FMP Initial Plans

1. FMP Initial Plans
Amy Watson

2. Initial Reaction
I am excited for this FMP, as I have been working on short animations such as my Golden Morph competition entry.
Stop motion animation for me is a way of escapism into the world of creativity and expression, in other words, I can
just be myself when it comes to creativity. Ever since I was about 6 years old, or maybe a little younger, I was always
watching Aardman animations’ Wallace and Gromit, and a few years later, I was introduced to Morph and Creature
Comforts. This project will give me an opportunity to explore my skills to a deeper level, plus it will help me boost my
confidence into creating a final piece that will help me get into university.
When I first started my journey at York College, I was keen to create animations that would blow away the people
viewing them. And, with a history of good grades form past projects over the last 2 years, I am confident that I will
create a piece of unforgettable work. I am also excited for the academic side of the project, such as analysing results
and looking through existing products in order to get as good idea of what I would like to produce in the outcome.
In addition, before this project, I have been studying the art of stop motion animation in order to spot the secrets of
making a good animation. Also, I have been watching simple animation such as Morph to watch out for smooth
animation techniques and comedy moments in order for it to influence my upcoming work.

3. Initial Reaction: What Will I Make?
With all my practicing in check, I am hoping to make a 2-3 minute animation inspired by a collection of Aardman’s
most unforgettable brands. The main source of inspiration is Creature Comforts, which is about the life of animals
inside an English zoo, as they describe about their enclosures and environments that they adapt in. The next two
secondary pieces of inspiration are Morph and Wallace & Gromit. The reason being is that their character designs
are similar to what I have in mind for my own characters such as the eye and mouth pieces. With all these
inspirations, I am hoping to create a short animation based on the art of stationary, Each character will be based
off real stationary such as pencils and rubbers, all with their own unique personalities such as being an artist or
feeling important. Each character will have a certain time limit within the time sequence to discuss their topics.
Similar to Creature Comforts, they will discuss their traits and how they can be useful with their qualities. I am
hoping to use high technology to help accomplish this idea into reality, as well as the uses of Sketchbook and
iMovie to help put the pieces together as well as create an effective intro for the video. With all this said, as well
as aware of the time limit, I am confident in completing this project to a full and hopefully complete a piece of work
that will make everyone smile.

4. Mind Map

5. Mind Map: Time

6. Deeper Analysis
I am keen not to use all my time on the production, plus the more animation and
complex techniques used, the more time will be used up only on one part of the
project, so I want too keep the time limit for the overall video nice and simple, but
also a suitable time in order to add in the right comedy moments, as well as the right
timing for when each character has their say.
Also, I am keen to keep the animation running on the exact planned time as said in
the mind map, as well as the separate times for the different characters, which are
all brief ideas at the moment based on the improvised script I will construct within the
planning.

7. Mind Map: Colours

8. Deeper Analysis
From evidently seen in this part of the map, I am keen to include a variety of light and
dark colours in order to make the overall atmosphere seem natural and urban, in other
words, make it a balanced mood. I am intending that the colours will create a friendly
atmosphere in terms of the audience appeal because I am hoping for this video to be
family friendly.
The colours for the characters are all based of their realistic features, as each of their
structures are real stationary pieces, the only ‘animated’ part about them is the eyes
and mouths which will have different pieces as extras to show the mouth movement in
more detail.

9. Mind Map: Concept

10. Deeper Analysis
As seen within the map, I am trying to keep the concept simple and not as much
time consuming. The concept has always been in my mind since the beginning
of this powerpoint: a simple idea that both captures the audience’s interest and
also, provides them with entertainment for when they are not having a good day
etc.
Also, I am trying to keep the subjects for each character as simple as possible
so that it is not too complicated for younger audience, so the best way to keep
this simple is to create an improvised script for each cast member so that they
can improvise their own simple thoughts on the topics of their given characters.

11. Mind Map: Equipment

12. Deeper Analysis
The equipment required for my work is simple. To go into more delving detail, I will
require the software of Dragonframe, which will be sent to me through the post for my
Aardman Academy course. I will also require the use of my mobile phone to take the
picture and upload them to my laptop, to which I also require to use Dragonframe and
the edit extra parts.
In addition, I will also need my tripod to help keep a straight and still view of the
frames so that they don’t look so different to each other in post production. It will also
help with the angle and height off the setting so that it fits perfectly to my liking.

