Evaluation task - Aardman Animations

Aardman Animations also known as Aardman Studios is an academy award winning British animation studio based in Bristol, United Kingdom. The company was founded by Peter Lord and David Sproxton in 1976. The studio is famous for its stop-motion, clay animation productions, particularly those featuring plasticine duo Wallace and Gromit. The company also produce books, mainly for Wallace and Gromit. However it successfully entered the computer animation market with its 2006 film, Flushed Away. A superhero created for Vision On in 1972 was the inspiration for the company's name. 

Some of their more famous films are A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave and also the most recently Curse of the Were-Rabbit - all from the Wallace and Gromit collection. In 2000 Aardman Studios produced their first feature film, Chicken Run, an award-winning worldwide box-office hit. Aardman has been nominated for three Children's BAFTAs.

Screen grabs of garage band/final cut projects & prelim task

Garageband soundtrack sketch and final

Preliminary task

Final Cut

Evaluation Task

Monsters Inc. Opening Sequence

The opening sequence of Monsters Inc. use many of the opening sequence conventions. For example, it incorporates all of the movie's titles in a creative way. It uses the ideas of doors and monsters to show the titles so the viewer automatically knows what the film is about while also keeping the viewer entertained and interested and the transition from the titles to the opening scene is interesting and creative. This is quite similar to our opening titles because we also used a creative way to reveal the title of our film. However, Monsters Inc. did use a lot more special effects to create their opening titles.

Monsters Inc titles





Free (our production) titles






The theme tune of the opening sequence is fun and catchy which would appeal to all listeners. The tune stays in your head which makes you remember the film in a positive way and hooks the viewer.
The genre is clearly comedy and for children, due to the bright colours and way it is presented.
The first part of the opening sequence establishes the location and introduces certain characters such as the boss of 'Monsters Incorporated', Mr Waternoose. Our production does introduce characters but not as thoroughly as Monsters Inc.



    Intro of Mr Waternoose







Intro of Fred and Perry





All the sound in this opening scene after the titles is diegetic. This makes the monster's world seem more real to the viewers. This contrasts to our opening sequence as we use only non-diegetic sound.
The introduction of Sully and Mike is amusing and establishes their relationship of being best friends. It also establishes the location of the monster's world, Mike and Sully's home and their work place. Our introductions don't establish the dinosaurs' relationships besides the fact that they are trapped together.

Feedback

1. Camerawork - are there enough variety of shots, angles, movement? Is it steady?
"Only one shot, angle and movement was used, it's quite steady."

2. a) How well does the sound work? Make comments on diegetic and non-diegetic sound, sound effects, background/ambient sound, and the quality and effectiveness at creating mood.
"The voice over and backing track work well with the clip."
b) What opening title sequence conventions can you identify?
"The groups names were shown which made it look professional though some parts were held on pause."

3. a) Comment on all aspects on mise en scene. How smooth is the animation? Use of sfx?
"The use of props is done well as all the characters are made out of it and the effects from props such as the police station created out of lego shows a good use of props. Also the scene of the sequence is all hand made and suits the plot of the film. There are no use of costumes at all in the sequence but doesn't affect it."

b) What target audience do you think this is aimed at? Age range and why?
"Kids: 5-10 from simple narrative."

4. Editing:
"Pace could've been a bit more fluent. Good use of techniques however could have had more variety. Quick cuts. Good audio editing with the voice over."

5. What media company could this film fit into?
"This film would fit in well with Aardman Animation Company as it is very like some of their previous films (e.g. Chicken Run) where the animals also try to escape."

U1-30 Children's Film Project Final

Animatic and sound track

Here is an animatic of our storyboard complete with sound. A storyboard is important to planning our opening to a children's film because it helps us keep on track with the original plan and it also shows what kind of transitions and sounds we can use. It also helps us develop our skills in Garage Band and Final Cut. In this animatic, we have also used examples of the soundtrack we will use for our final film.

Props for Children's Film

These are some of the props (dinosaurs) we will use in our children's film, Free. All of these characters may not be used in our final production.

The "Leader" ^

Arnie

Sam (at the top)

Simon (at the bottom)

Susan (On the right)

Sally (On the left)

Larry

Barney and Bazil

Terrence and Laurence

Fred and Perry

Gary

Our Final Storyboard and Shot List

Our whole storyboard

Shot 1

Shots 2/3/4 (establishing shots)

Shot 5

Shot 6

Shot 7

Shot 8 - Title

Character Analysis

Russell – Up.

