Scene 5 almost complete

This is the final character animation for the final scene. Just add the background, clouds and lightning and it'll be fully completed and ready to go in the final edit.

I don't know what the deal is with the flickery white line on the left hand side - I don't know how to remove it. We can disguise it using the background, though.

DVD slate illustration idea

For our DVD I think we should take reference from this laserdisc cover of the film It's Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, with the protagonist running away from everything that bothers him in the film; the two crazy Brits, the museum patrons, the paper clip, the club-goers, the sports equipment and runners, and the rainclouds.

Scene 5 coloured

Made using the Photoshop animator, so quality isn't good. We'll make it as a high-quality image sequence to use in AE.

Script (For voice recording session)

“HOW TO BE A TRUE 21^ST CENTURY BRITISH CITIZEN”

SCRIPT FOR VOICE RECORDING SESSION

SCENE. INTRODUCTION

Tom, just an average person, walks down the sidewalk minding his own business. Suddenly he is confronted by a voice.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

You there!

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

Are you not enjoying the good life, not reaping the full benefits of the

British lifestyle? Well then follow our short step-by-step guide and you’ll be well on your way to fulfilling one of life’s greatest goals.

SCENE. VISIT AN ART GALLERY

Tom visits an art gallery. He approaches a platform that displays a paperclip. Toms following gesture is one of bewilderment.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

Visit an art gallery and witness the many delightful and thoroughly engaging masterpieces on display.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

Fascinating

SCENE. PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS

Tom now finds himself in a sports field awaiting the next challenge. Suddenly he is bombarded with sports equipment and flattened by some very physical Rugby players.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

Being a British citizen means that you must participate in a British sport. Field Hockey, Football, Cricket or Rugby. You see? Now you have proved yourself to be a real man.

SCENE. CLUBBING

Following up on some good advice Tom Decides to visit a nightclub. Unfortunately for him he is so far behind in social trends that it isn’t long before he comes to the realisation that he is painfully out of place.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

A favourite pastime of the British citizen is clubbing. Expressing yourself

and demonstrating your classy taste in fashion is sure to draw an

admiring audience to your attention

SCENE. SHOW YOUR PATRIOTISM

Tom displays his patriotism in a very uncomfortable and distressed manner by waving a miniature Union Jack flag. As soon as some traditional British weather kicks with thunder and rain, unable to tolerate any more so called British trends he pulls out some of his hair and lets out a yell of desperation. Within a matter of moments he is conveniently cut off camera.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

And remember folks, a waving of good old glory every ten minutes, each day is guaranteed to put you up there among Britain’s proudest patriots and really lift your spirits. Now, don’t you feel just splendid for truly living, for truly being British? Of course you do.

END

Animation completion!

Hello Everyone!

By Monday 28th everybody should have their designated scene fully animated, so that we may start the digital colouring process.  We have approximately 18 days to until easter to colour and polish the animation, so we must crack on!

The beginning of sound production will commence on Monday also, I shall try and book the sound room.


Thanks guys and girls

Johnny

Research - Rhapsody in Blue

I think this skit from Fantasia 2000 is good for research. It has no voices or narration, but the backgrounds and colour scheme is relevant. Giving characters unusual skin colours is an interesting design choice, as it can give a stylized look as well as making characters stand out more or stand out less.

Quick sketch of the framework for the character

The Animation

For 1 minute 20 worth of animation, 960 frames have to be produced. 

We have 34 days before easter, to finish it.

This equates to 28 drawn frames a day which also need to be coloured by digital means i.e Photoshop

The production of the Animation will begin tomorrow at 10 am, everyone should be in GO1.

Thank you team!

Final Character design

We will be using the character design on the right, a character turnaround will be uploaded also.


Everyone must practice drawing this character tonight!

some background research - Beth

As you can see from these background examples, limited animation often uses very stylized or abstract representations of background features.

