Using 'I can animate' 

Now I have decided a route I thought it was time to get animating, I used the studio facilities and used the software 'I can animate' This was a good session as I got to know the software. I used play doh to create an animation in which planets are floating in space and then they collide create abstract shapes and different forms with all of the different colours, they then split off at the end to create three solid forms once again.

I like this animation that i created but it still needs tweaking and I am going to continue experimenting. 

As a first attempt on the actual software I do like this animation, however it looks very am-mature in some parts which sometimes looks quite make-shift. 

I am now going to play around with the frames to see what other compositions I can create. 

Feedback.

56% for my storyboard was efficient, I was pleased with my result but after the feedback I received I realised I needed to give it all a much more thorough thought. I needed to be:

REALISTIC

I am no expert at animation, I am no expert at using the software,  I am the opposite, after a few workshops I have come to the conclusion animation is not my strong point so I need to drop the technical After Effects ideas and perhaps stick to a technique that is more playful. After all less is more sometimes. I also need to be more:

INNOVATIVE

After the circumstances at the beginning of the module, what with me missing the first week and then not understanding the brief, I felt I'd rushed my storyboard. Id racked my brains trying to think of some amazingly deep concept when in actual fact I could literally just be more abstract and innovative and let the music lead my animation.

I also need to remember to enjoy this module and answer the brief by responding in my own unique way. So sticking to my abstract space theme, and looking at abstract shapes and collision to the soundtrack I am going to look at using Stock Motion but using clay or hand drawn media instead. This could tone the seriousness of the track down quite a bit, and make the eeriness much more playful. 

Here are some examples I have found, however I am aiming for a less humorous response and using the play dough shapes to create different abstractions. 

Final Story Board

 

 

Looking at abstract shapes

These short 30 second animations are exactly what I am aiming to creating, particularly the top one, it reminds me of my concept.

These are some small sketches using ink and water of abstract shapes and compositions. I think I am going to focus on the shape of a triangle as it looks very much like shards of glass. 

Concept

 

I want the story to be about a meteorite colliding into a beautiful abstract planet, At the beginning it shows the abstract planet sitting in the atmosphere. The ghostly way the sound track starts will suit the image well. To then be followed by this meteorite crashing towards the planet and the explosion of shapes. The music will stay on the intro, the eerie, ghostlike noises which will show the abstract shapes blurring through the screen.

 

 

 

Some images iv found on the internet, I like the way the abstract shapes look like they've been created using inks and other medias. Apart from the colours I want to create shapes like these for my animation by experimenting with medias and materials.

 

 

 

Change of plan... 

My original three emotive words were:

 Sinister

Soothing

Tranquil 

But instead after some more research I have decided to use:

Empty

Ghostly 

Soothing

After more research I started looking at science animations about space and planets and the artwork in them was really nice. My soundtrack would suit space well, the ghostlike journey that the wagon seems to be taking and the emptyness throughout the track.

This is an example, I found this on youtube and I really like it. Although my artwork would be more more handmade and abstract.

Some examples.

Stock Motion

I want my animation to be created using stock motion, I want it to be a series of abstract shapes.

MUTO

This is one of my favourite pieces of animation to music, its ambiguous and some bits are quite unusual creating monstrous creatures. The music follows the story of it completely. I am also looking into creating a very abstract animation using patterns and shapes. 

Three Words 

The track is an interesting collection of sounds with a distinct sound of a wagon or train on its tracks. I found this sound really quite eerie, whether that was the intention I am not sure however my emotion when listening to it was that it was almost a sound building up to some sinister ending. I used the word soothing because although it is sinister it also has an element of peacefulness. The sounds used together compliment each other and with no huge climax to the piece it carries on at a steady pace creating quite a relaxing atmosphere. However the words sinister and soothing contradict each other but I think this describes the piece well, its a contradiction in emotions. The word tranquil just elaborates on the soothing element. 

 

Looking at animations I came across Les Triplettes De Belleville, a French animation that uses music and sound more than dialogue to tell the story. This scene in particular is about a woman who goes on a journey to find her lost son and is under a bridge. The sounds of things in the background are barges and ships and boats but the focus is about her feeling quite alone. This reminded of my sound track, the wagon in the distance is similar to this scene.