P7

1. Final Major Project
Experiments:
Animation
Amy
Watson

2. Why did I do an Animation
about Lucky?
I did an animation about Lucky
because I want to show the world
how much I loved him and how we
spread awareness that everyday,
someone can loose someone who is
so precious to them.

3. Process: Creating Story Board
I decided to make an animation of my product and so I needed to make an
experiment of it to practise. Since I made a shirt dedicated to Lucky, I’ve decided
to make an animation of Lucky too. In order to make a really good animation, I
needed to start out with a storyboard, so I began by creating a table on Word then
I altered the bars to make them big enough to include a drawing and information. I
then began on the drawings, and made sure each one was clear and suitable to
read. When the drawings were completed, I then started to write out the
procedure and explain what will happen within the animation as it progresses.

4. Process: Creating Story Board
Part 2
I then worked on the second part of the animation storyboard, which is the part
where the animation advertises and promotes the book of my experiment. I used
Word again to create the layout of the storyboard but this time, I only needed
three because this part is smaller that the first part of the animation, I started off
by drawing the images out and made sure they are as identical as possible. I then
coloured the images in with sharpie markers to make them bright and detailed.
Once the colouring was completed, I then wrote the details of what happens in the
animation at the bottom of the images, in order to explain what is going on. With
the storyboard complete, it was time to create the animation.

5. Process: Creating The
Layers Part 1
With the storyboard completed, it’s time to create the animation layers. I started with the gradient layer
that scrolls up to make it look like the shot is below a sky. When that was completed, I began to make the
grass. Because I wanted to give the animation a material vibe, I had to find a picture of green felt of the
internet and save it into my files for use. Once I uploaded the picture onto Photoshop, I used the polygon
lasso tool to cut out a shape that looks like grass, then I copied and pasted it onto my animation ready to
be used. Next, I proceeded to make my dog Lucky. I started out with his legs. Just like the grass, I want
Lucky to look like he has been made out of felt cut-outs. So to make his left legs which would be further
away, I found a picture of grey felt, saved it into my files and then continued to make the legs using the
same cut-out tool. When both left legs were completed, I copied and pasted the legs onto my animation
and then the procedure continues…..

6. Process: Creating The Layers
Part 2
I then moved onto Lucky’s right legs, which will be the same colour as his body. Like the last
processes, I found an image off the internet, saved it, then cut-out two legs that are bigger than
the left legs. I then pasted them onto my animation, ready to be animated. Before I can proceed
with animation however, he needs a base (body). So I used the same light grey felt picture and
then cut it out in the shape of a dog with no legs, tail or ears. With the light grey parts
completed, it was time to make the black parts with a picture of black felt. I underwent the same
procedure as the last, next I cut out a small circle that symbolises Lucky’s ear. I use the same
technique for his nose, eye patch and back patch. Finally, I used a picture of white felt to make
the little white eye for Lucky to show his cuteness. I used the lasso cut-out tool once again for
these procedures.

7. Process: Creating The Layers
Part 3
Next, I uploaded a picture of blue felt I found off the image from my files for the
next part of the animation. I then uploaded another felt images, but this time it was
yellow, and I used the Lasso polygon tool again to cut out a spikey bubble that will
appear behind the book in order for it to stand out. I then used the text box tool to
type out ‘Coming Out Next Month Keep Your Eyes Peeled’ in order to promote the
book and for book lovers to keep an eye out for it in stores. Finally, I inserted the
book cover form my files onto the page to show the audience what it will look like.

8. Process: Animating The
Layers Part 1
With all of the layers created, it was time to animate them. I began by moving the
gradient layer upwards in order to achieve an effect where the sky gets lighter as we
descend towards the grass. I then animate the grass rising so it would continue this
effect and make it run smoothly. After that, Lucky comes onto the screen, and frame by
frame, I make him walk across the screen in order to create a walking effect and a
test. I used the frame animation for this in order to make a smooth simple animation.
Once all of the animation was completed, I needed to export it. So I needed to click on
file, export, then render video, then save it into my files ready to be uploaded on
Movie Maker.

9. Process: Animating The
Layers Part 2
Next, I began to animate the second part of my animation. I started by moving the bubble and the book
cover up and down frame by frame to make it look like it is floating. Then I moved the text in frame by
frame within the same process as the last animation. I underwent the same technique and procedure of
animating the second part as I did for the first part of the animation. Once it was completed, I then
rendered the video into my OneDrive, ready to be used in Movie Maker along with my other animation. I
used this technique because it was the easiest option and I could move my work around freely in any way I
want to. The strength here is that the adding of the frames was easy, and each frame was move carefully
so it loos fluent. The weakness however was remembering how many times I kept the frame the same or if
I moves it an inch because all the frames look similar from a small view.

