Hand-drawn animation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V36LpPkwJ7I

In an effort to understand the mechanics of hand drawn animation, I’ve chosen the linked video for critique.

Stylistically, it pays great attention to detail (such as perspective, value, and shape). Pacing works well in the manner that it’s a fluent story. Voice acting is pretty good, certain characters could have more fitting roles. He ties computer graphics well with his hand-drawn style (such as the bottles, Capri-sun, computer screens). Some of the animation doesn’t transition smoothly, but it doesn’t hinder the concept or the execution. It only really bothers me when there are overseen details that correlate to function, such as stationary tires on a moving car. If you scroll through the animation while it’s paused, you see certain shapes overlapping when they aren’t supposed to. As stated earlier, this isn’t that bothersome since it’s got a hand-drawn feel. Certain mistakes actually serve to add to the aesthetic.

Whilst in movement, this isn’t a concern, so I take it for a grain of salt. Certain design elements, such as repetition/proximity, are employed well when creating concepts such as speed or mundane tones. Value is handled well since it’s done in greyscale.

The animator does a great job attaching emotion to the main charactor, generally done in the facial features. I’m assuming things like pupils, opacity faded clouds and camera-zooms were done in after-effects, or a program similar.

Critique 9/24

http://lookslikegooddesign.com/telephoneme-motion-mk12/

The video in critique is a long, well composed video. Stylisticly, it's amazing how well the 3-D rendering, audio and 2-D design relate. The introduction starts fast and grabs the attention of the viewer by using something common (the count-down) but introducing new elements for your focus. Sound modulation works well as the video is distorted itself. They added shadows really help pop the images as well.

Moving from 3-D to photo, we're put into 2-D design again. The transperency and colors work great, serving their purpose to overwhelm the viewer. The linework really moves the viewer's eye along with the camera as well. The typography is simple, but matches the retro vibe of the entire composition. My concern is that they pick peculiar words at times. The way sound modulates the typography is really interesting though.

Towards the two minute mark, the video begins to fall apart conceptually. This may have been done on purpose, but I feel it's too much for too long. They begin overlapping 3-d on top of photography, while simultaneously bringing on the colors that were originally attention grabbing. This works simliarly to yelling at someone for their attention, then screaming the entire conversation.

Overall, the video is strong, but goes on too long. There are so many elements your mind gets exhausted attempting to break it down, so the pacing is racing the entire video. Hierarchy is respected and broken with knowledge.

Excercise 1

Labarynth Chase Critique

http://lookslikegooddesign.com/animation-marcel-ziul/

This video is one depicting a chase, though my biggest fault is that it doesn't provide any real curiosity as the the intent of the storyboard. Why is the chase happening, why is there no real start or end, only a snippet of the middle? Conceptually, it is lacking and appears to be more of a project along the lines of reaching a certain stylistic aesthetic.

A very nice, drawn style, marrying that of old graphic novels with a contemporary feel. Stylisticly, the whole composition works well.

Hierarchy proves strong, working well on the Z axis through many overlaps. Typographically, it's simple, but there is little fault concerning scale of the communicated portions.

The construction of the typography is nice, paced well and consistently with it's flickering.

Pacing is fairly well, but as it is a chase I feel like there could be more energy. Most importantly, the cars don't look completely fluid in their turns or movement. This is an aspect of detail that would really bring the entire piece to a new level, as the cars attempt to strike realism otherwise.

"Labarynth Chase" is a bit obvious of a title, too see and say. Craft is handled pretty well, it's clean and functions well, certain mechanical/physical details aside.