LO3: Final Animation

 

LO3: Evaluation justification of frame rates and duration

 Justification of frame rate

The frame rate for my animation is 24 frames per second. I chose this FPS to get the cinematic quality and to balance visual quality, fluidity, and practicality. I could have gone for higher frame rates, which can provide even smoother animation, but they also require more computational resources and time to render. As I work with limited time and resources, 24 fps is a reasonable compromise for acceptable visual quality. I tried lower than 24 fps, such as 15 or 20 frames per second (fps), but it resulted in jerkiness and flickering, and the animation appeared to stutter or jump from one frame to the next. This was particularly noticeable during complex scenes with multiple moving elements, like the bear, Brown waving his paw, making it challenging for the viewer to follow the action. At 24 fps, each frame is displayed for approximately 41.7 milliseconds, fast enough to create the illusion of continuous movement without noticeable judder or flicker. Also, this frame rate is commonly used in film and television production, making it a familiar and widely accepted standard.

The human eye can perceive motion smoothly at frame rates as low as 12-15 fps, but 24 fps is generally considered the minimum acceptable frame rate for animation that appears fluid. At 24 fps, each frame is displayed for approximately 41.7 milliseconds, fast enough to create the illusion of continuous movement without noticeable judder or flicker. This reasonable fps ensures a smoother and more fluid motion, reducing distractions and allowing the viewer to focus on the content. This frame rate is also commonly used in film and television production, making it a familiar and widely accepted standard. It allows me to easily share and collaborate on projects with professionals and other students.  At 24 fps, the file size is manageable, making it suitable for various applications.

Below is the clip where I have experimented the scene of mother duck rubbing her to duckling showing the affection. I have produced the few seconds video to see pace, clarity and smoothness amongst different Frames per second settings. At 12fps, the scene is jerky, lagging, lacks clarity and not so smooth. At 36fps, it is the opposite, the scene feels a bit rushed and the head movements are fast, not natural and not smooth. At 24 fps, the movements don't feel rushed nor jerky. It is almost perfectly smooth and feels natural. 

Furthermore, 24 fps is a frame rate well-supported by most animation software and hardware. This helps avoid spending excessive time troubleshooting technical issues if any arise in the future.  

 Justification of duration

The duration of my animation is 2 minutes. This timeframe allowed me to focus on the specific short story. I must draw and redraw characters, backgrounds, etc., for each frame of the animation, especially for the frames with fast movements and detailed expressions. Because of this, it has taken longer to create, and 5 seconds of footage has taken an hour to make. Producing longer-duration animation might compromise the quality, which I do not want.

Additionally, a 2-minute animation is long enough to convey a straightforward narrative or message, but short enough to keep the audience engaged and interested. Also, the short length of my 2-minute animation aligns perfectly with the fast-paced nature of social media, where users' attention spans are fleeting. The average size for video content on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook hovers around 1-2 minutes. My animation engages viewers while respecting their limited time and leaves a lasting impression without overwhelming users with excessive content. Also, it is ideal for watching on various devices like tablets and mobile phones. 

The limited runtime encourages and pushes me to employ dynamic pacing to convey emotions and ideas efficiently. Furthermore, a two-minute animation allows me greater creative freedom to explore niche themes or experiment with unconventional storytelling techniques within a small timeframe.

LO3: Debug

Creating animation with Procreate has been rewarding experience and exciting. However there were several challenges and technical hurdles. 

Performance Lag:

Issue: When I started animating, I have tried using different canvas sizes and when I used the larger size it strained the hardware, causing slow performance.

Solution: I have reduced the canvas size , close other apps to free up memory, and split the animation into smaller segments.

File Corruption:

Issue: When I was working with larger file sizes and  opened more files then what it required, Procreate suddenly crashed. And because of that, sometimes I lost the files or files got corrupted. 

Solution: I have regularly backed up your work to iCloud on my iPad, and save incremental versions of my project. I made sure to open only the files I am working with and the required.

Limited Frames and Layers:

Issue: Procreate has a maximum limit on the number of layers and frames I can use, depending on the canvas size and resolution. When I used smaller size canvas, I started to reach maximum number of layers, and could not make anymore layers and frames.

Solution: I planned my animation within these limits, merged layers when possible. 

Export Issues:

Issue: Exporting the whole animation has failed and not consistent and thereby my app has crashed. 

Solution: Export in smaller sections, I ensure my device has enough storage space, and try different formats like MP4 and MOV files. 

Brush and Tool Limitations:

Issue: Some brushes and tools in Procreate did not work as expected when animating, particularly those that rely on pressure sensitivity.