Background cycling is another technique to reduce the amount of background painting that needs to be prepared. In traditional full animation, a character running through a forest would run down a path that twists and turns, discovering a different part of the forest with each new frame. With limited animation and background cycling, however, the character would typically run straight left to right (or right to left), in profile, against a flat background of the same dozen trees cycling over and over.

In limited animation, backrounds are flat, and all background objects pan at the same rate. Scenes that show sun, moon or clouds in the sky or distant mountains, are almost never panned.

Forest - Rocky and Bullwinkle - Fractured Fairy Tales

Forest - Rocky and Bullwinkle - Fractured Fairy Tales

Forest - Rocky and Bullwinkle - Fractured Fairy Tales

Castle Interior - Rocky and Bullwinkle - Peabody's Improbable History

Final Animatic

The animatic in it's entirety, script and events are subject to change and voice actor is placeholder

Limited Animation Research - Beth

http://www.fiziwig.com/anim/index15.php

In limited animation characters very often sit or stand side by side in front of some static backdrop, each presenting a 3/4 view to the camera. The characters seldom directly face the camera, nor do they often face each other. Almost never will a character perform any kind of 3-dimensional motion, such as walking in circles, or doing a ballroom dance. Walking motion is almost always side to side in profile, and seldom directly toward or away from the camera.

Head and body turns in limited animation are brief and usually animated with no more than 3 to 5 frames between the extremes. Often, such a character turn involves only the head, with the body remaining in full frontal view. Here is an example from Rocky and Bullwinkle that uses 3 intermediate frames in addition to the two extreme views. Below that is a more extreme example of a fast 180 turn with only one intermediate frame.

Walk cycles in limited animation can vary from full walk cycles similar to traditional animation, to little more than three frames of feet flapping around as the character image is dragged across the background image. Here is a typical 3-frame walk cycle from Peabody's Improbable History. Notice that the pants are black and there is no way to tell which is the right leg and which is the left. That way the same three frames can be cycled endlessly with no need to have separate half-cycles for left and right legs. In addition, this walk cycle is filmed on twos so that these three frames actually occupy six frames worth of time. I'll explore limited animation walk and run cycles in greater detail in a future tutorial.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6193603.stm

If you look at many of Hanna-Barbera's most popular characters - Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear and Scooby Doo - you will see that they wear a necktie or have a prominent collar.

This meant that the body could remain static when the character was speaking, and the artists would only have to re-draw the character's face in each frame.

New ending story boards

Some research for you

Felix here. Here's some research from me that may give you a rough idea on pacing, music, design and animation.

Chuck Jones' The Dover Boys, made in 1942. Have a look at the backgrounds, character designs and animation loops and listen to the music and narration. It's more American than British, but I think this will be quite an asset that'll be good to mention.

Terry Gilliam's International Chinese Communist Conspiracy, made in 1970 as a sketch on Monty Python's Flying Circus. In this case it's more about the narration than anything else - notice the rapid delivery of lines as well as the rhythm and pacing.

Calculation

Hey everyone!

just to let you know that I made a brief calculation of how much work we would have to complete approximately if we were to start animating on Monday. If we stick to this plan we will finish the animation just in time for easter holidays :D it's manageable team, so don't get disheartened :)

Lewis estimated the animation to be around 1.20, this equates to 2000 frames, that means 2000 frames to draw and colour in 37 days (quite daunting at the moment but when we divide the work . . . . . . you will feel alot better!) 

We will have to draw and colour 54 frames a day - if we split the animating beween 2 people, that will mean 27 drawings each.  Then, we can have two others in the team colouring as the frames are produced.

What do you think?

Character & Background by Manjit

Content
On this page I shall be posting up research, ideas, designs that I have done as an individual.

Research
-Character desgins(for the third time)
I have selected some character styles which i found suitable for the critera, Vintage, simple, stylised.

-Background/Layout design

 

 

Character Designs
Here are my character designs for the Informercial, keeping to a more classic looking character..which all seem to be staring at something that seems quite.....bewildering.

