Animation Techniques

In the past week, we covered the animation techniques which are to be used in our animation assignment. In the practical we also covered the animation techniques which were used in two Disney animations. This included the WALL-E Pixar introduction and a Disney Pixel short film called "One Man Band."

Animation Techniques

During the lecture, we learned about various camera shots, angles and movement. The most notable angles I learned about which I may use in my animation are:

• High & Low Angle - These angles are great at giving the audience an idea of the size of the object. Since my animation includes two ships are remarkably different sizes, I can use these angles to give the audience an idea of the difference in sizes. This can make one ship look vulnerable compared to the other ships. 
• Birds Eye View - I may use this to show the audience the speed and size comparisons of the ship. This can also be useful for showing off the setting in the current scene.
• Rule of Third - I may use this to prevent scenes from being too "crowded." A good example of using this technique could be setting the camera to show the terrain on the bottom third of the scene whilst showing the sky and ships flying over in the top two thirds. 
• Leading the Eye Rule - I may use this to show when a ship is taking off as it leads the audiences eyes towards the ship.

Disney Animation Techniques

Here are the notes collected for the WALL-E Pixar Introduction:

1.      Still camera technique.

2.      Very smooth animation style.

3.      Interaction with the company’s logo.

4.      Gives a comedic/family friendly feeling using various gimmicks such as:

•          Squashing the I in Pixar.
•          Unscrewing the light bulb in the lamp.
•          Knocking the R in Pixar.
•          Replacing the R in Pixar with a character.

5.      The lamp jumps repeatedly getting faster. It squashes and stretches as a way of jumping.

6.      The lamp goes in one direction to give anticipation of what’s happening next. The lamp stops and slides.

7.      The lamp wiggles before jumping onto the I.

8.      The lamp gives the idea that it is looking for something.

9.      The lamp looks to the faces of the audience looking for sympathy.

10.  WALL-E enters the scene looking at the audience to give the effect to the audience that it is a friendly character.

11.  Animator uses short poses (straight and sudden movement) to give the robotic animated effect of WALL-E.

12.  WALL-E’s turning of the body to the other direction lets the audience know that he is leaving.

 Here are the notes collected for the One Man Band animation:

1.      Introduction is close up on a banner using camera panning techniques. Audience most likely does not realise the setting until the camera zooms out onto the stage.

2.      Rule of three technique.

3.      Curtains reveal new character. This can be seen as an element of surprise to the audience.

4.      Characters eye becomes camera to show the character's vision.

5.      Camera zoomed onto the coin bucket with the character about to put in the coin leads to anticipation.

6.      Using specific camera angles to portray the height of the characters.For example what is known as the "high angle" and "low angle" camera shots portrayed how small and vulnerable the short character was compared to the two musicians.

7.      Camera zooming all the way out to show the setting.

8.      Coin rolling on top of the sewer drainer leads to anticipation about wherever the coin will roll over or drop down the drain.

9.      The small character repeatedly failing to use the violin leads to anticipation about wherever this character actually knows how to play the violin.

10.  Increase in speed of the animation during the playing of the instruments increases tension. Scenes also change faster.

11.  The animation hints about entry of new character by playing a new instrument before changing the camera to show the new character. Gives an element of surprise.

12.  The new characters shape indicates he is sneaky by entering the scene suddenly.

13.  The high angle over the drain demonstrates the size of it and how unlikely the coin was to fall down the drain.