Solution: I have tested brushes before committing to their use in animation and adjusted brush settings for consistency across frames. And I have imported some brushes externally.

Audio Sync Problems:

Issue: Procreate does not support audio, so syncing the animation to sound was challenging.

Solution: I use an external video editing tool, Procreate Dreams, supported by Procreate to add and sync audio after exporting my animation from Procreate.

Inconsistent Frame Rates:

Issue: Initially I have used different frame rates(18 - 24 fps) in different parts of the animation and it leaded to inconsistency.

Solution: I have maintain a consistent frame rate throughout the animation and planned the timing carefully.

Accidental Deletion or Overwriting:

Issue: Sometimes, while managing layers or frames led to accidental deletion or overwriting of important parts of the animation.

Solution: I have used Procreate’s undo/redo features, and make use of the 'Duplicate' option to create backups of layers and frames.

Difficulty in Managing Complex Animations:

By addressing  these issues and having strategies in place , I tried to have a smooth animation creation process with Procreate.

LO3: User Testing

Photo evidence of user testing:

To gain the user feedback, I have used Google forms, The results are

Overall Impressions:

Positive: The animation was delightful and engaging. The characters were adorable, and the storyline was easy to follow, which made the viewing experience enjoyable.

Areas for Improvement: Some users felt that certain scenes moved too quickly and the audio was not too good. 

Specific Feedback:

Storyline & Characters:

Positive: The main characters, Yuuno and Koro, were very cute and relatable.
The plot was simple yet captivating, making it perfect for a short animation.
The ending was heartwarming and left a positive impression.

Suggestions: Introduce a bit more background about the characters at the beginning to build a stronger connection. Some users mentioned that they would love to see a bit more interaction between the characters.

Visuals & Animation:

Positive: The colors were subtle and pleasing to the eye. The animation was smooth and well-executed, enhancing the overall appeal.

Suggestions: A few scenes had too much happening at once. Slowing down these scenes slightly might help viewers absorb all the details. Consider adding more varied expressions to the characters to enhance emotional moments. Add a bit more contrast to the colours. 

Sound & Music:

Positive: The background music was cheerful and matched the tone of the animation perfectly. Sound effects were well-timed and added to the cuteness.

Suggestions: Some users felt the music volume fluctuated a bit. Ensuring consistent audio levels throughout would improve the experience. A few users suggested adding a short, catchy theme music for the main character.

Pacing & Timing:

Positive: The overall length was just right for holding attention without feeling rushed.

Suggestions: As mentioned, a couple of scenes felt rushed. Slightly extending these scenes could help with clarity and detail retention. Adding brief pauses for dramatic effect in key moments could enhance emotional engagement.

Audience Engagement:

Positive: The animation successfully kept viewers engaged from start to finish. Many users mentioned they would love to see more episodes or a series featuring Yuuno and Koro..

Suggestions: Including an interactive element or a question at the end (e.g., "What do you think Yuuno and Koro will do next?") might increase engagement and anticipation for future animations.

Conclusion:

Overall, "Yuuno and Koro" was well-received, with the majority of users praising its charm and appeal. By addressing the pacing and adding a bit more character background and interaction, and improving the audio, the animation could become even more engaging. The positive response suggests a strong potential for a series featuring these adorable characters.

Changes made after the feedback: 

I have implemented the following changes after taking the users feedback into consideration.

• I have applied little bit more contrast to the contrast to the colours in the background settings and to the characters.
• I have addressed the pace issues ensuring the scene has an appropriate length and balanced the timing of actions. Also improved the character movements are expressive and efficient.
• I have improved the audio sync by improving the Music Timing and Pacing and adjusted the volume and I have played back the animation on different devices (speakers, headphones, smartphones) to ensure the audio sounds good across all platforms.
• I have added a bit more interaction between the main characters Yuuno and Koro, like walking together closely , instead walking a bit far from each other.
• As audience want to see more of Yuuno and Koro, I am planning to produce more episodes of Yuuno and Koro

LO3: Optimise and exporting your animation

Optimizing animation means minimizing the resources required to display smooth and visually appealing motion while maximizing the perceived quality. This involves a multifaceted approach, encompassing technical considerations like frame rate, file size, and compression techniques alongside artistic choices that prioritize clarity and impact.

The tool I have used is Procreate, which is very resource intensive and the following techniques I have used to optimize my animation, 

1.⁠ ⁠Optimize Canvas Size and Resolution

Canvas Size: I have used a canvas size of 1950x1080. 

