Category: project 1

Establishing Shot

An effective establishing shot:

• Conveys the setting and location.
• Introduces key characters.
• Establishes connections between characters and their environment.
• Grounds the audience in the narrative and context.
• Enhances the audience’s understanding of the unfolding story.
• draws audiences in, making them feel almost like a character in the scene.
  • showing a house in the beginning each time of the show (eg. Simpson, Harry Potter)

This is an aspect I need to consider and develop further. As my animation currently lacks a specific style or iconic opening scene, it doesn’t stand out or make it easy for the audience to differentiate it from other animations. In the upcoming previs and animation, I will focus on addressing this to ensure my animation becomes unique and iconic.

Dark Knight

The character initially appears on the left side of the frame, followed by a shot where they are positioned on the right. The sequence concludes with a central shot, which emphasizes the significance of the key character.

• The use of handheld camera work is prevalent throughout, enhancing the dynamic feel of the scene.
• This technique helps guide the audience’s attention toward the main character or key focal point.
• Directional lines, formed by elements such as buildings, lighting, and other visual cues, are strategically employed to direct the viewer’s gaze.

Although this is something I have learned previously, I did not fully apply it in my past storyboards and animations. Moving forward, I will pay closer attention to the placement of characters and props to create a more effective composition.

180 rule

The 180-degree rule dictates that, during a conversation between two characters, one must remain on the left side of the frame while the other stays on the right.

If either character shifts position, the other must mirror the movement to maintain the spatial relationship and prevent disorientation for the audience.

This consistency in positioning ensures a clear visual understanding of who is speaking, preserving the continuity of the scene.

Establishing Character

Characters

• should be

1. compelling, nuanced, flawed, and active.

Let’s take the Joker as an example. He is undoubtedly not a good guy; he is an evil character with numerous flaws. However, it is precisely these flaws that make him appealing to the audience.

2. evoking emotions and make the audience want to know more.

Carl is a character who takes an unexpected action—attaching thousands of balloons to his house because he refuses to give up the memories of his late wife. This act resonates with the audience, reminding them of the things they cherish but may have had to let go of. At the same time, it sparks curiosity about what will happen next.

3. Considering their appearance and personality—are they shaped by past experiences

Tanjiro’s hands are notably rough, reflecting the immense effort he has put into training to slay demons as part of the Demon Slayer Corps, all in a desperate attempt to find a cure for his younger sister. This detail highlights his hardworking nature and his deep commitment as a protective brother.

Show, don’t tell—reveal traits through:

• Props, clothing, gestures, actions, music, and lighting

I often find it challenging to convey a character’s personality solely through their acting, appearance, camera angles, and outfit without dialogue. I plan to conduct more research in this area to better express the traits of the character that I intend to convey.

My Previs Progress

Character Bio

I have developed character biographies for both the main and supporting characters to clarify their personalities, ensuring that their actions align with their backgrounds, experiences, and traits within the context of the animation. I have found it particularly useful to include a section detailing the events before and after the narrative (“Before/After”) to gain a deeper understanding of the characters’ mental states during the story.

Furthermore, through the process of writing the character biographies, I realized that I aimed to maintain a positive narrative tone, culminating in a happy ending

My tutor recommended that I consider the character design, specifically suggesting that the character’s tail retain a rounded shape rather than a long, wiggly one, in order to create a more cohesive and streamlined appearance in relation to the other characters.

Updated Previs

I also made adjustments to the previs and connected various shots. Currently, the sequence feels somewhat disjointed, with issues arising in the timing, transitions, and the overall connection between shots. Upon receiving feedback, I will make further modifications and refinements as necessary.

Establishing the world

World-building involves constructing a world where the story takes place.

• Incorporating props helps guide the audience’s attention towards the central character, directing focus to the main element of the scene.

In the above scene, the ice cream in the background serves as a guide, directing the audience’s attention towards the central characters. The gradual shift in colours, from lighter pink to darker shades of pink and orange(vice versa), further enhances this focus.

