Materials
PHOTOS:
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The pros of using photos in a stop motion animation are that it is easy to tell the story as you are able to use real people/objects. For example in the bottom example for the camera advert we are able to see how the camera works etc as it is a clear image yet it is still an effective animation. Photos would mainly work for an advert as in an advert you need to be able to understand the full extent of the product.
PAPER
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Paper is a good material when it comes to stop motion animation. It is a malleable substance therefore you can create pretty much anything using paper. Post-it notes for example would be a good choice of paper as you can stick them to any surface. You are not limited with how much you can use either. Paper would be good for most genres of animation however predominantly advertising.
CHALK:
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The benefits to using chalk in a stop motion animation is that it gives you the freedom to do whatever idea you want. As you have to draw the characters etc. it gives the opportunity to make it as varied as possible. With chalk there are little restrictions as long as you can draw whatever you are trying to portray. I feel chalk would work well for a music video as in music videos you have the opportunity to make something as random as possible and as there are barely any limitations with chalk I feel this chalk and this genre go hand in hand.
Stop Motion Practice - Blu Tac
PIONEERS OF ANIMATION
Joseph Plataeu
Joseph Plataeu (1801-1883) was the first person to create the illusion of a moving image. This process was very delicate as it required multiple drawings on individual disks which would then rotate at a speed that gives of the impression of a moving image. He named the device a "phenakistoscope". It worked by having two discs mounted on the same axis. The first disc had slots at equal distances, with the other disk having the drawn on images. When the device was spun and viewed through a mirror it gave the impression of a moving image.
This is a compilation of some of Joseph Plateau's work. Due to the time this was created (1800's) there was an obvious lack of knowledge due to some of the animals used to represent the desert are not accurate, E.G the zebra with a tiger pattern. This was the start to Edward Muybridge's latter work. This device used the 'persistence of vision' theory. This explains how the images flow to create a moving image despite the fact they are still images. The human eye keeps hold of an image for a fraction of a second. Therefore when the new image appears we are still seeing the previous image as well., therefore creating a "subtle blend" between the images. Due to the rapid concession of these images we don't see the images change, we see them as one moving image.
William Horner
Based on Plateau's phenakistoscope, William George Horner invented what we know as the Zoetrope. This idea eradicated the mirror and could be viewed by multiple people. This idea was formed in the shape of a drum. The pictures were placed on the inside of the drum with the slits on the outside. This drum was able to rotate therefore giving this illusion.
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Pixar designed a modern day zoetrope in order to explain early cinema.
Emile Reynaud
Charles-Emile Reynaud (1844-1918) designed the Praxinoscope. This idea was an adaption on the Zoetrope, it involved a drum style it improved on the zoetrope by removing the slits and having an inner drum lined with mirrors. This allowed the images to be reflected onto the mirrors. The zoetrope experienced a loss of luminosity which the praxinoscope was able to avoid due to the mirrors. Therefore creating perfect animation. Reynaldo wanted to improve on this idea even more and designed a way for these images to be projected. This is the first time images were played to an audience for entertainment, cinema as we know today. He used transparent paper for the drawing rather than opaque paper, this then allowed light to shine through the images. This light was reflected by the mirrors and projected onto a screen through a lens. 1872 is when Reynaud decided to take this idea to the next level and showcase his work as entertainment to an audience.
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Theatre Optique was the name of Reyanud's moving picture show which he developed in 1888. This allowed members of the public to view his animations. The video on the left gives an insight into how the device works in terms of the lighting. The video on the right is 'Pauvre Pierrot'. This was the first animation ever made and consists of 500 painted images.
Edward Muybridge
Edward Muybridge (1839-1904) was an English photographer. He became famous after he took pictures of the Yosemite Valley. After this he was then known for his creation of the Zoopraxiscope. This device (similar to Reyanaud's praxinoscope) projected still images at fast succession to give the illusion of movement. Glass disks were used instead of transparent paper. The images were painted on as silhouettes however in 1892 this was adapted. The outline of the images was printed onto the glass, to then get coloured in by hand.
