E4 Ident

In this project we are creating e4 idents. We started by brain storming ideas on what we wanted to do our ident on. We came up with ideas based on either films or games. At first we were going to base our ident on the film mission impossible. The idea was very good and captured the humorous side of e4, however it proved to be very difficult to create the scene. We were unable to find any images with a big enough resolution for our background, meaning when we came to print the images were unfocused. Also as the 4 would have only been coming down on a rope there was not much animation happening. We played around with the ideas of introducing security guards to give it more actual animation. However as we were unable to print the background set big enough we had to scrap the idea and create a new ident.

We came up with the idea of a wrestling ring. We would have the E and the 4 as wrestlers fighting one and another, when the two wrestlers collided they would combine and create the E4 logo. We started of with this idea (shown below). However when we came to shooting we changed it around. We would have the E already in the ring and then have the 4 entering. Realizing that it would be hard to get one of the characters to jump onto the corner of the ring we used the idea of pushing off the ropes, much like in actual wrestling fights. This would give us the action we needed to combine the two, and give more physical animation.

We then began to create our set. Using foam board we constructed a ring and glued it together with a glue gun. We then covered it in purple fabric (capturing the iconic purple colour). We used pins to secure the fabric into place. We also used the foam board to create steps leading up to our ring. To create the poles on each corner we cut down pieces of wood and coated them in white paint. Next we cut string and rapped it around the wood to create the ropes. Overall I am happy with how the ring turned out, it looks realistic and is the right size for our wrestlers. One thing we could improve were how we fastened the wood to the foam board. Using nails we nailed them into the bottom of the wood and ten pressed them into the foam board. Although this did work, some of the nails did not go in straight and therefore caused the wood to be wonky and some of the strings loosened because of this.

 

Our wrestlers were also created from the foam board. We originally used cardboard, however it looked very messy and distracted from the logo. We used wire to create the arms and glued them to fasten them to the foam board. When positioning them on the ring we found it very difficult to get the characters to stay on the fabric. We used blue-tack in the beginning but found if we placed pins in the bottom it was a lot easier to hold up the character.  Ultimately I believe the characters worker well, and having them join through the idea of wrestling was a interesting way to create the E4 logo. The only issue we found was when trying to move the arms of the wrestlers. It was difficult to make them move realistically and stay in certain positions. If we were to do it again we could try a different material to see if that worked better. Or use a thinner wire to see if we could move more freely. 

To light our set we wanted a small circle on the center of the ring. The lights in the studio were to big and didn't give the right effect. We are now using a small light source positioned above the ring. We wanted it in the middle to highlight the characters, and blackout the crowd. The issue with the crowd was we were worried it did not realistic enough. Also when the light reflected of the fabric it created a purple reflection on the crowd creating an unrealistic effect. To overcome this we had to play around with lighting till we could fix the issues.   

We also added various sound effects to our animation. We used the iconic Rocky theme tune throughout our animation. We did this to relate our ident to something the viewer will recognize. It shows that a fight will take place and could link to E4 broadcasting various films as well as TV programs. We also got the sound of a bell ringing to make it more realistic and feel like an actual fight. Lastly we added a slap sound when the 4 hits the E. This emphasis ed the action and again made it more realistic.

Here is the example of our first shoot. From this shoot we first discovered that we needed to improve our characters. We used cardboard to create them when we first started. When watching the shoot we realised how distracting the brown sides were. They would look much cleaner if we used foam board.  Secondly you could see were we had fastened the characters arms using blue tack. This distracted the viewer and again made the overall animation look sloppy. Also we saw are actually animation needed to be a lot smoother. Parts of the movement were jumpy and unrealistic. In our first shoot we thought we would be able to show the 4 falling onto the E. From this shoot we noted that it made the animation look messy. We decided to have a flash and then cut to the joined E and 4. Through out the shoot the set was moving. This happened as we were moving out characters. This again was distracting from the actual animation. We needed to either secure the background down, or ensure when moving the characters the set was not altered. As well as the set moving the camera was also moved to much during production. In the final seconds we boomed into the E4. However as we were holding the camera it made the scene extremely jumpy. We needed to use a tripod to make it a lot smoother and more effective.

Evaluation:

Overall I am very pleased with the outcome of our animation. I believe it fits the brief and with the style of E4. We captured the humerus side to the channel, which was a focus for us and made our audience laugh and smile. I believe we met the target audience with our animation by using the idea of a wrestling match. It showed the channel to be exciting and entertaining, but also to have a twist and have a funny side. Our set was well built and looked very realistic. I believe the crowd worked well and added to the set, due to the scale fitting with the ring. We also lit the ring well, however at times we could have lit the E and the 4 better. At points where they were circling one and another, they were blocking each others light. The audience noticed the change in tone on the characters as the circles the ring. This therefore caused some distraction to the viewers. To overcome this we could have used a second light, and focused the light primarily on the characters. Another issue we had was with the characters themselves. As we were continuously moving them, and did have some difficulty getting them to stand, some of the edges were slightly damaged. This was at times visible in our ident and distracted some of our viewers. The audience would have liked the characters to be cleaner as it made the ident look more realistic, and believable. Also some of the animation could have been a bit smoother. For example they commented that when the characters are circling the ring/ each other they movement is slightly jumpy. This could have been overcome in production. However that being said, the audience did react very well to the animation. They found it very humorous, and enjoyed the theme of the ident. They also felt the sound effects worked well and were timed extremely well.