13. Mind Map: Audience

14. Deeper Analysis
I have chosen the audience of all ages because as I have found out that the most
inspirational of stop animation films were made to appeal all ages lie Wallace & Gromit
or Morph, they were children’s favourites, so I am hoping to do something similar, but
something that is completely different overall.
Also in terms of gender, I will make sure there is an equal amount of characters for both
sides so it is balanced and more appealing.

15. Mind Map: Genre

16. Deeper Analysis
I chose the genre of comedy and entertainment because I found that in most stop
motion animations, the majority of the theme and concept is light hearted
comments and funny twists such as punch lines and slap stick movements.
There is certainly a lot of this in movies such as ones from Aardman.

17. Mind Map: Inspirations

18. Deeper Analysis
The main inspiration that draws me to thought is Creature Comforts, ideally because
of the layout ands setting of the characters i.e the subtle background and the
characters in focus in the foreground. As for the other franchises, they will act as a
guide to help me gain better ideas for character designs and personality traits.

19. Mood Board: Colour

20. Analysis
I have chosen I variety of primary and secondary colours because I am keen to make my
animation as bright and colourful as possible as it is targeted towards all ages and both
genders. Also, the bright colours give me a sense of joy and happiness, which is what I
intend on bringing to the audience. The different colours will reflect of the character designs
and their personalities, as well as setting for where the film will take place.

21. Mood Board: Character Design

22. Analysis
The images present here are all inspirations for my character design as well as the body
types for the characters. As this is a video on stationary, I intend to use simple school
utensils to create simpler bodies for the characters in order to make them appealing and
funny. Also, the yes and mouths will be inspired by real animations such as Morph and
Wallace and Gromit in order to create an overall simple design for the characters to make
the audience laugh out loud. Also, the design of the existing characters all have bouncy
feelings, which would bring happy thoughts to the audience, so I am hoping to create
something similar in effect.

23. Mood Board: Background Setting

24. Analysis
The majority of the background images here are all based upon a desktop, which is what I
am intending to use as the setting of my video so that I can create an appropriate setting
that fits for my characters as well as the overall theming of the video. It would also provide a
unique atmosphere because from what I have seen in existing products, there is not a lot of
desktops used as the background of the videos, the only one I’ve seen is Morph.

25. Mood Board: Inspired Animators

26. Analysis
These animators are what inspired me to venture forth onto the road of stop motion
animation. Their techniques for animation as well as attention to detail really help me to
understand how to create smooth animation, as well as acquire the right timing for
movements and sound of characters. I am hoping to use their techniques to help
achieve a smooth and even animation in the outcome, but also a completely different
idea overall.

27. Mind Map Characters: Stan

28. Mind Map Characters: Graphy

29. Mind Map Characters: Ross

30. Mind Map Characters : Paula

31. Mind Map Characters: Blades

32. Mind Map Characters: Lady Ruler

33. Mind Map Characters: Analysis
The majority of what we can see as a common occurrence on the maps, is that the
characters all have different characteristics, which is good because we don’t want all the
characters to have there same personalities, therefore it wouldn’t be contrasting in different
parts. The maps also show that they all have extra parts made out of plasticine, with the
exception of Stan, who only requires the eye to made out of the material due to his mouth
is based on his body structure. Finally, all of the maps show that the characters have their
own unique topics to talk about. This is ideally what I am aiming for and that the contrast
between the different topics would work well based on how the flexibility of the voices work
in the outcome.

34. Blue Prints

35. Process of stop motion animating
Step 1
Place the characters in the position you have planned and make sure
that they are in view of there camera.
Step 2
One by one, take the pictures while moving your characters slightly by
an inch of their previous position, in order to create a smooth
sequence.
Step 3
After doing the frames, export them via Airdrop on phone to laptop,
then use Image Converter to covert the frames into JPEGs
Step 4
In Dragonframe, add the images to the image sequence to see if the
sequence runs as you like it, if so, export the film in your Desktop files.

36. Colour theory
Square
Compound
Double split complementary
These theories will help me get a better idea of colour schemes for both
characters and settings. The double spilt complementary and square wheels
are for the majority of the backdrop object and some of my characters like
Blades, Lady Ruler and Stan. The compound wheel is for the rest of the
characters as well as the rest of the background objects. Combining both of
these sections together would make the overall colour scheme for my video,
and having both light and dark colour would make a balance in colour scheme.
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