Exploration 6

Exploration 6 is to create a hybrid animation combining traditional and digital animation techniques and elements in After Effects to create a unique "hybrid" look. We have to create an original concept statement to accompany our first-draft storyboard. The concept can either be a story we wish to tell, or a message you'd like to convey.

1.First, I began to brainstorm what kind of message I wanted to convey. I decided I wanted to portray in my animation, Animal Abuse. Animal Abuse is everywhere and it's totally unfair. I wanted to tell a message of "Pick on someone your own size" to warn humans that one day animals could strike back.
2. Second, I started to design my characters. My hybrid in my animation was going to be 3D claymation and 2D silhouettes. The beginning is going to be a human "claymation" thinking of an evil thought. The animation is going to pan into his brain into his thoughts. The thoughts are going to be 2D silhouettes and he is going to be sneaking up on a cat and picking him up by his tail. He then flings the cat up and down and then nicely puts him down. Still holding onto his tail the cat then flings the human over his head and then bats him to the next screen.
3. Third, I started to animate the characters. The claymation is thinking and his unibrow is bouncing back and forth along with his eye balls. This part was very easy to animate and I had fun doing it. The second was 2D silhouettes. I had a little difficulty keeping my silhouettes in the same spot without moving considering they were sewn together.

 This project was also enjoyable because we got to add different animation techniques within it.

Exploration 5

Exploration 5 assignment is to create a 15 to 30 second for an existing television show, video game or movie of their choice using 3D stop motion animation. The objective is to get a reaction from the audience and generate excitement/interest.  Also find an appropriate tone and feel for the animation. 

1. First, I planned out my storyboard for my animation. I wanted to do something scary yet funny, which is my theme I like to work with. I decided to do a trailer for SAW in claymation form. He was going to be strapped up in a killing device and the only way that he was going to be released from the device was to retrieve the key located in the cup full of acid. 

2. Second, I started designing my character, the machinery and the puppet on the bike.

3. Third, I set up my station to have a creepy feel to it. The lighting, the back drop and just the characters themselves.

4. Fourth, I started to animate it. The clay is very tricky to work with but it's so much fun to animate. My character was hanging on a device so it was very hard to keep the character still. The hair kept falling off the puppet and the neck was getting completely sliced. It was very difficult to keep him in contact but I did and it came out fantastic.

5. I found the perfect music soundtrack to match the mood of the animation and in certain areas of the animation I panned in and out giving it a more interesting look. 

I extremely enjoyed this assignment and even more enjoyed the outcome. I love working with different materials and especially when they are difficult because I love the challenge. I had a hard time with keeping the puppet still but I managed to keep the animation pretty smoothed. I enjoyed panning in and out giving it a creepy tone and feel. I had a great reaction from the crowd because the whole animation was scary but I added just a little clip of humor to it.

Exploration 4

Exploration 4 is based on creating an identity package for the SyFy Network. Creatively identifying the channel and to visually illustrate the power of imagination through a 15 second animation. The conclusion will be the SyFy logo and be on screen for at least 2 seconds. The animation should have a story line based on SyFy's personality. The animation is to be whimsical, funny, humorous, clever and creative. SyFy has also based a certain sound track for the animation.

1. First I thought up a storyline for my animation. I wanted to do the well known Frankenstein and his creator, the mad scientist. Everyone of all ages are familiar with Frankenstein and always will be so I thought they would be the perfect characters.

2. I then decided to hand cut out my characters in black bristol board because I did not want to use the laser cutter like everyone else.

3. I then began to shoot my animation. My story is that the mad scientist rolls Frankenstein into frame on a table. He then climbs on a stool, pokes Frankenstein's head, scratches his chin, pokes again and then gets an idea. He walks down the steps, grabs a hammer, then wacks Frankenstein in the head. That still doesn't  work so the scientist gets mad, stomps up the ladder and punches Frankenstein in the head. His hand gets caught and he gets electricuted into the SyFy logo. Frankenstein then punches the Logo out of the way and walks off the screen.

4. I got the entire animation in one try and matched it perfectly to the track.

This assignment I really enjoyed because it was like an actual job and it was for Syfy. I enjoy stop motion a lot. This assignment was fun because I got to experiment with characters and give them personalities. My favorite part is the electrocution.

Exploration 3

Exploration 3, which is to be 10 to 15 seconds long, will be a short animation based on a meaningful movement. The movement is to be based on a video taken personally and the animation should start out being "chaotic."The video is used for reference only and should not be in the animation. Interpreting the movement in an abstract way is a must. Any materials maybe used along with any kind of colored/textured background. Audio will also be added to this animation but only from killer tracks. 

1. First thing I did was I thought of the kind of movement ideas I could interpret. Like always many ideas came to mind. My favorite was the movement of a flower blooming but there's no way I could video tape that myself. So I used my next idea, the movement of rush hour traffic. 

