Monday, October 08, 2018

Pioneers of animation / filmmaking

[FIRST YEAR] Animation Context




Covered today:

Recap of last lesson (Click Here to Review)
Theatre Optique
1877 Charles – Emile Reynaud; Lantern Slide Painter; Inventor of the praxinoscope and celluloid film.



    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.

    George Méliès

    Magician and film Director (1896 – A trip to the moon)



    Phantasmagoria Magic Lantern




    Pepper’s Ghost Disney
    Pepper's ghost is an illusion technique used in the theatre, amusement parks, museums, television, and concerts. It is named after the English scientist John Henry Pepper (1821–1900) who popularized the effect in a demonstration in 1862.

     




    Phi Phenomenon



    Beta Movement




    Model T

    I can't remember why we talked about the Ford Model T car!!!


    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 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.



    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.




    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..




    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





    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:
    1. Miraculous conception and birth
    2. Initiation of the hero-child
    3. Withdrawal from family or community for meditation and preparation
    4. Trial and Quest
    5. Death
    6. Descent into the underworld
    7. Resurrection and rebirth
    8. 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
        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]


        Thomas Edison blub (No Light, Rubbish)
        Thomas Edison and the “first” light bulb. In 1878, Thomas Edison began serious research into developing a practical incandescent lamp and on October 14, 1878, Edison filed his first patent application for "Improvement In Electric Lights".




        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.


        Apparent Motion
        The appearance that objects in the night sky move against the typical direction of motion. Aberration of light, an apparent shift in position of celestial objects due to the finite speed of light and the motion of Earth in its orbit around the Sun.



        This is a motion talked about in small amount of detail last week [see here]


        Industrial espionage
        Industrial espionage, economic espionage, corporate spying or corporate espionage is a form of espionage conducted for commercial purposes instead of purely national security.




        Rotoscoping


        Steamboat Willie
        In 1928, Disney Company's first ever hand drawn Cel animation that had synchronised sound:



        Walt Disney Intro Logo


        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 RobinsonsTangled, The Princess and the FrogZootopia, but the videos below are different than the intros below:

        Frozen,



        Moana,



        Wreck It Ralph