Short Brief: 60 Sec Documentary Animation

In order to start animating I had to learn how to animate the illustrations so they looked like they where drawing themselves along to the captions which I would add at the end. This meant each illustrator file had be converted into a shape file with each individual line being given a trim path that would allow them to be drawn at the same time once the timings where the same (see figures 1-3). This approach was then applied to each illustration to create a consistent theme throughout the animation. Initially once the illustrations had drawn themselves they would cut to the next illustration (see figures 4), however this looked disjointed and jumpy therefor a revers of the first trim path was implemented so the illustrations would undrawn as the new illustration came into frame. In addition the timings for each illustration especially when sign language was used appeared too slow adding to the disjointed feel, therefor I plan to shorten each transition to make the animation flow better. In relation to the incorporation of sign language each individual letter has been shown on its own as this is how they would be signed in real life as you can only sign a letter at a time. This approach has been used within both sections where sign language as used to better represent the signs used within Charles time period as signs for greetings came later. In the first instance the illustrations spell 'language' as Charles realised that deaf people had their own language that they used to communicate. Defence is spelled in the later use of signs to show how it allowed deaf people to defend themselves in court as others had a greater understanding of sign language and their methods of communication.

In relation to the colours used within the animation red and white have been used as these are the colours for the royal association for deaf people in Britain and would be recognisable to those aware of the charity. Aesthetically the red also stands out on a timeline or in an Instagram TV context with the white allowing the illustrations and text be seen easily (see figures 5-6)
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Figure 1

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Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6