mi4011aidanblackett

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Final Animation

My animation has finally been completed. I feel that I have successfully managed to merge both traditional cut-out and modern digital methods together to create a themed and creative piece of animation and movement.

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Cityscape Shot Creation

In order to create the background turning effect for this shot, I had to make a large enough piece of card so that the edges would be wide enough to never be seen on camera. I stuck together 2 pieces of card then used different strips of shades between the 2 large pieces in order to create a rough ‘gradient’ effect. I also stuck a sun & moon to the light & dark sides of the card.

Once the background was created, I placed the cityscape piece onto the rostrum and focused / graded the shot. Now that everything was prepared, I began to slowly turn the background. I attempted to copy the angles used on the animatic by watching it frame-by-frame as it was smooth and eased. I made the lights turn on in each building by cutting out small squares of white paper and positioned them using tweezers and a cocktail stick.

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Dragon Chroma-Keying

For my dragon shot, I first had to create the model. I used card purchased from Blackwell’s and drew the desired shapes directly onto the material using a pencil. I then cut them out and used a glue stick to connect the spikes, eyes, teeth and nose to the main body.

I created some eyes and stuck them onto the dragon’s head however I was not happy with the end result so decided to recreate them, this time slightly larger than previously.

Now that the dragon itself was complete, I created some brown ‘sticks’ in order to support the dragon. These are representative of those found on a real Chinese dragon as they are used to support each body part.

The dragon model was now completed and ready to animate. I took it to the rostrum room and opened Dragonframe. Once the shot was color graded and focused, I began to slowly move the dragon frame-by-frame to create a ‘ripple’ effect. This was the result:

The final step was to remove the background. At first, I considered doing this frame-by-frame using the eraser in Photoshop however I decided to use the chroma key add-on in After Effects to do the job automatically. The final result was incredibly smooth and there was not a single trace of green color left anywhere on the dragon. I flipped the dragon and made it move from left to right.

I am really pleased with how the Chinese dragon has turned out and feel that it will be a great addition to my final animation.

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Tests: Cityscape and Ink

I decided to try and see what my cityscape shot would look like with a moving background and lights turning on synchronously to the music. In order to make the background move without the buildings moving, I attached two pieces of paper to either side of the rostrum with blu tac to hold the cityscape in background. This meant that I could turn the background underneath easily without interrupting the positioning.

This was the final cityscape test:

I also conducted a test for the growing plants which will be made out of ink in the final animation. I used a sharpie marker for the test due to not having purchased any ink yet. To create the eyes at the end, I cut out the largest circles first then slowly amended their size and re-took photos to make them shrink. This was then reversed in post to make them appear to grow.

After I had completed these tests, I went out and bought some ink to try a quick brush strokes test. I painted the main tree / flower element and the brush still had some ink left on it so I created a pattern surrounding it. I quite like this type of line and feel that it would look good if I made use of it somehow in my final project.

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Preparing The Assets

I created a shopping list of what card colours I would need to purchase in order to create my cutout animation’s assets. I also took materials needed for tests into consideration. I purchased some paint brushes for the ink section, as well as chalks for the fireworks section.

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Research: Chroma Key

Chroma keying is a post-production process used in filmmaking to create transparency within a video file and replace a solid color with a different image or video.

Chroma keying is used for a number of reasons. One of the main ones is to place the person within a reality that does not actually exist such as a fantasy universe. Another reason can be due to budget restraints, actors cannot always be sent to obscure locations (eg. The North Pole) and so a green screen is a cheap alternative to do this. Here are some examples of chroma keying being used in television shows and movies:

Green screen technology is also used within animated films, mainly those created using stop motion or cut-out methods. This example shows the 2016 feature film ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ being produced, and many of the shots feature the use of green screens in various different shapes and positions in order to key in the chosen background.

Using one solid color as the background allows a piece of software to detect the exact shade then remove it from the image or video file. I am hoping to use this effect within my final animation piece and green-screen a background from a paper cutout animation. By looking at examples of green screen being used within film, it has given me ideas as to how I can use it myself in order to make my video a success.

