Final animation

Link to final animation:

 https://vimeo.com/521034491

Final inspiration / animation progress

These were some videos I watched as some inspiration when I was trying to gets some inspiration for fillers between animation shots.

Different ways of introducing my monster

Below, inspired by the seamless nature of the animation 'Synapse' I have re thought out different ways to introduce the monster through the eye. I think it comes across really smoothly in all the transitions. However I really want to present it in a really natural and effortless scene. As a result I have brainstormed multiple ideas for different approaches.

In order to introduce ambience to the animation I chose to add some synthesised music to add a tone as-well as add to the fluid nature of the animation.

 

Final story boards

 

These final storyboards depict what I hope to by my final animation exactly. I think it all fits together really nicely and the colour scheme is succinct and clean.

Opening sequence

 Opening and closing credits

The style of my opening and closing scenes were inspired by Saul Bass an animator who I have looked at in great detail for this project. I really like how I introduce the text and think it fits in really nicely with my animations seamless nature.

Introducing fillers in the form on nature and shapes

Within the animation I needed to add fillers and extra scenes in order to ensure there was enough time to read the script along side the animation. As a result below are additional scenes as well as scenes that needed to be done in order to pad out the animation in order to make it effective.

I wanted to animate birds to introduce the idea of the beautiful things we will destroy as well as our selves if climate change continues at the rate it is.

 

Below is my newest shot, attempting to reveal the monster for the first time within the animation. This is not complete but a work in progress and is important to introduce Frankenstein's monster. I really like the motion but I don't think the introduction is quite correct yet.

Below is an animation I planned to do earlier on but was not a priority, It introduces the idea of toxic plumes from factories having a negative effect on the environment. I really like the fluidity of it but it definitely needs to be slowed down to allow the script to keep up.

The below animation was my way of introducing my Grandads book cover that I had discussed earlier and is symbolic of Earth tremors and the global climate changing. I really like this and think it came across effectively. It also allows time for speech within the animation

Script

Below are all storyboards and notes from putting together the final script.

 The sticky notes above were all the quotes I thought were most relevant and decided to incorporate into the animation. The sticky notes also made it easier to move the quotes around and think about a final order.

Above was me trying to organise and think about how I could have the speech align with certain scenes in the animation.

My opening quote for the animation is from Frankenstein and is a warning not to over reach and to treat the Earth as you would treat your home. I had to alter the quote to allow it to fit the animation phase but it fits really nicely within the allegory of the animation.

Animating bubbles

Within my script I came to realise that there was not enough time to read the script in sync with the animation. As a result I added a small filler scene which would introduce the feeling of being under water through bubbles. For reference I watched some scenes from 'The Little Mermaid' in order to better understand the way bubbles work.

Animation update

 At first I considered having the next scene show the bullet introduce my monster once again. However I felt that this was not relevant to this part of the animation. Instead I decided to focus on the bullet I was animating and have it transition later on. As a result the below videos are me trying to work out how I could have the bullet look like its moving.

Final edit of the bullet

I did multiple different experiments in an attempt to animate a bullet that actually looks like its moving and this one was my favourite for the way it gives an idea of the air changing behind the bullet.  I also chose to reintroduce the green because that has progressively become the third colour combination within the animation.

Under water animated sequence

Within my script I have taken quotes from the book 'The Uninhabitable Earth' much of which discuss the idea of the world going underwater. As a result my next sequences see my monster animated under water. Below is an original rough idea using a reference video for how my monster could enter the water. However, I felt this was too flat and was not adding to the fluid motion of my animation. As a result I chose to keep the original animation of my monster gliding across the screen and put bubbles around him to make him look like he is being dragged underwater.

 

I had this animation sequence that I made previously which was quite random and I thought that the movement was very fluid and water like. As a result I decided to see if it would work as my underwater sequence and I think it does. I need to extend the frames but I think it works really well.

I also like the way this allows me to make the black screen go white for the next sequence of animated scenes. Its a really nice way to transition my animation.

Meanwhile...book cover progress

 Final book jacket:

This is my current progress for my book jacket design for the Penguin book illustration awards. This is by no means a final cut and my final design could yet be very far from this design. However I really like the relation between this design designs and my project and how I have incorporated both the horror aspect of ‘Frankenstein’ as well as the novels exploration of climate change and humanities direct link to causing it.

My main issue with this design is how to incorporate the titles etc...

At the moment the issue is colour because if I use white, green or red it is highly unclear as to what the words say a a result I am now brainstorming and trying to overcome this problem.

Solution for adding text

This is one of the traditional ways of styling a design on a Penguin book cover. I am not sure if it will work but I am going to try it. It may mean I might haft to re design the cover slightly so it would work in this format.

I have also looked at the book cover archive to gets some inspiration on how many different ways you can lay out a book cover. What is really interesting on here is all the different ways in which the text has been applied to the cover. Much of it is unique and unconventional which I really like.

My play on the classic Penguin book cover design which I used as a template. I really like it but I feel like I need to re organise the hands to make it more aesthetic. I also don't want to directly copy the template for my final design and therefore want to take this design and make it my own.

Newest sequence

My newest transition is getting from the skull to the next scene. I decided it would be fun to do this by having the skull open its mouth and consume the screen/audience. Adding to the more 3D aesthetics of the animation. 

Currently I am struggling with making the animation come towards the screen without making it look 2D and flattened.

 

I felt like the first sequence for this was very flat and I didn’t like what the face was doing as a result I changed it up and created the below sequence adding more of a 3D look and smoother transition on the skull which is looking much better

The animation still felt a bit jolty in places so the below animation was me giving the skull a gradual increase in size on each frame I drew rather than opening the mouth and then moving towards the camera which I think was much more effective.

This final outcome is much smoother and works really nicely at keeping the animation moving fluidly which I like.

Animation progression

 I really liked the melting earth sequence and I wanted to ensure I utilised it. As a result I chose to complete one of my previous animation concepts which was to have the Earth melt into a skull. Symbolic of Mans destruction of Earth killing man. This scene comments on how either a lack of water or too much in the case of flooding etc will result in death.

The animation itself is a panning movement downwards into the skull. It worked out really smoothly and I really enjoy the seamlessness of the scene.

Animation progress

 Animation progress on making a seamless animation

I think I’m going to focus on the main elements discussed in the book ‘The Uninhabitable Earth’ on ways in which the world will be damaged by climate change 

I want to make the animation more interactive and three dimensional so I’ve changed the Earth to fire out of the corner of shot which I really like.

Introducing my “creature” more heavily in the project, really enjoying the fluidity of where it’s going. I am not sure that I will add the monster to the animation following the earth scene but I will definitely utilise it.

The green ovular shape is a background used for reference when trying to make my animation have consistent motions. Due to the fact there are allot of chaotic short scenes within this animation I want to try and keep a rhythm of movement through parts of the animations.