Research: Rotoscope Animation

Rotoscope Animation:


Rotoscope animation is a method that involves tracing over frames of an subject; whether it be an actor or a moving object, to create an animation of the original subject. Sometimes, the traces are combined with the original moving image to create a combination.

Thought of You

Thought of You, directed and animated by Ryan Woodward is an example of rotoscoping. The short film involves an animated dance sequence which is symbolic of relationships. It was created with the help of dance choreographers creating a sequence that was filmed as live action. The frames were then traced over by Woodward to create the film. Also, he used creative methods such as additions of wings and elongated body parts to give the short film a sense of elegance complimentary to the dance choreography.

A Scanner Darkly 

This film, directed by Richard Linklater is based on the graphic novel A Scanner Darkly.  Rotoscoping was used to give the film a comic look as it would appear in a graphic novel but also, to play with the theory of "The Uncanny Valley". In psychology, this suggest that the things we see that look human or familiar but at the same time, are slightly off or unnatural looking; creepy, the brain doesn't know how to process this. This feature is what helps define this film as a "Science Fiction Movie".


Research video on Form and Function in A Scanner Darkly

Research video "Vsauce: Why Are Things Creepy?" explaining the  uncanny valley


These case studies in researching rotoscope animation helped me in understanding how and why rotoscoping is used and how I will use it in the context of my short film. As such, I intend to use rotoscoping with the intention of the familiarity of live action movement of the human body whilst making it seem that it's not quite real as it will be show like a sketch on a page. Thus defining the rotoscope scenes as a sequence of internal thoughts of the main character. 

Beginning Production: Sound

Sound:

I begin the practical element of my project with sound. With production now underway, I spent Saturday morning recording exterior sounds in east Staffordshire for use as dietetic and non-dietetic sound; using the Tascam  DR-40 Recorder. Most of the sounds I recorded in the woodland area will be used in positive scenes of my film as an essence of tranquillity. 

In addition, I recorded generated sounds. For example, to create an unsettling creaking sound, I recorded a metal ruler being scrapped along guitar strings that made a sound like a de-tuned violin. There still some more sounds I need for my film but they will be recorded over the christmas holidays when filming begins.

Visualising A Scene

Visualising A Scene:

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With enough tests conducted with the ripple effect, I began to visualise a scene for my final story idea for the project. Here, the ripple effect is used on two different layers; the brick wall and the countryside. The third layer; the path, remains unchanged and was edited in Photoshop to be separated from the brick wall. The iris transition effect is also used in this video to create the scene of a doorway opening up in the concrete to a dreamy hillside.

Applying Ripple Effect

Applying Ripple Effect:

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After my first test with the ripple effect, I applied it to a more practical use in a music montage video. The effect is on top of a picture of water which also changes in terms of colour properties and exposure. As well as this, I added the star simulation effect.

Adobe After Effects: Experimentation With Ripple Distortion

Experimentation With Ripple Distortion:

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In accordance to a brainstorm of ideas for my project, I had a scene in mind with a rippling effect. As an initial test with the effect, I created this video of a ripple inside a picture of the ocean.

Lynda.com Tutorial: Ripple Effect

Ripple Effect:

Extending my knowledge of After Effects, I learned the basics of the ripple effect on Lynda.com. This relates to a concept image drawn in my RVJ when brainstorming for narrative ideas.

Adobe After Effects: More Animation Skills Tutorial

More Animation Skills:

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In another tutorial, we were taught the extension of animating on After Effects. This included the use of creating s phere from a 2D image, parent and child options, moving image from a sequence of images and positioning in further detail to create a craft landing, then taking off on the moon.