Flash animation - the next update

I have found a news report that I have cut up to fit the length and style of my animation. From this I can see the main sections that I will need to include and therefore have drawn out an animatic. This is a new method for me, as I have not made 2D animations before, and when planning for projects that include video elements I have always used storyboarding. Basically animatics are a very basic hand drawn version of the final piece.

To see an example of an animatic click this link- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FinPTn-Rg-M.  

From my research, it is clear to me how I will go about beginning the actual animation process in Flash, how to export the video and how to use audio within Flash for an optimal performance in the final exported project.

I should mention the nitty gritty parts of the animation process too, if you haven’t read my previous post updating you on my animation project, it might be a good idea as I have mentioned a lot about the actual animation techniques I will be using.

Although before I begin animating, I would feel much more comfortable knowing I have all of the graphics work done. Not because I’m worried about these, I generally really enjoy the design process of a project as much as the technical parts. But if I am animating a scene and realise I need something extra, or do not like the graphics I have drawn then I would like to have spares handy to go asap.

This part of the project is definitely underway, as I have already created an animatic I know exactly what to create digitally, as I have drawings to work from.

As I have seen previously in a lip syncing tutorial, I’m going to first arrange the audio appropriately, as I have two pieces to import. These are the opening news tune, and then the broadcast itself. I do not have to worry too much about slicing up the news report in flash, as I have cut and pasted together the report from audacity.

 

On a side note in relation to this, I highly recommend that if you need any audio work done (generally low key) then go and download audacity here - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

I’m not sponsored by audacity or anything, it’s just a brilliant program to get to grips with easily and above all, it’s free.

As for the rest of my project I will be updating this blog on my progress, so if you would like to see the developments of my animation then keep reading! Or even if you would like to just have a look at the finished piece, I will upload it here first.

Flash animation, a project in progress

Our most recent assignment at college is to create a 2D animation, in a satirical fashion for our client (Imaginary of course) ‘Jib Jab’. Jib Jab specialise in creating these sorts of animations that poke fun at any major issues we see in the news these days.

So because it is for this client, we have a couple guidelines to stick to. The first of which is for the animation to be between 45 seconds and a minute long. The other was to, like Jib Jab, pick a topic in the news to make fun of.

Also I should point out that we have been learning about some basic animation techniques to use. I gather that the better the use the technique in our final animations, the better the grade we will get for it… I suppose.

These techniques include ‘frame by frame’ animation, ‘tweening’ and using the ‘bone’ tool.

Frame by frame animation – Basically one of the more classic methods of animation, you draw out each new frame of animation. In terms of my animation I will probably be using this for the lip syncing element.

Tweening – This is a tool in Flash to create smooth movement, generated by the program itself. In basic terms you can choose a frame to start with and then another with your character in a different place, then use the ‘tween’ option to create movement between the two frames that you have specified. For my animation I am thinking about using tweening for mostly any camera movement rather than character movement.

The ‘Bone’ tool – This tool (also in Flash) is much different from the techniques I have already talked about. This tool allows you to create the basic skeleton of a character underneath or behind the graphics. This is generally used for more realistic movements, and to use instead of the frame by frame technique in terms of movement. I am still undecided if, or where, I would use this for my animation.

Right off the bat I have an idea growing in my mind. I have decided to start gathering different news reports about the price of fuel at the moment, poking fun at the subject (without offending people obviously).

Keep following this blog for further updates; I will also post my final animation on here too.

2D Animation

We have recently been set a project to create a satirical styled 2D Flash animation, in the style of 'Jib Jab'. This means that we are basically going to create a comical animation, picking fun at some issue in recent news.

I have already pitched and presented my idea to my lecturer at college. My idea will be to make fun of a recent news report on the price of fuel, using the audio from the report and adding my own comical graphics to create the effect I want to achieve.

As I have already taken the audio from the news piece and sliced it up to around 50 seconds, my next move will be to develop an animatic. This will just be hand drawings outlining the animation with the audio piece added.

I will be posting more updates soon.