CWC Ident Evaluation

(Although our ident was not uploaded onto YouTube in time, here is my evaluation)

We were given the task of creating a channel ident for our college, City Of Westminster. To begin with, we had to produce some ideas and plans for a channel identity for the college, and after researching the various animation techniques that we could use, such as cut-out, pixilation, object animation, flip book animation and claymation, we decided that clay animation would suit our idea the most.

Emilly and I began the task well, with creating our story board, clay characters and props to a great standard. We set up our webcam by fastening it to a mic stand with sellotape so that it was facing the desk, which would be our idents background as it worked as a blank canvas. However, we then decided to change our camera equipment to using a DSLR, which would overall give our ident a more professional feel due to the high quality of the images.

I believe that Emilly and I worked well as a team to ensure that the task was done as quickly and efficiently. With one of us playing the role of moving the characters and the other being in charge of taking the photo. Once all of the photos were taken, I then uploaded the images onto the computer, leaving Emilly in charge of editing the photos together to make our ident.

In hindsight, there are some things that I think we could have done better. For example, if we had perhaps slowed the pace down slightly, silly mistakes would not have been made. Such as our animation displaying the words 'WCW' instead of 'CWC' for the final scene. Although we were both focused on the ident, it would have also have benefited us and our ident if we did not get so distracted during the process by other things.

Our ident however, was aimed at showing how our college brings a diverse range of communities together to work, and Emilly and I are the epitome of just that message.

Claymation Animation + Critical Evaluation

For our clip, Emilly and I used the infamous stop-motion technique using plasticine figures, known as claymation. This technique shot to fame thanks to a show called 'Morph', which was first shown on British television in 1977 for the BBC. The morph characters often featured in a programme with late illustrator and television presenter Tony Hart for such shows as Vision On, Take Hart and Hart Beat. The morph characters were created by a company called Aardman Animations, who are also well known for creating Wallace and Gromit.

Our short claymation clip begins with only the football being in the camera's point of view. The non-diagetic soundtrack then begins to play and we are introduced to our first morph character (A), who waddles over to wave at the audience. A then notices the football behind him, which causes him to make joyful gestures towards the audience about his new discovery. A walks over to the football and, surprisingly, kicks the ball. This then sends the ball flying into a new area of view, where our next character (B) is already standing. Minding his own business, B notices the ball which has landed right next to him and responds to his discovery just as A did in the previous frame. B picks up the ball and begins to play catch with himself . Whilst he is doing this, A walks into the shot and confronts B about having his ball. After a short squabble and a few pushes and shoves, the ball is knocked onto the floor where the pair race to retrieve it before the other. While racing, B trips up and lands on all fours, where A kindly helps him up. The two then become friends and happily wave goodbye to the audience.

The process to making this clip was relatively simple. Using a Logitech webcam to film the whole video, which was fixed with cellotape onto a prop to achieve the angle we used. The entire clip was created using a programme called iStopMotion, where we would take a photo for each frame we wanted to add to the final clip. The soundtrack was then added onto the final video by using Final Cut Pro.

This was a very enjoyable task, and Emilly and I had a lot of fun making it. Unfortunately, our first attempt at claymation was lost due to technical issues with the computer that we were using. However we were proactive, positive and continued to put our time and effort into producing a highly plausible and animated piece. Filming the animation was probably the most stressful part of the process, as it took a lot of time to create our chosen number of frames per second.

In hindsight, I think that we could have added some more special effects to the clip to increase just how animated the experience could have been. However, overall, I am incredibly happy with the outcome of our claymation animation.

Channel Ident Storyboard

Produce a storyboard for the animation (the storyboard must also show evidence that you have considered movement, frames per second, soundtrack, sound effect, and script it appropriate).

Frames per second
The advert will run at 24 FPS.

Soundtrack.
(There will be no dialogue in the ident).


Special Effects.

- When Character B walks over to the ball: http://youtu.be/-lnfmzXQdQ4
- When character B kicks the ball: http://youtu.be/AxJWvH84kME
- When the pair are spinning (2:00): http://youtu.be/QGYuOqA0pnw
- As the clay begins to fly out of the newly formed ball (00:11-00:13): http://youtu.be/nwDE9gFPThY 

Channel Ident Pitch

For my channel ident based on our college, City Of Westminster, I have decided to use Clay Animation. My reasoning behind this is because I believe that clay appeals to a large audience, and will help entice younger viewers to really engage fully with the ident they are watching as it is a fun way to get a message put across.

The ident will begin by displaying two clay characters, both made from different coloured clay. I chose to do this because I wanted to convey the message that City Of Westminster College helps to bring communities together. Whether that be race, religion or sexual preference.

Character A then notices a football (also made from clay) which has been placed in between the two clay figures. Character A will proceed to walk to the ball, and then kick it over to Character B. The pair will then begin to play and interact with each other.  The pair begin to interact further, and help each other to do tricks with the football. I chose to make the characters do this as it is a relatable and comprehendible way to portray one of the colleges three values: respect.

The two clay characters then join hands and begin to spin around. As they spin faster, this will eventually result in the pair conjoining and becoming one. The characters, now seen as one big ball of clay will then transform into the letters of the college (CWC) in an animated way.

Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is the term given to describe the two minute presentation that must be given to investors to gain interest in your product. Introducing your company quickly and compellingly.

