Animation
PostPosted: Thu Jun 05, 2003 12:37 pm
[this was taken from the thread Infiltrate the Media?, but at this point it was more suited for the new board here]
[original thread can be found at:http://christiananime.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=117&perpage=15&pagenumber=1]
Nekomi:
We definitely need to go with our own original animation if we're going to do it at all. Ashley, your skills in video editing and timing would definitely come in handy. ^_^ In order to do this, though, we have to have a clear plan in mind. ^_^
Step 1: Conceptualizing. We need to get a solid theme in mind. What kind of message do we want to convey? We should select an appropriate song to use, God-willing, from a member here who would be willing to contribute (we don't really have the funds or the profile to obtain copyrights on major Christian media). This is a call to all you CAA musicians and writers out there! ^_^
Step 2: Character design. Depending on the nature of the video, we're going to need a few good characters in the production. This is often a lengthy process, but we can band together and do it. This is a call to the CAA artists. ^___^
Step 3: Storyboarding. Basically, this is the "rough sketch" of how the animation will run. (Think manga panels with little descriptions of the dialogue and action going on in a particular scene in the production.) I have limited skill in storyboarding and screenplay, but it's all self-taught... and also, I have no examples I can really post just yet. I'm still working on my own first animation project. ^_^
Step 4: Pencil testing. This is extremely time consuming. ^^ Basically, our team of animators scan in the rough sketches to see if they look right when put into motion, one after another, at the proper framerate. The animation program I mentioned is well-suited to pencil testing, and would definitely work for us.
Step 5: Inking and digital coloring. This is also very time consuming. Our animating team, having finished all the rough sketches, tweaks and inks them before scanning them into the computer. At this point, a team of digital cel painters could use Adobe Photoshop (my recommendation) to color each individual cel.
Step 6: Animating. These digital "cels" are then put into motion using the software, and any visual effects are added (zoom, rotate, focus, pan, transparency, image intensity, stenciling, negative color, etc. as dictated by the animation team). This can be done by a single individual, who would also be responsible for timing and snipping the animation to fit the song.
Then... we add the credits, find a way to publish it, and it's done. ^__^ It sounds easy, but it's a very grueling process, which is why we probably need a team working together. Right now, we can get all the way to storyboarding without needing the software. We can also get promotional materials made for the production through places like CafePress and Kinko's... if anyone would like to take posters and pamphlets to cons and anime meets in your areas once the project is underway, that would probably be the best route. 'Course, since we don't have any funds, we're going to need people to be willing to work as volunteers.
And let's not forget the most important job of all... one *everyone* here can participate in... Pray for this ministry! ^___^ I believe God is working. ^__^
Djnoz
I am going to pray. This is awesome... and has inspired me to practice my music production skills. Let's see how far we can go! With Jesus anything is possible!
Nekomi:
Talking to the programmer right now regarding the animating program... he's excited about this now too. ^__^
He says he can get a basic animation flipper (loads several images and flips them at 24fps, the framerate for anime) ready within a week of working on it. (This guy is a genius. ^__^) Not necessarily a week from now, but a week from when he starts working on it... dunno when that'll be, but we've definitely got some software secured for this ministry. ^___^ Seeing that animation programs are usually around $200 for the most basic, this is one heck of a blessing. Praise the Lord, He is so faithful to His people. ^__^
Anyhow, now to the reason for this post: Nice track, Djnoz. ^__^ The ambience is pretty neat, reminds me of the .hack soundtracks. ^__^ I'd like to hear some more of your music, if you don't mind! ^__^ We're not really looking to get musicians for the game yet, and 'course, it's not my decision anyway. ^__^ But I'm sure we could all use your skills for our music video in the here-and-now. ^____^ Yaaaaaaaay! God is so good! ^______^
Ashley:
I can volunteer to story board, at least some of the shorter ones (haven't ever tried but I know the concept) and I can probably color (not necesarrily ink...eh heh that's a big weak point) but I can add shading and things like that. Also have access to Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, ImageReady, and a cable modem so if I have to dl anything else it's nice and quick. Willing, ready, capable and glad to be of service however I can. Soo....who's got an idea we can mull around?
