Animated Film Creation Guide
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsAnimated Film Creation Guide
Translated by
ScribdTranslationsCreation of an animated film
from the idea to the projection
OISO - Lilo Wullschleger - RPN
[Link]
Summary
The 3 main steps of the
creation of animated films
Definition and historical references
To get started: Animatou
flipbook and practical exercises
Scenario, storyboard, inspiration(s)
Animation techniques: flat, in
volume, pixelation
Material
Application 'I can animate'
Filming tips
Editing software: Movie Maker
Assembly tips
Export and sending of the film
(.mov, .avi, .mp4)
Projections and broadcasts
The 3 main steps of the
creation of animated films
1. Pre-production
Animation exercises, preparation of materials, writing of the script,
storyboard, development of the sets and characters,
2. Production
Animation of characters-objects-settings; shooting (frame by frame);
audio recordings (voice-over, dialogues, sound effects)
3. Post-production
Importing and organizing images and sounds on editing software;
selection and arrangement of plans; sound design (sound effects, voice,
music) and graphic (title, credits, …); special effects
+Projection(s) and diffusion
Projection in class and/or during a school event; participation in a
concours (voir liste) ; diffusion sur le blog « Anima’Films RPN » ; projection de
All AnimaFilms productions RPN, in Neuchâtel at the end of June.
Animated film* or 'stop-motion'
Animation encompasses various techniques used
in films to create the illusion of movement
in a chronological sequence of representations
(drawings, paintings, photographs of objects or of
characters, computer-generated images representing
a gesture, a facial expression, a movement or a
transformation.
Historical landmarks
17th - Magic lantern, ancestor of
projectors
1826 - First photographs, by Joseph
Nicéphore Niépce then Louis Daguerre
1878 - Series of photographs, by Eadweard
Muybridge
1890 - Thomas Edison creates the 35 mm film
and files the patent for the kinétoscope
1895 - Auguste and Louis Lumière file the
cinematograph diploma. 1st
public projection in Paris
See the educational file 'Animatou' e-media
1902 - Journey to the Moon*, Georges Méliès
1908 - First animated cartoonPhantasmagories
by Emile Cohl
1926 - First public broadcast of
television
1926 - First 'talkie' film
1930 - Development of Walt's productions
Disney and Tex Avery
1978 - 3D animations (CGI) generated by
computer (Tron)
1996 - First feature film directed
entirely in computer-generated images
Toy Story
2009 - New motion techniques
capture » (Avatar)
2017 - My Life as a Zucchini, by the Swiss
Claude Barras
*restored version (2012) in color, [Link]
To start off well
These educational activities allow for understanding and implementing
practice the basic concept of cinema: a series of still images gives
the 'illusion' of movement
Screening of "Animatou" (5'40) and "The 5 Universes of the Cat" (14'30)
Made by Swiss artists, this short film and its 'Making Of'
shows 5 animation techniques: drawing, sand, painting, modeling clay and
3D digital animation. Seeeducational fileproposed by e-media.
2. Fabrication of a 'Flipbook' (folioscope)
Starting from a model - to print/draw, color, cut out, and assemble -
bring life to a series of simple drawings. Bonus > create a flipbook
digital online!
3. Animation exercises
Animate very short scenes (5-10 seconds) to familiarize oneself with the
techniques (moving objects, figurines, modeling clay), the tools
digital and the movements; and thus better prepare the forms of the projects
Decomposition of a cat's movement
by E. J. Muybridge, around 1885
Galloping horse
watch video
Examples of flipbooks
Scenario
Inspiration, resources, PER
Simple animations, poetic worlds > Creative activities and
manual
Adaptations, twists, parodies > tales from here and elsewhere;
legendsofSwitzerland; extraordinary journeys; sketches
Short writings: science fiction story, fantasy short story
(cf. teaching sequences) 10th-11th grade
Proposed themes by thefilm competitionfor the schools and the
youth
EDD, sciences, geography > life cycles, experiences
scientists, sustainable development, ecology
Language learning > German, English
There is no shadow of a doubt that a good script is
absolutely essential, perhaps even the essential for a film.
Sydney Pollack
Storyboard
In the style of a 'comic strip', this 3-panel comic allows you to understand the 3 tenses.
or the 3 acts of any narrative structure:
Acte 1 - Mise en place, exposition > situation initiale et élément déclencheur/perturbateur
Act 2 - Complications, progressions, obstacles, evolution > twists
Acte 3 - Climax, puis résolution > dénouement et situation finale
Download and print storyboard templates (3 and 6 panels) under the tab
"Guides" of the blog. Add various indications below the sketches: plan value,
actions, dialogues or voice overs, sound effects and musical atmospheres.
Note: Create links between the forms (techniques) and the content (contents) of history.
AnimationTechniques
2D - flat
Black-white-color cut paper
Drawing (paper, acetate, board
black or white
Shadow puppets (overhead projector)
Post-it, buttons, bolts, ...
Animationtechniques
3D - in volume
Everyday objects (school supplies,
tools, food, screens, ...
Toys and building games
Puppets, dolls, articulated figurines
Natural elements (stones, wood, leaves,
shellfish, ...)