Shot Testing & Moodboard

This is the moodboard I created for the balloon story. I envision the balloon taking a dog shape, as it is likely to be more appealing to the audience, particularly younger viewers. I also want the overall colour palette to feature bright and sharp tones, enhancing its visual impact.

However, the colour tone of both the environment and the character is quite similar, which makes it difficult for the protagonist to stand out. Based on my tutor’s advice, I took inspiration from the colour palette of The Incredibles to create a more distinct contrast between the character and the surroundings.

With the new moodboard, the protagonist is now more distinct and stands out clearly within the environment.

I also created some establishing shots and conducted tests with various camera angles for the previsualisation.

They are currently in the initial stage, so further modifications are needed. I will make adjustments, particularly to the transitions, the emotional tone conveyed by different shots, and the smoothness of the scene. Once these changes are made, I will link the shots together to create a more cohesive previsualisation for the animation.

Elements of Mise En Scene/ Camera animation

Use the golden ratio in storyboards – place key elements at the interest points for balanced composition.

In this image, the two red circles indicate the interest points where the main character (balloon) intersects with the guiding lines. Placing the character at these points creates a more balanced composition and effectively follows the rule of thirds.

This image shows the character not intersecting with the interest points, resulting in a less appealing composition for the audience.

• Plan before setting up the scene – ask key questions to ensure clarity and purpose.
• Guide the audience’s focus – a well-structured scene prevents confusion.
• Build up before major events – create anticipation and context to enhance impact.
• Use different shots intentionally – each angle conveys a specific emotion or meaning.

• Example: Shot 1 – Camera angle from inside a car, set in a darker outdoor environment.

Without showing the car, the audience can still understand that the scene takes place in a car. Additionally, shooting from a low angle creates a sense of pressure or impending action, making the scene feel more intense.

In my opinion, the elements above are essential when filming or planning. I need to study them in detail before creating storyboards and animating. Since there is so much to consider, waiting until I start the storyboard would be too late, and I might overlook important aspects.

The Hero’s Journey

Character and story are fundamental elements in animation, as highlighted by a Pixar senior animator. To create a vivid and appealing character, it is essential to follow the Hero’s Journey (refer to the image above). Many well-known characters have followed this structure, making them more engaging and memorable to audiences.

3 Storyboard Ideas

For this week’s task, we created three storyboards for our Final Major Project (FMP) or other animation work. This proved to be quite challenging for me. Although I had been recording ideas as they came to mind, developing three fully-formed concepts within a week remained difficult.

To generate ideas, I utilised mind mapping and conducted online research, including analysing YouTube short animations and exploring visual styles on Pinterest. Through this process, I developed the following three concepts.

Inspired by a real-life scene, when I returned home one day and saw a balloon floating on the street, I developed this story. It centres on a balloon that is simultaneously scared and worried about being crushed by a car, yet also excited by the experience. The story conveys the message that, even in extreme circumstances, we should remain positive, as this mindset can lead to a different, often better outcome.

For this story, I aim to depict a character searching for a coal rock, which, when found, will set him on fire, just like it did for others. The character exhaustively searches in various places, while everyone else succeeds, leaving him the only one who fails. In the end, he discovers the rock at home. This story conveys the message that the things we often seek are right beside us. It encourages being observant and appreciating the loved ones around us.

For the final story, I was inspired by the Frisbee disc. I am not entirely sure why, but I found it intriguing to imagine someone running on the Frisbee disc, and felt it could lead to an interesting narrative.

I developed a story in which the protagonist, like others, is focused on running as fast as possible. In his pursuit, he becomes so absorbed in competing that he neglects the time spent with family and overlooks the beautiful things, such as flowers, along his path. Eventually, he realises that time has passed quickly, and his family has grown older. In response, he runs in the opposite direction, hoping to find his family in a younger version. This story aims to inspire people to slow down and cherish their loved ones.

Among the three ideas, I am most interested in further developing the first balloon idea, as it is the most fully-formed. I already have a clear vision of the aesthetic and style I want to achieve.