Stop motion (also known as stop frame) is an animation
technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its
own. The object is moved in small increments between individually
photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series
of frames is played as a continuous sequence.
The way in which this example above has demonstrated and illustrated 'Stop Motion' is inspiraing and i may consider utilizing small fragments of the technique to integrate into my production process, in order to enhance the range of techniques portrayed in the animation.
Here is an experimental outcome from one of my previous Print To Pixel workshop consisting of 2 seconds (i.e. 24 individual frames) of a 'Family Of Squares' traveling across the mountain range to get to their 'Square House'. This video consists of 2 seconds of the intended 10 second journey.
The purpose of this video is to demonstrate understanding and skill in the 'Stop Motion' technique, thus opening the possibility to integrate such 'Stop Motion' techniques into my idea development for my animation project for Print To Pixel.
This mini Story Board illustrates the beginning segment of my initial idea, whereby a center point/ Mechanical Circle rapidly 'Transforms' into 'Robotic Arms', effectively in a static motion to become in sync and complimentary to the 'Static' beat and sounds of my allocated track 'Grantz Graf'.
Generalized Movement Of 'Pong' Match
As a personal response to my allocated music track, i have chosen to select the 30 second segment consisting between 0:40 and 1:10, where it almost sounds to me as a 'back and forth', getting a sense and image in my head that there is a 'Ping Pong' back and forth occurring, in time with the beat. Therefore i have used these two robotic arms to each become the 'Bat' in this 'Retro Pong' influenced animation. I intend the ball to be hit in rhythm to the beat and the 'Robot Arms' will spasm and shake, combined with the use of 'Static Interference' effects set both behind and in front of the 'Retro Pong' inspired animation in order to emphasize the 'Static' sense of feel to the song, establishing a rounded interpretation of the beat and song.
Post Match Explosion
I have integrated the idea that in this 'Retro Pong' inspired animation, one of the arms looses to the other arm, causing one arm to get distressed and self destruct itself, while the other arm shakes in excitement. This is integrated as an idea as within the 0:40-1:10 segment of track i have chosen, there is a point from 0:56 onwards that consists of a build up of tension into an explosion at 1:04 of sound consisting of 'Static' and 'Metallic' elements. Within this build up, the sounds evident in this selected segment sound close to the sound of a robot or computer 'Malfunctioning', therefore, i wanted to symbolize and convey this aspect through this animation of the 'Robot Arms' blowing up.
2. The Concept Of Ideas Colliding Together
Story Board
As you can see in this small story board, the two heads with ideas in their brain's (conveyed by the individual 'Circles' as individual 'Ideas') slowly come together, causing the ideas in the head to rush into the space where the two heads 'Interact' and create a 'Static'/ 'Fizzing' effect. This effect is the concentration point for the animation so the camera zooms in a twisting motion to the concentrated space to a point where you can see the individual ideas rushing around and then later crashing and deflecting ideas against each other in a chaotic way that will be in sync with the music/ track, to the point a which one big idea hits the other. This by which causes a 'Static' and 'Powerful' emitting of energy (i.e. a 'Spark'/ 'Idea') that builds up into one huge burst of energy (i.e. The big 'Innovative Idea'). This by which then expands, causing the camera to zoom out as the two heads separate leaving the big idea in the middle of the two designers for them to see in front of them.
As you can see, the motion of the 'Balls' is hihgly reminicient to the influentially researched Sony Bravia advert bellow, establishing a 'Chaotic' and 'Abstract' sense of feel to my animation design.
I
am considering utilising a different approach and replace my previous
responsive 'Mechanical' word with the more abstract approach of 'Chaos',
as the word 'Mechanical' sounded too literal. The brief asks for an
'Abstract' response to our allocated music track, and therefore i feel
'Chaos' will allow me to develop such an abstract 'Response' as 'Chaos'
itself can to represented in may shapes and forms.
This
advert for the Sony Bravia consists of a way in which i intend to
portray 'Chaos' within my animation piece, as it is highly 'Chaotic',
represented by the many 'Balls' traveling and bouncing in different
directions. This motion can establish an 'Abstract' theme for my
animation, and will be considered when generating initial ideas.
