[FIRST YEAR] Animation Context
Covered today:
Recap of last lesson (Click Here to Review)
This was the 1st device capable of presenting moving images to an audience. All displayed using a device that was a sophisticated development of his own invention the Praxinoscope.
Phantasmagoria Magic Lantern
The heroes Journey (Story Wheel)
Phase 1: The Departure
1) The call to adventure
The hero is presented with a problem, challenge or adventure. The hero must face beginning of change. This call must be accepted, this can happen willingly, reluctantly, consciously or accidentally.
For example, in Lord of the Rings: Gandalf visits Frodo.
2) Refusal of the call
The hero doesn’t accept the call right away. This can happen for all sorts of reasons, such as being unwilling, being in denial or being kept from being able to respond. The hero finds motivation and or opportunity to answer the call.
For example, in The Matrix: Neo refuses Morpheus' advice
3) Supernatural Aid
The hero is now committed to the quest (consciously or unconsciously) and his guide/ helper becomes known. Often, the mentor will present the hero with a talisman or artifact to aid him later in the quest.
For example, Harry Potter: receives the cloak of invisibility
6) The road of Trails
This is a series of tests, tasks and ordeals that the hero must undergo in order to begin his transformation. Often the tests occur in threes and the hero usually fails one ore more. Sometimes, the heroes lose their mentor in this stage (e.g. Lord of the Rings and Star Wars).
For example, Lord of the Rings: fighting their way through the mines of Moria
8) Woman as Temptress
The hero faces temptation (physical or pleasurable) which make lead him to stray from his mission or even abandon it. This temptation does not necessary come from a woman.
For example, Star Wars: Han Solo claims the reward money.
The Hero’s Journey Phase 3: The return
12) Refusal of the return
The hero may not want to return to the ordinary world.
13) The magic flight
Sometimes the hero must escape with the artifact he came for (e.g. the holy grail) and others come after him to claim it back. In this case, the journey back can be just as dangerous and full of adventure.
14) Rescue from without
The hero often has (and needs) guides and helpers, sometimes the helpers are the one that need to bring him back to every day life. Especially if the hero has been severely wounded.
15) The crossing of the return threshold
Now that he gained all this knowledge and experience, he needs to retain it and integrate it into his human life and or share it with the world.
16) Master of two worlds
This step occurs if the hero is a transcendental hero such as Jesus or Buddha. If the hero is human, this may be simply achieving a balance between the material and spiritual world. The hero becomes comfortable and competent in both the inner and outer world.
For example, Matrix: Neo makes a call from within the matrix at the end
J. Stuart Blackton
Walt Disney Intro Logo
Pepper’s Ghost Disney
Back drop painting
The heroes Journey (Story Wheel)
The Hero’s Journey in 17 Steps
It’s the oldest of ancient yet magnificent. The hero’s journey shows the path a man walks through trails, adventure and danger to save the day and become a hero. Here are the 17 stepping stones.Phase 1: The Departure
1) The call to adventure
The hero is presented with a problem, challenge or adventure. The hero must face beginning of change. This call must be accepted, this can happen willingly, reluctantly, consciously or accidentally.
For example, in Lord of the Rings: Gandalf visits Frodo.
2) Refusal of the call
The hero doesn’t accept the call right away. This can happen for all sorts of reasons, such as being unwilling, being in denial or being kept from being able to respond. The hero finds motivation and or opportunity to answer the call.
For example, in The Matrix: Neo refuses Morpheus' advice
Stop after 2.33 minutes!!!
3) Supernatural Aid
The hero is now committed to the quest (consciously or unconsciously) and his guide/ helper becomes known. Often, the mentor will present the hero with a talisman or artifact to aid him later in the quest.
For example, Harry Potter: receives the cloak of invisibility
4) The crossing of the First Threshold
The hero crosses into the field of adventure, leaving behind all that is known and stepping into the unknown. Here, the limits, rules and limits are not yet known. There is no going back, this is where the adventure gets going.
For example, Lord of the Rings: Sam says "...the farthest away from home I've ever been."
5) Belly of the whale
The belly of the whale represents the final separation from the known world of the hero. In this stage, he shows willingness to undergo change and adaptation.
For example, Star Wars: the heroes are sucked into the enemy space by a tractor beam
The belly of the whale represents the final separation from the known world of the hero. In this stage, he shows willingness to undergo change and adaptation.
For example, Star Wars: the heroes are sucked into the enemy space by a tractor beam
The Hero’s Journey Phase 2: Initiation
6) The road of Trails
This is a series of tests, tasks and ordeals that the hero must undergo in order to begin his transformation. Often the tests occur in threes and the hero usually fails one ore more. Sometimes, the heroes lose their mentor in this stage (e.g. Lord of the Rings and Star Wars).