DPI (Dots per inch): I have used 132 for my animation. This DPI makes my images sharper and clearer, which is particularly important for high-definition screens and large displays. This follows professional standards and retains the intricate details and fine lines. I have tried higher DPI, which increased file size and might affect performance during rendering and playback. Balancing DPI with practical file size considerations is essential. 

2.⁠ ⁠Optimize Graphics and Assets

Optimized Images: I have used compressed formats (e.g., JPEG for photos) and have optimized file sizes without losing quality. This is to improve the performance. Large unoptimized files can slow the rendering times, causing lag and a poor user experience. By reducing file sizes, animations load faster and run more smoothly. Also, it increases bandwidth efficiency, takes less storage space, and increases compatibility on various devices and platforms. Also, I have reused textures, models, and other assets wherever possible to save memory and reduce load times.

Reuse Assets: I have reused textures, models, and other assets wherever possible to save memory and reduce load times.

Vector Graphics: I have used vector images vector-based images to create animated sequences. This improves scalability when displayed on various screen sizes and resolutions.

3.⁠ ⁠Timing and Frames Per Second (FPS): My animation has a frame rate of 24 frames per second. I chose this FPS to achieve cinematic quality and balance visual quality, fluidity, and practicality. I could have selected higher frame rates, providing even smoother animation but requiring more skill, computational resources, and time to render. 

4.⁠ ⁠Optimize Brush and Tool Usage: I have used simple brush strokes that require less processing power. Complex brushes with many textures can slow down the device and avoid using excessive customizations that increase file size and processing requirements.

5. Limit Layer Usage: Minimize Layers: Each layer consumes memory. I have tried to merge layers when possible or use fewer layers to keep the file size manageable.

6. Rendering: While Procreate does not have a specific rendering dialogue box, it has several features to ensure smooth rendering. 

a) Efficient Use of Animation Assist

Onion Skin Settings: Customized the number of onion skin frames to avoid unnecessary resource usage.

b) ⁠Utilize Procreate’s Features

I have used Procreate’s Features, like clipping masks, to limit the area where colours and effects apply, reducing the need for multiple layers and Adjustment Layers to apply adjustments globally rather than individual layers to save on memory and processing power.

6.⁠ ⁠Regular Save and Backup: I save my work frequently and maintain backups to avoid data loss. I also Free Up device Storage to Ensure my device has ample free storage to handle Procreate’s demands. I delete or offload unused files and apps.

7.⁠ ⁠Performance Settings: Close unnecessary background apps to allocate more resources to and update Regularly. 

Also, by following consistency, patience, and practice, I achieved further optimization for my animation.

Exporting the animation:

Exporting an animation in Procreate involves a series of steps to ensure the work is saved in the desired format. 

Open Your Animation: Start by opening the animation I have created in Procreate.

Access the Actions Menu: Tap on the wrench icon located in the top left corner of the screen to open the Actions menu.

Go to Share Options: In the Actions menu, select the “Share” tab.

Choose Export Format: Under the Share tab, there are different options for exporting your animation. 

Animated GIF: Suitable for short, looping animations.

Animated PNG: Best for animations with transparency.

Animated MP4: Ideal for high-quality, non-looping animations.

Animated HEVC: Useful for high efficiency video coding, suitable for Apple devices.

Adjust Export Settings: Once I select the export format, In this case MP4, I am  presented with additional settings:

Frames Per Second (FPS): Adjust the frame rate for your animation. In this case 24 fps. 

Resolution: Choose the resolution of the output file. Higher resolution provides better quality but results in larger file sizes.

Preview the Animation: Procreate allows you to preview the animation with the selected settings before exporting. This is useful to ensure everything looks as expected.

Export the Animation:

After adjusting the settings and previewing, tap on “Export.”

Procreate will process the animation, which may take some time depending on the length and complexity of the animation.

Save or Share: Once the export is complete, I am given options to save the file to my device, share it directly to social media, or send it via email or other sharing options available on your device.

By following these steps, you can successfully export your animation from Procreate in the desired format.

 Export Settings Procreate dreams:

After exporting in procreate I opened the file in Procreate dreams, added my audio and exported my final animation 

Select the format: I select the format MP4, and the resolution 1080p and I select the audio format AAC. 

