GLOBAL WARMNING: CUT OUT ANIMATION VIRALS

I want to build upon the audiences responses to Donald trumps outlandish sound-bites on global warming. From screenings, discussions and inspiration from Paul Kindersley and critiques I am aiming for a multi pronged approach to the global warmining piece. This will involve experimenting with installations, mini docos, kinetic typography and animation. I aim to use the latter (animation and kinetic typography) to create some online viral type content that is an innovative approach to this using the sound-bites funny, quirky, pacey and memorable way.

One way I am considering doing this is using cut-out animation techniques and the handmade quality, clash of source images and craft feel of it which I feel will work well with the content and with the target online audience. Below are some examples of the films I researched for ideas and inspiration. I will show these to my client to give them an idea of the mood, tone and feel I am going for.

This animation below simply entitled "Collage - Cut Out Animation" demonstrates one of the techniques I am considering applying. The techniques is a very old one and involves cut outs being animated moving around the frame. Today it is easy to recreate and be more innovative with it using Adobe After Effects and rather than simply playing around with the animation on a flat plane use the foreground and middle ground as well as the flat background. The interplay and variety of sources of image and juxtaposition of these can be really interesting. the use of photographs gives the impression of realism but the juxtaposition gives the animation a surreal and fantastical quality.









Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame was also a pioneer of the cut-out animation technique combining fun visuals with a real sense of humour. The "Miracle of Flight" and "Monty Python Versus Animation" both below illustrate this excellently. Gilliam used lots of found images to construct his early animations that were made actually sing cut-out images placed under glass and then filmed one fame at a time. Adobe After Effects will stop the need for this process but what I love are Gilliam's use of humour which is often surreal, slapstick and nonsensical as well as the fantastic to create a message. Also his use of sound is inspirational and minimalist and I think that Trumps sound-bites will work well with this style. The use of photographed real looking images with cartoonesque ones is a also a style I enjoyed and feel *I could apply to my piece.

"To Thee Moon" is another excellent example of this technique but with a highly stylised overall quality, mood and tone. Again the juxtaposition of images and basic nature and "handmade quality" will work well with the content and sound-bites.. The film also has a darker feel that I may able to draw upon for elements of my idea.