The reason in which i have started to use flash, as it has gave me a brief understanding on how animation works on a more practical level. I learned how animation consists of 'Keyframes', 'Frames', 'Tweens' etc, and is part of crucial understanding to when i come to use 'AfterEffects' after the Easter Holidays. I have chosen to self teach myself on how to 'Bounce A Ball' as the bouncing of a ball will be integrated in my initial idea of 'Robot Tennis'. Therefore this tutorial is effective in that sense.
Here i have designed an initial visual representation of my idea where i use illustrations of 'Robotic Arms' to create the intended 'Metalic' and 'Futuristic' sense of theme. Within my allocated music track, there is a melatic and 'Robotic' sense presented through the sounds conveyed, this is complimented by a sense of a back and forth in the beat. This by which has allowed me to come up with the idea in which utilizing these 'Robot Arms' to play tennis to complete the visual representation themes of 'Metalic', 'Futuristic' and the 'Back and forth' sense of feel form the song/ track beat.
2. The Concept Of Ideas Colliding Together
In addition, i have established yet another idea by which animates the concept of 'Two Minds Coming Together' to form an 'Idea' (i.e. a 'Spark' in a decision to be made). The animation will consist of portraying the way in which many ideas chaotically race around the brain, hitting other ideas to develop bigger ideas, illustrating what happens when two minds come together to form a innovatively big idea. It's a concept in which has been influenced from personal exchanges of ideas with another designer. This concept simply illustrates this influence in away that is 'Static', 'Chaotic' and 'Abstract'.
From browsing previous student final animations from last year, i came across this piece of animation that visually interprets the allocated song called 'Glitch Free'. I particuarly admire the use of illustrations and the use of 'Robots' to relte to the metalic and technological sound behind the track. This particuarlly commmunicated me well as a potential idea to refernece as my sound track sounds metallic and technological from the futuristic beeps and sounds. Therefore i wish to communicate this idea of 'Robots' into my animation designs, taking reference to the 'Tennis' aspect of animation as particularly within my track, there is a sense and sound of back and forth of the beat which can be represented into some sort of a tennis match etc. This is why i have chosen to import the image at the top of this blog post as it communicates an 'Abstract' perspection of tennis, that i feel may be worth experimenting with to the sound of my allocated music track.
Here is one of the examples of a student from the previous year in which was given the same allocated music track as me 'Grantz Graf'. As you can see, they have taken on the same response as me, in relation to a 'Static' and 'Electrical' response. This is seen as they have used the 'Brain Neurons' as a representation of static electricity and impulses of electricity. There is clear emphasis of the theme 'Static' as there seems to be interference similar to those conveyed and displayed in a television with poor signal connection. This sense of interference is an element in which i wish to convey and portray within my animation response development, as i feel this element suits the static energy of the song, by which this animation has utilized effectively.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHZnH4IR0yw
Here is another example of a student from the previous year that was given the same allocated song as me 'Grantz Graf'. I find this animation does not particularly reflect the song track effectively, as the energy seems to be lost as the animation plainly consists of just buildings rising to the background beat. This track is energetic and grungy, yet there is a lack of energy visually illustrated, however, i admire the use of illustration as it relatively sets a grungy and visually dark theme to the animation, by which in this way has become successful. Therefore i wish to integrate some illustrations to be incorporated within my development and initial ideas, yet there needs to be a clear link visually between the song track and animation in relation to 'Energy'. This is where i feel the use of 'Static' will provide this intended, crucial energy.
In a visual response to listening to my allocated music track, in my head i seem to visualize erratic movement with 'Cogs And Gears' in motion as a form of a 'Mechanical' theme that i feel and relate to the music track/ song. Cogs such as this, by which are simple and 'Gritty/ Grungy' in appearance i feel could be a unique element to include in the animation for my track. This is due to the fact the sounds in my track are 'Gritty/ Grungy' in itself, conveying a dark and 'Mechanical' environment that i am envisioning for this project animation sequence.
The utilization of Cogs and Gears in my research, combined with the process of me thinking of ideas for this project have gave me a good idea, based on how my brain works. I am visualizing my animation to consist inside a brain, where the chaotic and rushed sounds of my allocated track remind me of the chaotic process in trying to come up with an idea. Cogs and Gears move as the person is thinking, and i believe this could be an effective way in which i could represent my song. In addition, this concept of being inside a brain compliments with my previous 'Static' research into 'Static Shapes', as the brain consists of electrical impulses, as the brain operates the body and thinks. The way in which these two can be presented can be 'Abstract' within the motion of the animation. I wish to further develop this initial idea into a more rounded and realistic idea for my Storyboard.
