Final Evaluation

The aim of the brief was to create a stop frame animation based on a contemporary news article. We were asked to chose a news article from a respectable newspaper such as The Gaudian or The Independent. Part of the aim for the stop frame animation was to solve time based problems for example creating a stop frame animation, taking enough photos to create a 15 frame per second animation, around one minute long which would mean taking 900 images. During the process I developed skills through taking part in workshops and experimentation, before producing a final animation.

Before choosing the news article I decided to base my animation on, I researched and looked through various newspapers to find interesting news articles which grabbed my attention. I read many different articles about a range of topics, controversial topics as well as stories with happy endings. I then came across a news article about the red smog alerts in Beijing. I found this article quite shocking because of the poor air quality in Beijing which was affecting many people because of the industrialisation and factories operating. I also looked at another news article which was based on the attacks in Paris which took place 13th Novemeber 2015. The article documented the attacks and how they unfolded and the times and various places the attacks took place. I decided to chose the Attacks in Paris as the article i was going to base my animation on, as i felt this story had more potential.

I was inspired by artists such as PEZ who specialises in creating found object animations. I was inspired by how he uses a range of different objects and materials within his animations and really brings them to life. He also uses everyday objects to represent something else. I had previously researched into found object animation and came across PEZ. I thought his animation ideas were brilliant and very clever. He often had a meaning or message behind his animations. I also found them very playful and creative.

To capture my animation, i used a Panasonic SD900 camera. I used the stop motion animation technique to create the movement within the animation. I took just over 900 images to make my animation 15 frames per second and just over a minute long. My animation has been created at 1080x1920p which is full high definintion. The aspect ratio of my animation is 16:9. As i has taken the individual images on a camera and not in an app such as Imotion which is what i had previously used to record and put together my animations, I then had to put my animation together image by image. I used Adobe after affects to import each image in order and at the right time. I was also able to add in background and text and make some frames last longer than others such as the scenes where i had information asppear on the screen. I was able to imcrease the amount of time these facts stayed on the screen so the viewer could read them. Once i had put together my animation I then added music. I used a site called incompetech.com which allowed me to use royalty free music within my animation. I came accross a few issues when capturing my animation such as the change lighting during filming. The first scene was created using natural light whereas the rest of the animation was created using added light. Another issue i came accross was the characters occasionally fell down which affected the placement. To resovet this i continued to take more images using smaller movement so the animation would still look smooth when it came to editing it.

As i used a full high definition camera i feel that the quality of the images were very sharp and i was able to see a range of colours within the animation. The images were also very clear. I used props to set the scene and create a background and setting. I used a range of objects which i had found around the house to create a setting. As the animation was set in Paris, I used a prop of the eiffel tower which i had gotten from Paris as the background for the begining scene. I felt that this helped to set the scene and tell the story. I also used a range of different materials to creaste the scene in the restuarant. I used cardboard and magazine cut outs add imagery. I added text at the begining of the animation to show the date and time the event took place aswell as after the scene where the characters were killed by the attackers to show the affects this had on the people. I also used different angles and close ups to emphasise on certain parts of the animation, to make key parts stand out. The use of a tripod allowed me to create a still animation that did not look wobbly as the images were took with the camera being steady and in one place.

I used cheerful upbeat music at the begining of the animation to create a happy atmosphere and to show how everything was normal is Paris. The music then changes to a more sad and slow melody show the change in mood and atmosphere as the attackers enter the scene. It suggests to the viewers that something devestating is about to unfold. I also feel that in the restuarant scene where the characters huddle together before the attackers come in helped create suspense and uncertainty as to what was about to happen. It created a very scared atmosphere. I also used symbolism within my animation to develop a deeper meaning within the animation. I used dice to represent bullets and weapons as this is a metaphor for chance - With dice you cannot predict what side the dice will land on, just like a gun where you cannot predict who the bullet will hit or the affects and possibilities. I also used made up, monster like characters to represent the attackers as i wanted to show how different they were in comnparison to the other characters. I wanted to show how the attackers had been dehumanised.

I think what worked well within my animation was the use of different characters.I was able to tell the story but also use the characters to show a deeper meaning and metaphor for chance. I feel that using the dice as bullets was very affective.

I feel that using a blog to record my animatoins and research worked very well as I had all my work in one place, once i had my blog up and running i found that it was easily accessable no matter where i was. I also found that it was an affective way to show peers my work and discuss other peoples work with them. 

Final Animation

Story board

 

Here i have put together a story board to plan and show the different scenes that are going to take place within my animation. I will begin with a black background and add in key information to set the scene such as the date and time. The second scene is to also set the scene, It shows how it started off as a normal day in Paris, before the attacks took place. The third scene is in a restuarant setting, this scene will show how the attack could have unfolded. I have unaware characters enjoying a meal, before the attackers emerge into the scene and kill. The next scene after that will be another black sceen with more key information such as the amount of deaths and injuries to show the aftermath. The final scene will be where the police car arrives at the scene of the crime.

