NZ Animator

Euan Frizzell

A New Zealand Animator, award winning animations

Image from NZ on Screen

Euan Frizzell has made many different animations from commercials to full documentaries and children's films. Although he has made many different creations, his greatest passion was character drawing and animation. (1)

Although he has done animation in many different films like Under the Mountain (2009), Braindead (1992), and The Irrefutable Truth about Demons, he is mostly known for directing children animated TV series' like Oscar and Friends (1996) and the most well known of all, Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy. (2)

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy animated series is based of the New Zealand famous books by Lynley Dodd where there have been over 40,000 copy's sold in New Zealand. (3) This animation is loved by
not just the children of New Zealand but also to the parents of the children.

Image from NZ on Screen

What a discovery! So true to the wonderful stories and my children were enchanted to see their favourite characters brought to life- thank you xx

 

Cathy Saul 22 Apr 2013 - 04.08am

(4)

Euan Frizzell quoted that the hardest dog to draw was in fact Hair Maclary himself because of his long hair. The second Hairy Maclary animated short film became New Zealand's most best selling title of 1998. But no other awards were received. (1)

Well this New Zealand classic is so well known in New Zealand, it is hard to know on how the other countries overseas take this short film. Because it is a New Zealand short film series, it is probably not very well known overseas.


Thank You for Reading

References

1)https://www.nzonscreen.com/person/euan-frizzell/biography 

2)https://www.nzonscreen.com/person/euan-frizzell
3)https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/hairy-maclary
4)https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/hairy-maclary-from-donaldsons-dairy-1997/comments

Parody

What is Parody?

Parody is a model of a particular style the writer, artist, or genre with is purposely exaggerated for a comic effect. It is also a version of something that falls short of the original.

5 Popular Examples of Parody with Films

The first example is Police Academy (1984). This movie is a spin off the classic police films of the 1980's. This American comedy is basically about what would happen if a mayor would loosen their grip on who can join the police force. 1)

The second example is Austin Powers (1997-2002). This movie is a spin off the James Bond films. This is a funny spy action movie about Austin Danger Powers and the adventures that he goes on. 2)

The third example is Spaceballs (1987). This movie is a spin off the Star Wars films. This funny space fantasy is instead about power but about air on the planet spaceball. The princess of air rich Druidia is in danger until a hero with his half dog, half man partner come to her aid. 3) 

The forth example is called Blazing Saddles (1974). This movie is a spin off American Western films. This film makes fun of the Western movies of the time. It is about a new sheriff of a small town about to be destroyed for a new railway road. 4)

The final example is called Young Frankenstein (1974). This was a spin off the classic monster films. It funny horror film is a story about Dr. Frederick Frankenstein's monster he makes himself. 5)

Thank You for Reading

Refferences

 

1) https://www.allposters.com/-st/Police-Academy-Movies-Posters_c140079_.htm

2) austinpowers.wikia.com/wiki/Vanessa_Kensington

3) www.blu-ray.com/movies/Spaceballs-Blu-ray/130739/

4) www.imdb.com/title/tt0071230/

5) https://www.target.com/p/young-frankenstein-dvd-video/-/A-11353125

Moving pictures History

Simplified Moving pictures History

All information is referenced from the resource in the BSA 106 class with tutor Vaughn with some new information
Persistence of Vision

This idea is what lead to most film, TV and animation's to be created and experimented with. This idea states that the human eye retains an image for a few seconds after the image is gone. So people thought that if the image that suddenly replaces the last image is sightly different, then it appears to be a moving picture/one image.

Making the Camera

People say that this was proven true with the Thaumatrope in 1825. This invention was a piece of paper with two different images on either side. Then the thaumatrope is spun, the images combine into one image.This was the first step to making moving images.

1) The images marge into one

Next come the Phenakistiscope made by Joseph Plauteau in (1831). The Phenakistiscope was the first widespread device that created moving pictures. What it did was spin a circle piece of cardboard with different images on it, and the viewer looked at the reflection in a mirror.

2) What would be seen from the Phenakistiscope

The Zoetrope made by William Horner in 1834 was origanly called the Daedalum, meaning Wheel of Death. The Zoetrope was basiclly a better version of the Phenakisticope. Horner's original invention was forgotten in 1867, when it was patented by M Bradley. Also when it was renamed by William Lincoln to The Zoetrope meaning Wheel of Life. 3)

4) You view the image through the little slides as it moves

Next came the Praxinoscope made by Charles-Emile Reynaud in 1877. This invention was made to better the viewing size and quality by having inventor mirror inside the bowl as the images spun around the center. Instead is looking though a tiny slide with the Zoetrope, the viewer would look at the images in the mirrors. The Praxinoscope was popular in Paris until the Lumiere brother's movies started. 

5) The long strips with different images lined the inside of the bowl.

