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VSP Final Project : Stop Motion

11 November 2024 - 6 January 2024

CHONG CHENG TAO (0371072)
Video & Sound Production | Bachelor of Design in Creative Media | Taylor's University
Final Project: Stop Motion Video

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LECTURES

Week 1:
Stop motion is the traditional cinematographic technique that was first used to give illustrated figures the impression of movement. The camera would be repeatedly stopped and started and the many frames would all be fit together to produce a captivating short story.

Rationale of Stop Motion

1) Tactile Aesthetic

Stop motion has a distinctive, handmade feel that is hard to achieve with digital animation. The texture of real materials gives a different feeling to the final product, creating a unique aesthetic.

2) Flexibility

It allows animators to manipulate any physical object, including clay, papers, or other items, which can be used to create the visual in stop motion video. This versatility allows the expand of creativity.

3)Visual Engagement

Stop motion has a visually unique and often quirky style that can make it stand out from other forms of animation or live-action video. The slightly jerky or "lagged" movements adds personality to the animation.


Mr. Martin instructed us to watch stop motion short and share the favourite.

 



Among the three, my favourite is the first one UTOPIA. A Stop motion Animation by Guldies. I'm suprised by the sophistication of this short. It was created only using clays but it succesfully shown the versatality of it. The transormation of the clay from high fidelity model into basic object is brilliant. 

The details shown in the intermediate frames, the use of stretch and compressed to change the shape of the clay is stunning. It makes the motion of the object looks realistic and dynamic. 

 
Week 7

Stop Motion Editing

*2-5 frames per second.
*Don't use auto focus & exposure.
*Simple lighting.
*Different scene into different folder.
*25fps.

Premiere Pro can't JPEG sequence automatically. So this process is needed:
  1. Preference > Timeline > Still Image Default Duration > 2-5 frames 
  2. Import folders.
  3. Toggle on "Insert and Overwrite sequences as nests or individual clips"

INSTRUCTIONS

This is the Module Information Booklet for this module: 


Final Project: Stop Motion
  • Proposal
  • Progress
  • Final Submission


Proposal

Fig 2.1 Stop Motion Proposal


CHENG TAO

For the shooting phrase, we face some problem in the continuity of the papercut aniamtion. Thus, we decide to mask out the papercut and animate in Clip Studio Paint and After Effect. 

Fig 2.2 Papercut 1

Fig 2.3 Papercut 2

Fig 2.4 Shooting of papercut

For the shooting phrase, we face some problem in the continuity of the papercut aniamtion. Thus, we decide to mask out the papercut and animate in Clip Studio Paint and After Effect. 

Fig 2.5 Mask out Papercut

Fig 2.6 Final papercut



Act 1

I mainly doing the 2D animation of the papercut, while the effect will handle by my teammate Nabil. I have animate the papercut in 8-12 fps to capture the stop motion aesthetic. 

The creating process is fun, I realize that a spare time between each movement is different to create a dynamic low frame animation and add characteristic to the character. For example, the conatct and passing movement would have 1-2 frames, meanwhile low and high movement would have 3 frames. 

Fig 2.7 Walking Cycle

Fig 2.8 Mushroom

Fig 2.9 Frames

I draw some in-between frame to make the animation more dynamic. 

Fig 2.10 In-between frame

Fig 2.11 Coundown animation for intro

For the ease of post-editing, I have export the animation in PNG sequence.

I do some compositing the After Effet. We decided to make the animation in 4:3 ratio and black & white with a TV frame to catch the old cartoon vibe for the Act 1.

Fig 2.12 Act 1 Compositing in After Effect

Fig 2.13 TV frame



Act 2

For Act 2, the charcter experience an acid trip. It would be more colorful and psychedelic style. Same as Act 1, I draw and add some primary effect in Clip Studio Paint, then export to After Effect for further effect adding and compositing. I aim to capture the a chaos and random vibe like a hangover confusion.

Fig 2.14 Act 2 in Clip Studio Paint

Fig 2.15 Act 2 Compositing in After Effect



Act 3

For Act 3, the scene is about the character eventually eaten by a gigantic mushroom.

Fig 2.16 Act 3

Fig 2.17 Act 3



Final Submission

Fig 2.18 Final Project_Stop Motion


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REFLECTIONS

This module has been such a fun experience! I truly appreciated the creative freedom provided by Mr. Martin, allowing us to explore our ideas and express ourselves in own aesthetic view. Being able to take charge of the project's direction and experiment with different methods made the journey both exciting and rewarding.

At the start, we faced some challenges that disrupted the project's flow. One significant issue was with creating a physical papercut animation. While the idea was appealing, we encountered technical difficulties that made it less feasible. However, we decided to adopt a mixed-media approach. This decision turned out to be a direction, it not only resolved the challenges but also added a layer of creativity and visual interest to the project. I found the mixed-media method much more amusing and versatile, as it allowed us to blend traditional and digital techniques seamlessly.

Throughtout this project, the working experience with my teammate, Nabil was great. From brainstorming ideas to executing the project, our collaboration was smooth and efficient. We communicated effectively, divided tasks based on our strengths, and trusted each other’s creative approaches. By the end of the project, we were both satisfied with the final result. 


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