Exporting in Procreate:

LO3: Project Files

 

Procreate file management allows my projects to be grouped into stacks. To do this, I dragged one canvas onto another. I then named each stack corresponding to what's in it. I then called each asset individually in the stack, as provided in the image below, where I named each tree I created. Procreate's filing ability to create stacks and name my artworks/projects helped me maintain a streamlined workflow, allowing me to focus more on the creative process. I also regularly maintained and backed up my work to ensure it was secure and well-organised. I used JPEG file formats for the backgrounds, and its characteristics include lossy compression, which reduces file size, by sacrificing a bit of the image quality, although it does not support transparency. I used it for scenes where the smaller file size was more important than the image quality. JPEG file formats typically support 8-bit colour depth per channel (24-bit RGB.) I used PNG file formats for characters and other assets; the characteristic of PNG file formats is that they have a lossless compression, which retains image quality while reducing file size. It supports 8-bit and 16-bit colour per channel (24-bit RGB and 48-bit RGB). 

 

LO3: Animate Assets

 

I imported a city brush set and used one of the brush types to draw the building in the distance in the first scene. This brush saved me a lot of time, but if I hadn't used it, I would've had to draw the building in the distance by hand, which would've taken a long time.

I also used Gaussian blur for the skies in a few backgrounds. This helped the foreground elements stand out, guiding the viewers' eye to the main subject. It also reduced detail, which became useful when creating a sense of distance. It was also a great tool to create a glow effect around the sun. Although the Gaussian blur tool is not designed explicitly for motion blurring, it did give that illusion to the image, especially when I created a tracking shot of Yuuna and Koro in the first scene. 

I often used the smudge tool to transition between different colours in the sky.  I also used this tool for the bee hive scene for the rock pond to distinguish the shadows. 

 

     

The syrup brush tool is the primary brush tool I used to outline the characters, backgrounds, and other assets.  

LO3: Rough edit

Rough edit:

Rough edit strengths and weaknesses:

Strengths

Visual Appeal:

Character Design: Characters are visually appealing and cute

Art Style: The art style is consistent and suits the theme of the animation. Even though some improvements can be made.

Colour Palette: The colour palette is sound, except for the blue in the background, which is a bit darker and makes the whole theme darker. 

Background detail: The background detailing is excellent and consistent with the overall style. 

Pacing:

Good Pacing: Most of the edit is at a comfortable pace, neither too rushed nor too slow.

Timing of Key Moments: The moments in the animation, like Yunoo and Kuro walking in the park, are timed well to convey the scene.

Positive impact:

Emotional Engagement: Even with the 5-second animation, you can see that it evokes the intended emotions, whether it's joy, empathy, or warmth.

Positive Reinforcement: Successfully reinforces the positive aspects of friendship. Portrays with their character design and the blending of the colours, etc. 

Animation Quality: 

Overall, the animation quality looks good and gives an excellent first impression, but there is room for improvement.

Weaknesses

Story and Script: With just 5 seconds of duration, the message is unclear or muddled, making it difficult for the audience to grasp the intended takeaway.

The smoothness of Animation: Yuno's walk could have been smoother or more consistent in the middle, which can be distracting.

Character Movements: Yuno's walking movements could be more fluid and realistic and feel rushed. 

Inconsistent Art Style: Differences in art style or character design throughout the animation can be jarring.

Background colour: The blue in the background is a bit darker, making the whole theme darker. 

Pacing Issues: The pacing of the characters' movements can be improved.

Action Overload: Trying to fit too much into 5 seconds made the clip feel rushed or chaotic.

Sound Issues: It needed more polish and design or synchronization, making it clipless and engaging.

Lack of Continuity: Without a sense of continuity or connection to a larger narrative, the clip might not encourage viewers to seek more content.

Editing Mistakes: Rough cuts or transitions can disrupt the flow and distract viewers from the experience.

Character Development: Characters needed more depth, making it harder for viewers to form an emotional connection.

Lack of Growth: The characters did not show any development or change by the end of the animation.

Next Steps for Improvement

Refine the Story:

Simplify or clarify the storyline to ensure the message is clear and impactful.

Focus on critical moments that highlight the essence of friendship.

Enhance Animation Quality:

Smooth-out character movements and transitions to improve the overall flow.

Ensure consistency in the visual style and quality throughout the animation.

Adjust Pacing:

Review the timing of scenes to ensure they are smooth and smooth.

Allow key moments to breathe, giving the audience time to absorb the emotional beats.

Improve Technical Elements:

Synchronize sound more precisely with the visual actions.

Enhance the audio quality and ensure sound effects and music are balanced and appropriate.

Deepen Character Development:

Add small details or scenes that show character growth or highlight their personalities.

Ensure characters are relatable and evoke empathy from the audience.

By addressing these areas, I can turn a promising rough edit into a polished and impactful animation that effectively promotes the value of friendship.

LO3: Log assets and footage

 

LO3: Create and edit assets

 Characters:

logo:

Backgrounds:

Trees:

Audio: 

LO3: Production Plan