The document discusses the process of creating a 2D animation. It begins by researching existing 2D animations and analyzing their techniques. The author then outlines their plan to create an animation in Flash about robots expressing romantic feelings that ends with a misunderstanding. Sound effects and music are chosen to enhance the story. The final animation is produced and receives positive feedback, and the author learns more about the challenges of creating 2D animations in Flash.
2. Research To start off my research I began looking at 2D animations online, to see the variations of techniques used to make them. I found a couple that I liked, example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwLNu5MHXFs&feature=player_embedded This animation is really clever, and technically made well, all of the characters flow and look realistic. The sound effects and voices really suit with the animation. And make it look more like a professional animation. I believed they used flash, and then did a voice over for the sounds and dialogue. I also like this music video, 2D animation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mHxdAk0X1c&feature=player_embedded It uses a good perspective, for example; when the boys look up at the officer, and he appears really big and scary, and when the camera switches to the boys, they look small and defenseless. The colours look really flat, and doesn’t stand out. It’s Very plain. Also it includes the typical cartoon, with the bold black outlines on everything. The full animated cartoon runs very smoothly, therefore it has many frames per second. The backgrounds are static. Also because it is a cartoon, this immediately tells me that it the target audience is for children, ages 5-13 And the soundtrack is a song that has been recorded and placed over the animation. In the beginning and at the end is the only time the music and singing/dancing is parallel.
3. Research Another animation that I like, which is digitally made is a snippet of a music video by the Gorillaz. E.g.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeUX0SRg6k8&feature=player_embedded By looking at this video, you can see that it is digitally made, perhaps by using a tracking pad for hand drawing. You can see that this is a limited animation, this is obvious because when the camera is focused on the girl playing the guitar, her fingers aren’t actually moving and the guitar strings are not moving either. Also throughout this little clip, the characters barely move, only the required parts were moving. The clip itself is very smooth, so there are a lot of frames per second. The camera movement also help, by zooming and extracting makes it appear as if they are moving more, and gives them slightly more life. They have used block colours on these characters, and outlines everything with a black outline, giving it more of a cartoon effect. Instead of shading to give tone to the characters, they have just used a darker tone and blocked the areas that would be the shade. Everything looks a bit simple, including the background, as it is just plain white. Using a cartoon-like effect, you might think that the target audience is for children, but this is a more twisted animated that would aim more for teenagers. For example, the lead singer has no eyes.
4. Inspiration I was truly inspired by the Eddsworld animation, I like how it looks hand drawn, using a tracking pad. This seems like a good idea because I prefer to draw using a track-pad instead of using the mouse. This way you can get the characters to look exactly how you want, giving them plenty of detail. Also I like that you can use Flash, and make the walking and actions appear natural as if it were real, in a way. I think that I am going to use this technique for my animation, this way I can make the characters how I want, and have them moving how they need to, to perform the actions with require them to appear realistic. And I can also colour them and the background to set the mood. By using flash, I can then export it when finished. Then import it to Final Cut, and make any last adjustments and include any soundtracks, or sound effects. When finalized I can make it into a Quick-time an show others.
5. Audience My primary target audience would be teenagers, aged from 13 to 19 because of the dark humor towards the end. But then the secondary audience would likely be a younger audience, this is because the way it is going to be animated, and the drawing type cartoon would visually appeal to the younger audience, and I think the storyline would be misinterpreted by them. But the storyline is more likely to be understood by the primary audience.
6. The break down The animation will begin with the background onscreen, including grass, some flowers, blue sky with some clouds, and a bird in a tree. The bird will be a character but rarely moves, yet he has his own personality. It will begin by the bird moving towards the end of the branch a bit, so he can get a better view of what’s about to go on. Then the first character, which is the boy robot, walks on screen, just looking around, not doing much. Then the girl robot walks on screen, he immediately notices here and fixes his eye on her completely. Then they exchange glances. His eyes develop into beating hearts, to emphasis on the attraction he feels to her. He then picks a flower from the grass, and attempts to hand it to her, whilst the camera is purely focusing on the flower being held out in his robot hand/arm. The camera then retracts and you see the bird lifting one eyebrow, as is he’s thinking, “What is this boy doing?” The girl robot gives the boy a confused face look, as if to say, “What the…” She giggles and just walks off, out of screen. Then the heart eyes on the boy, just poof back to his regular eyes. Then the focus is quickly changed to the bird in the tree laughing, and perhaps almost falling off the branch. *The boy now has an annoyed face, and then looks at the flower in his hand, and throws it directly at the bird, knocking him out- with stars rotating around his head. After this the boy will just walk out of shot, and then it will end. Perhaps the girl walking on screen after the boy has left, then realizing that she did was wrong, in-fact she was only joking with him previously. But she actually likes him, but has now ruined it. Then it ends. *Alternative ending is when she walks away, the camera will focus purely on the flower in the boy’s hand, and petals will begin falling off. He just drops it and walks out of screen. She then walks back onto screen and discovers the half dead flower on the ground picks it up, and is sad. Then it just fades to black.
