Animation for Education

Brendan RoutledgeE2BN Consultant

Animation is the process by which we see still pictures MOVE

Each picture is shot on film one at a time and is shown at the rate of 25 pictures per second making the pictures appear to move

What is animation?

Why use animation?

Increase in creativity and imagination – literacy/story done throughanimation offers great opportunity for discussion

Great opportunity to develop interesting approaches to ‘multimodal’writing – better than PowerPoint!

Huge increase in motivation esp. for boy’s writing

Chance to develop personal / social skills / teamwork

Chance to develop ICT skills in an exciting, interesting context

There are four basic techniques used in animation

• Drawn animation • Cut-out animation • Computer animation or computer generated imagery (CGI)• Stop-motion or model animation

Animation techniques

Drawn animation

This covers any form where one drawing is replaced by another in a sequence. Each drawing is slightly different from the one before. Itworks the way a flip book does. These animated films are made upof thousands of drawings which are shown on screen very quickly one after the other

Looks great and is very easy Very labour intensive

Cut-out animation

This covers any form of animation where cut-out shapes are moved around or replaced by other cut-outs. Flat objects like buttons, matchsticks and string can also be used in this form of animation. Cut-outs can also be laid on top of drawings

Quick and easy to create Can appear stiff & awkward

Computer Generated Imagery (CGI)

This refers to the drawing of three-dimensional models and sets on the computer. Images can be scanned into the computer using digital photography or made within the computer itself. Human characters can be built from clay whilst sets and furnishings are modelled using design systems similar to architects drawings. These models are scanned into the computer aswire-frame models which are gradually built up into a coloured and textured form which will finally be recorded onto film

Creates very lifelike animationExpensiveToy Story = $30 million

Stop-motion animation

This involves the filming of puppets or any form of three-dimensional models. The materials used could include plasticine, clay or wire - in fact anythingthat can be bent or formed into another shape. The puppets are positioned and filmed before being moved ever so slightly and filmed again. These shots are put together as a piece of film and will give the impression of the models moving

Same models can be usedagain and again

Extremely time-consuming – Nick Park = 3 seconds per day

Stop-motion animation

How we created ‘A Saint’s Revenge’

Stop-motion animation

How we created ‘A Saint’s Revenge’

Write a new story or access an existing story – a myth or legend orfolktale from your area – e.g. E2BN Myths & Legends site

Amend your story – create a version suitable for filming

Create a storyboard outlining the key scenes of the film – shot types

Produce a list of characters and props which need to be made

Create the characters, props and backgrounds

Film the story, scene by scene

Post-production work – voice-over, titling, music

Stop-motion animation

The story

See http://myths.e2bn.net – use the text of one of the stories andamend it create version which can be filmed

Stop-motion animation

Create a storyboard outlining the key scenes of the film – shot types

Produce a list of characters and props which need to be made

Create the characters, props and backgrounds

Stop-motion animation

Use oiled plasticine rather than clay – remains workable for much longer

Start with basic shapes- spheres, cylinder, cubes

Make characters approx 15cm/6 ins tall

Keep legs short to support body and head

Consider how to create expressions – eyes, mouth,hair – make them moveable and removable

Make two sets of eyes, mouth etc

Shoot against plain backgrounds or large images

Stop-motion animation

Film the story, scene by scene

Many software titles available including DigiBlueand Xipster Instant Animator

Can use simple and cheap webcam

Take 1 shot per movement or 2-3 for slower action

Start and end with 15-25 images with no action

Include occasional pause – 8 – 10 shots

Blinking – take eyes off, 2 shots, eyes back on

Keep movements very small

Stop-motion animation

Post-production work – voice-over, titling, music

Post-production work can be done in Windows MovieMaker

Add titles at beginning and credits at the end

Use text to move the story on – silent movie style!

Record the voice-over in sections

Add sound effects if needed – http://myths.e2bn.net

Add intro music if needed – http://audio.e2bn.net

Contacts & Further Help

Film Education – http://www.filmeducation.orgAnim8ed - http://www.anim8ed.org.uk/Animation for Education - http://www.animationforeducation.co.uk British Film Institute – http://www.bfi.org.uk Tech4Learning – http://www.tech4learning.com

Myths & Legends – http://myths.e2bn.netE2BN Gallery – http://gallery.e2bn.netAudio Networks – http://audio.e2bn.net

Xipster available from http://www.advisorymatters.co.uk

Oiled plasticine from Newclay Products Ltd. – http://www.newclay.co.uk

E2BN – http://www.e2bn.org

Brendan Routledge – brendan@suffolkeducationconsultants.net

Animation for Education

Brendan RoutledgeE2BN Consultant