1. Identify your goal
2. Explain what you do
3. Communicate your USP
4. Engage with a question
5. Put it all together
6. Practice, practice, practice.

Five Applications of Animation

1. Television: Morphs / Pingu
2. Motion Pictures - Happy Feet
3. Video Games - Grand Theft Auto
4. Adverts - Coca Cola Annual Christmas Advert 
5. Music Videos - Sweet Like Chocolate - Shanks & Bigfoot

Extensive List of Different Animated TV, Films and Shows

How To Make A Scratch Disk

A scratch disk is an essential thing that has to be made, because it will be the central point of where all of your work will be stored. To set up a scratch disk for when you're using Final Cut Pro, follow these instructions.

Step 1. Go to 'Finder'. Click 'Macintosh HD 2'. Select 'Create a New Folder'.  Rename it 'Scratch Disk'.

Step 2. Open  Final Cut Pro. Select 'Final Cut Pro' from the menu bar. Select 'System Settings'.

Step 3. This menu will appear. Select the first set that you see and then select the folder that you want to save the scratch disk in.

Step 4. Next to 'Waveform Cache', click 'Set' and again select the same folder that you want your scratch disk to be in.Then click 'Set' next to 'Thumbnail Cache' and 'Autosave Vault'.

Once this is done select OK and you will have set up a scratch disk.

Setting Up A Bin

There are three different ways to choose from when you want to set up a bin in Final Cut Pro. 

Option 1. The first is to right click where the clips are and select 'New Bin'.

Option 2. Select 'File', 'New', 'Bin'.

Option 3. Click 'CMD+B' on the keyboard.

<< When you make a new bin it will appear like this. 

Then you are able to rename the bin.

To put folders into the bin you can drag them into the bin.

Making of Morph (Animation)

Green Screen

We had to make a short video using a green screen.

Advantages of using a green screen: 

• You can be anywhere and still create a clip.
• You can make it look like you are in wherever/doing whatever you wish.

Disadvantages of using a green screen:

• It's hard to make it look real
• It's hard to get rid of the green glow
• It's not a quick and easy thing to do and takes a substantial amount of time and effort.

An infamous place where you will find someone using a green screen is the weather forecast. It is also used to help create special effects, for example the removal of someone's body part from a clip. The green screen is a major part of filmmaking nowadays.

Pixilation Animation + Critical Evaluation

Pixilation is the technique used to showcase animation of people, where performers change their positions slightly between exposures of one or two frames each, to obtain a comic effect of jerky movement when the film is projected at normal speed.

The talent stands still while the tape is rolling and moves when the camera is on pause. This creates the effect of a person moving around while not moving his/her feet.

How to make a pixilated video.

Have the talent stand still, start the tape and then press pause after two seconds.

Make the talent move forward about six inches from where they originally were standing whilst still on pause. Then start recording again for two seconds and hit pause.

Continue this routine until this scene is finished.

Edit the clips together et voila!

Cut-Out Animation

Explain the process
Give at least 3 examples (historical and contemporary of cut out animators and there work)
Evaluate your animation
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this technique?

Eadweard Muybridge Experiment

This video is based on the Edward Muybridge moving horse animation by taking pics of a moving object and putting the pics together we create an illusion that the object is moving.The frame rates for this video was 1 picture every 3 seconds.

http://www.malcolmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/hollywood-ej-muybridge-experiment.html

Zoetrope Experiment

A zoetrope is a device, invented by William Horner in 1834 (where it was given the name 'Daedatelum', later to be renamed by French inventor, Pierre Desvignes in 1860) that consists of a cylinder which has slits cut down and around the sides. This keeps pictures from blurring when the zoetrope is spun, so that the rapid images create an illusion of a short motion picture. The faster that the zoetrope is spun, the smoother the quality of the images will be.

Zoetropes play a major role in the creation of the animation we see today, giving the invention huge importance to the history of animation. 

The Phi phenomenon, according to this source, is the illusion that occurs when two lights are rapidly turned on and off in succession. Something appears to move backwards and forwards between them while the lights stay stationary. Phi phenomenon plays a large part in the success of the zoetrope and is a result of human instinct. Our brains try to comprehend the different images that are being spun quickly, striving to create a relationship between them. For example, the metamorphosis of watching an umbrella turn into a mushroom can make sense, slightly. Even though it is not something you would see in real life.

Persistence of Vision is a stroboscopic effect that plays a vital role in making the zoetrope process work. The images you see must be interrupted by moments of darkness in order for the illusion to work.

In class, we had to create our own zoetrope experiments. This started by drawing our own animations on the framed strips of paper. Our first task was to draw a simple ball bouncing up and down.

Annoying Orange Effect

Hard Sell Advert

Hard Sell Advertising - Analysis

What are the key characteristics of hard sell advertising?

• Positive use of wording to make it seem as if the product is a solution to a simple problem
• Both have a spokesperson
• Testimony/Anecdote from a 'client'
• Addresses the audience directly as a piece straight to camera
• Demonstration of product
• 'Science Section'
• Slogan/Repetition
• Light/Humorous tone

Is there any persuasive language being use? 

• Onomatopoeia (eg. Bang, Boom)
• Give it a go!
• Great!
• Favourite
• Sparkles
• Cold Hard Cash
• Gold
• Free/Guaranteed
• Count Cosh
• Money
• Fast
• Secure