Motion Graphics and Composition - Project 4
Motion Graphics and Composition
23.9.2024 - 5.11.2024
Johnny Lam Wee Zhe (0363436)
Bachelor of Design in Creative Media
INSTRUCTIONS
PROJECT 4 - ABSTRACT MOTION
For the final project, we are tasked with creating the final motion graphics
animation. We are to tell the story according to the theme that we pick. This
project is open theme which mean we choose our own ideas and theme. So with
that, I proceed with thinking of what theme to choose.
Idealization
The first thing I do is that I come up a few themes to execute the motion
graphic animations. Here are the list of themes I have come up with:
1) Everything at the End of Time - hours long album depicting what dementia is
like
2) The Mind's Eye - a music video that pays homage to the 90s CGI
3) Dog and a Fallen Star - an idea shared by a friend of a dog playing with
stars
4) Liminal Space - an internet aesthetic of a location that illicit eerie or
surreal feeling to viewers, usually of a 'transitional' locations such as a
hallway, road etc.
In the end, I decide to choose the first option.
In addition to that, I scroll through pinterest to look for ideas and moods
for what the animation could be like. I found a few ideas. While looking for
it, I try to keep in mind in some of the requirements where the animation
should be experimental or mixed media. Here is link to my moodboard:
Storyboard
In the next stage of the process, I am to draw down the storyboard and expand
on the ideas further on how the story can be told. This is the part that I
have the most struggle with as I have difficult time thinking of abstraction
concept and how to tell story in a more abstract way. The examples provided
gave me a few ideas but does not really match the theme I have in mind. The
first storyboard that I have drawn is unfinished. This is when I was told that
my ideas are not abstract enough. Here was what I have.
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Fig 1.1 Initial Storyboard
Once I receive the feedback, I redraw the storyboard again. This time, in an
attempt to draw the story in a more abstract way.
Fig 1.2 Final Storyboard
Digitization
Once I have completed the storyboard, I begin my process by downloading
copyright free images and videos from the internet to be used in my motion
graphics as part of the mixed media requirement of the project. I download
the footage from this website:
Meanwhile I downloaded images from google after I filter out copyrighted
images. Here are the folder to the elements I have downloaded individually:
Once I have download all that, I then proceed to cut off the background of
some image and convert them to png format in order to have them be used in
my motion graphics.
Fig 2.1 Cutting background using an art program
Once I have all the png images I needed, I then proceed to put them into
adobe after effects and make arrangement according to my storyboard. The
first scene would be an assortment of objects surrounding an old man with an
abstract memory ball inside the head of the old man.
In order to create the 'memory ball', I went onto Youtube and look for the
tutorial. This is the tutorial I follow.
Fig 2.2 Gradients Wave Trail After Effect
The memory ball is done by using a combination of masking, effect and layer
styles. I first made five circles and add a program to have them rotate and
wiggling in front of a basic yellow background. Then I add in the fast box
blur and vibrance effect to make the color look blended and more saturated.
After that, I add the inner glow and bevel and emboss to the ball to add in
dimension to the shape.
Fig. 2.3 Adding the ball and apply moving objects
Once I finished, I realize just how empty the background is and I feel that
I need something in the background as my intention for the first scene is to
have it look more 'full'. There I found this tutorial for the background:
Fig 2.3 How to Create Animated Gradient
For the background, I decide to use the same color scheme of the memory ball
to keep it consistent. I add in a solid layer and apply 4 color gradient on
to the solid layer and add movement animations for each points to create a
movement effect. Then I add another layer on top of the solid layer and
apply effects onto the layer; those effect are motion tile and turbulent
replacement. The turbulent replacement helps fill up the hole artifact on
the wallpaper when playing the animation.
After that, I transition the scene by having the came move towards the ball
and the 'hollow' part of the head grow and cover the entire screen. The
'memory ball' will then glow brighter and then flash the screen white for
another transition. For this one, I pre-com the 'memory ball' and then add
an adjustment layer above it. Then I apply the glow effect to the layer
which makes the memory glow. For the flash transition, I follow another
tutorial I found in another video. This is the one I follow:
Fig 2.4 Smooth White Flash Transition
This part is much easier than anticipated. I apply a white solid layer onto
the animation and then animate the opacity of the layer and adjust it's
animation pace.
The next part of the scene is not that easy and this where I make very
different changes in comparison to the storyboard due to downloading a
footage much different then what was initially plan. I was initially
thinking about putting the text everywhere on the footage but figure that
might make the footage too messy so I decide to go with a much simpler lines
and the text behind the body figure. For that, I used the following
tutorials.
Fig 2.5 How to add text behind moving object
Fig 2.6 Scribble and Animated Scribbled Texture
For this next scene, I made in completely new workfile than the main one for
a much simpler workspace for me to work on. First, I used the roto brush and
select the woman in the footage using my pen and tablet as well as using the
refine edge tool for the hair. After that, I add in an additional solid
layer onto the footage and apply the scribble effect. I adjust until I am
satisfied with the texture I want and the write down the text for the
footage. I convert the text into a mask shape and the paste the scribble
effect onto mask.
The lines are also done by the same technique.
Fig 2.7 Edit the footage
Fig 2.8 Apply roto brush onto the footage
For the rest of the scene, I apply all that I have learn through out the
semester to pull off the scene. There is one particular scene during the
'proposal' with the flickering which I have found out by typing on the
search bar of the effect. I found it by accident while typing down another
effect.
Audio
One I have finished with the entire motion graphic, I render it and then go
ahead and download the audio. Usually I would make a list of the audio and
plan on adding them onto my motion graphics but due to time crunch, I have
to download the audio on the fly. I download the sounds from the same
website where I download the footage state previously.
Here is what I have downloaded:
From there, I then move the final motion graphic and audios onto adobe pro
premier and then combine the two according to each of the scenes.
Fig 2.9 Adding audio to motion graphic
Final Result
Fig 3. Final Result
REFLECTION
Although project four has a shorter duration requirement compared to the previous project, I personally find this project to be more difficult. As I mentioned previously, I have trouble with abstract thinking so this project provides me a challenge on how to tell a story using mostly symbolism either and convey a message. There are examples being provided to us to help us give us ideas but I personally find none of the example given to fit the theme I have chosen. I am still unsatisfied with the final result, especially the sound design of the footage as I personally find it to be rather low quality.
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