Animation for Univercity Of Portsmouth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vSGyxxBBkM

This is the documentary the University of Portsmouth made. Ex-student of the media department of Crawley College Ian Heartfield was part of this documentary and needed a stop motion sequence and contacted me for the opportunity. When I watch the film I noticed they used my stop motion sequence for the opening title. I was so happy to get such an opportunity and thought I would share what it was I did.

How I add lip syncing with movements

 Firstly Iv record the audio and go through the audio on a video editor so I can listen to when someones mouth is open when talking. I write down how many frames the mouth is open per word and how long the mouth is shut between each word. During the recording this helps me to know what the limit of frames I can take and what actions to do and when.

When I have finished taking each frame I draw the mouth pieces in on each character, I used to use Microsoft Paint but I recently editing all frames more efficient in Photoshop and putting them together into film, I used to use MonkeyJam but Photoshop can handle it much better.

What is animation?

What is animation?

In 1892 Emil Reynaud opened his Theatre Optique in France, Paris. He invented the Praxinoscope which created the archetype of animation.

http://animation.filmtv.ucla.edu/NewSite/WebPages/Histories.html

An inanimate object is moved for every frame to create the movement you see in animation.

Animation can be done on a computer through digital technology. You can use all sorts of software to create the images.

What are the different types of animation?

Stop frame - When a camera is stopped per frame to adjust the object in frame.
http://www.stopmotionpro.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=161..

Digital animation – Using computers and software on them to create animated objects.

http://www.falmouth.ac.uk/201/courses-7/undergraduate-courses-42/digital-animation-bahons-degree-545.html

Drawn animation - Drawing an image on each frame, but moving the drawing in the way you want your object to move frame by frame.

3D animation - Using computer generated shapes, polygons are used to create the 3D objects needed for your moving image.

How does animation work?

Concept of frames - A frame is each image in an animation to create the film when put together.

Differences between frames - Each frame will be different to create movement when the film is made. The object in a frame is moved for the next frame.

Digitisation - This is when any piece made is put or made on a computer.

Why is frame rate important in animation?

Human eye - Persistence of vision – When many frames of images are being shown at a fast rate your mind doesn’t have time to separate them, creating smooth movement of all the different images of a moving object.

What happens if too slow? – You will see each image and the sudden movements created and the animation become less smooth and jittery looking.

My animation

This is the animation I have been working on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITXPMEzpoVM&feature=plcp

Editing my clay model pictures

I edited my pictures in MS Paint to put mouths on the models for when they are speaking. I used MonkeyJam to push 24 frames a second together, to make them into video:

I then got all the footage and lined up the audio and put the videos in order:

Then saved it as one video.

Building a clay model

With my models I didn't make the appendages seperatly, I moulded them as one piece. Moulding them as one piece comes in handy when animating, its less of a risk for the model to fall apart.

Firstly, I soften up the clay my squeezing in again and again untill it is soft enough to mold. I pinch the top to create the head and the same for the arms and legs. Next thing I do is roll out the arms and legs then smooth out the whole body. I place a square piece of white card or paper in the mouth area so I can edit in the mouth later on the computer.

Here are some pictures of the process:

Taking Pictures of my clay model

In this part I set up my backgroud and my model. I then set up my camera I began taking pictures of my clay model. Each time I took a pictures I moved the clay model just a little bit, so when all the pictures are put together in a film, it would appear the clay model is moving. This is called persistence of vision.