About E4

E4:

E4 is a huge British television channel, they were set up in January 2001 to go along side channel 4. There are a range of programmes you can watch from reality TV shows, sitcoms and dramas. It is mainly aimed at people from the ages 15 to 35. They broadcast a variety of american programmes, from Big Bang Theory to 90210.  The actors that star in the programs are aged around the same as the target audience. This makes it easier for us to relate to the characters. Also as they use some real life situations within the story lines it again help us connect to the characters, therefore making the program more enjoyable and interesting. As films and music have evolved so have to types of programmes E4 broadcast. For example, theres is a lot more rap music being listened to by the younger generation. This led to the production of 'Youngers', a series about a group of friends who are braking into the industry.

During adverts E4 use a lot of idents to promote there logo. Each ident has the logo incorporated into it, however they are done in many different ways. The latest ident stars 'Eefer' the E4 robot. In this ident the robot is the E4 logo and keeps the signature purple colour. It shows the robot doing everyday tasks like going to the cafe, this relates to us the viewer as it is something many of us do on a regular bases. He is portrayed to be like a human, and even has his dog waiting outside for him. It is more interesting and humorous because he is a robot. The people in the ident do not react to him and treat the situation like it is normal. I believe this relates to the older side of the target audience as they are most likely to go into a cafe to get there daily caffeine fix.



This ident features a hotel room. The room slowly begins to come to life with various strange and unusual things happening. It plays on the idea that when we leave rooms they come to life. This could show how E4 will bring your television to life through the different programs. It creates a surreal setting that attracts the viewers attention. By having it set up in a hotel room it links to there target audience, however by using this idea it can also relate to our childhoods.







BBC3 IDENT:

(2014)


This ident uses a lot of colour to attract the viewer. It keeps the colour theme through out the ident, which links to the colour of the BBC3 logo.  It portrays BBC3 to be a very appealing and glamorous channel. It reminds us of nightclub lights, very bright and in your face. This can link to their target audience, 16-25 year olds as they are the majority age group that would go to a club.


(2010)

In 2010 the idents were very different. They did not have the signature purply,pink colour. This meant the idents were a lot duller. However they used comedy to attract people. They used small animated figures to create different scenes. In this ident they are singing a song. The song says' Three is a magic number' emphasising that channel 3 is great channel. By using humour it relates to the genre of the channel. Although they do broadcast some series documentaries and also show films, the majority of the programmes they show are comedies. Thus portraying BBC3 as a hilarious channel before even watching the programmes.

History of animation timeline

Stop Motion Animation:
Stop motion animation is where you take a physical object and photograph it in slightly different positions to make it appear as though it is moving. You move the object slightly and photograph it, when you put all the images together it gives the illusion that the object is realistically moving on its own. In early animation they used film cameras, this came with the great disadvantage of not being able to see what your animation would look like until it was fully completed. To make the frames look realistic they tend to use a frame rate of 24 seconds. The frame rate is the amount of frames per seconds. The minimum frames you should use per seconds is 12, any slower than this the frames will be jerky and unrealistic. Persistence of vision is what allows us to see the animations in a flowing sequence. It is a phenomena inherent in human vision. This is because we see things for a further one twenty-fifth of a second than they are actually in front of us. The brain holds the image while the object is in sight, however, when it is out of sight the brain fades the image out. So when we are looking at a series of images, each with small differences, it fades the two frames together making it appear as though it is moving.

Object animation:
Object animation is when you use various objects to create a animation. To achieve the effect you take a photograph of the object, in the next frame you would move it slightly. When all the frames are played together in a sequence it appears as though the object is moving. The first example of object animation was in 1898 by Albert E Smith and J Stuart Blackton, 'Humpty Dumpty circus'. It was directed by Smith and animated by both Smith and Blackton. It was a black and white film that was relased in the USA. It is a short film aimed at younger children, shown by the objects/toys used. However as it was one of the first object animations it appealed to the majority as it was something new and exciting. He would have used this technique as it is easily accessible, also the objects are already made, no need to sculpt a figure. Compared to other techniques it is very easy, however it is harder to create an interesting story line when restricted by certain objects. Also you need to ensure you move the object in a certain way, and very slightly to avoid jerky movements.
 More recently object animation has been used in various advertisements. For example Cream egg have used it in more than one of their ads.  By using object animation it keeps the advertisement realistic. It features the actual product is trying to sell, and brings the product to life. I believe it is aimed at all ages, the product itself can be eaten by all and the advert does not highlight a certain age group, leaving it open for all to enjoy. They created the advert below very well. All movement is very fluid. As technology has advanced a lot it is a lot easier to look at the pictures, and alter only the frames that need it, instead of the whole film. This animation was very basic, yet it works very well and captures their product. It shows the bright and vibrant colours, attracting young children's attention. Having the eggs fly around and burst shows that they are packed with flavour, and full of goodness.