Alot of the energy and noise projected from the track sounds and feels similar to electrical static. This image of static electricity appears to be very free, erratically flowing sharply around the frame. This sense and visual representation of static movement is particularly appealing for me to incorporate into my Print To Pixel animation as a key element within the animation. This sharp and erratic motion (with the edgy, electric sound to the Static movement) is what i feel would be a highly complimentary aspect to incorporate as it's appearance and sound suits some of the static sounds evident in the Gantz Graf music track.
When considering static as a theme for my project, i must look at variations of it's visual form. This image pportrays a highly abstract from of static electricity, with bold sinuous static channels creating an almost Sci-Fi appearance to its aesthetical form. The way in which static moves, the energy and the shapes it can create will be considered when generating and developing motion within my animation, effectively creating a abstract sense of feel that i believe personally, will suit and compliment the erratic sounds and energy projected from my allocated musical piece Grantz Graf.
In addition, when considering to utilize static within my project, although weird and wonderfully abstract shapes and figures can be created from static, however, the static have a relatively distinctive and aesthetical range of colors involved, that are emitted from the static. These colours consist of 'Electric Blue', and 'Purple' also, this by which is emphasized as the static glows effectively as a linear effect. These colours will be considered when designing such static to be incorporated within my project animation, in order to effectively portray static recognizably towards the audience.
Another form of static can consist of 'White Noise', which has a similar sound to the sounds conveyed within the Grantz Graf music track. Not only do i feel that the use of 'White Noise' will suit the static sound, however, i feel that the use of 'White Noise' similar to the image above, will create an aesthetical effect within the animation, acting as a form of interference, as if there is little signal in transmitting the animation. This i feel fits well with my additional word/ animation theme of 'Mechanical', as this 'White Noise' conveys a metallic/ machine theme that can relate to such 'White Noise'. Therefore, i will aim to utilise this 'White Noise' as an effect that portrays a sense of 'Interference' in my animation.
Once upon a time, California was home to groundbreaking work in
abstract, avant-garde animation. One of the most influential abstract
animators was Oskar Fischinger
(1900–1967), brought to Hollywood by Paramount from Berlin in 1936,
thus becoming the direct link from the European avant-garde film
movement to West Coast experimental filmmaking. Fischinger’s animated
films were quite successful in Europe in the 1930s, screening in
first-run theatres worldwide.
The first program, “Optical Poetry: An Oskar Fischinger Retrospective,”
includes his famous European work and films made in Hollywood. His
films influenced generations of filmmakers, animators, and artists and
we’ll see some of their work in the second program.
I have chosen to utilise this example in my research as it is a classic and simple example to how animation can compliment the music used in that animation. The use of complimentary movement and motion in sync with the beat and rhythm of the piece of music is inspiring for me. I wish to utilize this within my project, effectively creating a sync between animation and my Gantz Graf music track
In response to the sound and music within my allocated track 'Grantz Graf', i have selected 3 emotionally responsive words that i feel best suit and compliment the track.
ABSTRACT
STATIC
MECHANICAL
These three words have been selected from my previous 'Personal Word Response
Post', and are the 3 words that i feel are most complimentary to the
music track. These words are as a result from an emotional response, by
which i visualized in my head after downloading and listening to the
track. There is a sense of chaos, which makes me think of 'Abstract'
forms twisting, expanding and contracting. In addition, there is a great
deal of metallic sounds complimented by electrical/ static noises
which sporadically burst into life.
Therefore, i wish to continue my research and develop my project around these three words, in order to establish a personalized visual interpretive form of animation in response to this track.
For this workshop we learned as a class on the basics of narratives and stories for generating a storyboard, which we would later generate for our project animation. Therefore, we were given a range of visual symbols in which we could manipulate into figures or forms that would form a story and narrative. As you can see from this image, we manipulate the symbol at the top right-hand side of the page into a mountain range, presented at the bottom of the page, effectively setting the scene for our story.