7. Getting Technical To actually make this animation, I plan to use Adobe Flash as the programme. This is because I have used it before therefore I am confident in using it, and don’t feel I will need much assistance. Also I am choosing to use this programme is because I have seen many animations that use flash, and I believe they look better than any other programmes. By using Flash, I will be able to make she characters walk, and make them perform realistic actions. I would also be able to emphasis their emotion by drawing more detail, via the track pad. Which is also another plus, by drawing everything myself will give the animation more personality. And because I am part of the target audience I would know what they are looking for. After animating in Flash, I would then upload to Final Cut Pro, to then further edit it, making refinements. And adding sound effects to completely finish the animation. Making it look as professional as I can with the equipment I have.
8. Sound Track For the soundtrack, I am planning to start off with some happy simple music, to ease the mood along. As well as having a wind blowing soundtrack in the background to appear as if they are outside. I’m going to put a chirping soundtrack in the background also, so you notice the bird. Then have sound effects for the eyes has they’re beating when he sees the girl, when he picks up the flower to hand to her. And a cackle for the girl when she laughs at the boy offering it. Then the happy music fades, and sad piano music begins to build up.. Then a crying sound effect from the boy when she declines it. After, another laughing sound this time from the bird in the tree. And this is when the bird starts playing an important role in the animation. Then a light-bulb turning on sound when the boy gets an idea. Cutting to a rock, upbeat ‘mean’ song comes into play when he gets a bad idea to hurt the bird by throwing the flower at him. Then there would be the sound effect of the bird screaming slightly and a classic whistle sound as he is falling from the tree to the ground, ending with a thump. Fading the harsh music out. Then the girl walks back after realizing what she did, the piano music returns, and she gets upset. Then a tear dropping crying sound effect comes in, and then ends. I think the sound track and effects would really help the animation, would make it flow better and would seem more professional. And would just complete it, and make the storyline more obvious.
9. Final Product This is my final product: WITH BLEEPShttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tISeDEjMs3k This is my final product: WITHOUT BLEEPShttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG4FN1h-ecA There is two, because I couldn’t decide which I preferred, so there is both.
10. Feedback My feedback was very positive, and constructive. I was complimented on the change in the music, because it reflects the mood of the characters. And I asked whether they preferred it with or without the bleeps, somesaid with because you get the sense that they’re talking and communicating, whilst others saying without, because of the way that it is animated you can see the expressions on their faces therefore the bleeps aren’t really necessary. Then I questioned whether the soundtrack/effects worked well, and I received all positive comments, saying how it matched the characters moods, and set the scene. And how the sound effects bring life and action into everything. And it was agreed that using Flash was the best programme to use. The narrative was easy for some to understand, and some of my audience ‘loved it’. But it was quite a simple narrative for people to follow, but some may have been slightly confused by the ending of the animation. They could clearly see that the animation was a Comedy, Romance genre. It was mentioned if the speed, colours and movements were realistic, and it was positive comments again. Saying that the sketchy style element works well for the animation. And although the characters may move a bit slow, that makes it better. When asked if they liked it, they said yes, and that they like the fact that the characters have personality and can connect with the audience. Which is something I really wanted to achieve. On a scale of one to ten, the average was eight and a half. And when asked for any final adjustments that could be suggested for my animation, the only thing was to perhaps involved the bird character more in the beginning. And to ensure that the speed for all of the characters flows equally throughout the animation. But overall I am happy with my feedback, and will take onboard what has been suggested.
11. Changes? I didn’t feel the need to make any changes to my animation, although some where suggested. I believe that it is fine the way it is, and the suggestions are just pointless things, and they wouldn’t make much difference to the animation itself.
12. Learnt After making this animation, I have learnt more about Flash, and believe more in my skills editing skills. I am more confident now when using it, and can help others. I’ve also learnt that making a flash animation is very difficult, there is a lot of little things that need to be done before you can do something else. For example, to make a character walk you have to create each limb, make them have their own symbol and then put them on their own layer, and then put them altogether to make the character walk, and then there are usually little problems to make them walk in sync to music or with the sound track. But I did enjoy using this programme as I feel I’ve learnt more, and I’ve realized the hard work, time and effort that it takes to make a good professional animation. Yet, I would be using it again.
