Motion Graphics and Compositing : Project 2

Week 6 - Week 9 : 11 May 2023 - 1 Jun 2023

Tan Yi Yun 0345559
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Project 2/Channel Bumper
INSTRUCTIONS

PROJECT 2 : CHANNEL BUMPER

Students will synthesis the knowledge gained in the previous project to apply in this project.
Students are to demonstrate ability to explore and generate an abstract channel bumper in any creative approach with consideration of good audio tempo and visually compelling video. Students are to use information for any proposed channel (*existing or fictional), and create mood-board that reflects their concept/idea style-guide that conveys final look and feel storyboard animatics explore appropriate audio to uplift the motion tempo. Students will start with sketches and test a wide range of conceptual ideas through digitization using the appropriate software. Students conclude by selecting and presenting their personal design interpretation in the instructed format/s.

Mood board
I planned to go for minimalistic and elegant style. Hence, I focused more on illustrating the subject, creating more lively motion to catch people's attention. I looked for some references in Pinterest and YouTube. I am interested to create frame-by-frame animation because this is the technique used by Studio Ghibli. Refer the final mood board in the proposal slides.

Sketches
The logo of Studio Ghibli uses the symbol of Totoro, the character from the film "My Neighbour Totoro". I also drew the dust bunnies from another famous film "Spirited Away". 
Figure 1.1, Sketches, Week 7 (16/5/2023)

Storyboard
I have created draft storyboard for consultation. The elements appear here are the dust bunnies, totoro, tunnel and chibi-totoro. These are all the elements that can be found from the movies. 
Figure 1.2, Storyboard, Week 7 (16/5/2023)
After the consultation, I modified the storyboard and added description under each frame.
Figure 1.3, Final Storyboard, Week 8 (22/5/2023)
Proposal
Click here to view the proposal slides presentation to have the animated view. 
Final proposal, Week 8 (22/5/2023)
Execution
This logo animation is done in After Effects by using masks. 
Logo animation, Week 7 (17/5/2023)
I made the frame-by-frame animation in Adobe Illustrator and imported it into Adobe After Effects. 
Figure 1.4, Frame-by-frame animation, Week 8 (22/5/2023)

Figure 1.5, Tunnel design, Week 8 (22/5/2023)
I keyframed the circles one by one to create the popping effect. 
Figure 1.6, Circle popping, Week 8 (22/5/2023)
Animatics
Draft 1, Week 7 (17/5/2023)
Draft 1 (with music), Week 7 (17/5/2023)

Finalization
I decided to change the circle popping scene because it does not portray the inner part of the tunnel well. I used repeater and keyframed the offset and transformed the ellipse to create the effect. 
Figure 1.7, Keyframing, Week 8 (21/5/2023)

Figure 1.7, Tunnel, Week 8 (21/5/2023)
Reaching the end of the tunnel, I replaced the exit of the tunnel with a pure white arch, and it makes more sense compared to the previous one. I then added the silhouette of some grass and a leaf (the iconic leaf held by the chibi-totoro). 
Figure 1.8, Tunnel, Week 8 (21/5/2023)
Next, I animated the chibi-totoro to make it jump to the top left corner to match the logo. Instead of drawing each frames in Illustrator and switching back and forth to After Effects, I used the pen tool to draw on After Effects. However, the process is extremely tedious because I have to keyframes each frame by adjusting the anchor points. This is much harder than drawing using brush tool in Illustrator. I continued with this technique because I wanted to achieve a smooth animation. 
Figure 1.9, Keyframing chibi-totoro, Week 8 (21/5/2023)
The same technique is applied on the very first scene, where the dust bunny falls and bounces from ground, splitting into 3 and re-combined. After keyframing the body, I then added the eye sockets and the eye balls and do it manually, one-by-one...
Figure 2.1, Keyframing dust bunny, Week 8 (21/5/2023)
I applied the knowledge I learnt from the basic animation principles. I exaggerated the solid drawings to create a bouncy and lively movement.
Figure 2.2, The transition of dust bunny to totoro, Week 8 (21/5/2023)

After completing the above process, I was hesitate to animate the hair of the dust bunny using the same method because my wrist hurt from constantly clicking and dragging for hours. I ended up finding tutorial in YouTube to learn to apply fur simulation, and adjust much lesser keyframes in creating a desired effect.
Figure 2.3, Adding fur to the dust bunny, Week 8 (21/5/2023)

Final Submission: Channel Bumper
Final channel bumper, Week 7 (24/5/2023)
FEEDBACK

Week 7 : 

The circle can be in drawing style instead of vector circle that matches the previous scene. There are several dots splits from the first part, maybe can do the transition to link to the next scene. The transition in the tunnel can create a leading line. Looking forward to the complete animation!
REFLECTION

I am grateful to have more time to work on this project because it is due during the independent learning week. I think I have made quite a number of adjustments from the first draft (animatics) because I am eager to achieve a smoother channel bumper for my favourite show produced by Studio Ghibli. It is a stressful journey because initially I do not understand the requirement of the project, especially when it is connected to the next project. After referring to a few seniors' work, I get the idea of execution. In the final results, I have applied a number of animation techniques that I always want to learn, but also played with the circles and dots that I learnt from the first project. I am happy with the outcome and am aiming for a better results in the next project.