The next big step in animation history was when Eadweard Muybridge proved that all the hooves of the horse when running leave the ground in 1872. He set up a series of cameras along the track that would take photos of the horse and horse rider running. The were triggered to take the photo by a trip wire network. 

6) People believed that he was right about the horses after these photos

Cameras at the time were improving a lot at that time but in 1882, Scientist Etienne-Jules Marley created and used the Chronophotographic gun that took 12 photos per second. This was when motion photographs were also invented. He used motion photographs to first study the movement in people but later moved to animals movement.

7) The flight path of a bird landing

The Kineoscope made by Thomas Edison in 1888 was basically a theater in a box with 46 film strips being flashed in front of a light bulb to show the image. The Kineoscope was later developed by William Kennedy Dickson. Thomas Edison at first thought of the Kineoscope as nothing more than a toy for children but later realized it's potential and it when to Broadway in 1894. 8)

9) The inside of the Kineoscope

Now next in history came the mystery of Louis Aime Augustin Le Prince. Louis La Prince created the first single lens camera. He is considered the father of cinematography because of his ground breaking invention that proved that the equipment he made was successful. However, he was never able to gain any reward for his invention because he diapered without a trace in the 1890's. 10)

The 1885-1915 history period

This time was the true beginning of films and experimentation with different and/or new techniques. This time was before the big names came into play like Walt Disney or the Walter brothers. There were six major break though in this time.

Arthur Melbourne-Cooper. In 1899, he created a stop motion movie with match sticks, publishing how the soldiers in the war need the British public to buy matches to support them in the fight. This was the first introduction of animation to the British public on TV.

11) An image from the short film about the soldiers in need

Segundo De Chomon. In 1908, he created a short silent film about an electric hotel by using actors and stop motion technology. He showed the Spanish public how he has mastered the art of stop motion by having different objects and items move around the room with no strings attached.

12) An image from the short silent film called Electric Hotel

Alice Guy. In 1895, she created a short film called cabbage fairy. This was before health and safety was invented. This short film was about a fairy in a cabbage patch picking new born babies from the patch. The french public loved this film at the time

13) An image from the short film the cabbage fairy

Edwin S. Porter. In 1903, he created a film called The Great Train Robbery. His film was about a train robbery which had the beginning stages of story telling which was not present in the early short films. From the robbers taking out the train worker to taking the money into the wood.This film captured the attention of the American audience.

14) The ending clip from the film The Great Train Robbery

Winsor Mccay. In 1911, he created an animation called Little Nemo. This short film experimented and played with the characters physical appearance and different angles and moment. This was a huge innovation and a great delight to the American audience. This film also had colours unlike most films at the time.

15) The first image of the animation called Little Nemo

Cecil M. Hepworth. In 1905, he created a film called Saved by Rover. This film introduced the idea of having close up's on peoples faces to show their emotion easier. This film also introduced the idea of having different kind of complains as stars like dogs. This film also had a story about a villain kidnapping a baby from her mother. The dog then goes and finds the baby girl and saves her from danger.

16) The ending clip on freeze frame. This was a new idea at the time

Thank You for Reading

Reference's
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaumatrope
2) https://skylight.org.nz/
3) https://camerongregorymedia.wordpress.com/my-college.../william-horner-zoetrope/
4) https://andreacollo.wordpress.com/2013/09/.../a-weird-example-of-persistence-of-visi...
5) https://chroniclesofanimation.wordpress.com/.../charles-emile-reynaud-the-praxinosco...
6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sallie_Gardner_at_a_Gallop
7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Étienne-Jules_Marey
8) https://www.britannica.com/technology/Kinetoscope
9) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetoscope
10) https://blog.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/louis-le-prince-created-the-first-ever-mo...
11) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HD9NwzFNLY
12) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCzru63JBSE
13) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTd7r0VkgnQ
14) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_Great_Train_Robbery
15) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5YwIWTzXiU
16) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rescued_by_Rover

Drawing class 2

Today in drawing class, we were looking at drawing different objects in the room.

This was to show and practice how to make the objects look like their on ground instead of floating in mid air. We were also looking at how to fill in space in our drawings. We were also told to draw at least one character in the drawing.

This is what I drew today.

Drawing class 1

Last week in drawing class, we were told to ether draw a self portrait with a mirror or a fellow student in the room with 3 different coloured graphite's. I chose to draw myself

Photoshop face study

My first time on Photoshop, Face shape study

As you can see from the picture I have drawn, I have drawn three people in two different ways.
The first row, the man on the left has a egg shaped face with large eyes, and smooth jaw line. I then drew the same man to the right but with opposite characteristics, with a square face with small eyes, and a sharp jaw line.
The second row, the girl on the left has a heart shaped face, very large circle eyes and button nose. This style is more of a chibi anime style. The girl on the right has a heart shaped face, more realistic eyes and massive nose. This style is more of a western cartoon style.
The third row, the woman has a pear slender shaped face, large glasses and pointed nose. The woman on the right has a square chubby face, thin glasses and a rounded nose.

