Armatures
Similar to the way a human skeleton works, an armature is what is used inside a clay (or other material) sculpture to move it around with more precision. They also keep the sculpture still and in place during imaging, so that no-one is needed to prop/hold it up. As my animation will involve using actors I will not need to use them.
Mindmap
Moodboard
Format research
The format is based off all the ideas above, in that the camera is placed high up with the floor becoming the background. This allows for some interesting concepts, such as having people being able to be acrobatic and creatures being able to be made out of random materials. I chose this idea because I was inspired by a video by the YouTube channel Corridor Digital, who have made multiple stop-motion animations that are shot from the top down, with the characters fighting. The first has two karate students fighting on the floor of a park. This was shot using a GoPro camera on a home-made PVC rigging. The second video has a camera locked in position on the ceiling of a warehouse and has two different characters fighting using devices that teleport them and switch gravity. All the effects are created out of props, with no visuals whatsoever. This technique wilth effects is similar to another animation made as an advert for Austrailian Target, which uses clothes and sheets to create animals and buildings. These three videos will be what I base my format around, having a still camera and usig props as effects. The story-line for my animation is based off a pivot stick animation I made a few years ago. I chose this format over others because it is reminiscent of the types of 2D animation I used to make when I was younger. It also will be the most challenging and so will be interesting to make.
Links to these can be found below:
My video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU2v40TjNIY
Corridor Digital 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaRQtwKo3hg&t=52s
Corridor Digital 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPNlg-cgLgE
Austrailian Target: httpwww.youtube.com/watch?v=_IVgo9WEUEcs
Links to these can be found below:
My video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU2v40TjNIY
Corridor Digital 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaRQtwKo3hg&t=52s
Corridor Digital 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPNlg-cgLgE
Austrailian Target: httpwww.youtube.com/watch?v=_IVgo9WEUEcs
Final Idea
The actual story concept for my animation will be fight between two characters (keeping with the brief limit) with various powers and abilities, with no definite on who they are. There isn't a clear narrative to the piece, and is instead focused on the variety of techniques and visuals that can be created from the format, making it more appealing for various older and younger audiences for the brief. These will include lasers being thrown around, teleportation, portals, vortexes and giant arms throwing people around, keeping it slapstick to avoid legal issues. Further concepts that can be explored through this format are the fact that gravity isn't an obstacle so I can make my characters do almost anything, however setting up the camera rigging will be a challenge. I will need to find a way to attach the camera (most likely a GoPro) to the ceiling of a large room, keep it there and be able to view the images as I take them. This set-up will create the top-down brief required format.
As the actors will be imaged whilst lying down, with the floor as the background, the movement of the production will be based off most 2D/side scrolling work. The camera will be kept in a locked position on the ceiling. Although it will be easier to create certain movements, such as turning around, there is a subtle depth. The frame rate for the piece will be 18fps and the setting will be created from paper, simply being the frame for the fight and the background will be whatever the floor of the location I use is.
My production will be roughly 40 seconds long (just a bit over the brief minimum) and so, at 24fps, the video will have about 720 images.
As the actors will be imaged whilst lying down, with the floor as the background, the movement of the production will be based off most 2D/side scrolling work. The camera will be kept in a locked position on the ceiling. Although it will be easier to create certain movements, such as turning around, there is a subtle depth. The frame rate for the piece will be 18fps and the setting will be created from paper, simply being the frame for the fight and the background will be whatever the floor of the location I use is.
My production will be roughly 40 seconds long (just a bit over the brief minimum) and so, at 24fps, the video will have about 720 images.
Props List
Sound Board
The track I have decided to use for my production will be Granblue Fantasy Battle Tune 3 Chiptune Remix. The sound effects will be sourced from the internet and the various character noises will be recorded in a sound booth.
Location
No lighting effects will be artificially added during or in post, so it will all be based on the location's indoor lighting. Any natural light will need to blocked out however as it will change on different shooting days.
Audience
The audience my animation will appeal to will be all genders at the ages of 10-30 years old. They would likely be interested in YouTube, gaming, action/superhero films and other works that contain interesting visuals and effects. Furthermore, the animations that they would already be into are short and creative videos, as well as anime. However, they may not like the video I am producing due to the violence or the preference to see real props rather than using paper to create "powers". The final video will be able to be viewed on online formats such as YouTube and my website.
The information was conducted by a survey, results below and the link here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WZJHB9N
The information was conducted by a survey, results below and the link here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WZJHB9N
Storyboard
1) Red teleports in and smashes the ground. Blue hovers into the air and fires at red. Red shields and shoots shield at blue, who deflects it. Upon landing blue traps red in an energy arm.
3) Red gets shoved by blue before kicking and throwing him. Blue gets up and hits red with a blast of energy. Both fire beam at each other which creates a purple portal.
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2) Red breaks free from the arm and sends three orbs at blue. Blue blocks them in three different ways, before teleporting away when red attacks again. Blue teleports all over the place.
4) Various objects begin to get sucked into the portal before both red and blue end up getting sucked in too. The portal closes and the video ends.
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Cast and Crew
I will be "filming" the production with Daniel West and Lach Bone as the two characters. Daniel will be Blue and Lach will be Red.
Risk Assessment and legality
Though the format I will use isn't going to be an issue legally, the story might. The conept of having two characters fight isn't the issue, it's the powers they use. It shouldn't come up under scrutiny but it is possible. The next issue may be sound effects, which can mostly be recorded myself, but some may be needed to be taken from the internet (such as the soundtrack) so the owners will need to be asked for permission.
With the story itself, the violence comes under the BBFC regualtion of "Violence will generally be very mild. Mild violence may be acceptable if it is justified by context (for example, comedic, animated, wholly unrealistic)", and so the video would have a U (Universal) age rating.
With the story itself, the violence comes under the BBFC regualtion of "Violence will generally be very mild. Mild violence may be acceptable if it is justified by context (for example, comedic, animated, wholly unrealistic)", and so the video would have a U (Universal) age rating.
Production Schedule
Dope Sheet
The animation will be at 24 frames per second with each image lasting for 2 frames.
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