About The Author: Storyboarding Workshop

A storyboard a production tool that consists of scenes/sketches and actions that map a series of events, and is a tool by which we communicate ideas to other people, thinking sequentially. The process allows people to work together and brainstorm ideas without having a fully working animation to critique. 

Selection of storyboards from google images; Star Wars"A Galaxy far, far away" and Gladiator "Tiger Tale".

When researching existing storyboards, it was amazing to see how from a storyboard, media like films are translated. It is clear that in storyboards it is best to be as precise as possible in terms of camera angle and directional movements etc, to communicate your ideas in the best possible way. It is also interesting to see how media is used in the actual storyboards as it varies hugely from one to another in terms of detail and technical skill. However in the end it comes down to if or not your idea can be fully understood. 

Image my storyboards are based on:

My own storyboards from the session

In the session I created a variety of storyboards based on one of my images from my visual journal. I found the task difficult in terms of generating 3 different ideas for animations and pushing a single image in 3 different directions. However, I think I got my head around sequential thinking/drawing quite quickly. I found the task really useful as it helped me to actually start thinking about my sting and how I can translate artwork from journal into something that is animated. I think that some of the ideas shown in my storyboards are slightly optimistic as I have never used after effects before, however I'm glad that i have been able to get them down on paper. 

Notes made during workshop

Animation + Sound

Some examples of animated stings; 

Daft Punk - Technologic music video for VH1

 A really powerful, energetic animation that uses appropriate movements/transitions to make the text come to life. It is an excellent example of sound and animation being used to compliment each other. From watching this I have gained a sense of how sound enhances what is going on, and without it this animation would not have an impact at all. 

Sound Deconstruction Task

ASIF2015 Animation Festival opener from Neta n Lior on Vimeo.

This short sting was created as an opening to a festival. The animation uses a low-fi pixelated effect, creating a sense of video games, which in turn connotes fun. This effect is further emphasised by the use of bold colours against a dark background. The use of audio in the animation is really relevent to the subject matter of under the sea/in space and once again maintains an electronic, video game-like score. I love the way that the music pulses in time to the animations of explosions etc, and think that it really brings the animation to life. I think the animation is really effective in the way that the movements are quite rigid, yet diverse, maintaining a 3D aspect. 

Further Storyboarding Task

From the storyboarding workshop, i learnt that it would be really helpful to choose a sting soundtrack first, and then plan and create my sting based around the sound and mood. I have been thinking about it alot and the mood/atmosphere created in my sting will be the main focus. 

(First 15 seconds)

1) This track is very easy listening and a bit jazzy, which I think would give my animation a fun and upbeat atmosphere. I really want to achieve a feel of Italian influence and almost transport the viewer back to the time and place where Italo was growing up. I feel that the atmosphere created by this track is also quite quirky, and the use of rhythm in the song creates movement anyway, which would be ideal for my idea. 

Here I created a storyboard based around this track, using quite fast paced movement and panning. I really like the idea for a final outcome, however I feel it would really test my skills and patience in after effects, which still seems quite daunting to me. Also being able to animate the walk cycle is something that would take a lot of time to get right. If the animation moved in time to the various instrumentals in the music, I think it would be a really effective sting. 

2)

So that I could generate as many ideas as possible, I started thinking about tracks that are completely different to the previous, quirky and Italian sound. I found this song by the cinematic orchestra and think that it is just so atmospheric and beautiful, so I really wanted to incorporate it into my work somewhere. I think that the tempo of the track will also aid my animation and hopefully make it quite slow placed and simple. 

This storyboard, like in the session, was based on another of my images from my visual journal which I felt had potential for an interesting animation. In terms of communicating, I feel that this idea has alot more of a general atmosphere which is what I was hoping to create. I think that the music will aid this animation perfectly as it has a lot of scenes that just transition with a straight cut, which would work well with the strikes of piano. I think this idea has alot of potential for a final outcome and would be perhaps simpler to create than the previous idea, and be more effective. The music I feel would create a sense of being deep in thought while he writes.