Flash! I Get it!

Hurrah I get Flash animation :) I can do it :D

I've redone my character from Knights of Carrotlot, and now he's fully nested and ready to animate. Have also finished the background movement and the animatic.

Almost finished the lot :)

Flash Background

At the moment I'm working on designing the background sequence for the my Flash project. I didnt think i would like Flash, but once u get into it u can really c its potential. It's slow going lately as I'm trying to become familiar with the program and be creative and innovative at the same time. But i think that I have created some interesting characters and placed them in a fun and engaging context.....time will tell i guess.

Im also working on panning and zooming through the background to create the illusion of movement.

Next step is to rejig the imbedded character that I created (and accidentally) posed in a front on position (oh no!!)- perhaps cos i was concentrating too much on getting things right with symbols than the basics of animation (always use 3/4 pose!!). Will post that when its done and will also include the finished pieces. Time to get Flashing! (hehehe)

Knights of Carrotlot

More photos from my latest Flash assignment. This one is a height comparision chart- also note the change (streamlined) in the Knight character in preparation for the conversion to symbols in Flash.

The names of characters are significant: Baledin is Latin for 'strong and brave.' Lapin is French for Rabbit and Veneficus is Latin for Magic.

A Flash Adventure

Have moved on from experimental 2D animation to perhaps the most 'popular,' Flash. I'm slowly learning the benefits and pitfalls of this style of animation. One of the biggest challenges for me is to streamline my character concept designs to ensure that they are 'Flash ready.' Its almost a streamlining of their look, something which will benefit me greatly across all genres of animation. I'm trying to move beyond an 'over illustrative' look in my characters.

For this next assignment Im going anthropomorphic with the use of cute little, armour wearing, weapon carrying Bunnies from the Medieval world of Carrotlot.

Finished!

Here's a low res version for ur enjoyment :)

Almost Done

Since last I blogged.....have let the project direct the outcome of the animation, it has been a real challenge to be flexible, but the narrative has really developed and I think is complimented by the method. Sometimes the paint and the way it created a particular pattern or shape dictated the narrative.

Essentially the story is similar to the original idea- it follows a single protagonist on a struggle symbolically represented through the metaphor of a tree and a fall through space and or time. A second character was added at the end of the piece to add a sense of hope to the situation, the idea of being saved and redemption- though not in a religious sense.





The dog motif was turfed, it just didnt translate well in the medium. I also added a paint in 'negative' section as two hands meet across the screen, this was achieved through the process of drying the paint and then scratching back into it on the glass. Similar in style to that of Leaf's work in 'Two Sisters.'



In post production I've also been experimenting with the addition of royalty free images to add to the erratic and unsettling nature of the fall sequence in the piece. Next post will include the finished result.

Crisis Point

The day started out full of promise, hit a wall of false starts, sagged to a low point of frustration at about 5pm and then ended with a sense of achievement at the close. Yep, shoot day. Well kind of....

Set up the area, experimented with colour choice and the integration of paint retarder to keep the paint from drying and then started to snap away.



Unfortunately, in an effort to keep the paint moving I felt that it was best for me to become more and more animated and in casually flicking paint here and there i ended up with something the resembled a three page flip book. I also encountered problems with the camera and after a few test runs discovered that i had the white balance attuned to the surface in front of the camera- which was of course the light box with fluro lights switched on, this in turn created an over yellowing effect in certain frames.




This just wouldnt do at all...! So after a few more experiments, a little bit of tinkering with the storyline and some TLC support from my film crew, I finished the day with a section of the film complete. I am currently readjusting the overexposed nature of the scene and have fixed this for the final release of the short.






I now understand why paint on glass animation is an alternative technique, its time consuming and the lack of key frames leaves a huge margin for errors, which means retakes which equals money and time wasted in a commercial sense. This does not mean that Im not enjoying the process and the one commercial fault, is the aspect that i have enjoyed the most- the organic quality of the work. I have a basic idea of where the story will take me but sometimes a certain flick of paint or an accidental line of action will take the plot in another direction; which is all ok with me.

I've also had a few more ideas about developing the story further but i'l save that for another post. I'm hoping to intergrate a different medium, possibly two mediums to create an effect that should place the viewer in the POV of the nameless protagonist.

Music Chosen

New month and another small step towards the completion of my alternative animation project. I've selected my music for the piece which will be entitled, "Blue."

The royalty free music is by musician, Kevin Macloud, find it here DD Groove

In keeping with my overall theme for the under camera animation, I'm going to use the title, "Blue" and utilise a palatte of blues from the darkest midnight to a sky blue. This will also combat the problem many artists have with the paint becoming muddy in colour. I'm hoping that each blue hue will build upon the next to create a holistic vision of the story that is complimentary and easy to 'read.'

Stay tuned.