Script (Draft)

Ok, this is my first attempt at the scprit. In it are all of the scenes that we are thinking of using plus some that we might not (a few more could also still be added). I've tried to make the dialougue as effective as i can. If any one has any suggestions for improvement or any worries please tell me and i'll try and re-work it.

DRAFT

“HOW TO BE A TRUE 21^ST CENTURY BRITISH CITIZEN”

FADE IN:

INT. CITY SIDEWALK

Tom, just an average person, walks down the sidewalk minding his own business. Suddenly he is confronted by a voice.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

You there!

In a gesture of surprise and confusion, Tom hesitantly points towards himself wondering if it is his attention this voice wants.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

Are you not enjoying the good life, not reaping the full benefits of the

British lifestyle? Well then follow our short step-by-step guide and you’ll be well on your way to fulfilling one of life’s greatest goals.

Without warning, Tom finds himself forced into the star role of an infomercial. Out of nowhere, an overly enthusiastic and patriotic co-actor with a beaming grin jumps out from the right to meet Tom, all to his shock and surprise. Then another co-actor equally does the same but coming from the left side.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

TITLES:

VISIT AN ART GALLERY

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. ART GALLERY

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

Visit an art gallery and witness the many delightful and thoroughly engaging masterpieces on display.

Tom visits an art gallery. He approaches a platform that displays a paperclip. Toms following gesture is one of bewilderment.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

Fascinating

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

TITLES:

PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. SPORTS FIELD

Tom now finds himself in a sports field awaiting the next challenge. Suddenly he is bombarded with sports equipment and flattened by some very physical Rugby players.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

Being a British citizen means that you must participate in a British sport. Field Hockey, Football, Cricket or Rugby. You see? Now you have proved yourself to be a real man.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

TITLES:

HELPING THE LESS FORTUNATE

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. STREETS

Tom takes the time to tend to the needs of a homeless person by offering him some change. However this homeless person is just providing a distraction as another creeps up behind Tom and steals his wallet. The two were obviously working as a together.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

Homelessness is becoming one of the biggest problems in Britain. A true British citizen and good sport must take time out to help the needy, bust must also be cautious of those devilish swindlers.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

TITLES:

USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. ROAD

Tom has just boarded a bus at 11:40 PM which is on its routine journey to the city centre. Tom walks down the isle and takes a seat. With it being late at night there appears to be some strange characters on the bus. For a short period the seat next to tom is vacant but a grubby looking woman soon makes her way down and eventually takes the seat. To Toms disgust, this woman has terrible flu and is coughing and sneezing without a care for Toms well being.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

As a British citizen it is advised that you make use of one of Britain’s finest

and most reliable  transportation services.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

TITLES:

THE BRITISH FOOD OF CHOICE

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. CITY SIDEWALK

After an evening at the local bar, Tom makes his way to a kebab wagon in the street to purchase some food. The food salesman at the wagon is clearly in an unhygienic state but its business as usual for him.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

After a night on the razz, why not treat yourself to an elegant dish from one of Britain’s finest establishments.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

TITLES:

SHOW YOU PATRIOTISM

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT.PARK

Tom displays his patriotism in a very uncomfortable and distressed manner by waving a miniature Union Jack flag. As soon as some traditional British weather kicks with thunder and rain, unable to tolerate any more so called British trends he pulls out some of his hair and lets out a yell of desperation. Within a matter of moments he is conveniently cut off camera.

INFOMERCIAL NARRATOR

And remember folks, a waving of good old glory every ten minutes, each day is guaranteed to put you up there among Britain’s proudest patriots and really lift your spirits. Now, don’t you feel just splendid for truly living, for truly being British? Of course you do.

END

The last few Animatics

Or at least the most I could complete within the deadline. The ending punchline was improv, we may find a better punchline to put in the final.

Clubbing animatic

Football Supporter animatic

Ending Animatic