//instruction: Because of the length of the animation process, the animation process would be divided into three parts, which are child, middle age and old age.
Introduction:
Animation production is the core part of the entire animation production process. At this stage, the scenes and characters are drawn according to the storyboard design, and animation software is used to combine these elements frame by frame into animation.
Here are the specific steps I took in animation production:
Develop an animation production plan:
Before entering the animation production stage, a detailed production plan is needed, including the production schedule, work tasks, and division of labour, to ensure control of production progress and quality.
Determine scenes and characters:
Based on the storyboard design, scenes and characters need to be drawn and their appearance, colour, and characteristics determined.
Create animation assets:
Animation assets include various elements of scenes and characters, such as backgrounds, props, and characters.
Create animation frames:
Using animation software, the assets are combined frame by frame according to the storyboard design to create each frame of animation.
Refine animation details:
During the animation production process, continuous adjustments and refinements are needed for animation details, such as character actions, expressions, and background details, to ensure the smoothness and authenticity of the animation.
In this Child phase, I selected several keyframes to introduce my drawing process.
Environment setting
In terms of scene-setting, I referenced many photos and originally intended to set the scene in a school, but due to the difficulty of constructing the scene, I chose the little boy's room instead. In the initial sketches, I chose a perspective view and exaggerated the perspective of the little boy's room. The main purpose of exaggerating the perspective was to cater to the quirky and crazy style of the animation, making all the characters appear strange and insane.
In terms of colour selection, I used a high degree of grayscale to highlight the little boy, with an overall hue leaning towards blue-purple, using a cool colour scheme to enhance the sense of coldness in the little boy's room.
The design of the room's shape, colour, and lighting is all in service of the story character's psychological state and plot. After completing the scene's design, the image of the little boy staying up late to do his homework can be depicted.
After setting up the scene, the colour style of the other animation scenes also follows the design of the scene. In the scene where the demon appears in the little boy's room, I chose an upward-looking perspective, using a third-person perspective to see the demon quietly appear from behind the little boy. This perspective is more oppressive compared to other perspectives. The demon's appearance is based on its character design, representing the little boy's dark side. In my opinion, crawling out of the little boy's shadow is very fitting for the character's design. At the same time, the demon's action design also follows the circle principle of the 12 principles of animation. The demon's arm movement swipes out from the shadow and supports itself on the ground. At this point, I added a brief pause in the action design to give the demon a sense of pulling its own body out.
In the scene where the little boy falls into the space-time tunnel, I simulated the end of the tunnel as a clock in terms of lighting. In this scene, I also spent some time dealing with the perspective between objects. At the same time, as the objects move with the little boy, they move clockwise along the clock face. In the little boy's action design, I added some hand-waving movements to make him more flexible. Although these movements are impossible in the real world, in some action designs, I need to abandon the laws of physics to make the actions more dramatic. After all, the world of animation is different from the real world.
Conclusion:
The design and technical aspects of an animated short film play a crucial role in shaping the overall narrative and mood. The scene settings, lighting design, colour palette, and character movement were carefully chosen to match the story's themes and the young boy's psychological state. The use of exaggerated perspective, grey colour palette, and cold hues reinforced the young boy's emptiness and exhaustion. The movement design followed the circle principle in animation, emphasizing the dramatic effect. By carefully considering these design and technical aspects, an animation short film can create a visually stunning and emotionally impactful experience for the audience.
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