Reflective Text 

This week my work examines ideas of aesthetic and character design. 

By using a mood board I was able to select images that had a similar aesthetic to the desired energy of the animation I hope to create. I selected images with block colors, as well as black and white esthetics. I also am looking to create a ‘hand drawn’ visual style, rather than something more polished and perfected. 

Then, by creating character sketches I was able to examine the personality of the Airpod through the way it moves. In some sketches it is slithering like a snake, on all fours like a dog, bouncing or running like a human. The way the Airpod moves will help shape the narrative by depicting the personality of the character.

This work is similar to the work of All of Us (2018) by Daniel Greaves and Ruth Beni. The way the bright, block colours were used to develop the storyline is something I hope to emulate in my work. The way the ‘orange’ characters and the ‘blue’ characters were separated, and then brought together evoked themes of class, race, gender and other differences of people within society. 

By examining character and esthetic, I reflected that colour and movement are both imperative elements to my work. 

Through my feedback I have also decided to consider bringing in other lost or missing items to the story for additional diversity. I also plan to put more thought into the deeper meaning of my animation and the motivations behind the characters. Perhaps the Airpods think ears are disgusting, and that’s why they are running away. This could be a metaphor for people being forced into work situations that they do not enjoy or about taking a stand against ‘the man’. 

Greaves, D 2019, All of Us, 20 October 2018, viewed March 20 2022, <https://vimeo.com/296154243>.

Reflective Text 

This work explores the concept of reality and hierarchy of knowledge. In the main character’s reality she is the one losing her Airpods, however they really have minds of their own. 

By depicting my work in a storyboard I was able to begin visualising the layout of my narrative, as well as the key scenes. This storyboard was very much an overview and I will need to create a more detailed one moving forward. The storyboard also helped me explore the hierarchy of knowledge by asking these questions: when do we, the viewers, know that the Airpods are running away and not simply lost? When does the main character find out, if ever? 

This work is similar to the work Slim Pickings (1998) by Anthony Lucas. This claymation short film explores the idea of a pot plant coming to life and a man befriending it. The man is starving and has to make the choice whether or not to eat his friend. Both of our works explore the concept of bringing to life items that do not have personalities or motivations. Lucas also explores hierarchy of knowledge, as the man does not realise the plant has produced food for him, however the viewer is aware from the beginning. 

By examining the idea of hierarchy of knowledge, I reflected that the element of surprise should be a key concept in my work. The viewer should believe that the owner of the Airpods is simply misplacing them, however will then be surprised when the Airpods come to life and run off.

Lucas, A 1998, Slim Pickings, 13 September 2020, viewed March 12 2022, <​​https://vimeo.com/457389410>.

Reflective Text 

This work examines the idea of inanimate objects coming to life and developing personalities. I explored this concept by ideating my idea ‘A pot plant confuses its owner by stealing things from their bedside table every night when they go to sleep’.

By using a mindmap I was able to further ideate and flesh out my idea. My mindmap included questions like ‘why does the plant steal’, finding motivations for the characters and developing the plot.

This work is similar to Breast Friends (2019) by Caitlin Young. This comedic 5 minute animation explores body image through a feminst lense. The main character's breasts speak her inner monologue out loud, one being positive and logical, the other being bitchy and cynical. Bringing inanimate objects to life and creating personalities for them generates a bizarre, humorous and unexpected tone to an animation. 

Throughout my ideation I have developed my overarching concept for my work. I believe I will move forward with a concept around my missing Airpods. I hope to create a narrative around someone or something stealing the headphones and finding an alternate use for the hundreds of Airpods they have collected. 

Young, C 2019, Breast Friends, 9 March 2020, viewed March 5 2022, <https://vimeo.com/396392696>.