Animation in the 19th Century -- OUAN405, Understanding

During the mid to late 1800s a series of new inventions, predating the moving photographic image, were made which allowed the user to experience moving drawings for the fist time in history. In the past shadow puppetry and contraptions like magic lanterns and camera obscura were the nearest thing to a 2D moving image. The zoetrope and phenakistoscope came about in the 1830s, both using a similar concept to produce looping sequences of drawings, and were predominantly sold as toys for children. Previously sequential storytelling had been produced in the wall carvings of ancient Egyptian and Persian temples, on the painted pots and vases of Greece, and the magic lanterns of China and the middle east, but for the first time it was possible to play the separate images in sequence.
At the same time progress was being made in the world of photography and in particular capturing multiple photos per second. In 1872 Eadweard Muybridge took 12 frames of a racehorse in motion in order to settle a bet, and in doing so produced the first authentic film sequence using photographic rather than drawn images. Soon advances were made in movie cameras, and in 1892 Charles Reynaud produced Pauvre Pierrot (Poor Peter), 500 frames drawn directly onto a strip of transparent celluloid film. It was also the first film to be projected using perforations on the side of the film strip.

What I find interesting is the way that animation, photography, and live-action film developed symbiotically during this period. Muybridge was a photographer who made advances in the capture and display of multiple images, paving the way for animators and filmmakers alike. Later on the early movie cameras developed the use of transparent film, which Reynaud then used to animate on, in turn inventing the use of perforations along the side of the film strip, which improved the movie cameras and projection systems to come..

Other Side , storyboards and animatic -- OUAN405, Practice

This animatic was created from the storyboards I drew up in my sketchbook. The animatic looks a bit dull as there are a few quite static shots at the moment, since a lot of the movement in the final film will be based around facial expressions and subtle body language rather than big sweeping gestures.

Other Side, Character Development -- OUAN405, Practice

The two characters in the animation are facing off across a table. Because I plan to use lots of close up shots on the characters faces and hands they need to be visually distinct from one another.
I knew that I wanted the first character to have a bald head and beard, but didn't know what kind of beard I preferred. Similarly I was unsure about what hair/headgear I wantd the second character to have. I also made two different colourways for each character, and in each case have decided to use the one displayed on the left of their images.

New idea, Card Game -- OUAN405, The Other Side

I have decided to go with another one of my ideas, the card game. The idea is to have a dark and tense atmosphere, almost like an interrogation room only with two people having a really intense card game. The concept of "the Other Side" is shown when the characters attempt to anticipate what card the other one is about to play, trying to read each other's expressions and guess what is on the other side.

Further doubts about the football match -- OUAN405, The Other Side

I have decided to change the premise of the animation. During the process of planning for the football match my mind kept drifting back to another idea, the card game. Visually I think I can make it much more interesting, and the the story itself I feel is a bit more exciting. On top of this the actual animation will be quicker to produce as the animation is slightly more limited.
I will begin character designs and storyboards straight away.