Motion Graphics & Compositing / Project 3 / Channel Ident/Identity

27.6.2024 - 7.7.2024 (Week 9 - Week 11)
Elysa Wee Qi En / 0355060 / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Motion Graphics & Compositing
Project 3 / Channel Ident/Identity

LECTURES

All lectures were covered in Project 1 and Project 2.

INSTRUCTIONS

Fig. 1. Module Information Booklet

Project 3: Channel Ident/Identity

For this project, we had to take our work for Project 2, and remix and add to it, to create our Project 3. Therefore there wasn't much to the planning phase of this project, except for the storyboard and the new audio. Since the chorus of the song I chose was longer than 30 seconds, I had to cut it. 

Google Slides

These are the Google Slides that I created for this project. After creating the moodboard, I got to sketching the storyboard. I was inspired by some videos/teasers created by a rhythm game I play called Project Sekai, which they release to announce new songs. I also included some extra videos I found on YouTube that I think are good motion graphics.

Fig. 2.1. Final storyboard (2/8/2024)

These are the panels that made it into the final product, but I also drew more panels during this time. 

Fig. 2.2. Considered endings (2/8/2024)

I drew two different endings, and as you can see from the image below, I ended up combining them to create the final product.

Fig. 2.3. Changes made (2/8/2024)

After all that, it was time to start editing the video. I started by editing the audio. I simply used After Effects, as it was minor editing to be done, just a small cut of some lyrics in the chorus.

Fig. 3.1. Editing the audio (4/7/2024)

Then was the graphics. I used a mask to animate the lighter opening and the fire starting. 

Fig. 3.2. Animating the lighter (7/7/2024)

Then, by turning these images into 3D objects, I animated them flipping up from a flat position. I also moved the camera to give a zoom effect of the camera getting closer.

Fig. 3.3. Animating the fire, room and camera (7/7/2024)

Next, I created and keyframed the speech bubble. I made it so that it would cover the 'I' in the back, and fall away to show it. This is in line with the lyrics of the song. 

Fig. 3.4. Animating the speech bubble (7/7/2024)

Then I remixed the parts I made in Project 2. I changed the text and animated the camera more, to look like it was shaking and going in and out of focus. 

Fig. 3.5. Changing and animating the text (7-8/7/2024)

Then I made the ending sequence. Along with the brush transition, I created a different ending compared to that from Project 2. This one had more words. Rather than just showing the album cover, I typed out the album name and put the text 'OUT NOW!!' as well.

Fig. 3.6. Animating the ending (8-9/7/2024)

I saved one of the more difficult parts for last. I created new text and followed the same steps/tutorial from Project 2 to create the burning effect on them. Then I animated the camera to create a transition from the opening text of 'I was the arsonist' to the next lyrics. 

Fig. 3.7. Animating the burning text (8-9/7/2024)

FINAL Channel Ident/Identity Submission

Fig. 4. Channel Ident/Identity Final Submission (9/7/2024)

FEEDBACK

Week 10
General Feedback: 
- Remix parts of Project 2 into Project 3 to ensure continuity and connection
Specific Feedback: 
- Can add a 'listen to the full song' thing at the end
- Might want to cut some stuff in the middle to fit 30 seconds and reduce workload

REFLECTIONS

Experience
Again, getting to make my assignment on a singer I like was a fun experience, since it's something I'm kind of familiar with. I appreciate such creative freedom in the module, and I appreciate my teacher's support and encouragement as well. It was a bit tough to remix the old parts without reusing them too much, but also it was tough to recreate the burning effect on different text. It ended up taking me some time and it was quite tricky. But in the end I managed to figure it out enough to look alright, so I think with more experience I'll improve.

Observations
Creating a lyric video isn't that easy. It can be hard to think of ways to creatively show off the lyrics and what they mean when you're limited in ways like not animating anything by hand. Therefore I had to think about how to make the video interesting using what I had and doing what I could. I am proud of the speech bubble part, because I was able to convey the meaning of the lyrics in a way that is smart instead of just writing them out plainly. 

Findings
Tutorials on YouTube can be so helpful. Anytime there is a problem or something I want to do but don't know how, for a platform like Adobe After Effects it's easy to find a video with someone teaching me how to do it. It shows how big the community is and how people are willing to help each other and help other beginners.