ANIMATION PRODUCTION

ANIMATION PRODUCTION

CURRENT EVALUATION

For my current project, Animation production, my outcome and goal is to created a animation, using the principles of 'cut out' animation. The final piece will be a 15 second animation along side both research and a development sketchbook. As always there was a theme to the project, which was 'circles'; after creating multiple brainstorms and coming up with several ideas i managed to start develop my strongest idea after a process of elimination, with the animation being based in a forest with suspense and horror.

I then created rough thumbnails and storyboards. I started to look into multiple artists’ style, work and the process of how they’re created to help get a sense of how I would create mine. Creating mood boards to collect their images and show the common elements in all their work to realise what they use/do to get their style; which gives them their own persona and recognition. With my refined ideas I developed them by tracing over each part using tracing paper to show the stages within the animation, using this as my storyboard.

Once I was happy with what the timeline would look like as a final outcome I developed different elements that would piece together my final animation; the background, the characters and the setting.

Researching multiple games, artists and films that help inspire and visualise my designs was a great idea as it thoroughly improved my vision of what my final animation would look like. This would all happen with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop and then pieced together with Cinema 4D. I created alpha images for each piece, making it usable for working with Cinema 4D.

From the start and throughout the project my strengths were always my artwork skills, especially my  digital skills using programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator. I was very confident with this project as I knew the techniques and had the skills. I am at the final stages of my animation, with only several things needed to be added to it for it to be complete, i know i will finish on time and will have produced work that is to the best of my ability.

SEQUENTIAL IMAGING EVALUATION/SWOT

SEQUENTIAL IMAGING

EVALUATION

This module was called Sequential Imaging; which required making 3 images, A3 or bigger of anything theme that was related to the main theme of ‘Time’. To start off, I created a brainstorm for the theme of time and came up with multiple ideas for my images, after a process of elimination I decided to use my strongest idea to take forward, 3 Images showing a fierce battle that happens during a Norse event, with my theme being ‘Ragnarok’. I then created rough thumbnails and storyboards.

 I started to look into multiple artists’ style, work and the process of how they’re created to help get a sense of how I would create mine. Creating mood boards to collect their images and show the common elements in all their work to realise what they use/do to get their style; which gives them their own persona and recognition.

With my refined ideas I developed them by tracing over each part using tracing paper and bit by bit I refined and added more detail. Once the individual designs were drawn I scanned the images and printed them again but on A3, doubling them individually in size so when they are shrink’d down the detail and line work will look fantastic.

After a lot of time, effort and hard work, I finished all parts of the 3 images on A2; scanned the images into photoshop I arranged the sizes and positioning of the images to get them in the right placement before I start to add colour or additional detail, I used a gradient map, we learned about these during our workshop sessions, it brightens the white and darkens the black by using a slider to adjust, removing any light colour from the page and just having thick bold black lines to work with, using a mixture of the paint brush and paint bucket I filled in all the areas that had to be black, once that was finished I then added the red but only to certain parts, in this case being only blood.

From the start and throughout the project my strengths were always my artwork skills, as well as my traditional and digital skills using programs such as Photoshop. I was very confident with this project as I knew the techniques and had the skills, most importantly I have knowledge of creating traditional artwork so I knew exactly how long each drawing would take and the effort that was required. What I would improve on is probably making sure something is finished before moving on; because of this I didn’t notice small mistake that had to be fixed until the last minute allowing the hand in to become stressful and a rush.

Setting myself targets is a great way to help be prepared and to make sure I don’t encounter the same mistakes, my main target that I’m setting myself is to be more aware of time management and be sure each piece is finished before moving onto something else, overall I enjoyed this project a lot, being good and interesting in illustration defiantly helped as well and I am looking forward to the next illustration project.

SWOT ANALYSIS

S - Strengths;

W - Weaknesses;

O - Opportunities;

T - Threats;

PRINCIPLES OF ANIMATION

PRINCIPLES OF ANIMATION 

EVALUATION

This module was called Principles of Animation; which required making a short loop animation, which had a specific theme; the theme being ‘Fortune’. To start off, I created a brainstorm for the theme of fortune and came up with multiple ideas for my animation, after a process of elimination I decided to use my strongest idea to take forward.

 A loop based on two people, one becoming good and the other bad, I then created rough thumbnails and storyboards. I started to look into the types of animation and the process of how they’re created to help get a sense of how I would create mine. I then looked at animators, illustrators and how their style gives them their own persona and recognition. 

With my refined ideas I developed them digitally using Adobe Illustrator, constantly changing the sizes, the line work, colour until I was happy with my character design. Once the individual frames were drawn and coloured I imported the designs into Photoshop where I used the ‘Motion’ setting to create a frame by frame animation. After a lot of problem solving and many errors that were then corrected, I created a successful walk cycle for my animation and imported this into after effects along with the background imagery where using the assistance of my tutor we did a lot of problem solving in making the timing of the walk and to get the background imagery to loop.

From the start and throughout the project my strengths were always my artwork skills, as well as my traditional and digital skills using programs such as Photoshop and Illustrator. I overcame many obstacles and was constantly on track and knew what needed to be done in order to get back on track. Barely scraping the surface of animation I’m still very new to this process and work, because of this I wasn’t aware of the time and effort that is needed to just the smallest of things, allowing me to not only loose track of time but to be too ambitious with my ideas. This was a huge learning curve, as I feel more prepared and ready for my next animation module.

Setting myself targets is a great way to help be prepared and to make sure I don’t encounter the same mistakes, my main target that I’m setting myself is to be more aware of time management and be more accurate with the time spent on each element, not only that but my knowledge of animation is still minimum, although I have learned so much his project I still have a lot to learn in future projects

Current Status - Development

Over the weekend, i have made some process in the development or my ideas, especially focusing on the background aspects, designing the individual trees digitally on Illustrator, editing the colours and background. I decided to keep the lifework all white to contrast the black background and create a moonlight effect, or at least that is the idea.

I have been looking at several artists to help get an idea of how different art styles create different types of horror, whether its gore, sinister, or just plain creepy. John Kenn Mortensen inspired me the most where as films such as Digging Up the Marrow. At the moment my main priority is to get my background aspects completed first so i will have a set made to add the scenario afterwards. Once i have completed my background aspects i will spend more time and attention to continue developing my characters.

I believe i have made good progress so far, but maybe i have relaxed a little more than i should, which only means ill have to work just as hard throughout the upcoming holidays.