Russell is one of main characters in the Disney Pixar film Up. In the first scene that Russell appears in, he is introducing himself as a wilderness explorer, and his reason for being at Mr Fredrickson’s door. He is a memorable character as he is a typical innocent child, he’s short and fat and generally cute, making the audience warm to him.  He is very gullible in believing in a made up bird, the snipe and is a comical character. Over the shoulder shots have been used and when Mr Fredrickson answers the door at first, he looks straight over Russel’s head, then he realises he is there, this shows the audience that Russell is a small child and helps them to automatically know what to think of him. Russell is in his wilderness explorer uniform, with a huge backpack and lots of parts coming off of it. This is a very memorable outfit for him to be wearing and helps the audience to know what type of kid he is.

  Just before Russell enters the scene, Mr Fredrickson is very grumpy and unsociable, when he finally decides to let Russell explain his reason for being there, it lightens the mood and makes the viewer like Russell as it brought out a different side to Mr Fredrickson.

Media Analysis

INCREDIBOY

I am going to do my analysis on the character in the childrens film "The Incredibles" called Incrediboy aka Buddy.
I think that the thing that makes him memorable is that he is such a young boy, dreaming about being a superhero like his idol, i think this relates to childrens watching the film as they all want to be superheroes too after watching this film. I think thats why Pixar Animations put him into the film, as he is relating to the audience in a way that maybe an adult character couldn't. The sound in this clip is mainly Incrediboy and Mr. Incredible talking however this is some almost "playful" music used to emphasize the Incrediboy thinks that fighting crime is nice and easy. Also the way that Incrediboys' costume replicates that of Mr. Incredible we can tell that he wants to be just like him.

Woody's first scene

Woody's first scene Toy Story 1

The audience first meet Woody in Toy Story 1 when Andy is playing with him. As soon as Woody enters the music changes dramatically and lifts the mood of the scene so far. They use a low angle to look up to Woody, making him seem bigger and showing he's more important. Most of the angles are low angles or close ups which focus mainly on Woody, showing his importance. The editing is continuity editing as the transitions are usually just cuts, making the scene seem more natural. The fact that Andy is always holding Woody shows he is a main character. Woody is introduced by Mr Potato Head as the 'sheriff' showing he's important. He's wearing bright colours like yellow and red which makes him more memorable.

Moodboard

Film Classification

As our film is a children's film, we must make sure the classification is a PG or U.
A PG classification means that unaccompanied children of any age can watch, and shouldn't disrupt a child of eight or older. This would mean that our film should contain no discriminatory language and only mild bad language would be suitable. Sexual activity should be mentioned subtly and infrequently and nudity should have no sexual context. References to drugs should be mild and have an underlying message of anti-drugs. Horror scenes should not be long or intense and there should be no detail of dangerous behaviour which young children may be influenced by.
A U classification means that it should be suitable for any age over four years. This means that our film should contain no discriminatory language at all, and no mention of drug use unless it has an educational purpose. Horror sequences should be very mild and suitable for young children. There should be only mild  sexual activity, e.g. kissing, and references only (such as 'making love') and only natural nudity with no sexual context. Only very mild bad language is allowed infrequently. Like PG, there should be no detail of dangerous behaviour which young children may be influenced by and only occasional mild violence.

Children's Film Analysis

We watched Group One's children's film, G20. It was a sci-fi adventure film. It establishes the location of the film which is a key part of the conventions of an opening sequence, which is Long Road Sixth Form Centre. We know this because the film opens with a zoom in on the sign of the college. The film establishes the narrative, another important convention, by showing the two main characters immediately.
The music makes it clear that it's an adventure. The sound gave the opening scene an intense atmosphere and created a climax to the action that was about to unfold. The lighting for the first two minutes is natural but the last scene shows the main characters walking into a dark room, which is then lit up by the macs' static on the screen. This creates an eerie atmosphere and prepares the audience. This hooks the viewer as you can feel something important is about to happen. The only titles the film has is at the end where the film's name is shown, there is no mention of the production company or the principle actors.

Childrens Opening Scene Research.

Monster Inc.

Within the first few minutes of Monsters Inc, it shows a basic outline of what the film is about, by using doors and monsters. Lots of bright colours and quick movements help to show the common characteristics of a childrens film and this lets us know what the genre of the film is. Also a sound track accompanies the upbeat vibrant nature of the film. The opening scene doesn't give away the plot but shows enough to draw the viewer in. At the beginning during the doors animation the production company, Pixar is shown. Also Disney is stated.

Opening Scene Clip
0:00 - 3:15

Prelim task

The project was to create a short movie of a conversation involving certain camera angles and shots which we then edited in Final Cut and inserted Sound via Garage Band.