2. I then searched through my room for a creative material to use for cars. I looked up and down then I came across different colored/patterned hair clips. For the background I used colored pink paper. 

3. I set up my station for shooting while I thought of a story line for my animation to make it a little more fun. I began to shoot for my first attempt and I wound up messing up the speed. I had to redo it and the second time it came out perfect.

4. My storyline was fast moving traffic with cars switching lanes and passing each other. An accident then occurs because of a typical nuisance at rush hour. The accident causes a back up in traffic and then a tow truck comes and clears out the whole scene.

5. I got my audio from killer tracks and I found a more chaotic song to fit the rush hour craziness.

This assignment was actually very easy and I enjoyed it. It was fun, quick and I didn't have any troubles shooting it.

Exploration 2

For Exploration 2, we are creating a bouncing ball through tradition animation. All together there will be a total of six.
1. Bounce Cycle
2. Bounce Cycle with Squash and Stretch
3. Parabolic Bounce
4. Parabolic Bounce Light
5. Parabolic Bounce Heavy
6. Parabolic Bounce 3D

Materials:
1. Black/Red/Blue Pencil
2. Punched Animation Paper
3. Light Table

First Animation which is the Bounce Cycle is just a bouncing ball going up and down with ease in and ease out.
Second Animation which is the Bounce Cycle with Squash and Stretch is the same as the first one except as each time the ball hits the ground and jumps back up it squishes when hitting the ground then stretches out giving the effect of a dramatic animation.
Third Animation which is Parabolic Bounce is a ball entering on one side of the frame, bounces three times and exits on the other side. This animation will also have squash and stretch.
Fourth Animation which is Parabolic Bounce Light is the same as the Parabolic Bounce except it will be bouncier and jump higher with squash and stretch.
Fifth Animation which is Parabolic Bounce Heavy is the same as Parabolic Bounce and Parabolic Bounce Light except it will have a heavy effect. It will drop, bounce once then roll as if it's like a bowling ball also with squash and stretch.
Sixth and Last Animation which is the Parabolic Bounce 3D. The ball will be appear through the screen. It will get smaller then gradually bounce towards you getting larger with squash and stretch.

I really enjoyed creating these traditional Animations because of the fact I created them completely through hand drawings. It was very time consuming and took a lot of patience but I had fun doing it. I thought this assignment was going to be horrible and really difficult to do but it wasn't at all. I also had no trouble doing any of it.

Exploration 1b

For Exploration 1b, our class is to create 6 short stop motion animations.
1. Followthrough
2. Jointed Followthrough
3. Oscillation/Stagger
4. Sine Wave
5. Jointed Arm
6. Whip Crack

Materials: Bristol Board cuts of:
1. an exclamation point
2. a jointed tail
3. a jointed arm
4. a piece of yarn for a whip.

The first which is followthrough, is the top part of the exclamation point used to show ease in and ease out while showing that the object has weight.
The second which is jointed followthrough, is a jointed tail and is used to do the same thing as the regular followthrough except that it is jointed making it a little more difficult to maneuver.
The third which is oscillation/stagger, is an exclamation point. It is used to show anticipation and a fast ease in and ease out causing a vibration effect.
The fourth which is Sine Wave, is the jointed tail used once again to follow along an invisible squiggle line.
The fifth which is Jointed Arm, is an arm that has to fist pound by "breaking the joints." That is to give the arm a dramatic look making it seem real.
The sixth and final animation which is the Whip Crack, is the jointed arm thats "breaking the joints" to crack a whip.

Each animation was actually pretty easy. I really enjoyed making these stop motion animations. The easiest was the Sine Wave and the one that had a little more difficulty to it was the Whip Crack. I didn't have any problems with doing this project until I had to put it into after effects. All of my animations were too fast to be able to comprehend and my oscillation/stagger was completely messed up. I figured out the problem with after effects, the frames per second were set wrong on my computer. The oscillation/stagger I just made into it's own movie.

These are my final compositions !

 

Exploration 1a

Our class is to create 4 short animations. The first one is to show an example of Timing and Spacing Basics. We are to use one checker and it's to show each one of the following movements: 
1. Ease in 
2. Ease out 
3. Anticipation 
4. Overlapping action 
5. Linear paths of action 
6. Curved paths of action 
7. Fast movement 
8. Slow movement
The next three examples are of a pendulum. One moving Slow, another medium and the last fast. For creating the pendulum, you have to use the ease in and ease out technique. 


For my first animation, I plan on using my little checker like it's trying to pass along the screen but hits the wall and falls back. Then anticipate and finally make it through. The first animation was easy to create but the pendulums were alittle bit harder. They seemed to not work for me. In the end, the video became to faster and the videos were hard to see. The problem was that after effects was set at a higher speed.