to represent various species. Improving the background with coral reefs or underwater plants could also make the scene more immersive. Sound effects, like bubbling water or gentle waves, could enhance the experience, making it feel like you’re truly underwater.