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This 'horse in motion' sequence was Muybridge's first film, made in 1886. This all began when Muybridge was asked to photograph horses in motion to prove that all four hooves simultaneously leave the floor when a horse is running. He then turned this into a moving image. Following this film he made a variety of 'objects in motion'.
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison, known for his creation of the lightbulb, invented a device where it enabled individuals to view motion pictures through a peep hole. He named this the 'Kinetoscope'. It worked by a strip of film was passed between a lens at a fast paced (creating illusion of movement through persistence of vision theory), an electric lightbulb was used to view the motion picture. Viewers would look through a small hole allowing them to individually view the images. He used a very thin slit to cover the peephole acting as a shutter. This is where persistence of vision comes in.
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The clip on the left showcase's Thomas Edison's work with the Kinetoscope. The first film, named 'The Kiss' was made in 1896. This film was one of the first films viewed by the public for entertainment value, similarly to Emile Reynaud. The Kiss was the first motion picture to show any form of serious affection on screen. It shows the first public kiss as well as scenes of a couple who are positioned incredibly close to one another. Some people had a negative view on this, it is stated one critic wrote "The spectacle of the prolonged pasturing on each other's lips was beastly enough in life size on the stage but magnified to gargantuan proportions and repeated three times over it is absolutely disgusting." However after this other producers were doing the same.
Lumiere Brothers
These two brothers, Auguste Lumiere & Louis Lumiere were credited as the best film makers in history. They shot their first film in 1894 and is described as the first 'real' motion picture ever to be created. It was called "Sortie de l'usine Lumière de Lyon".
This title translates to "Workers leaving the Lumber factory", it simply involves workers leaving their factory at the end of the day. It was all shot on one camera and lasts 46 seconds. The brothers patented a device called 'cinematograph'. Thomas Edison had this same opportunity but turned it down. This device is a film camera, which also has the ability to project films.
Contemporary Animators
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Task 4a
Original Brief
After being given a brief the important points to look out for in the first brief are:
- aimed at 14-16 year olds
- focus on the dangers of drink and drugs within the Reading/Henley area
- 2 minutes 26 seconds in length
- include: info on 4 different types of drugs: interviews on people who have used these drugs: expert analysis on the effects of these drugs: statistics showing death rate: statistics on how many users there are
- completed by 2nd of November, aired on 2nd December
The second brief is a lot less informative:
- 14-16 year olds
- focus on the dangers of drink and drugs
- Channel 4 7pm every night for one week
- less than 3 minutes
- completed by 2nd December
Task 1a
- I prefer the second brief as it gives more scope for creativity, it allows you to add more of your own input rather than following a set of questions, despite the fact the questions are all relevant.
- The main differences between the two breifs are that the first brief gives a lot more information on what to include in the TV show. The issue with this is that a lot of students would therefore have incredibly similar shows. This isn't a huge issue however it doesn't allow them to be as creative and put their own ideas in.
- Good: (first brief) - it is descriptive therefore is a good structure for a show. Also it explains what is needed to create a good show.
- Bad: (first brief) - the time limit of 2 minutes 26 seconds is too particular, also it doesn't give as much scope for creativity as a list of things you HAVE to include have been listed
- Good: (second brief) - scope for creativity, allows you to incorporate own ideas. Also a more lenient time frame.
- Bad: (second brief): initial intention might not be met as no idea has been given as to what to include. Also the deadline is the day the show will be aired meaning there is no time for improvement.
5. Both briefs are quite formal with aspects of informal language. For example in the first brief using words such as "drink" to describe the actual term - alcohol. In the first brief it also states that expert knowledge is necessary, this adds formality to the brief/show. In terms of the second brief this is slightly more informal however still shows formal aspects. The fact that the deadline is the day it will be aired shows its informality.
6. In terms of creative scope the second brief gives you more room for this as it isn't as particular with what to include. The first brief tells you what to incorporate therefore you wouldn't really expand much further than what they have already given you. This is because you would want to stick to the brief in order to get it done correctly.
Own Brief
7 Types of Briefs
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