Planning for final design

Once I had decided the news article I was going to use to create my final animation I began planning. I decided to create a mind map so I could get some ideas down surrounding the subject and also specific things I needed to take into account and think about for when I began filming. After exploring and experimenting with a range of different animation techniques such as 2D, chalk, eraser, cut out etc. I found that the animation technique that worked the best and was the most fun and exciting was found objects animation. I saw potential with this animation and felt that I could re tell the story of the Paris attacks using this technique. I was also inspired by other artists who use this technique such as Pes. I decided that I was going create my animation using a range of characters which I gathered together and create a set using objects found around the house. I decided on Key scenes to tell the story of the Paris attacks focusing on the restaurant shootings. I have researched facts and figures which will help tell the story and contribute to the animation. I feel that adding facts will have more on an impact on the viewer. 

I have also thought about I could use everyday found objects to show symbolism within the animation. I have decided to use as bullets as this is a metaphor for chance. It symbolises how the attackers were out to shoot people, and it was just by chance that those killed happen to be there. They could not have determined who was going to be killed just like you can not determine what side dice will land on. It is all down to chance. I have also considered things such as lighting and music. I will try to film using as much natural light as possible. I have thought about certain types of music and sounds I want to be in the animation at different scenes. I like the idea of having dramatic music when the attackers enter the scene. 

         

Sillouette animation workshop - Beijing's red smog alert

Here i have created a stop frame animation using silhouettes. I was inspired by Saul bass who is an animator who uses silhouettes. I decided to create an animation based on the red smog alerts in Beijing as i have looked into an article and researched this issue as i a may create my final animation based on the red smog alerts. To create this animation i used black card and tissue paper. I began by cutting out shapes such as rectangles to create buildings as well as shapes to make up a face and a title. Rather than adding detail i wanted to focus the animation just on shape and colour. I used black card on top of a light box as the contrast in colour made the animation stand out. i feel that this was very affective and the animation appears more stylised. The way the animation has been created is very simple yet it works well. I placed the pieces of card onto a light box to create the scene. I began by adding a building one by one and taking a picture in-between. This was to represent how fast Beijing was industrialised with buildings and factories just 'popping' up. I used orange tissue paper to represent the smog. i moved it around and took photographs to make the smog appear as it was moving through the air. I think that the use of tissue paper was very affective over the light box because the tissue paper is transparent and the light was able to shine through.  If i was to improve this i would create a more in depth animation with more of a story. 

Saul Bass is an American graphic designer and film maker. He specialises in creating motion picture title sequence, film posters and corporate logo's. he is well known for creating title sequences for films such as psycho and the man with the golden arm. His work can be recognised by his style - very simplistic with cut out shapes to create his animation. A lot of his work is often created using black 2D shapes. The animation above is eye-catching and effective because of it's style and simplicity. It is also looks very neat and accurate. The simplicity of the animation allows the viewers to focus on the title whilst also getting an idea of what the film is about because of the imagery used.

Clay animation research - Tim burton

Clay animtion is a form of stop motion animation. Characters and backgrounds are made completely out of clay or plastercine. photographs are then taken of each scene. The clay figures are then moved  ever so slightly to create movement usually at 15 frames per second to obtain fluidity.

The animation above has been created by Tim Burton. It is an animated film which was created in 2005 in London 3  mills studio's. There were a dozen of animators and puppeteers who helped developed each character.The characters faces contained special gearing which meant that the individual parts of the faces were able to be manipulated for each movement. The animation was filmed using a total of 32 cameras. The animators used a grabber system which meant they were able to capture small sections of the animation and have them put onto a computer so they could check them afterwards. The animation above is very creative. The artist has been very creative when producing the set and characters. The animation is very appealing because of the colours used. There are also a range of different characters with different expressions. The artist has been able to capture a range of movement and expressions within the characters and has also been able to give personalities to the characters through movement and manipulation. 

Sand animation research - Caroline Leaf

Sand animation Is created by applying sand to a surface and then rendering or creating images in the sand. This is done by drawing lines and figures in the sand by hand. Often a light box will be used to view translucent films.The technique was invented by Caroline leaf who created her first sand animation in 1968 at Harvard university. The short film was called peter and the wolf. She created the short film by putting sand of top of a light box and then manipulated the textures frame by frame.

This is a sand animation by Caroline leaf. The animation was created in 1977. It was based on Franz Kafkas short story 'the metamorphis'. The animation is about a travelling salesman who wake up to find that he has morphed into a gigantic creature. I think this type of animation works well to tell a story as the artist is able to  manipulate the sand  to create an animation. This technique also allows the animator to work at a faster pace as scenes do not have to be re created for every frame. The animator can move the sand to show movement, whilst using the stop frame technique to capture the animation. The artist has been able to create very detailed scenes capturing them from different viewpoints and angles.In some scenes you can see how the artist  has manipulated the sand to show how backgrounds appear to be moving. The scenes look as if they are moving out of shot. I think the contrast created between the sand and the light box captures the animation very well. The dark areas created with the sand adds depth to the animation. The areas where there is no sand over the light box allows light to shine through highlighting areas of light. This also allows the animator to show pattern and shape. The shapes created with the sand look like silhouettes. The artist has also created tone within the animation by changing the amount of sand she has layered on the light box. In areas where the sand appears lighter the artist has used a thinner amount of sand allowing light to shine through.

This is an inspiring way to animate as i feel that this technique would allow me to tell a story using a lot of pattern and mark making.