Final Project - Hand Drawn Animation
This final project introduces you to the world of animation through the technique of rotoscoping. Rotoscoping is a method where you create animation by tracing over real-life references, much like motion capture. For this assignment, You'll select a short video clip 3-5 seconds, break it down into individual frames, and then animate these frames to bring your selected footage to life. This project will challenge your drawing skills, creativity, and understanding of animated motion.
You have the option to work with Analog (hand drawn) rotoscoping or Digital:
Analog Instructions:
Week 8 Sections: Preparing Your Footage
Select your video: Choose a three-second video clip from either footage you've shot on your smartphones or from videos found on the web. Ensure that the footage is sharp, in focus, and has a clear separation of the subject from the background. There should be minimal overlap or cropping of the subject with other elements.
Edit Your Video: During the first class meeting, you will be responsible for editing your selected video down to precisely three seconds. You can use either your phone's video editing tools or computer software to achieve this.
Convert to Frames: After editing, visit the website https://ezgif.com/video-to-png/ (https://ezgif.com/video-to-png/) to upload your edited three-second video. Download the resulting frames as printable PNGs. You should have 30 frames in total (use 10 frames per second).
Printing Your Frames: Visit Triton Print & Digital Media (https://blink.ucsd.edu/facilities/tritonprint/wepa.html) (or a similar campus resource available) to print out your 30 frames. Remember that you'll only pay for the pages or sides you print. Ensure that you have all your frames ready before moving on to the next week. Wēpa’s cloud-based printing solution lets you conveniently upload, print and pay for documents.
Rates are Black-and-white - single sided: $0.11 | Color - single sided: $0.30 Approximately $3.30 - $9.00
Week 9 Sections: Rotoscoping Animation
Animating Your Frames: In these class meetings, you will start animating your frames using rotoscope techniques. Rotoscoping involves tracing over each frame, adding details and movement, and creating a smooth transition between frames to simulate motion. The aim is not to recreate the source exactly but translate it aesthetically, thematically or in terms of subject.
Photographing Your Drawings: Once you have completed the drawn animation process, you will photograph your drawings using animation software to create an animation sequence.
Upload your completed animation to the assignment page before your critique meeting week 10.
In the last class meeting, we will screen all the animations created by the class.
This will be a final critique format where you can discuss your process, challenges, and the results of your rotoscoping project.