Create and justify a planned animation (P5, P6)

Learning Outcome 3: Be able to create a planned animation 

P5: Create the content for the animation 

Creation of backplates

These are the back plates I have sourced from Google and Youtube for my animation. They will be edited into the animation digitally and the characters will be shown to be moving on top. The pictures are from areas such as Leicester Square, the Leicester Square underground tube station, Totteridge and Whetstone, and St Andrews church in Totteridge. 

I have created this text shot, which will be shown at the end of the animation so people are aware of what is being advertised. It is in a slime-looking font, reflecting the company 'brainGoo'. There will be a slime splat transition, separating this shot from the animated zombies.

Setting up equipment

I digitally drew the animation on my iPad on procreate. I drew each frame separately, with the animation tool, to give the illusion of free movement. I added an onion skin to show the previous frame on a low opacity so I could ensure the character is not moving too much, making it unrealistic. 

Storyboard

Voiceover

                                                  

Above, you can see evidence of me setting up the voiceover equipment and directing the voiceover actor. I used a Rode microphone, and recorded the voiceover on the application, Garage Band. The actor made zombie sounds in line with the first draft of the animation so the sounds matched the movements and voices of the zombies.

Gantt chart

This is my updated gantt chart for the production process. The project has had some delays, thus, an extension has been granted. The final date has changed from the 8th of November to the 29th. 

P6: Complete and edit the animation in line with the plan 

Offline edit

The first draft/offline edit of my animation includes just the individual frames, with no backgrounds or sound.

I used my storyboard to guide the creation of my animation. This is demonstrated as the first shot on the storyboard shows the zombie lying down in the left corner of the screen, with only his head and upper body showing, which is the same in my animation. All of the shots in my first draft follow this same structure. However, some changes have been made. For example, shots 18 and 19 on the storyboard have been noted to make up seven seconds of the animation. However, whilst animating, I realised how much time this takes up of the animation, so I decided to cut them down to around 4.5 seconds total. Similarly, shots 20 and 21 have not been included in my first draft as they are not animated shots, but text. Moreover, I have decided to merge the two together so the date and location is in the same frame as the title 'BrainGoo ZombieFest'. This is so it does not feel elongated and the viewers attention is fully on the animation.

Log sheet

Editing second draft

I started the editing process by uploading the individual frames to Final Cut Pro with a transparent background.

After, I added the voiceover sound and cut it so it would be in time with the animation. I also added the background music, by 'Fesliyan Studios'. I made sure it was quieter than the voiceover so it doesn't disrupt it.

I added in the backplates with the 'Keyer' tool. I also added in the text shot (seen above), "BrainGOO Zombie Fest, Leicester Square 2022" at the end of the animation. This is so viewers are informed of when and where the event is taking place, fitting one of the purposes of the animation, which is to promote. Furthermore, I made a splat transition from the last animated shot, to the text shot to separate the two sections, informing viewers the animation is finished and now they should read the text. The splat reinforces the zombie aesthetic and fits the name 'Brain Goo'. 

Second draft

This is the second draft of my animation. The backgrounds and voiceovers have been put in, however there are no videos (of the trains arriving) and there are not any transitions, except the splat at the end. The voiceovers reinforce the story line as when the zombie is sad for example, he is making sad crying sounds. Similarly, the background music ensures there are no silent moments,  making the viewers attention fully on the animation. 

I did not change the visuals from the offline edit for the second draft because they line up correctly with the backplates. I also feel that the original animated visuals portray the narrative effectively. 

Third draft

For my third draft, I added in the footage of the trains arriving. This makes it clear to viewers that the scene is changing and the location has moved (onto the London underground). 

I also added a fade transition from the last animated shot to the text shot. This allows the splat to fully separate the scenes and ensure all focus has transitioned from the narrative, to the purpose (to advertise the ZombieFest march). Similarly, I added a wipe transition from the zombie walking to the video of the train. This reinforces the location change, from the zombie walking out of the graveyard, to stepping onto the tube.

Final animation

This is my final animation exported as a .mov file. My next task will explain how and why I have exported different final versions.