Motion Graphic Sound Syncs:

Make 3 motion graphic animations using only primitive shape layers, repetition, and the 12 Principles of Animation. Select 3 sound files from the D2L resource folder and create animated visual interpretations using shape layers and After Effects. Synchronize the timing of your motion and the design of your shapes to the audio you hear.

Use only After Effects shape layers, abstract geometry, and some form of repetition. (NO EFFECTS, presets, or video). Your animations should be the precise length of the sound files and motion should synch up and reflect and interpret the different sounds in each clip.

Process:
  • Set up 3 compositions in After Effects (HDV 1080) and import your chosen sound files.
  • Using ONLY PRIMITIVE SHAPES in After Effects, visually interpret the sound files with various shapes and patterns.
  • Set keyframes and experiment with Animation Principles until your shapes take on the characteristics of the audio.
  • Try hard to refine the movement and add the illusion of gravity, weight, elasticity, hardness, softness, bounce, etc..
  • Render each Composition and turn in with your finished project.
Experiment with:
  • the shapes and how many times they repeat
  • how repetition is translated, rotated, scaled, etc
  • how your shapes changes, color, texture, opacity, etc.
  • how fast or slow shapes move
  • how shapes anticipate, bounce, squash, stretch, follow through, etc.
  • Do not make your shapes into characters that have limbs, are weapons, or are vehicles.
  • Animations should be made of abstract shapes and patterns, not symbols, images, or representational forms.

Tools and Techniques:

We'll use the following animation tools and techniques in After Effects:

  • Primitive Shapes
  • Path Operators - Trim Paths, Repeater,
  • Repeater
  • Wiggler
  • Motion Sketch
  • Pre-composing
  • Pan Behind tool
  • Animation Principles - The Illusion of Life on vimeo

Parameters

  • NO EFFECTS, Filters,
  • NO video
  • No Animation Presets
  • No 3D layers
  • Shapes should be made as After Effects Parametric Shapes (NO REPRESENTATIONAL OBJECTS, SYMBOLS, CHARACTERS,)
  • No Text, titles, etc.
  • No character animations or shapes resembling characters (hands, limbs, eyes, heads, bodies, weapons, wheels, etc.)
  • You must incorporate SOME FORM OF REPETITION AND PATTERN.

Format:

Your final shorts will be in the following format:
  • format: H264 (.mp4)
  • size: HDV/HDTV (1920 x 1080 pixels - square pixels)
  • frame rate: 30 -or- 24
  • video encoded as: H.264
    length: determined by the sound files

What to Turn in:

Turn in the following files for grading.

Please note that you are turning in your AEP file as well as your movie files.

Put all of the following files in a single folder

  • firstname_lastname_soundSynch1.mp4
  • firstname_lastname_soundSynch2.mp4
  • firstname_lastname_soundSynch3.mp4
  • firstname_lastname_soundSynch.aep

Criteria For Grading and Evaluation:

     

    Focus

    Follows the concept for the project based on examples, readings and discussion

    5 point deduction for each item used from Parameters
     

    Design

    Construction of shapes - color harmony and balance, intricacy and complexity, scale and variation

    Patterns and repetition - musicality of shapes (how they create structured patterns)

    Variation - shapes are easy to identify and are different from each other
     

    Craft

    Animation and movement - naturalness and smoothness (continuous flow, not stopping, linking together movements)

    Refinement of movement - application of animation principles, simulation of gravity and weight

    Structure of movement - deliberate movements, movements are distinctly different from each other
     

    Effort

    Ambition with idea - ambition with what you set out to do

    Ambition with effort - level of finish and completion

    Ambition with time- time devoted inside and outside of class

     

    Creativity

    Creative interpretation of audio

    Original and unique shapes, colors, and movement

    30 pts
    Total