I feel like I am cheating when I use rotoscoping. However, this style is very realistic and may be something I want to work towards as a visual aesthetic for my final project. Although, I need to work on the character’s intent – what’s their motive or reasonings behind their movements? I enjoyed rotoscoping as it gives me the detail I want but I need to match that with the essence of a character.
Below is a video about rotoscoping and the origins of it. I found it quite interesting to see how reference videos were used.
Youtube.com. 2019. The trick that made animation realistic. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS1hCSsmH1E> My first attempt at Rotoscoping, TVPaint 24 FPSAll the frames together
Rotoscoping heads, missing one (23)Coloured in Procreate with watercolour texture, 12FPS
Exhibition: ‘Black’ was held at the Cartoon Museum which had recently been moved. It was a very small exhibition but it definitely made an impact. Written by Tobias Taitt and illustrated by Anthony Smith, the autobiographical graphic novel allowed for a different style.
I really enjoyed this exhibition. The Cartoon Museum is quite small, so it was an intimate exhibition within a small room.
‘Celebrating Black History Month, this powerful new exhibition explores the story and world of BLACK – the unflinching but uplifting new graphic memoir by writer Tobias Taitt and cartoonist Anthony Smith.
When Tobias was three, his mother killed his uncle. She was sent to prison, condemning him to spend his early life in a series of bleak institutions across rural England. As a black youth growing up in 1970s Britain, Tobias learned first-hand that the world could be a cold and uncaring place for a child of the state. But he also learned to navigate the system – and eventually to fight back against it.
When Tobias discovered life outside the institutions that held him, so began his involvement with the world of crime. Yet at the same time, a love of literature, with all its possibilities, grew within him.
With words by Tobias and illustrations by Anthony Smith, BLACK tells the uncompromising true story of Tobias’s life. Displaying 24 original pen and ink illustrations and video narration from Tobias, this intimate new exhibition invites visitors to experience a powerful and personal encounter with the art, story and people behind this remarkable graphic novel.‘
Youtube.com. 2021. Anthony Smith at London Cartoon Museum launch of BLACK: The Story of Tobias Taitt graphic novel. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ljaoz07jJY
This exhibition was quite astounding, it showed various worlds that derived from one story: ‘Alice and Wonderland.’ The photos below show just a glimpse of the artwork developed for the multiple media outlets for the story. It was interesting to see how designers, artists and animators depict the main characters of the story. The exhibition was laid out in a theatrical way, the high ceilings and vast space led to a very interactive exhibition, which also included projections and VR. It began with the traditional elements of ‘Alice and Wonderland’, introducing the printing plates for the book. I found this quite intriguing as the words described were also being used in a visual way. The rooms led to a ‘modern’ Alice, the character designs were quite clean and bold using singular bright colours.
Images taken from the ‘Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser’ Exhibition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi-V9tuc2FA
Compilation of videos taken at the ‘Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser’ Exhibition
I really enjoyed the animations in this exhibition. They not only showcased the well known Disney animated feature on a large projection but displayed the artwork behind the film. Installations were included as a path to another room, it was almost like rippled canvas hanging from the ceiling with projected images of illustrations from the original book. Although, this installation was static and not animated – it allowed me to think the way we view information can come into play when planning an animation. The installations in this exhibition enlightened my perspective on how my animated film or animations could possibly be viewed or interactive.
My favourite installation was the animations that were projected onto the table and table cloth. There was a voice over narrative and sound that allowed me to be fully immersed in the installation. It just made me wonder if I could project an interactive animation.
From photography to films posters, the world of the character is so internationally well known that it is open to so much interpretation both artistically and imaginatively. I feel this exhibition really covered the world of ‘Alice and Wonderland’.
‘Joker’ is a very well known character in the DC world. This film is controversially unique from the other depictions of ‘Joker’. Referencing the classic Batman comics, I feel that this film wholly captures a grainy and rough world. Not only is it a film that is focussed on an ‘evil’ character, the arc is believe-able and relatable.
Youtube.com. 2019. Joker. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAGVQLHvwOY>
One of the very first scenes in ‘Joker’ showcases a person who gets physically and emotionally beaten down and there is no rhyme or reason for it. It just happens – not because the character deserves that type of treatment – but simply because the people who hurt – can and want to. It is this type of action at the beginning of the film, that gives the audience an understanding and reasoning to the character’s reactions later on. It is an interesting take on this character, as prior iterations have always depicted the Joker as crazy or pure evil and given the audience no reason as to why.
Screenshot of ‘Joker’ (2019)
The screenshot above is from the very beginning of the film, where the character is innocently playing ‘peek-a-boo’ with a child in front of him on the bus. The camera angles transition from his perspective to the child’s perspective and builds in speed, up until the Mother interrupts as she is not amused by the interaction. Eventually, the main character falls into this continuous and persistent laugh (which is an essential feature to this character) and shows a card to the concerning Mother, stating that it is a condition of his. This interaction was necessary for two reasons: 1. It showcases why this character laughs in a particular way and 2. Although this character has this condition and was open and honest about it to a stranger, their reaction is still not pleasant.
