case study

1. Motion Graphics and
Compositing:
Case Study
Shahzaib
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2. 2
Critical Discussion

3. Motion Graphics
Motion graphics is an animation with moving elements to create a sequence.
This could be for title sequences and advertisement.
Titles Sequences
Title sequences have been used since the silent era and gives content and information
to the viewers. Their originally called title cards. For an example films like
Sherlock Jr. (1924). They use title cards to show dialogue, the name of the film and the
credits of the people who starred and created this motion picture.
Over time motion graphics have improved title sequences with technology in films and
adverts. Title sequences get even more creative with simple moving illustration or 3d
animation. Films like James Bond 1950), Star Wars 1977, Home Alone 1989
experimented with their titles. This gives the audience a more interesting look of the
film than having a blank text.
This is an example of the
title card scene, to help the
scene show dialogue.
Sherlock Jr. (1924)

4. 4
Motion Graphics
In 40s and 50s title sequences were regularly still with no moving elements or any
interesting aspects.
Through out the 60s moving graphics start to be made. An example of this is James
Bond, which gave its iconic opening in film history with showing motion effects and
syncing with music. each film in time improves its technology .
Maurice Binder worked on the title sequence for Dr.No (1962).
Maurice Binder created all the visual elements for the iconic title sequence. The gun sequence
was made by a pin hole photograph inside a actual gun barrel.
The theme changes after the iconic gun shot, The colour dots were animated, it had rhythmic
animation with different bright colours and patterns. This part of the sequence was meant to
represent youth, fun, stylist and club culture. The sequence changes to dancing animated female
silhouette. This title sequence represents of bonds character, his lifestyle, his character and it
also symbolize bonds enemy.
Dr. No (1962)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD-YR-3KmyE

5. Motion Graphics
Motion Graphics are used a lot from early stages of filmmaking and modern times.
They are unique and creative. Title sequence brings a clever way to entertain audiences
even if nothing to do with film story.
Title/credit sequence express the genre, the story and the theme.
Monsters Inc. title sequence is not
abstract but simple, colourful and
creative, the films plot is a lot to do
with monsters and doors. This
sequence symbols the story of
theme than the characters.
Monsters Inc. (2001)
Captain America Winter Solider
credit sequence, has simple
illustration like the Monster Inc.
title, this also express with the
story and plot of the film. with light
and dark symbolising the link to
the heroes and the villains.
Captain America Winter Solider (2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jpnBs0D
kXg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GXmdUL3BDQ

6. Visual Effects
Visual Effects is a altered image or moving animation that can not be done in a live
action shot.
The historical use of visual effects were originally uses matte paintings.
Matte Painting – Before their was CGI animation, matte paintings were use to get an a
impossible or big budget location in film.
An artist painting a picture and using that picture to blend together in live action shot.
It was uses trick audiences thinking the actor was at that location, like a magic trick.
The Star Wars trilogy uses matte paintings to create their locations in film.
For an example the Imperial station from 1983 Return Of The Jedi, were all matte
painted even the storm troopers during the scene.
Michael Pangrazio an
American art artist,
matte painted some of
the star wars and Indiana
Jones movies.
Matte painted picture Matte painted picture with
the live action shot

7. Visual Effects
Blue Screen and Mattes –
The blue screen is a technique that adds visual elements while removing the background in post-
production. Replacing the blue parts of the scene with a scenery. Blue is a colour that farthest than
any skin colour which is why its most common used in films. The technique is similar as matte
painting putting a character in a impossible world with upgraded special effects.
This method has still been around from the early days of visual effects and even still use this
technique for the modern generation of filmmaking.
George Lucas uses a lot of blue screen composting for his
star wars prequels, From The Phantom Menace (1999),
Attack of the Clones (2002). Late 90’s and Early 2000’s the
green screen became norm. it is more easier which requires
less light, works well outside and less common in costumes.
In George Lucas last prequel Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
their a lot more green screen used than blue screen.
Star Wars Episode III (2005)
Star Wars Episode III (2005)
Star Wars Episode II (2002)
Star Wars Episode I (1999)

8. Visual Effects
In this scene in Star Wars Episode I
(1999)
Yoda appears in this scene.
His character is mostly known is green.
This example shows the reason why the
film makers use a blue backdrop than
green drop due to the character skin
colour.
In this scene in Star Wars Episode III
(2005)
This blue character is shown in this
scene, the film makers use a green
backdrop. You can see in this scene that
there is more light present than the
first image.
Yoda is mostly CGI in later of the
prequels, this helps the filmmakers to
try avoid filming two characters that
has some backdrop colour.
Picture 1
Picture 2
Star Wars Episode III (2005)
Star Wars Episode I (1999)
Blue Screen and Mattes

9. Visual Effects
CGI stands for Computer – Generated – Images.
A computer software that can create special visual effects. CGI is known to the tool for most Morden cinema and used a
lot todays films. The animation gets better each time and now it can really surprise audiences thinking that this
character is brought to life.
Walt Disney pictures Tron 1983 was a feature film that combined live action and 3d animation together.
Computer animation is a process used for generating animated images.
In the early days of animation was mostly drawn by hand with 2d drawings, in time computers had improved that
technology and now can create a 3d environments or character.
The power of computer generated images is seen everywhere from video games, films and adverts.
the modern visual effects for todays movies.
The look of the CGI animation and the movement improves each generations of films. The CGI really makes the
character life like.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Visual Effects - Phil TippettVisual Effects - Steve William
Terminator 2: Judgment day (1991) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
Visual Effects - Jim Rygiel
Visual Effects - John Aardal Tron (1983)