Puppet animation:
Puppet animation is created in the same way as object animation, however puppets are used instead of objects. It is said they use puppets due to their humanistic qualities. Puppets are easier to move, meaning it is easier to create different movements. They are also easier to personify and tell a narrative. 'The Humpty Dumpty Circus' has been credited as the first stop motion film that features puppets. In 1912 Russian film maker, Ladislas Starewitch created 'The cameraman's revenge' and later produced his puppet animation 'Le Roman de Renard' that translates as 'The tale of the fox'. The animator would have used puppets to give a more realistic animation. Puppets are easier to move and therefore are easier to achieve a more realistic film. Again like object animation they have to ensure they move the puppets slightly to avoid jerky movements. I believe the creator did well to achieve this. The majority of the animation is very smooth and tells the story well. However there are some parts that are jerky and therefore unrealistic. The music also fits well with the animation, at times when there is more action the music is faster and more lively. For each of the different scenes/ settings there is a different peice of music. This helps show that the scene is moving on and the flow of the story. As they couldn't show emotion, music fitted very well to indicate how we should be feeling at different parts of the animation.

Nowadays puppet animation is mainly used in children's cartoons and films. For example, Tim Burton uses a lot of puppet animation, for instance 'Corps bride', 2005. Also 'The Nightmare Before Christmas', 1993. This used 227 puppets through out the film, and 400 heads to convey the different emotions. Using puppets meant they had a lot more control over the puppet. They can make the movements more realistic, therefore creating a more interesting film. Burtons films work extremly well. Each movement flows to the next, meaning it comes across real to its younger audience. He has also captured the emotions very well, through using numerous heads for the puppet the puppet is continuously sharing different emotions with us. This allows us the viewer to feel a closer connection with the character, as we can physically see how they are feeling. All the small details are very well executed, helping the illusion that this is all real. Lastly the speech helps bring the animation to life. Each word fits well with the puppets mouth, and helps define the different characters to a younger audience. 

Pixilation:
Pixilation uses the same techniques as stop animation and puppet animation. Instead of an object or puppet it uses live actors. The earliest example of pixilation is shown in a short, spanish comedy called 'El hotel electrico', 1908 by Segundo de Chomon. The actors would move slightly between each frame, thus giving the illusion of animation. The advantage of using live actors it that is very realistic. It is a lot easier to portray emotion and different movement using a person than a puppet or clay figure. In early pixilations the biggest disadvantage was that some scenes would appear jumpy if actors moved to far. Also as they would be shot on film cameras you were unable to see how the final pixilation would look untill the whole film was developed. If the final outcome was not right the whole film would have to be shot again. With this animation we can see the camera flickering. This could of been how the film was developed, or if there was dirt or hair on the camera or film, very common in old films. Overall the movement works well, the characters do flow and give the illusion of a film. However some frames jump, creating an unrealistic scene.

An example of pixilation nowadays is shown below. This video is called the Wizard of speed and time. This example of pixilation is very advanced and would have taken the creator a long time. There is a lot happening in the animation and is very fast moving. The animation is created very well, the majority of it is very clean and fluid. It does appear like a video would, however some parts of the animation, mainly at the beginning, are slightly odd and unrealistic, The movements at the start seem a bit slow and create at robotic feel. However the creator could be going for this as it gives the wizard a surreal atmosphere. When the wizard is running although it is very fast, I believe it does fit the animation, the acting is done well and put together nicely.  

Claymation:
Claymation has been round since the invention of plasticine in 1987. The earliest example of this technique is 'The sculptors nightmare' a spoof of the 1908 presidential election. By using clay they were able to create more interesting objects. With this example they were able to sculpt different faces, and add lots of detail in the face. The clay moving during the animation looks realistic at times, however most of the movement doesn't flow as well as it could of. The idea of it works, but could have been a lot smoother. We can also see the camera jumping throughout the whole animation, this again ruins the illusion.

The most well known example of claymation nowadays is Nick Park's 'The incredible adventures of Wallace and Gromit'. The series is created completely out of plasticine, this meant a lot of sculpting. They have gone on to use wire skeletons or an armature in later episodes to get an idea of how the clay figure will move. For example in the 'Curse of the were-rabbit' they use wire armatures under the clay to help indicate how long the joints and bones will need to be. In this clip everything was made from plasticine. Everything within the scene looks very realistic. The way it has been created has again been done very well. All the movement is very fluid, and is very realistic. The pace or speed of each movement is perfectly timed and fits with the action. They have also worked the sound effects in well. The sound effects make the animation come to life even more, and allow us to enjoy it even more.