[original thread can be found at:http://christiananime.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=117&perpage=15&pagenumber=1]
Nekomi:
We definitely need to go with our own original animation if we're going to do it at all. Ashley, your skills in video editing and timing would definitely come in handy. ^_^ In order to do this, though, we have to have a clear plan in mind. ^_^
Step 1: Conceptualizing. We need to get a solid theme in mind. What kind of message do we want to convey? We should select an appropriate song to use, God-willing, from a member here who would be willing to contribute (we don't really have the funds or the profile to obtain copyrights on major Christian media). This is a call to all you CAA musicians and writers out there! ^_^
Step 2: Character design. Depending on the nature of the video, we're going to need a few good characters in the production. This is often a lengthy process, but we can band together and do it. This is a call to the CAA artists. ^___^
Step 3: Storyboarding. Basically, this is the "rough sketch" of how the animation will run. (Think manga panels with little descriptions of the dialogue and action going on in a particular scene in the production.) I have limited skill in storyboarding and screenplay, but it's all self-taught... and also, I have no examples I can really post just yet. I'm still working on my own first animation project. ^_^
Step 4: Pencil testing. This is extremely time consuming. ^^ Basically, our team of animators scan in the rough sketches to see if they look right when put into motion, one after another, at the proper framerate. The animation program I mentioned is well-suited to pencil testing, and would definitely work for us.
Step 5: Inking and digital coloring. This is also very time consuming. Our animating team, having finished all the rough sketches, tweaks and inks them before scanning them into the computer. At this point, a team of digital cel painters could use Adobe Photoshop (my recommendation) to color each individual cel.
Step 6: Animating. These digital "cels" are then put into motion using the software, and any visual effects are added (zoom, rotate, focus, pan, transparency, image intensity, stenciling, negative color, etc. as dictated by the animation team). This can be done by a single individual, who would also be responsible for timing and snipping the animation to fit the song.
Then... we add the credits, find a way to publish it, and it's done. ^__^ It sounds easy, but it's a very grueling process, which is why we probably need a team working together. Right now, we can get all the way to storyboarding without needing the software. We can also get promotional materials made for the production through places like CafePress and Kinko's... if anyone would like to take posters and pamphlets to cons and anime meets in your areas once the project is underway, that would probably be the best route. 'Course, since we don't have any funds, we're going to need people to be willing to work as volunteers.
And let's not forget the most important job of all... one *everyone* here can participate in... Pray for this ministry! ^___^ I believe God is working. ^__^
Djnoz
I am going to pray. This is awesome... and has inspired me to practice my music production skills. Let's see how far we can go! With Jesus anything is possible!
Nekomi:
Talking to the programmer right now regarding the animating program... he's excited about this now too. ^__^
He says he can get a basic animation flipper (loads several images and flips them at 24fps, the framerate for anime) ready within a week of working on it. (This guy is a genius. ^__^) Not necessarily a week from now, but a week from when he starts working on it... dunno when that'll be, but we've definitely got some software secured for this ministry. ^___^ Seeing that animation programs are usually around $200 for the most basic, this is one heck of a blessing. Praise the Lord, He is so faithful to His people. ^__^
Anyhow, now to the reason for this post: Nice track, Djnoz. ^__^ The ambience is pretty neat, reminds me of the .hack soundtracks. ^__^ I'd like to hear some more of your music, if you don't mind! ^__^ We're not really looking to get musicians for the game yet, and 'course, it's not my decision anyway. ^__^ But I'm sure we could all use your skills for our music video in the here-and-now. ^____^ Yaaaaaaaay! God is so good! ^______^
Ashley:
I can volunteer to story board, at least some of the shorter ones (haven't ever tried but I know the concept) and I can probably color (not necesarrily ink...eh heh that's a big weak point) but I can add shading and things like that. Also have access to Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, ImageReady, and a cable modem so if I have to dl anything else it's nice and quick. Willing, ready, capable and glad to be of service however I can. Soo....who's got an idea we can mull around?