Animation for Education

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Animation for Education
Brendan Routledge E2BN Consultant
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What is animation?
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
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Why use animation?
Increase in creativity and imagination
literacy/story done through animation offers
great opportunity for discussion Great
opportunity to develop interesting approaches to
multimodal writing better than
PowerPoint! Huge increase in motivation esp. for
boys writing Chance to develop personal /
social skills / teamwork Chance to develop ICT
skills in an exciting, interesting context
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Animation techniques

• 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

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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.
It works the way a flip book does. These animated
films are made up of thousands of drawings which
are shown on screen very quickly one after the
other
Looks great and is very easy
Very labour intensive
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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
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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
as wire-frame models which are gradually built up
into a coloured and textured form which will
finally be recorded onto film
Expensive Toy Story 30 million
Creates very lifelike animation
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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
anything that 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 used again and again
Extremely time-consuming Nick Park 3 seconds
per day
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Stop-motion animation
How we created A Saints Revenge
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Stop-motion animation
How we created A Saints Revenge
Write a new story or access an existing story a
myth or legend or folktale 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
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Stop-motion animation
The story
See http//myths.e2bn.net use the text of one
of the stories and amend it create version which
can be filmed
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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
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Stop-motion animation
Create the characters, props and backgrounds
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
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Stop-motion animation
Film the story, scene by scene
Many software titles available including
DigiBlue and 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
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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
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Contacts Further Help
Film Education http//www.filmeducation.org Anim
8ed - 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.net E2BN
Gallery http//gallery.e2bn.net Audio 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_at_suffolkeducationconsultants.net
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Animation for Education
Brendan Routledge E2BN Consultant