10. 10
Visual Effects
Tron visual effects has change the ground of cinema, and that anything can be possible with any imagination.
John Lasseter the creator of Pixar was mainly inspired of the visual effects from Tron.
Toy Story is the first computer animated feature film in history of motion picture
Pixar is known to be the modern era of animation alongside DreamWorks and Blue Sky Studios.
Pixar has given audiences a world of characters and story telling.
The visual look in each film upgrades better, from example of texture gets richer and the movement of the
character gets more fluid.
Bill Reeves the animator who program Woody gave him 700 different animation control,
200 for his face and 58 for his mouth alone.
Pete Doctor the
supervising animator on
Toy Story
Toy Story (1995)
CGI stands for Computer – Generated – Images.

11. 11
Analysis

12. Motion Graphics Sequence
12
This title sequence from Spider-Man 2 (2004) uses motion graphics to tell the story
from the last film in to a comic book art style. This keeps audience updated of the
storyline. The sequence is simple and abstract. The sequences uses blue and red to
show he protagonist (Spider-Man) colours.
Spider Man 2 (2004)

13. Motion Graphics Sequence
This Motion Graphics uses simplistic for
its title sequence, with moving 2d
illustration to explain the story. This is
more simple and colorful.
This Motion Graphics uses technology for
its title sequence, with moving 3d
animation and CGI elements. It doesn't
show clearly to the story but goes in deep
detail to the contents of the film.
The sequence is very fast and very flashy
compare to (Catch Me If You Can) title
sequence which is simple and smooth.
The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)Catch Me If You Can (2002)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwvIzFqrd7U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eLg6ZxFDm4

14. Motion Graphics Sequence
14
The Avengers credit sequence uses
the motion graphics to explore the
characters.
Brings the characters theme in
depth.
Showing the characters props, armor,
weapons in details.
The Avengers (2012)
Credit Sequence
I believe this part of the credit sequence is
presenting the captain of the team, Kevin
Feige the man was responsible setting up
this marvel universe. Captain America
represent the leader of the team, relating
Kevin Feige the leader of this film.
this part of the credit sequence presents the stars of the
film, it cleverly put the actors names next to the characters
which makes the audience more familiar which actor
portray that character .
this sequence of Mark Ruffalo credit may not
show anything look like hulk, but this alone
identify the character personality, and
symbolise the Hulk e.g. Scientist, broken
glasses symbolise anger, purple clothing.
Which all links back to the comic book
character Hulk.
This part sequence of Joss Whedon credit,
represents the iron-man part of the team,
Iron-man is not captain or leader but he is the
most like and iconic out the heroes. I believe
Joss Whedon represent that role of the film.
A Joss Whedon film/ A Iron Man Film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UyITQydrao

15. Visual Effects
This Visual Effects CGI sequence from
Spider-Man 2, really shows the texture of
the character and the smooth movement
of the scene.
The CGI is really
lifelike and looks
identical to the
costume from the
movie, you can see
all the shadows
from his suit and
patterns from the
texture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gJK1sPsxQU
The scene also shows some light reflection
on his webbings, this blends the background
really well as it reflects from the city.
The animator also did a good job the glossy
look from Spider-Mans lenses
This Visual Effects for the movie has
received best Visual Effects Award
form the Oscar 2005.
Visual effects artist: John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara and John Frazier
The movement of the CGI is slow paced,
and very smooth.
Spider Man 2 (2004)

16. Visual Effects
For The Amazing Spider-Man 2 used a lot of visual effects for city sequence/ battle between
Electro and Spider-Man
The whole city environment from The
Amazing Spider-Man 2 was made by scratch.
Collecting dozen pictures around time square
and colliding together in panorama.
Visual effects supervisor - Jerome Chen
The Amazing Spider Man 2 (2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG2qDR5ka5w
The Visual effects builds the a CGI
city models in the computer and edit
the lights of every detail from time
square streets.
The Scene then removes the
green screen back drop and
composite the visual effects
elements to the picture.
This then brings the whole scene
together.
Comparing from the previous Spider-Man movies, The Amazing Spider-Man 2
(2014) has a lot more visual effects elements from the other previous movies,
the whole city scene shows the creativity of visual effects, the lighting has also
improve from previous of films however Spider-Man 2 (2004) has still have great
visual effects even from its age.

17. Screen Ratios
For Film – 1.85:1 and 2.40:1
Television – 1.77:1 (16:9)
For Web - 16:9
Resolution
4K: 3840x2160
Full HD: 1920x1080
HD: 1280x720
SD: 720x576
Frame Rate
For Internet/web use – up to 60fps
For Television in the UK – 25fps
For Film – projected at 24fps
Video Format
MPEG4 is a format that was develop by Moving Picture Expert Group and can be used for compression of AV data for the web and used for
streaming media.
MOV is a format that is develop by apple and used for saving movies and other video files.
MPEG2 is a format that is disturbed on DVD’s and other similar disk.
Compression
for the web - Format: H.264, this makes the quality good and a smaller format.
H.264 works by using spatial compression.