We now manipulate an icon that consists of a number of squares to appear as a family of squares, conveyed as the large squares as the parents with the small squares as the children. We utilize the largest square to represent a house that the family will aim get to as they cross the mountain range from one end of the page to the other. As you can see, this drawing above illustrates the design and idea process behind the narrative and story.
using this idea, we use 12 post-it notes to create a 12 frame per second illustration and timeline to break down the idea over 12 seconds, establishing points at which key events occur, establishing and illustrating the movement of the family of squares as they move over the mountain range. This timeline is used to plan out our story board, in which we constructed after this, literally copying these post-it notes onto the story board with each slide/ caption representing a second in the animation/ story and narrative.
each member of our 6 person group were allocated to animate and create illustrations for 2 seconds of the 12 second animation. Because of the fact that each second of animation in the UK consists of 12 frames, we have to construct animation on 12 pages for each second, therefore i have to illustrate animation on 24 pages to make up 2 seconds of our animation of the family of squares. With everyone generating 24 pages each (i.e. 2 seconds), once we combine everyone's 2 second animation we will be able to have an effective 12 second animation consisting of 144 pages/ frames of the square family's adventure to get to their house.
Here is a video called Abstract Dubstep, i have chosen to research this as inspiration as there are elements in this video that i wish to incorporate within my own animation piece for my Print To Pixel project. I admire the abstract theme portrayed in this video, as i feel this theme would highly compliment the chaotic sounds within my allocate music Gantz Graf. Particularly within the sharp shapes i find effective, emphasizing and enhancing the effect of the track as these shapes expand and contract erratically to the rhythm of the music, establishing an effective sequence. I wish to integrate similar shapes and movements portrayed within this video, into my animated design as i intend to portay a metallic effect in my illustrations/ animations, as i feel such movements will compliment and suitably enhance the 'Static' sounds within my chaotic allocated track Gantz Graf.
I have chosen to research another video from Youtube, looking at sharp, metallic abstract animation as the basis of the elements that make up my anaimation. i particualy admire the way in which the video incorporates twisting abstract motions as the music changes to a 'Static Interference'. This may be an aspect i may consider in my animation as there is a large proportion of my allocated track consisting of 'Static'' noise, therefore this twisting style of abstrast animation may be an element that i could incorporate in my representational responsive animation for the allocated music piece, Gantz Graf.
Here is the official video to my allocated song. As you can see, there are significant similarities between some of the words in which i responded with in my previous research, and the visual representative elements presented in this official music video. There is a correlation between these in the words such as:
Sharp
Electric
Machanic
Futuristic
Transforation
Energy
Static
Abstract
Metalic
Distorted Progression
An Uncontrollable Build Up
Even the colours i visualised from listening to the track appear in this video, consisting of 'Matalic' colours of 'Grey', 'Black'. With the addition of 'Electric Blue' and 'Blood Red'. In addition, i visualized movement of linear details and sharp shapes, this in which was portrayed in the video also.
I believe i will utilize aspects and elements in this official music video into my own 20-30 representative animation for this music piece with utilizing the elements of 'Transformation' and 'Expansion', however i feel i will consider a personal touch of illustration into my animation using After Effects to create motion, and consider utilizing photographs of actual 'Metallic Plates' or 'Objects' in the form of 'Stop Motion'. This would allow me to create a more personalized interpretation of this music piece and more of a original interpretation of this video.
If i am to select a specific 20-30 second segment from my allocated music piece, i decided it would be wise to construct a timeline for the song, showing different events in the song, in relation to suspense and intensity. As you can see i have annotated the timeline with key events and have illustrated some of the images in my head as a visual response to the piece.
After conducting further research, when it comes to the time where i need to construct a story board for my 20-30 second interpretation of my music piece, i will reference this as a key asset in the decision process of the best 20-30 segment in the song to utilize in my project, forming the narrative for my animation.
As You can see i have began to research my music clip by conveying words that come to mind, the feelings i feel, the sounds i can hear, the shapes, colours and movement i can visualize whilst the piece of music is being played. This by which allows me to think about the three words in which i intend to explore in relation to my piece of music, for my Print To Pixel project. Therefore i will examine the responsive words, attempting to identify three key words which best suit and relate to the piece of music that i have been allocated.
My allocated piece of music consists of the track Grantz Graf, by Autechre. Here is a video in which shows you the music clip, by which i will aim to respond to, generating imagery using a range of techniques that encompass both digital and analogue creative processes, used to visualize 3 words i must choose as an emotional response to my music.
The project consists of genereating a 20-30 second piece of animation visualising these chosen words, and thsu visually relating to this music piece. This final outcome will be developed using software such as Photoshop and After Effects.
