Water Pollution - Our Stop Motion Animation

Our own stop motion animation creation

For this module we were asked to create our own stop motion animation. I worked with Nicole and we began by throwing around a few ideas of topics. Firstly, our topic had to be a contemporary issues, so we decide that we would like to do something relating to the environment as it is a very important issue in modern day life. 

Ideas:

• Global warming
• Pollution (of any kind)
• Coastal Erosion 

I came up with the idea of creating our idea within our actual environment discussed. I thought incorporating the beach into our idea would show creativity and context, I pitched this idea to my teammate and we both agreed. This then lead to us deciding that if we were using a beach environment we could cover the topic of water pollution. 

We decided to create a story of how water pollution not only effects one species but all species, something created by humans can go through the life cycle and then causes problems for us, showing that it is in our best interests to look after the environment around us. We hunted around the local charity shops to find props for our animation and purchased: a doll, a fish toy, a shark toy, a bucket and spade and windmill (a previous idea discussed had been global warming and wind energy). 

We decide to use Windows Movie Maker to put our animation together, as it is a software that we are both familiar with and hopefully therefore would be simple to edit. Our stop motion animation told the story of the girl called Penelope who lives by the sea, she lead a simple life of catching her dinner in the sea. However, water pollution caused the fish to become infected and die. Penelope then eats the fish and also becomes ill. The animation shows huge impact pollution can have on the whole environment and sends an important message to everyone.

I found the creation as process very enjoyable and it was fun being able to play around with different ideas. However, a drawback of producing a stop motion animation on the beach was the wind. We often struggled to get Penelope (the doll) upright and not blow over in the wind. I also noticed after uploading the images on to the computer than the lighting had been very changeable due to clouds coming across the sun on that particular day. Although, in hindsight may that added to the overall effect of the 'outdoors environment'. 

Bringing it all together

We used Picasa to edit any images that needed tweeking and then Windows Movie Maker to put all the images together. We then selected some upbeat music for the title shots and the credits, and some background music for the story. We created narration using Audacity to record and manipulate our voices. 

I loved creating our stop motion animation, especially as it was on the beach and in such a natural environment, it really put our subject in context. I think if we were to make another stop motion animation we would use a more advanced camera with tripod in order the keep the camera in the same place through the whole animation. 

Stop Motion Animation

Animation Links

One of the most famous stop motion animations is Wallace and Gromit.  All the characters were made from moulded plasticine modelling clay, and filmed with stop motion animation, this is often called Claymation. The link below give more depth information about the craft of animation and its history and creators. 

Stop motion animation 
http://flyingpaper.org/the-craft-of-stop-motion-animation/

The history and creators of stop motion animation
http://trueclassics.net/2011/09/03/pioneers-of-animation-j-stuart-blackton/

Here are examples of incredible stop motion animation on two different scales: 

Gulp. The world's largest stop-motion animation set, shot on a Nokia N8.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieN2vhslTTU

Dot. The world's smallest stop-motion animation character shot on a Nokia N8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD7eagLl5c4

Audacity

Audacity is free, open source, cross-platform software for recording and editing sounds.

This is another programme we explored whilst working with animation. Audacity can be used to record voices and narration, and you then manipulate the voices using options such as 'change pitch' and 'change tempo'. I think I will find this software useful when creating my own animation as I will need narration and character voices.

'A truth whispered among animatiors is that 70% of a show's impact comes from the soundtrack' 

Michel Dougherty

I agree, without dramatic music in tense times during a film, the emotion wouldn't be experienced as much as just watching a film with no music. Soundtracks help set a scene. Creates mood and atmosphere.

Different types of sound:

Music

Voices

Sound effects

Senses:

Hear

Watch

Feel (Emotionally)

Play to cure : The Cancer Research Game

Just came across this game whilst browsing online. This a cause very close to my heart and I thought it was quite interesting considering we have been talking about gaming and education, and this incorporates both.

Description from the Cancer Research website: 

Play to Cure™: Genes in Space is the world’s first free mobile game that uses the collective force of players to analyse real genetic data and help beat cancer sooner.

The game

The mission of Genes in Space is to collect a fictional substance dubbed Element Alpha. This represents genetic cancer data, which might underpin certain types of cancer.

As a recruit of the game's 'Bifrost Industries', your mission is to collect the valuable and tradable substance Element Alpha and rise through the employee ranks by:

• Mapping your route through the densest areas of Element Alpha.
• Following your route as you fly through space collecting as much Element Alpha as you can, destroying asteroids along the way.
• Avoiding and shooting asteroids to get to the next level of Element Alpha collection.
• Upgrading your ship to become more powerful and trading your Element Alpha for more points.

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/play-to-cure-genes-in-space?utm_source=affiliate_window&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_name=online_retail&utm_content=www.facebook.com

ZU3D Stop Motion Animation - Using our own materials

We created a stop motion animation again today but this time using our own materials. We used a webcam linked to the computer, a backdrop, and various props found in the classroom. 

It was interesting to use this software with a webcam as we have never done this before. Stop motion animation is time consuming and it took a great deal of time to create just a small section of film, but it is very effective and I do like the end result.

This is our backgroup and props for our animation titled 'One man and his goat'.