Create and justify a planned animation (M3, D2)

Optimise the content for use in the final animation

Exporting In The Correct File:

These two screenshots are evidence of saving as a higher quality. The file is supported by Mac and PC operating systems. More has been discussed below.

The screenshot above shows a different format, however changing it to video & audio changes the file type to a 'Quicktime Movie', which isn't the best file type.

My final animation piece has been exported as an MP4 (screenshot 3). There are a multitude of advantages too producing in this format. One of them is that this format is more suitable for streaming over the internet. This means that the video, which was created for advertising purpose, can be accessed anywhere, by anyone. This means that the march will receive a lot of publicity. Not only this, but producing films on MP4 format results in a better quality final piece, with a higher degree of compression. The advert being the best possible quality results in it being more appealing to the audience, helping it to get the best possible reception and getting the message across the best. Additionally, the MP4 file enables high quality videos over a low-badnwith connection, meaning that anyone with poor internet (WI-F or 3G/4G/5G) would still be able to view the high quality file.

In addition, MP4 results in other data being stored. Types other than video and audio, such as object descriptors, scene descriptors and other object oriented file structures and MPEG features. This means that the details of the animation get picked up better, and nothing is lost, resulting in a more complete and clear production. 

Optimising the file:

I have optimised the file (as evidenced above) so that it can be viewed on smart phones. I changed the codec to H.264 as this is the standard codec for compression and video encoding. Recently, this has become the most popular codec to play videos over the web, whilst also being supported by many smart phones. Although the screenshot suggests it is only supported by iPhone devices, it is also supported by Androids/Google phones as it is a web file. An MPEG file provides smaller files (38.5 MB compared to 479 MB as saved previously), therefore it will load faster. Although the compression sometimes lowers the quality, ultimately it will provide a better viewing experience. 

I opted out against using any moving images in my final animation. This is because it would result in the animation file becoming significantly larger, causing the animation to lag. This would mean that the animation would lose its ability to properly advertise, as it wouldn't be appealing to the target audience. To counter this, I used all still images. This results in a smaller file, thus yielding a smoother viewing. This means that the animation fits the brief better, as the message will be conveyed to the audience in a less stilted, more kinetic way, thereby increasing its impact on the target audience. Braingoo, the client, state in the brief that the animation should be "highly visible and engaging for an adult audience". My final animation therefore fulfils this requirement.

By avoiding placing any moving images in, the file is smaller and much more simplified. This means that the overall viewing experience on a smartphone will be much higher, compared to if I had moving images. As I used a blue screen, all the images were digitally implemented. I had too ensure that the images were of a lower resolution, as this would not increase the file size, in turn resulting in a smoother viewing on a smartphone.

To see how my animation met the brief, as well as too discover how it acted as an advert, I conducted some audience tests, in order to discover how suitable the animation was. These were the responses:

D2
For my animation, I decided to use Claymation/Stop-motion. I chose to use this technique as it creates a comedic and informal feel to the animation, resulting in a less serious, more engaging animation. This meant that the purpose of the animation was clearly apparent to the audience, as well as the main feelings and information the audience taking away from the animation, being the march that it is advertising.

Another reason that I decided to create the animation as claymation/stop-motion, is it allowed me to create unrealistic situation, in accordance to the limited supplies, balance and time that I had. This meant that the animation could include comedic scenes, and ones that would be impossible to do, to a high degree of quality, using techniques such as line-drawing, which would have been much more time consuming and not resulted in as high quality animation. In turn, this would appeal to my target audience and link with the light hearted theme of a Zombie march.

Each frame last roughly 4 FPS, with some lasting up too as long as 8 FPS. This is because different scenes, required different speeds and durations. Having a mixture of frame speeds allows certain scenes too stand out more, keeping the animation flowing smoothly, resulting in each scene making more sense chronologically. Not only this, but having the majority of scenes at 4 FPS results in a smooth storyline, meaning that the animation will get it's message across better. Using a faster frame rate was also affective as the smoother playback would suit a smart phone better (once optimised). Additionally, as there were some quick movements from my different characters, it allows for the animation to play smoothly without juddering. 

The final animation clock's in at 31 seconds. This means that the animation is a perfect fit for its purpose. This is because it fits in with the briefs calls for a 30-45 second animation, as well as the animation not straining on for too long. Keeping my animation in with the time limit of the brief was essential, as it made sure that the animation fully fit in with the implicit calls. In addition to this, as the animation is on the shorter end of the time limit, it means that the purpose of the animation is put into the audiences mind, but not lost, due to the animation stretching on for too long and loosing its main purpose. Additionally, stop motion is an incredibly lengthy process and from my research, adverts using this style of animation didn't last longer than 40 seconds. I wanted to keep in line with industry standards, therefore  kept the advert in line with a similar duration. 


DeBug chart:

My final animation, I believe, is the best quality it could be. By this I mean that at no point does it lag or drop frames, as well as the audio fully synchronising with the actions on screen. This allows the animation to the best quality it can be, meaning that it completely fit for purpose.

Test Plan:

The intended target audience for my animation, had the basic umbrella description of horror fanatics. However within this, there was many different groups and types of people that I had to consider, such as their age, race, gender and class. The age I aimed my animation at was people in the ages of 18-35. This is because 18 is the age when you officially become an adult, and reach an age of maturity. This means that they'll be able to watch, and find an appeal in the horror genre, making them the most likely to attend the march. As well as this, stretching the age to 35 means the march will be exposed to a range of people. This is the primary audience, however there is also a secondary audience of 13-17. This is because these ages will find appeal in many of the same things as 18 year olds, meaning that they will enjoy the march, as well as the horror themes in the animation.

The race of people didn't really come into the discussion, when deciding the target audience, moreover the themes of the animation. I decided to make the two protagonist dark skinned, as too give my animation a different appeal and different notion too it. Using protagonist of a dark skin complexion gives my animation a different and unique aspect too it, appealing it to a specific race. However, the animation as a whole doesn't appeal to one race in particular, instead appealing to anyone who is interested in both horror and the march.

The aimed gender is mainly male. This is because horror is stereotypically a genre that appeals to males more. However, again there isn't anything in the animation that specifically is aimed at a male audience, instead having aspects that will appeal to both men and women. This is done too maximise the audience, thus expanding the march's appeal.

Overal, my animation is fit for purpose as it fits into all the brief calls, such as clearly advertising the march, as well as having a main character(s) that a brand can be built around. This ultimately means that the animation will advertise the march well, meaning that the main purpose of the task was met and completed. Using claymation allowed me to create an appropriate zombie, highlighting the main theme of the march, again meaning that the animation is fit for purpose.