Cinema Perpetuum Mobile : Animation Workshop

EXERCISE 1 : names

Use the letters of your name to make a character portrait.

EXERCISE 2 : string

Use 50cm of string to create a character portrait.

Scott McCloud’s ‘Understanding Comics’ : emotions

EXERCISE 3 : draw your string face expressing each of the core emotions

PIXILATION

Neighbours – Norman McLaren (8 min)

Pixilation is most interesting when we use it to make things move in a way which is not possible in live action.

– Think of actions that are possible in pixilation, that are not possible to film in live action. Share with everyone.

Velcro faces

Narrative structure : an introduction

EXERCISE 4 : group story-boarding

– Get into groups.
– Introduce your string characters and name characters to each other.

GROUP 1 : preparing for the shoot

If you want to use velcro masks, use the drawn features of your groups characters to cut from velcro the necessary facial features to cover each core emotion that appears in your story (eyes, mouth and eyebrows for anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, surprise).

Think about clothing – dark clothes work better, as they don’t reflect light back.

What will you use as a background?

Will your camera be static or a moving “character”, itself?

GROUP 1 : shooting the animation

OTHER GROUPS
Choose one of the story frameworks and compose a storyboard in your group. Include one or more of your groups name-faces or string-faces.

ROTATE, WITH ALWAYS ONE GROUP SHOOTING AND THE OTHERS WORKING ON PRIIT PÄRN STORYBOARDS