These differences are small yet it completely changes the characters personally, clothing and body build. With a sharper, slender face shape it would suggest a more posh, high-class, grand sort of personally. And with a square, wide face shape it would suggest a more strong, protective, intimating sort of personally. And finally with a round, large face shape it would suggest a more innocent, young, cheerful sort of personally.

Thank you for reading

12 Principles of Animation

These are the 12 principles of animation, simplified information

Number One) Squash and stretch

Rigidity. This is changing the characters/objects shape to make the movement smother and appeal to the eyes more. Adding better movement and volume to the characters/objects.1) Both in characters and in objects
Number Two) Anticipation

Preparation. Action. Termination. This highlights the speed of the characters/objects. The larger the build up to the anticipated action, the faster the action. This also directs the attention to the viewer to a curtain event.

2) This adds to the reaction as well.

Number Three) Staging

This is showing the action thought the scenery very clearly. This is ether though positioning or framing. This can provide personality and mood.

3) This is key to making the situation very clear

Number Four) Straight ahead and Pose to pose

These are different techniques on how to animate a moving scene. Straight ahead is when the animator draws every individual scene by scene, every little movement. This could have problems if the animator accidentally ends up with the charterers/objects shape being changed indirectly. Pose to pose is when the major poses are drawn in first, after this the animators draw and time the in-between poses later.

4) Every animation will be complected in the end with either technique
Number Five) Follow through and overlapping action
This idea is basic law of Physics, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that you cannot just suddenly stop a motion without another force acting on you. There is weight and drag involved, you are slow to stop or start. This is the same as in an animation.

5) There are different forces acting on both the character an the object
Number Six) Ease in, Ease out
Easing in and easing out is very important with calculating the timing of the character/object. This idea shows the acceleration and the deceleration of the character/object by showing how they/it starts moving slow then speed up and slows to a stop.

6) The ball starts slow then picks up speed and slows to a stop
Number Seven) Arcs
This is basically the principle that most objects move in a circular path. This is like the movement in a swinging objects or jumping characters.

7) Movement should be smooth
Number Eight) Secondary Action
Secondary action is an action because of the result of another action. This can be like a characters arm moving and the long loose sleeve swaying forward as well. This does build interest and validness of the character/object.

8) It doesn't have to be just one object, it can be more than one
Number Nine) Timing
This is basically how many frames/drawings are needed to do an action, create the scene, show the emotion effectually. Is is also how to find out how long the animation will be.

9) Each frame is there for a reason
Number Ten) Exaggeration
Animators are always trying to push the limits, this is one area where they do so a lot. This is where animators over exaggerate an idea to show the clear feel, action. This is done though either facial expressions, body language, colouring, etc

10) This is key for a clear understanding
Number Eleven) Solid Drawing
Solid drawing shows if your character has weight, depth and balance. These should be always be considered when drawing or animating any character. A good way to show this is by drawing the character in a 3/4 view.

11) Front on view can make the character look wooden
Number Twelve) Appeal
The most important thing to stride for in animation is the appeal of the audience. This requires quality and charm from a character. Also there should be a good design and story to follow.

12)

Thank You for reading

Reference's 

1) dlsy9mediastudies.blogspot.com/.../squash-and-stretch-flexible-faces.html

2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8OtE60T8yU

3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-SXLaQGg50

4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8quCbt4C-c

5) blog.animationmentor.com/follow-through-and-overlapping-action-the-12-basic-prin...
6) https://css-tricks.com/ease-out-in-ease-in-out/
7)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1_tZ9LhJD4
8)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjBHWw1TbP4
9)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRVhtMxQWRs
10)blog.animationmentor.com/exaggeration-the-12-basic-principles-of-animation/
11)blog.animationmentor.com/solid-drawing-the-12-basic-principles-of-animation/
12)https://www.argeerubberstamps.com.au/

Investigating YouTube

Today I decided to investigate into different online YouTube videos to get a better idea on what sort of story I could do for my first year of animation.

I started this investigation with the YouTuber TheOdd1sOut's.

I am looking for how he show's his flashbacks/memories and how he tells his own story with the character 'specking' his words. The idea the character telling/narrating their own story is a pretty cool idea for me. This is like Tangled, Flinn Rider telling his story at the beginning.
This YouTuber is also showing me a basic yet effective way to draw characters.

Here are some links to what I have watched.

Work Stories (sooubway) - YouTube
Annoying Customers - YouTube
Sooubway Part 3 - YouTube
My Teachers - YouTube
My Poetry Teacher - YouTube
Top 10 Things That Keep Me Awake at Night - YouTube