WEEK 12
This week, I will begin animating my 20-second motion design, as it needs to be submitted by Sunday. I will look for relevant tutorials and incorporate techniques learned during production, such as 3D elements and camera movements, to enhance the animation's depth, visual appeal, and overall impact.
Feedback
The title can be improved by having each word appear one at a time, creating a more engaging effect.
I also plan to change the perspective from a low angle to an eye-level perspective, adjusting the character's pose to a curled-up, sad position.
To unify the art style in the intro, I will replace the existing visuals with blobs.
I might also explore different colour palettes to enhance the overall aesthetic.
Additionally, the character with closed eyes feels too static, so I decided to transform it into a sound wave design, ensuring a smoother, more cohesive style that avoids sharp edges.
Title Design #3
Before, my title design's text appeared all at once, so I decided to have each word appear one at a time because this mimics the rhythm of breathing. By having the words come in gradually, it invites the audience to "breathe" with the animation, creating a more calming, rhythmic experience that aligns with the theme of breathing.
before
after
Storyboard #4
Before, my art style is not consistent.
I changed the intro from organic shapes to blobs to have a sense of same art style and it is the same as the next scene (blobs explosion).
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I also changed the perspective from a low angle to an eye-level perspective, adjusting the character's pose to a curled-up, sad position, making it the same art style.
And I changed when the character's eye is closed, the line becomes sound wave, so that it is not too static and can represent the sound that becomes slower.
before
after
Assets #2
Now, I felt that the previous colour is not suitable for my motion graphic emotion.
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So, I explored colour options using Coolor.co and found a palette that I believe is both striking and well-suited for my motion graphic. These colour palettes stands out to me as the most appealing, effectively capturing the chaotic essence of overwhelm. The vibrant combination will enhance the visual storytelling and create an engaging experience for the audience.
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I chose red, blue, and yellow to express the feeling of overwhelm in my motion graphic. Red represents intensity and urgency, blue brings in a sense of complexity, and yellow adds a burst of energy for contrast. Together, these colours capture the chaotic, layered emotions we experience when things feel overwhelming. My goal was to use this colour palette to mix strong emotions in the audience and visually communicate the complexity of navigating stressful situations.
At the end of the animation, I chose to use cyan to evoke a sense of calm. This soothing colour contrasts nicely with the vibrant reds, blues, and yellows used to represent overwhelm earlier in the motion graphic. By transitioning to cyan, I aim to symbolise the journey from chaos to tranquillity, highlighting the resolution and acceptance of emotions.
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Then, I made the vector of my character on Adobe Illustrator. I made the front side and when the character is curled up. Then, I separate the layers so that I can animate on After Effects.
before
from colours.co
with character
chosen colours
character front
character curled up
MoGraph #1 Scene 1
I felt the animation initially looked too stiff because everything stayed in place as it shrank. To make it more dynamic and fluid, I decided to use different positions for each element, allowing them to move independently and creating a more natural, flowing effect throughout the animation.
first ver
second ver
MoGraph #1 Scene 2
Then, I use mask to make the blobs morphing.
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I wanted to convey depth but it doesn't seem obvious, so I experimented with the Z position to create the illusion of depth. This approach makes the elements feel as though they're moving into the overwhelming space, subtly enhancing the sense of immersion without directly revealing the depth.
I also used morphing for the character's eyebrows and mouth to create smoother transitions. For the hands, I applied puppet tools and used Puppet Starch to make the movements more fluid, especially when the character is swiping away the blobs. This adds a more natural, dynamic feel to the animation.
When the character is startled, I made the pupils smaller, changed the expression to be surprised, widened the feet to convey a sense of shock and panic. These exaggerated and sudden movements help emphasise the character's emotional reaction, enhancing the impact of the moment and making it more relatable for the audience.
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I also made the morph transition to rigid shapes faster than the blobs (sudden change) to emphasise the shock and clearly mark the beginning of the conflict. This quick change adds to the intensity of the moment, making it clear that something has triggered the character’s emotional reaction and the story’s tension.
without depth
with depth
puppet tool
scene 2 #1
MoGraph #1 Scene 3
I made the rigid shapes shake to make them appear more frightening, adding to the tension of the scene.
The character, curled up, pulls its knees closer using the puppet tool, emphasising its sense of fear. Additionally, its head lowers, and its pupils shrink to reflect growing anxiety.
To enhance the feeling of being pressured, I used a leftward camera pan, positioning the character on the right side of the frame. This gives the impression that it is cornered, surrounded by overwhelming shapes that seem to be hurting it, reinforcing the sense of panic and helplessness in the moment.
scene 3 #1
MoGraph #1 Result
Reflection
I’ve learned to be patient when creating animations, especially with techniques like morphing, where I have to adjust each blob individually. This process taught me the value of careful attention to detail. I also learned the importance of keeping my animation consistent while introducing fresh elements to engage the audience. Experimenting with colours, movement, and transitions has been key in ensuring that my motion graphic aligns with the emotions and message I want to convey. I now understand that every choice, whether it's colour, movement, or timing, needs to have a meaning behind it to make the animation more effective and meaningful.