MAKING ANIMATION: Behind the Scenes

Summary

This video takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes journey of creating an animated short called 'The Tale Teller.' Despite limited resources, the creator and a small team managed to produce a 10-minute animation over 10 months. The process involved conceptualization, scripting, storyboarding, animatics, and animation, showcasing how modern tools make animation accessible to everyone. The video emphasizes the importance of storytelling and personal connection to the project, highlighting the satisfaction of creating meaningful content. The creator also shares the joy of seeing the animation captivate his son, reinforcing the impact and emotional fulfillment of the project.

Takeaways

• 😀 We are in a new golden age of animation where powerful tools and hardware are accessible to everyone, making animation creation more approachable.
• 🎨 The video discusses the creation of an animated short called 'The Tale Teller', which was produced by a small team and took about 10 months to complete.
• 📝 The first stage of any animation project is conceptualization, which in the case of 'The Tale Teller' involved personal desires and research into storytelling and folklore.
• 📖 The script for 'The Tale Teller' was heavily influenced by spoken word artist Shane Koyczan and took five days to write, emphasizing the importance of rhythm and poetry in storytelling.
• 🎙️ Over 350 auditions were received for the narrator's role, with Toby Ricketts being chosen for his perfect delivery, highlighting the collaborative nature of animation projects.
• 🎨 The environment artist, Greg Bartlett, created concept art and designed the town square setting, which was a central location in the animation.
• 💻 The animation process began with creating an animatic, a rough version of the final piece, focusing on character placement, camera positions, and scene transitions.
• 🖌️ Environment art was created in a vector-based format using Adobe Animate, allowing for detailed and scalable scenes without pixelation.
• 🎼 The music for 'The Tale Teller' was composed early in the production process and practiced over eight months to ensure a seamless recording.
• 🎹 Matthew Westwood, a talented violinist, added authenticity to the music by recording a real violin track, enhancing the emotional impact of the animation.
• 🎉 The final animation was a labor of love, with the creators being proud of the result and the personal connection they felt to the project, especially as it resonated with the animator's son.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic is the creation process of an animated short called 'The Tail Teller,' highlighting the accessibility of animation tools today.

How many people worked full-time on 'The Tail Teller'?

Two people worked full-time on 'The Tail Teller': the script's author and the environment artist, Greg Bartlett.

What inspired the creation of 'The Tail Teller'?

The inspiration came from the author's personal desire to create an up-to-date animation project that resonated with their personal and emotional connection to storytelling and legacy.

What was the research process for 'The Tail Teller' focused on?

The research process focused on reading and listening to different stories and folklore, particularly those by the Brothers Grimm and Charles Perrault.

Who was the chosen narrator for 'The Tail Teller'?

Toby Ricketts was chosen as the narrator after an open casting call that received over 350 auditions.

What tools and software were used in the creation of 'The Tail Teller'?

The tools and software used included Adobe Animate for environment art, Adobe Photoshop for certain scenes, and Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing and final assembly.

How was the production schedule managed to avoid bottlenecks?

The production schedules were created and combined to identify areas of work that required each other's assets, allowing for a seamless workflow without creating bottlenecks.

What was the role of the animatic in the animation process?

The animatic served as a reference for the animation production, helping to plan character placements, gestures, camera positions, and scene transitions.

How did the author prepare for recording the orchestral music for 'The Tail Teller'?

The author composed the music early in the production process and practiced it nightly for eight months to become completely familiar with it before recording.

What was the author's personal takeaway from the project?

The author's biggest personal takeaway was the impact 'The Tail Teller' had on their son, who loved watching it, which highlighted the emotional connection and fulfillment derived from the project.