The Moving Image Workshop: Introducing Animation, Motion Graphics and Visual Effects in 45 Practical Projects

482 Pages·2015·38.45 MB·English

by  Heather D. Freeman

DEDICATION
For Jeff and Quinn, the keepers of our zoo and lords of my happiness. And
for my students: best teachers ever.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION MOVING IMAGES FOR EVERYONE
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
CHAPTER ONE UNDERPINNINGS: THE PRINCIPLES OF
ANIMATION
1.1 Chauvet Cave + Beni Hasan: Appeal + Solid Drawing
1.2 Magic Lanterns + Optical Toys: Squash and Stretch + Timing
1.3 Gertie the Dinosaur + The Cameraman’s Revenge: Staging + Secondary Action
1.4 Disney + Fleischer: Follow Through and Overlapping Action + Exaggeration
1.5 Hanna-Barbera + Ren and Stimpy: Arcs + Straight Ahead and Pose to Pose
1.6 Princess Mononoke + Merida: Anticipation + Slow In and Slow Out
Projects 1.1—1.5
1.7 Summary and Notes
CHAPTER TWO BRAIN GAMES: PREPLANNING AND
PREPRODUCTION
2.1 Preproduction: Research
2.2 Preproduction: Brainstorming
2.3 Screenplays: Showing Stories
2.4 Storyboards: A Step-by-Step Guide
2.5 Formats and Media: Your Final Presentation First
2.6 Materials and Methods: Choosing Your Tools
2.7 Collaboration: Working in a Team and Staying Organized
Projects 2.1—2.3
2.8 Summary and Notes
CHAPTER THREE A THOUGHTFUL SPACE: MOVEMENT
AND COMPOSITION
3.1 Emphasis and Unity
3.2 Pattern and Balance
3.3 Scale and Contrast
Projects 3.1—3.6
3.4 Summary and Notes
CHAPTER FOUR SYNTHETIC LIFE: CHARACTER
DESIGN AND MOVEMENT
4.1 Character Design: From Character Sheets to Sprite Sheets
4.2 Methods of Creation: From Digital Puppets to Stop-Motion
4.3 Wave Forms: Using Sound Effects to Create Rich Motion
4.4 Character Speech: The Lip Sync
4.5 Character Movement: The Walk Cycle
Projects 4.1—4.7
4.6 Summary and Notes
CHAPTER FIVE ALL WORDS ARE PEGS TO HANG
IDEAS ON: TEXT ANIMATION
5.1 Kinetic Text: Typography on Screens
5.2 Manifestations of Text Animation: Intro Credits and End Credits
Projects 5.1—5.5
5.3 Summary and Notes
CHAPTER SIX LIGHTNING BOLTS AND WEATHERMEN:
MOTION GFX AND VISUAL FX
6.1 Motion GFX History and Definitions
6.2 A History of Visual Effects
6.3 Common Visual Effects Methods
6.4 Motion Graphics and VFX
Projects 6.1—6.6
6.5 Summary and Notes
CHAPTER SEVEN DEVIOUS THINGS: EXPERIMENTS IN
MOVEMENT
7.1 Experimental Narratives
7.2 Experimental Stop-Motion
7.3 Growth of CGI
7.4 Animation in Innovative Games
7.5 Interactive Animations
7.6 Moving Imagery in the World
Projects 7.1—7.7
7.7 Summary and Notes
CHAPTER EIGHT YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS: VENUES FOR
ANIMATION
8.1 Introduction to the Field: Internships, Education, and Experimentation
8.2 Venues for Your Work: Film Festivals
8.3 Other Venues: Gallery Spaces
8.4 Commercial Applications: Film, Broadcast, Web, and Mobile
8.5 The Right Side of the Law: Appropriation and Copyright
Projects 8.1—8.6
8.6 Summary and Notes
APPENDIX
Conclusion: Art Making for Everyone
Glossary
Bibliography
Picture Credits
Acknowledgments
INTRODUCTION:
MOVING IMAGES FOR EVERYONE
Millions of people around the world experience moving imagery daily,
placing this medium at the very heart of contemporary visual culture. You,
the art and design student, are surrounded by moving imagery and are
already an expert audience member. There are no limits to who can use
animation, motion graphics, and visual effects and no limits to the media
involved; from printmaking to ceramics, and digital design to installation
art, moving imagery is an essential tool for all art and design students.
This introductory textbook is for undergraduate art or design students
enrolled in liberal arts colleges or universities and will guide you through
the creation of your own unique, moving imagery. Students from diverse
fine art and applied concentrations will create marvelous works of
animation, motion graphics, and visual effects through forty-five creative
and conceptually challenging projects. You will also learn about the
history, principles, and techniques in moving imagery and apply this
knowledge through these practical assignments.
What is Animation?
Animation is a series of images that suggest the illusion of movement. This
is a diverse form, from flipbook doodles to feature films; in fact, it is hard
to say what moving imagery is not animation. Some audiences think of
animation as being synonymous with cartoons; however, sequential
moving imagery is fundamental to motion graphics, visual effects, interface
design, and more. Contemporary artists and designers, working in diverse
media, create innovative animated works for many different applications.
What Are Motion Graphics?
Motion graphics are a form of animation involving text and graphic
design; these are often closely connected to the accompanying audio track.
Motion graphics include logo animations, animated infographics, station
identifications, title sequences, and animations superimposed over live-
action footage. As with animation, motion graphics designers utilize
diverse media and approaches.