For example, Lord of the Rings: fighting their way through the mines of Moria
7) The meeting with the Goddess
The hero experiences a love that is all-powerful, encompassing and unconditional.
For example, Harry Potter: Quirrel cannot touch him due to the love of Harry's mother.
The hero faces temptation (physical or pleasurable) which make lead him to stray from his mission or even abandon it. This temptation does not necessary come from a woman.
For example, Star Wars: Han Solo claims the reward money.
9) Atonement with the father
The hero confronts the ultimate power in his life. This is the centre point of the story. All previous steps have brought him here and the steps to come move him away.
For example, Matrix: meeting the architect.
10) Apotheosis
There is a period of rest, peace and fulfilment before the hero begins his journey home.
For example, Star Wars: Obi-Wan becomes part of the Force himself.
11) The Ultimate Boon
The achievement of the goal or quest. The hero gets what he came for..
12) Refusal of the return
The hero may not want to return to the ordinary world.
13) The magic flight
Sometimes the hero must escape with the artifact he came for (e.g. the holy grail) and others come after him to claim it back. In this case, the journey back can be just as dangerous and full of adventure.
14) Rescue from without
The hero often has (and needs) guides and helpers, sometimes the helpers are the one that need to bring him back to every day life. Especially if the hero has been severely wounded.
15) The crossing of the return threshold
Now that he gained all this knowledge and experience, he needs to retain it and integrate it into his human life and or share it with the world.
16) Master of two worlds
This step occurs if the hero is a transcendental hero such as Jesus or Buddha. If the hero is human, this may be simply achieving a balance between the material and spiritual world. The hero becomes comfortable and competent in both the inner and outer world.
17) Freedom to live
Mastery has lead to freedom to live and living in the moment without anticipating the future nor regretting the past.
Variations of the Hero’s Journey
The Hero’s journey in 8 steps by P. Causineau:
- The Call to Adventure
- The Road of Trials
- The Vision Quest
- The Meeting with the Goddess
- The Boon
- The Magic Flight
- The Return Threshold
- The Master of Two Worlds
Another eight-step formulation by D. Adams Leeming:
- Miraculous conception and birth
- Initiation of the hero-child
- Withdrawal from family or community for meditation and preparation
- Trial and Quest
- Death
- Descent into the underworld
- Resurrection and rebirth
- Ascension, apotheosis, and atonement
J. Stuart Blackton
‘Lightning painter’ – Father of American animation.
Also, a magician originally from Sheffield, UK sold his electrically illumination vitascope to Thomas Edison.
Nikola Tesla
Apparent MotionNikola Tesla
was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist who is best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system.
We were talking about Nikola Teslas because Thomas Edison used Nikola Tesla's invention of modern alternating current electricity supply system to power Thomas' light bulbs. I thought Benjamin Franklin came up with the theory of electricity. [Click Here]
Alternating Current (AC) Direct Current (DC)
Both AC and DC describe types of current flow in a circuit. In direct current (DC), the electric charge (current) only flows in one direction. Electric charge in alternating current (AC), on the other hand, changes direction periodically. The voltage in AC circuits also periodically reverses because the current changes direction.
Most of the digital electronics that you build will use DC. However, it is important to understand some AC concepts. Most homes are wired for AC, so if you plan to connect your Tardis music box project to an outlet, you will need to convert AC to DC. AC also has some useful properties, such as being able to convert voltage levels with a single component (a transformer), which is why AC was chosen as the primary means to transmit electricity over long distances. [Read More]
Most of the digital electronics that you build will use DC. However, it is important to understand some AC concepts. Most homes are wired for AC, so if you plan to connect your Tardis music box project to an outlet, you will need to convert AC to DC. AC also has some useful properties, such as being able to convert voltage levels with a single component (a transformer), which is why AC was chosen as the primary means to transmit electricity over long distances. [Read More]
Thomas Edison blub (No Light, Rubbish)
Illusionist (I can’t remember why I wrote this in my note book)
History of Animation
We watched some of this documentary which was quite good.
This is a motion talked about in small amount of detail last week [see here]
Ever since 1928, Walt Disney has put Mickey Mouse whistling (from Steamboat Willie) as the intro for may of the Disney movies like Big Hero 6, Bolt, Meet the Robinsons, Tangled, The Princess and the Frog, Zootopia, but the videos below are different than the intros below:
Frozen,
Moana,
Wreck It Ralph