10. Process: Finding And
Saving Music
With the animation taken care off, it was time to collect some music in order to make it really interesting.
I started of by venturing onto YouTube, trying to find a suitable instrumental of a song that mean that I
love Lucky so much. Eventually, I found the perfect sing, the instrumental version of Enya’s song Only
Time, it was perfect. Once I found the song, I then copy it’s link, then moved over to 2cov.com in order to
convert it into my files.to begin with, I pasted the link into the converting box, then clicked Convert and
waited for it to convert. Once the process hit 100%, I saved the song into my OneDrive by simply pressing
Download. With the music found and saved, it was time to find some sound effects…… I used this technique
because it’s free and not costing at all, also, it easy to download into the files. The strengths of this section
were finding the music that I want easily on YouTube because I knew from the beginning what I want and
were to find it. The weakness however was that I couldn’t save it into my H: therefore in my One Drive,
when uploading the song onto Movie Maker, it couldn’t find it.

11. Process: Finding And Adding
Sound Effects
It was time to find and save a sound effect. I wanted to obtain the sound
effect of walking on grass since Lucky will be doing that within the
animation. Just like finding the music, I ventured onto YouTube, and found
the perfect walking on grass sound effect. With the sound effect obtained,
I then copied the link onto 2conv once again. I waited for the converting
process to finish, and when it did, I saved it again into my OneDrive, ready
to be used on Movie Maker for the animation.

12. Process: Putting The
Animation Together
No that all of the factors were completed, it was time to put them all
together. I used Movie Maker for this. First, I added the animation and
stretched it to scale, so it would stop halfway. This is because there will
be a JPEG picture of the animation that freezes the shot of Lucky walking
across. A title pops up that reads out ‘Lucky The Best Dog In The World’.
Then I added the rest of the animation from where it finished for the
JPEG.

13. Process: Putting The Animation
Together Part 2
With the clips all uploaded, it was time to upload the music and sound effects to the picture. I first uploaded the music by
pressing the add music button and inserted it to from my OneDrive file. I then selected the end point of the music because
the whole track would not be needed. I then added the walking grass effect to the part where Lucky walks across the grass
until the title appears. I did this by right clicking on the record audio button and then pressed add audio. I then inserted it
from my OneDrive again. When the JPEG shot comes onto the scene, I then add a magic sound effect I found of YouTube as
well to make it sound like the title is glistening due to the reflection of the sun. I then added the walking effect again when
Lucky walks off the scene. I then add a whoosh sound effect when the page disintegrates into the final part of the
animation. Finally, I added the magic sound effect again for when the title comes on scene. After all of the animation was
completed, I then pressed on File and then save the the movie into my OneDrive, ready to be sent of for marking. I used this
software because it is easy to assemble and doesn’t use as much time as Premier Pro. The strength of this would be that it
was easy to assemble and didn’t take a long time. Also, the timing options deemed easy to understand. The weakness
however was trying to fit the music with the animation as well as the sound effects.

14. Reflection
• What elements of your
experiments will you include in
your final product?
I will incorporate the material vibe drawings into
my animation to make it look friendly and not
aggressive, also I believe that this vibe brings
more attention these days because it doesn’t just
rely on drawings but material based animations
also bring forth a bright thought and happy
feelings. I will also use clear sound effects like the
walking on grass effect, it clear and simple, very
good to hear. Also, I will add the attracting sound
effects because it makes the image seemed real
and alive in it’s own way which is excellent. I will
also use relaxing and happy music like Only Time
to give my product a relaxing and calming
atmosphere. Finally, I will use the felt and
material like vine for the images to make it look
like it was crafted in real life, I also think this is a
cute touch.
The strength overall for this animation was how the
walking part looks so freely, thanks to each frame of
the animation running smoothly. The weakness
however was trying to remember if the frame was
copied or not or whether I had moved, I couldn’t tell
via small size of process. The audience can clearly see
the bright colours by seeing the coloured felt as well as
the smooth background. I will change the format of the
animation to something about the controlling voices
inside our heads. I will use the same felt imagery fir
the pictures but I will change the music and there will
only be a voice over, no sound effects.