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Animatic

I created my animatic using Adobe Flash in order to finalise which shots I will be using as well as sort out all of the timing for each shot. None of the colours used are final as I will be applying my color theory research to the final animation. The same applies to all of the drawings as they are rough and not finalised whatsoever.

Although the animatic was created digitally, the final animation will use various different methods.

Shot breakdown / Method

#1: City Silhouette / Sunrise - Silhouettes will be cut out of black card, sunrise will be large sphere with a pin in the middle which will be watercoloured appropriately then spun frame-by-frame at the same angle as seen in the animatic to create the desired effect. The windows lighting up will be done by cutting out small squares of white card and sticking them to the silhouette.

#1.5: Dragon Transition - I think that I will create a static dragon with moving parts on a green piece of card then make it ‘wipe’ across the screen in-post. I will remove the green background using chroma-key effects.

#2: Blossoming Tree / Flowers - This shot will be painted using ink ‘under the camera’ in the traditional Chinese style. The ‘scribble’ effect at the end will most likely be created using acrylic paint and a thick brush. The face color will be cut onto a piece of card then moved down frame-by-frame to change the entire background color.

#3: Eyes Opening - The eyes will open by swapping various sizes of black card to create the effect.

#4: Woman Dancing - I will be creating the woman dancing either by hand traditionally or digitally depending on time constraints.

#5: 5 Small Animations - This part will be created digitally. The composition was inspired by this image I found online:

#6: Firework - I will be using a black piece of card and chalk to create this part. I will be erasing the chalk which will leave a faint white line however I think it will look quite stylish and interesting. I am considering the use of color within the firework however I am unsure whether it would erase as easily as white chalk.

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Research: Chinese Dragon

Dragons are an essential part of Chinese mythology and are an icon of their culture. According to Wikipedia, Chinese dragons are often depicted as various different animal-like forms such as turtles and fish, the most popular of which being displayed as a snake-like creature with 4 legs.

The dragon is seen as a symbol of strength and power, and is thought to hold mystical powers which can control weather and natural disasters like floods & hurricanes. People who act as role models or excel at something are often compared to a dragon due to their similar traits.

The dragon’s head is usually quite colorful. They are often shown as having two horns, a mustache and beard, sharp teeth and dark fierce eyes.

When Chinese dragon models are produced for celebrations (usually around the time of Chinese New Year), they usually take the shape of the snake dragon form. The way that they move is interesting as it appears as if they are ‘slithering’ through the sky. Wooden sticks are moved by people at alternating times to create this effect.

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Moodboard: Female Chinese Style

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Research: Chinese Painting

I would like to find out more about painting styles and techniques used within China in modern day and in the past. I am going to be researching how paintings used to be made so that I have the knowledge to be able to replicate the effects used in my own work.

Chinese painting is obviously an extremely broad topic, however there are certain points that stand out more than others. Many old works of art from China and surrounding areas dating from 900AD onwards are landscapes which attempt to portray spirit and energy through their paintings. Many artists during this time did not use colour as they found it too distracting to the viewer and instead wanted to direct their focus toward the meaning or symbolism. (This is similar to photographers who prefer to shoot in black and white in order to capture the moment itself without the colour association attached.)

There are two main techniques used within Chinese painting, which are:

Gongbi. This style is intended to appear realistic and uses extremely careful brush strokes to bring their art to life. Gongbi paintings often use a wide variety of bright and bold colours, and usually depict either a figure or narrative. This style of artwork uses 4 different types of paintbrushes in order to produce different effects. Gongbi paintings can be done on a variety of different surfaces including rice paper, xuan paper (which is softer & often used for calligraphy) and silk.

Ink and wash painting. This style of completely different compared to Gongbi and is thought to have been created sometime between 400-450AD. Ink wash paintings primarily favour the use of black lines without any colour, and for centuries were only practised by rich and educated men. Whenever landscape paintings are drawn, they are not intended to fully depict the reality of the scene. Instead, they are trying to loosely envision the location (and sometimes use their imagination to add their own twist to the scene.) Different shades of black are achieved by using different grindings of the ink stick used in water. It can also be affected by changing the pressure and ink load, or by the pressure used whilst painting a brushstroke. With practise, experts can create a wide tone of black shades using only 1 stroke.

