Heads

For our next assignment we are given the theme of "burden" with emphasis on paper cut out animation techniques.
In the process of thinking about "burden", I came to see that the human mind, on more than one occasions, is a burden. And thus in this experiment I try to portray how "heavy" the things in our head can be.

I try to keep the design of the puppet simple and clean so I can concentrate on the movements. There are some weight shifts and tensions that I did not achieve yet.

In my first trial I have set up an over-top camera station at home. There were some technical problems due to my camera quality, equipment and lighting, however I was able to capture a little sad moment from this big-headed puppet.

I later composed the background with the animation in After Effects. I love the clean infinity look of surreal environment and decided to go with geometric straight lines to contrast with the simple circular design of the puppet.

I have also did some other animation test in combination with the last morphing project. 

Square Life

One last experiment for messy assignment one. Again, I am going back to the basics, playing with everyday craft materials: different papers, clay and fabric. This is an only simple animation of random transformation of an unfortunate square from one form to another, the aim is to get the right timing and create character and emotion in geometric shape. I really like the final outcome of clean minimalist look, though in the future I probably will try a more complicated and "finished" product.

As of now this poor square suffers.

Messy and Peachy

This is a revisit to a simpler method of animating, I find that I do not quite get a hang on timing and movement yet, in combination with the ambition in trying to create what's in my vision with materials I'm not familiar with I was quite frustrated.

So here it is, just an uncomplicated personification of peach pits, the only thing to consider is timing and attitude. It's nice to play with an easy to control medium in which help me to get back on track with my playfulness. I was trying to push too far with the medium (glue) that it actually limits my creativity in creating forms and stories, nevertheless I will continue to work with unusual materials, especially the ones that mimics liquid-like quality.

Also this is a tribute to my first year of being a full-fledged animation student on my second year at ECUAD. You can see the link to the video here: https://vimeo.com/50903629

And this is Peachy

 

Messier

Here are some tests for the first assignment.
I have deconstruct my theme about attraction, repulsion and neutral and have come to a decision of using the image of atoms and cells, or those of micro imagery as they are the fundamental foundation of thus said behaviors.

Did it work out?

Of course not, this is only just a first try and I am far from the visual I am going for. My intention is not to create a literal object but more of nucleus forms that express emotion. I find that this actually does not come across and might consider drafting out actual characters.

The material that I have chosen does help in creating that organic cold scientific look. Glue--the shininess and the liquid like quality gives it a strangely organism feel, like it's alive. Though the problem working with this material is the difficulty in controlling the shape as desire, this material is extremely messy to work with.

Additionally, I did try other mediums as well such as sand and paper. What I find working with non-character base animation is that timing and attitude need to be consider much more meticulously as movement and not facial appearance is the only thing that communicates the emotion of the scene.

Messy

I have now received my first assignment.

Thematically, I have chosen the nature of human connection that (usually) starts from neutrality, progressing to attraction, possibly turning to repulsion and returning to neutrality again once all emotional turmoil has fades away.

The requirement of this assignment is to choose six or more objects of the same category and morphing one object to another into a transition.

The scenario for transition I have in mind as of now is:

- Starting with two objects side by side each other.

- The two object then notice each other.

- They rush towards one another and fuse to form several beautiful patterns.

- The patterns suddenly turn ugly with accompanying screeching music.

- The two objects then drift apart.

- The music decrease its intensity as the the objects return back to their original position and remain station.

Object in this case may not be an actual object such as a cup, a carrot or a book, I am planning on using materials or photography of different textures and form them into these two characters.

Here are some inspirations: 

Using random images to form animation.

Another of my interest is in playing with elements: water, fire, wood, etc.

Illustrated Experimental

If experimental animation got turned into an illustration, it is probably kind of like the above image. Simply, experimental animation is a topsy turvy mundane living room; it looks unusual and unfamiliar, but under all the unusual lies the basic. The story has been told, and will be told again-there are so much that happens to humanity. Consequently, experimenting is the way to reenact the fleeting emotion of a moment, to tell the story again in new ways that makes the audience feel.  

Greetings

This is a special space for ANIM 323, Emily Carr University of Art + Design and also a personal space in recording the experience of going beyond the comfort zone of the conventional animating methods.