Also in this screenshot, you can see that the character looks full of life, healthy and bright. The colouring of the film transitions as the character does. The initial decline of the character starts from the moment he gets beaten down emotional and physically which is at the start of the film. This film really showcases how someone can be so dangerously harmed and affected by others treatment. I believe that is very relatable, because it takes a lot of strength for someone to understand that how they are being treated is not a reflection of who they are.
Youtube.com. 2019. How about another joke, Murray?. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbliHNs4q14>
The way the above scene is shot allows for the audience to feel the room. Most of the shots were from the host’s perspective where the main character is looking over his shoulder. The sound in this scene is particularly important as there is no music through the main character’s monologue but when the intense moments begin, the music starts.
Youtube.com. 2021. LOUISE. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GjJef2QkQU>
I came across this film on Youtube and honestly didn’t expect the ending. I think modern animation is becoming more truthful and realistic. This was a short snippet into Louise’s life and the hardships that she has to go through. There was a moment right at the end of the film, where I didn’t fully understand the reference – she was offered a sweet treat but was hesitant at first.
Close ups are meant to intensify a scene and show importance. This short film showcases the details of a dancer and the close ups signify this. However, there are moments of fleeting environments which alludes to the feeling of being backstage.
The moment when Louise is staring at herself in the mirror, fixing herself up – getting ready for what is about to happen. It is to prepare the audience for what she had to go through leading up to the act of hardship.
Youtube.com. 2012. The Maker. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDXOioU_OKM>
‘The Maker’ is such a glorious film – in my opinion – it gives a beautiful story to such an odd character. The premise of this short film is essentially ‘time’ – how do we use the time we have to have the best possible outcome?
Youtube.com. 2014. Behind the Scenes of The Maker. [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KavpG2t6qD8>
I first watched this short film on amazon, I have always been intrigued with stop motion. The character is somewhat endearing yet strikingly unattractive. The audience is stricken with the character’s fish like shiny eyes and misaligned teeth. We question the branding on the forehead and correlate this to instruments belonging to an orchestra.
Youtube.com. 2018. SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE – Official Trailer (HD). [online] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4Hbz2jLxvQ>
Into the Spidervese has to be one of my all time favourite animated films. The fact that the ‘Spider-Man’ character is so well known and has been seen in many different lights, allows for the character to have more depth and reasoning behind their actions.
The mesh of 2D and 3D animation is truly a glorious thing. I was amazed at this film, because I hadn’t seen a clear mesh between 2D and 3D animation before.
Besides the obvious amazing visuals, the storyline was quite refreshing – other than the typical ‘Spiderman’ story. Miles Morales, as a young Spiderman offers a better representation for Spiderman.
This has been quite difficult for me as I don’t tend to gravitate towards drawing animals unless they are static. I have tried a colour blocking technique in the final animation, as I really want to try animating silhouettes.
Rough Cat Run Cycle
Quadruped walks are the bane of animating walk cycles. I understood the way the legs manoeuvre but the direction of feet confused me. Every time I tried to fix the flow of the animation, it didn’t work – I couldn’t quite get the movement right.
Rough Dog Walk CycleFox Walk Cycle
I moved from animal to animal and I still was not able to get the flow of the character on point. I decided to choose a fox for this cycle, as an actual fox has been following me around (Maggie) – I tried to colour block and shaded the back legs. However, the animation still feels a bit janky.
This was my first time trying out TV Paint, and this exercise was a great one to start off with – as I hadn’t done any animation prior to this course. Since, I didn’t have TV Paint at home – I used procreate. Procreate is great for doing small animations, but not animated films.
First Attempt at Bouncy Character
I have done many iterations of the ‘Bouncy Character’. This happens to be my least favourite. I struggled to find a character I really wanted to animate – not to mention – the follow through’s were also a massive struggle.
Ideas for Bouncy Character
I was struggling to think of an idea to push this animation forward, so I decided to sketch out some characters with limbs. Even though I liked the look of these drawings, they reminded me of a very famous character from Monster’s Inc. I also thought that the limbs were a bit complex for my first animation.
Redoing My First Attempt
Basic Bouncy Ball Animation, ProcreateFollow Through RoughFollow Through Clean UpAdding Detail‘Duck Splash’, Procreate‘AAH MY TOAST’, Procreate
I struggled with the mood change walk, I feel it’s something that I wouldn’t realistically put in a short film. I would most likely do a mood change shot from the torso upwards.
I felt that for me, it leaned towards the ‘cartoon’ style of animation – where a particular over-exaggerated movement can somehow relate to a character being happy or depressed (which were the examples given). I had a real conflict between how character’s display emotion in real life as oppose to animation.