Landscape paintings are the most common sight amongst Chinese artwork and there was a period of time where a group of artists in around 900AD produced hundreds of images of mountains using dotted brushstrokes and strong black lines.

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This shows 2 test shots that I created using Adobe Photoshop. In the final version of the firework shot, I will be using black paper and chalk to create the effect. I am considering using only 1 sheet of paper and an eraser to simulate a “drawn under the camera” effect, however I am yet to collect materials and experiment with this. In the bridge shot, I considered making it using stop motion however I feel that I have more control over the sky gradient in Photoshop so will be creating the final version using this software. To create the flowers in the grass, I used the same brush as the firework and erased portions then painted the yellow in the layer behind the grass. I used the timeline window and created a frame animation, then moved the Chinese woman and sun individually. I am happy with how both shots have turned out and I will be advancing to the last steps of preparation next before creating the final shot.

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Problems and Potential Solutions

Within every project that I have ever created, I have always ran into various errors and problems which require a different way of thinking or a quick workaround in order to resolve them. These are a few problems which I have identified before the creation process has fully began. It is important to do this as it may have saved me some time by not running into any of these issues.

Problem: By using a variety of different animation methods, there will be no continuity throughout the film and may distract the viewer too much.

Solution: I will attempt to stick to the same style whilst using a variety of different methods. The colour scheme and art style will not change, and it will only be the actual method that changes (such as digital, stop-motion or hand-drawn). I would like to showcase my skills with this project as I feel that I am capable of working with a variety of different methods at a high enough level to work with many at once. Through my experience and practise during this module, it will enable me to begin my creations with more knowledge than I would have previously had.

Problem: Hand-drawn animation takes a long time to create and may not be completed in time.

Solution: As I advance with this project, I will be able to figure out how long certain elements of the video will take to create. This will allow me to put together a working timetable so that my time is spread equally and efficiently.

Problem: I may run into an error whereby I am unsure as to how to make my idea a reality due to my technical skill limitations.

Solution: YouTube is an excellent source for tutorial videos and guidance. If I find that I am unsure on how to do something, I will search for a how-to video and learn from it. I will also be able to consult Ellie and discuss any issues I am facing with her. Gary (the technician) may also be able to help me with software-related problems.

Now that I have thoroughly assessed what could potentially go wrong whilst creating this animation, I have given myself a heads-up and prepared for any bad situations to occur. I feel ready to begin creating my project and I am hopeful that nothing drastic goes wrong whilst doing so.

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Research: El Ahwa

“القهوة” or El Ahwa is a stop motion animation which features cut-out puppets which have moving joints via the use of split pins. It was created by 2 people whose mission was to recreate stereotypical interactions which occur within the traditional Egyptian coffee shop. I love the way that the creators have themed and set the animation in Egypt, which is easy to tell due to the clothes that the characters are wearing as well as the colours and background props used. The music is fitting and suitable as it uses traditional instruments which are commonly associated with Egyptian culture.

By studying this animation, I can now see how to create an animation in association with a country or culture. My animation will be related to the Chinese cultuer, and I hope to capture their spirit and traditions through my work like Nawarra Mehrem and Mona Diab did so well on this project.

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Animator Research: Shirlene

Whilst searching for cut-out animators online, I came across the work of motion graphics designer ‘Shirlene’. She tends to use After Effects to create colourful and simplistic animations which appeal to a wide audience due to her friendly and approachable style.

The animation which I especially liked was appropriately titled ‘Paper Cut Out Animation’. It features digitally created assets which have been stylised in order to appear as if they were made of actual paper. I am extremely fond of this style and it makes the animation easy and relaxing to watch. The music is upbeat and similar in tune to the song which I have been given. I love the way that everything appears to have small and subtle movements which add small bursts of movement to the scene, such as the butterfly’s small wing movements.

