Project 1 - Morphology (Straight Ahead Animation)

Project Description
You will create what is called a "straight ahead" animation. That is, you will draw a long series of images, one after another, gradually figuring out how the animation is changing as you go along. You will start with a randomly assigned line drawing (teapot, beetle, salt shaker, etc.). Imagine what the polar opposite of this object might be. If your object is animate, consider inanimate, if it is sharp and spiky, consider soft and spongy, if it is organic, consider inorganic, etc. In your sketchbook draw this object and then draw what it will morph into. You will then redraw this object in Flash using ONLY black, white or gray (your background, likewise, may also be either black, white or gray). Use either the brush tool (scratchier, more organic drawing tool) or the pen tool (more exact and precise). You may change the drawing to fit your own particular drawing style and aesthetic interests, however, it must still be at least loosely recognizable as the original object. Using onion skinning, you will continually redraw this object, very slowly and gradually changing and evolving it into it's opposite. Finally, this object must also be moving across the stage from left to right (or right to left), so you must consider how you your object will locomote (if it is a salt shaker, for instance, it can't simply slide... perhaps it hops and then it hops and turns into a bunny!) It must start and end off the stage, so that it plays as a continuous loop.

This animation will be on a stage of 550 x 400 pixels wide at 12 frames per second. The animation must be between 5 and 10 seconds long (that's between 60 and 120 total frames!).


Hints for success:
• Find an example of the object if you can and keep it with you to draw from observation.
• CRAFTSMANSHIP is critical in animation. Work slowly but steadily.
• Think about the personality of your object and try to express that through its movement.
• Avoid too much small detail; focus more on expressing the nature of the object through movement.


Schedule
The assigned Lynda.com readings must be done by the beginning of class. I strongly recommend taking notes and covering all the readings over the weekend. You are encouraged to watch the other videos not assigned. There may be a quiz at the start of class to verify that you have completed this critical work. Quizzes may or may not be open notebook.


8/26 Flash CS 3 Professional Fundamentals
3. Using the Drawing and Color Tools>all headings
4. Animating in Flash>all headings

HW - In sketchbook, have your rendering of the original object, what it will transform into, and at least three sketches of the objects mode of locomotion.

8/31 Flash CS 3 Professional Fundamentals
16. Publishing & Exporting>Understanding publishing options, Using Flash and html, Exporting an animated gif
HW - Work on Project 1

9/2 Project 1 - Mid Critiques

HW - Work on Project 1

9/7 No Class

9/9 Project 1 Critiques
HW - Work on Project 1


Examples:

Hoogerbrugge

Presstube