Video and Sound Production - Final Project
25.10.2023 - 28.11.2023 (Week 9 - Week 14)
Sorcha Griselda / 0353056
Video and Sound Production / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Final Project
INSTRUCTION
PROJECT 3 | STOP-MOTION
Stop-motion Animation Video Inspiration | Under The Winter Sun
"Under the Winter Sun" is a brief yet poignant stop-motion animation that
narrates the story of a lone snowman who creates a companion from snow.
Sadly, their friendship is fleeting, disrupted by changing seasons and the
sun's gradual thawing of the icy surroundings. What makes this animation
notable is the creator's skill in conveying a profound narrative with only
two characters in a simple setting. It underscores the idea that intricate
designs are not always essential to convey a compelling message.
Furthermore, the incorporation of 3D elements throughout the stop-motion
animation lends a realistic quality to the story, enriching the overall
viewing experience.
Our storyboard detailed the sequence of each scene and visual elements in
each shot, and we attempted to adhere to it. Initially, we planned to
craft the main characters, the polar bear and penguin, using papers
painted with acrylics. However, desiring a three-dimensional effect, we
opted for clay instead.
| Fig 1.1 Stop Motion Proposal | 27/10/2023 |
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| Fig 1.2 Storyboard | 27/10/2023 |
Our inspiration primarily stemmed from the real-life polar bears and
penguins found in Antarctica. Crafting the model figures posed a
challenge, given our limited experience with clay modeling. Despite being
beginners, we persevered and managed to create simplified versions of the
characters.
The underlying message of our short stop-motion film is to prompt viewers
to take action in response to the current climate change affecting
Antarctica's ice and impacting the habitat of these animals. This message
is conveyed at the end of the stop-motion film.
1. Creation Process
For the first session, we started off by creating our characters and main
set for the video by using the materials that we have bought for this
project. The materials that we use are:
- Clay (for creating the character & icebergs)
- Cardboard Box (structure of the set)
- Paper and water-colored paints (background set)
- Zip-lock (to hold the water)
- Cotton (for the snow effects)
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| Fig 1.3 Buying materials | 01/11/2023 |
In the following week, we started to create the setup and characters.
In order to work efficiently, we divided up the task so that we could
work more effectively: Hemmy created the characters as she is more
skilled with clay, while I took care of the background setup.
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| Fig 1.4 Creation of the Characters | 08/11/2023 |
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| Fig 1.5 Creation of the Set | 08/11/2023 |
The set was constructed primarily of cardboard, painted paper, and
clay, which were then assembled inside the box. We tried a few different
approaches to determine the best angles that would help us achieve the
ideal lighting, even though it was a challenge to get the brilliant
lighting we wanted for the set.
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| Fig 2.1 Before Lighting Setup | 16/11/2023 |
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3. Shooting
During the beginning of the shooting, we had a lot of trouble getting
the right pictures because the camera wasn't steady. We had to take many
shots at certain times because the lighting wasn't what we had
anticipated.
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The actual process of capturing frames was a lesson in patience and
precision. Moving each character incrementally and maintaining consistency
throughout the animation demanded a keen eye for detail. Lighting played a
crucial role in creating a visually appealing stop-motion sequence, and I
learned to appreciate the impact of subtle changes in light on the overall
atmosphere.
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| Fig 3.2 Stop Motion Shooting Process #1 | 17/11/2023 |
But every creative process has its share of difficulties. It was
occasionally difficult to get the right focus on characters, especially when
they were positioned too near to the camera. Yet, overcoming these hurdles
became an integral part of the learning experience, pushing me to adapt and
refine my technique.
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| Fig 3.3 Stop Motion Shooting Process #2 | 17/11/2023 |
4. Editing Process
The first step is to compile the pictures into a specific folder in order
to allow for an easier editing process.
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| Fig 4.1 Folder of the Stop Motion Images | 21/11/2023 |
The frames and videos were exported to Premiere Pro for editing and
refinement, including the incorporation of sound effects. Additionally,
adjustments were made to ensure consistent color grading across all
scenes.
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After that, every shot was positioned correctly and adjusted to the
right frame size to meet the specifications outlined in Mr. Martin's
announcement regarding teams. We thought that the still image was moving
too quickly, so we extended its duration from two to three. During
editing, we discovered that the overall length could be further
adjusted.
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| Fig 4.3 Editing on Adobe Premiere Pro | 21/11/2023 |
We also did some color correcting using the knowledge that Mr. Martin
has explained during the previous lecture class.
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| Fig 4.4 Color Correcting on Adobe Premiere Pro #1 | 21/11/2023 |
As it can be seen from the picture below, we made Scene 4 into a black
and white color, as to add tension to the scene as this scene is
supposed to show the sadness reality of the icebergs melting.
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| Fig 4.5 Color Correcting on Adobe Premiere Pro #2 | 21/11/2023 |
Final
| Fig 4.6 Final 'Antarctica: The Melting Ice' Stop Motion | 21/11/2023 |
FEEDBACK
- The concept is pretty straightforward, just make sure that the outcome of the stop motion is going to be interesting for the viewers.
REFLECTION
I have had a long-standing desire to work on a stop-motion project since
I am quite curious about the complexities involved in its creation. Even
though I was a newbie, I could feel my excitement, and I think I was a
little too enthusiastic while coming up with ideas. This caused
difficulties when filming, as several scenarios turned out to be difficult
and needed troubleshooting. It was a pleasure working with Hemmy on one of
my first stop-motion projects, despite the challenges and multiple
reshoots.
Moreover, I gained valuable skills in shooting sequences with both quick
and slow movements during the process. Fast-paced scenes required objects
to move across longer distances between frames, but slow-motion scenes
required fewer frames. I also realized how important lighting and contrast
are when filming, especially when stop-motion is included, as they are
crucial in setting the mood and tone of the scene.
During this group work project, I also learned to accept and value each
team member's skills and shortcomings by working on this group project,
which encouraged a cooperative approach to problem-solving. Ultimately,
I am really happy with how the project turned out. It was a pleasure to
collaborate with Hemmy because her distinct perspectives and
suggestions, particularly in the editing stage, greatly enhanced the
whole creative process.
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