Stop Motion Animation Session 3: Lip Sync

Learning Objective for this session:
LO1: Work collaboratively to produce a Lip Sync animation.

In Animation 'Lip Sync' is the process of fitting character mouth movements to pre-recorded dialogue. 

One of the founding fathers of modern animation, Disney animator Preston Blair developed a system of ‘phoneme’ mouth shapes which could be used to create the appearance of speech.

Today we will be using a simplified version of the 'Preston Blair' system based on the shapes used by Nick Park (Aardman).

Task 1:

Work together to create a set of plasticine mouth shapes using the reference sheet provided.

Advice: As you make the shapes, place them on a sheet of paper, and write the corresponding phonemes below, take a reference photo when complete.

Task 2: 

Use the Step by Step guide below to create your own short lip sync animation.

Task 3:

Upload the project file & exported movie to your G-drive - share the movie with me (jane.maxwell@wac.co.uk). 

Link to Step By Step Guide:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1X0heIFeDhYJdSB9ToBXEfZi2WmiqP_vO

Unit 33 Stop Motion Animation: Lip Sync Part 2

This session you will finish producing the resources needed for a character lip sync, and then work collaboratively to produce a short lip synced animation of your clay character head.

Learning objective for this session:
Work collaboratively to produce a lip synced character animation.



See guides slides for this session:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1ti8BamV6QScnF1cGFoVGc2d00

Lip Sync Exposure Sheet
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1ti8BamV6QSZ1RqUV9seVROVEU


Folder of potential background images for an animated head..
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1ti8BamV6QSVFVBcEwtUFgxYW8

Unit 33 Session 3: Lip Sync part 1.

This session you'll start by making some notes about your initial experiments with Stop Motion techniques. Then, you'll move on to create resources for your own 'lip synced' character animation. Lip sync is a challenging technique to learn, but it will give your character animations a professional edge.


Learning objectives for this session:


LO1: Be able to describe & discuss stop motion processes.

LO2: Be able to produce resources for a ‘lip synced’ stop motion animation of a character. 


Here is a link to the guide slides for this session:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1ti8BamV6QSWkJ6LUcxWDBrbjQ

Unit 33 Session 2: Lifelike movement & Character.

Last session you experimented with green screen and got used to Stop Motion Studio Pro.


Animation is all about creating the illusion of life. This session the focus is on refining your skills to bring smooth, lifelike movement to something and create a sense of character.


Task 1. As a group, set yourselves an ambitious animation goal for the next hour to bring something to life. You should aim for an idea that will test your creativity to the limit & work together to achieve it. 


Examples to get you thinking about movement & character...

Pixar Studios (CGI not stop motion) "Luxo Jr"

PES "Fresh Guacamole"

PES "Game over"

Jan Svankmajer "Meat love"

 Terry Border "Slice of life"

This slide show of Terry Border's work, gives some examples of characters created from just about anything...

Blink Studios "Sorry I'm late"

Mark Janssen & director Mink Pinster "Still Life"

Unit 33 Session 1: Stop Motion Animation [Session 1 slides including 'Stop Motion Studio Pro' Guide]

This term we will be exploring Stop Motion Animation in Digi Arts. You'll learn techniques, work in a small group to develop a short film inspired by a piece of music, and screen you finished film to an audience at the end of term.

This session will introduce you to the basics of 'Stop Motion Studio Pro' the application which you will be using to develop your work this term.

You will also start to expand your awareness of animators past and present.

Below is a link to guide slides with the tasks for this session and a 'Stop Motion Studio Pro' guide.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1ti8BamV6QSZkVDZm9Ea25rZTQ