This digital example of a cutout film is well-produced and has clearly been planned out carefully. I am hopeful that I will be able to create something as simplistic and appealing as Shirlene has done.

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Initial Project Ideas

I have been asked to create a 30 second ‘music video’ using the song I was provided with (Napolese - Ochre). I have considered a variety of different approaches as to how I am going to create my visuals, and brainstormed via the use of a mind map to do so.

Now that I have considered various different aspects relating to the project, I can now progress and come up with a list of ideas which I may explore further at a later date:

A frame-by-frame shot of fireworks exploding, drawn by hand with coloured crayons / chalk onto black paper. Fireworks were invented in China so this matches the overall theme of the project. When the fireworks explode, I could incorporate my preferred colour scheme by using red, yellow and orange shades. This idea was first sparked on Bonfire Night as I was watching real fireworks in my home city.

A shot of a girl walking over a bridge, created either digitally or potentially using the stop-motion technique and the use of Dragonframe software. The girl could either be extremely simple (with no face drawn to contain anonymity) or with the Chinese outfit style in mind. China is home to many beautiful bridges and I feel like they would make a great setting within an animated video. This would also involve the creation of a walk cycle which I have practised in class previously and feel confident with making one for this shot.

The sun rising / setting over a Chinese temple / pagoda. This would probably be used as either the first or last scene, in order to set the location and announce where the video is intended to be from to the audience.

I want to create some kind of abstract scenery (most likely composed of coloured circles) which appear then fade similar to the dream scene seen in Dumbo.

I will be advancing upon my initial ideas in the next few days and creating soem test shots and footage which will ultimately help me to decide whether I would like to use the shot in the final version of my animation. I will also be selecting the 30 second portion from Ochre’s 5+ minute song that I will use. I have not yet decided whether I would like to use the calmest, quietest part of the song or the loudest and busiest. Both of these pieces would create contrasting atmospheres so I need to decide which one would work best for this project.

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Primary Research: Chinatown Photography

Today I walked to Newcastle’s ‘Chinatown’ area in order to take some photographs of the oriental patterns and objects. The largest attraction is the Chinese arch (built in 2004). It features various intricate designs and details such as Chinese writing and symbols. In front of it stand two Chinese guardian lions, often seen as providing protection and safety to those nearby. The lion’s paw is resting on a ball which is intended to symbolise dominance over the world. I wandered down the street and saw some lanterns hanging above my head so I took a photo whilst standing directly underneath it. I liked the geometric style of the shapes and symmetry which can be seen throughout the lantern. I really liked the design of the dragon which I found wrapped around a thin red column.

My trip to Chinatown has helped me to realise and understand the amount of effort, planning and time that must go into creating landmarks and Chinese items. The use of colours matches my research into colour theory perfectly and I will definitely be making use of them in my work. I love how Chinese artwork and decorations have remained very traditional and withstood the test of time for hundreds of years.

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Colour Theory: Chinese Culture

I found a few different images relating to the Chinese culture on Google Images. I then used Adobe’s Color website to put together a palette consisting of 5 different colours. This provides me with a color summary of each image and allows me to study what kind of colors I should be using within my own work.

Red is clearly the dominant color in this dragon image, and it also shows hints of yellow within the dragon’s textures. There are a lot of black lines within the dragon body texture and face. The eyebrows are extremely prominent and teeth are a perfect shade of white.

This scene shows a Chinese building and lanterns. Similar to the previous image, there is a lot of red and yellow shades being used. The sky is royal blue and features a few dark clouds.

This picture’s color palette is quite pastel-like as the fireworks have made the sky change to a shade of purple. The fireworks themselves are (yet again) yellow with a hint of red, which shows that there is a trend throughout these images.

For the final image, I decided to choose a Chinese forest scene in order to gather a more nature-oriented color pallette. As expected, the palette contains shades of blue (because of the sky / water), as well as earth tones and green. I really like this image because it is bright and the focus (the bridge) is clear as it is centered perfectly.