Modeling clay
Origami
Animationtechniques
pixilation - et al.
Pixilation > animation technique
where real characters (here,
the students) are "filmed" image
by image in order to obtain
special effects (tricks).
Request written consent from
transfer of image rights
Mix the techniques!
Material
Settings and characters
Creative activity materials: colored paper,
cardboard, paint, modeling clay, figurines, posters
scissors, Parisian staples, magnets, glue,…
Shooting
Tablets or smartphones (permission) with
the application I can animate, ImotionHD or again
Stop Motion Studio
or cameras + memory card
camera/microphone tripods and tablet stands
event. small lamps, overhead projector
Sound recording
audio recorder: smartphone, zoom H1, computer
portable with built-in microphone, ...
Assembly
RPN computer(s) with Windows Movie software
Maker, tablets with iMovie, ...
>>> HEP-BEJUNE lending service
Note: The tablets are already equipped with the application I can animate.
Tips
Lighting can be natural or artificial: it must be regular and
powerful, sheltered from direct sunlight
The imaging tool (smartphone, tablet, camera) must
to be fixed on a tripod and/or a DIY support
Supports tablet/smartphone
Do it yourself!
Application - I can animate
new
help project
«+»
export the project to edit = open and corbeille = supprimer
the photo library modify the project the project
access to
I can animate access settings of
projects project (image format)
photo
focusing
& exposition
horloge =
timelapse
Play > watch
... display of the shots ... green frame = image selection "onion peel" tool = photo
(duplicate, delete) previous in transparency
FILMING TIPS
Horizontal shots only (no vertical photos)!
Define the 'format' of the image (= ratio between the width and height of the frame)
according to the planned content: 16/9 highlights the decor; 4/3 is more suitable
to the characters or to a "retro" film project.
Determine the correct distance - height - angle between the objective and the decor. Fix.
the tablet and/or its stand with adhesive tape!
Delimit the "frame" (= space seen and captured through the lens) with a line of
crayon or tape, so that students can better see what is in the 'field'
or "off-screen".
Balance the content of the image: composition of the shots 'rule of thirds'
Possibility to carry out2 photos
between each movement of objects and/
or characters
To photograph the whole of a
action in "general plan" or in
"wide plan" then redo a part
from the scene by bringing the lens closer
of characters (faces) or of a
detail (close-up).
Take the shots by
Decor. The timeline of the film can be
do the editing. SeeThe little cat
black2 'couch' scenes 1 scene
pond
Mix the techniques
flat animation and in
volume » to create the illusion of flight!
SeeExtinction of the dinosaurs
Speed management of
movements: the greater the gap between the
the movement of the character/object is
the larger the character/object will go
fast. And vice versa.
AUDIOVISUAL MONTAGE
Main steps
Creation and organization of folders "images" and "music and sounds"
on the workstation. Create, name the video project with the 'title of the
"film" and regularly record on the editing software "Movie"
Maker
Importing photos (still images) or sequences (I can
animate), music and sounds on the editing software
Sound design: royalty-free music and sound effects (see list of
links on the AnimaFilm blog), voice
Graphic packaging: title and credits (first names, institution, year,
music credits
Export the film to a file that is independent of the editing software
> .mov, .avi, .mp4
The students of Cycle 3 assemble their images themselves!
Software
the assembly
Posts RPN >WLMM
Windows Live Movie
Maker> see guide of
work on the blog
Macintosh > iMovie
Final Cut Pro X
Windows > Adobe
First, Adobe
Express
Opensource
[Link]
[Link]
Windows Live Movie Maker
View and print 'WLMM Work Guide' on the Anima’Films blog
WatchVideo tutorial(4')
OpenOnline tutorial OpenClass course
Set fixed image duration > tools > options > advanced settings >
durée photo = 0.10 ou 0.125(= minimum de 8 à 12 images par seconde)
MOUNTING TIPS
Image processing
accelerate, slow down, duplicate certain sequences/images
reverse the reading direction of certain plans to maximize images
produced. See the short filmFurby Party
Music and sounds
gradually fade in/out sound effects and music
create several audio tracks or 'sound layers': 1) ambient sounds:
forest, city, beach, … 2) sound effects: footsteps, doors, tire screeching, …
3) dialogues, voix off, … 4) musiques
play with the sounds 'off-screen'
adjust the sound levels, that is to say the volume of the audio tracks
("sound mixing") by listening to them with headphones or speakers
Credits and graphic design
choose a font/size/text color that corresponds to the message and
to the forms of the film
indicate the titles/works of the music and sounds used
add the year of production, the institution, and the school level, and well
about the first names (i.e. names) of budding filmmakers!
- PROJECTIONS AND DIFFUSIONS -
Screening of films in class and during a school event
Sending films to short film competitions CH > see list
- Diffusion on the blogAnimaFilms: sending video files to
[Link]@[Link] viaWeTransfer< 2Go
Public RPN projectionAnimaFilms in late June 2017
Deadline for sending the films is May 24, 2017
Bonnes productions!
Available for any additional information
and support for the creation of animated films,
in class or by appointment:
[Link]@[Link]
RPN - 01.02.2017 -OISO