Here is the news programme that my S2 classes made for their ‘Disaster and Emergency’ unit. The project was part of an ‘Integrated Learning Challenge’ which every subject took part in. The animations were created by making moving paintings that were either stop animated or by way of puppets. I’d also like to thank Kerry and Scott that were kind enough and talented enough to present the programme.
Jamie J (S4, OLSP) has been working on drawings for an animation. He started with drawings that looked a lot like Family Guy and Simpsons characters, but he is quickly finding his own style (a nice amalgamation of the two), an example of which, you’ll see above. I helped Jamie colour the drawing to make it look more professional, I can’t wait to see more of his ideas and maybe even try and animate them.
The third and final episode of Art Clast for this term (2010-2011) has been uploaded to Youtube and iTunes. You can watch all three episodes and even subscribe if you like them. Below is the animation special, which I feel is by far the best episode yet. Great work from the Art Clast podcasters yet again.
If you’d like to subscribe to the iTunes podcast, visit here.
The Art Four has put it’s ‘Tam O’Shanter’ animation up on Youtube for public access. Created by Miss McInnes and her S1 (OLSP) classes, it a tremendous feat of Photoshop Stop-animation. If anyone has ever tried movement or animation in Photoshop, you’ll understand how fantastic this short is, if you haven’t tried, you’ll still see how amazing it looks. My apologies on the narration… I tried my best.
I have just finished editing the ‘As I See It…’ short film created by pupils of Ladywell Learning Centre and their family members. The short talking head films focus on an aspect of the artist’s views on things around them. Each piece was created by painting (acrylics) a portrait on card and then adding moving mechanisms for the eyes and mouth to animate it. There is no digital editing in any of the pieces themselves, they are created and manipulated by hand in front of a flip camera while the artists’ audio is played in the background.
I was very happy that the adult family members were as willing to take part as much as the pupils and their younger siblings, it has made the selection of views varied and very interesting to watch. It’s definitely a project I’m very proud in being part of.
Primary Seven at St Paul’s continue on with their stop animation project. They have started animating, moving their characters around in their scenes. I will hopefully be able to air some of the animations next week.
The Brothers Quay are American twin brothers famous for their stop animations. Most of their films feature disturbing dark images of dolls, meat and pins. Inspired by eastern european animators, particularly Jan Svankmajer, they focus on telling their tales through abstract weird happenings and strange imagery.
The Brothers Quay have created numerous music videos and were commissioned to create several theatre/ballet pieces. They treat animation like dance, all movements are finely and intensely choreographed.
When first experiencing the Brothers work, it appears weird, confusing and even frightening, though with further watching you start to discover the beauty in the characters, the scenery and the ideas. It reminds me of The Brothers Grimm fairy tales, it has the creepy, the mystery and the fantastical.
Gemma C (S6) from Renfrew High has been working towards finishing the preparation for her stop animation ‘Frankenstein’s Monster With A Twist’ (working title). Spending her time building sets and props, figures and frames, she is now at the stage were the animation will begin. This will involve lighting the scene and moving the figures in tiny little steps (24 a second), to give the illusion of movement.
The detail in the walls, the organ and the floors is staggering. Made from painted cardboard and found items, Gemma has created a miniature lab in a miniature castle, though saying that, it is one of the biggest animation sets I’ve ever seen, a three foot by three foot floor with two walls that are three foot high.
The story centres around Dr Frankenstein and his monster, who when revived with electricity, is found to be gay. An idea that may hark back to parody film’s such as Mel Brooks’ ‘Young Frankenstein’ and Gerald Thomas’ ‘Carry On Screaming’.
Gemma is now working towards passing her exam and a portfolio to continue her animation exploration in college. The Art Classroom wishes her well, and would love to see the finished product.
This week’s ‘Artwork of the Week’ is not from a secondary school pupil or even a teacher, in fact, it’s from three primary school pupils. Josh K, Bismah H and John M (P7 from St Paul’s) have been working on their stop animation set and characters based around WWII and the ‘folly’ of war. The idea involves a stomping Hitler bringing destruction to a beautiful field. Hitler will walk across the landscape changing it from green fields and blue skies to rubble and dust.
The P7 A & B classes have been working on creating posters and short films that reflect upon the war as well as teach us a lesson to never let it happen again. It’s a great project to be involved in.
The Primary Teachers have brought their animations and their assistance to St Paul’s to let the pupils have a try at making and editing a short, and looking at some of the sets and characters, they could well better their teachers’ attempt.
This week’s Artwork of the Week comes from a Primary Teaching Student at the University of Glasgow. Miss Quigley created the short animation below at home. This gritty and quite realistic animation was shot using a Sony digital camera, then the photos were processed through iStop Motion, with sounds and editing completed in iMovie.
The short focuses on the people who are left behind after war, it shows us that it is not just those that are involved in the war, but those connected, who feel a greater impact through hurt and loss. The figure of the lead woman waiting on her loved one is extremely successful, her clothes look of the period and flow and move realistically, her proportions are more real than that usually seen in animations and she reacts well within the scenery, with the lighting and with each prop.
A beautifully created masterpiece with visuals and emotions that stay with you long after the film has finished.
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