Little Summary

This semester, in preparation for my thesis, I set out to investigate the various manifestations of cutout animation, and the methods used to create this look. As a part of this exploration, I opted to do a hands on comparison of 3 software packages that I was considering using for my thesis project: Flash, After Effects, and XSI.

I started with a simple animation that I had created in Flash using bitmap animation, and used that as the template to create similar versions in the other two packages. After creating the three animated loops that I've posted on this blog, I made simple and necessary discoveries that helped me figure out a flexible workflow to accomplish the look I want for my thesis film, as well as a method that will facilitate working in stereo.

On the most basic level, Flash seems like the most simple software to jump into for bitmap animation, but it's simplicity is it's downfall for cutout animation. The major shortfall of flash for cutout is the inability to parent objects...a feature available in both AE and XSI. The other limitation of Flash that is innate to both AE and XSI is the ability to create a 3D space, with lighting and camera options. And the final straw that ruled out Flash for my thesis film is there is no way to do stereoscopy.

As a long time Adobe user, in terms of comfortable workflow, AfterEffects was far more user friendly than XSI. I was able to put together the cutout animation far more quickly than using Flash, and add some depth using the 2.5D feature of AE. I really liked the look, however, the shortfall for AE was the inability to give the illusion of depth necessary to make it feel like a real piece of cardboard or wood.

XSI seems to be the best option for me to model the objects, and characters for my Thesis project. Not only can I create characters with a little bit of depth along the z axis, but I also learned of sophisticated lighting options from Daniel that will help me achieve the tinted film look I'd like. XSI also exports camera moves, and render passes that can ultimately be composited in After Effects with stereo video, and stop motion.

It's been an invaluable period of research and experimentation.

Lighting test in XSI

This is a lighting test that I did using a light as a projector. I'd like to simulate the look of tinted film for my thesis, and this is getting close to the look I'm aiming for.

Interview with Amy Lockhart

Above is an example of Amy Lockhart's work, Trixy recommended that I speak to her about her process as she generally mixes traditional cutout and composites them digitally.


A) Workflow for purely digital
> cutout animation, and the software packages that cut
> out animators gravitate to.

I am really into framethief and istopmotion. These are
programs you can download for cheap or free and use
with a digital video camera or digital still camera to
capture frames/images. I capture in these and then
bring them into final cut or imovie to make the
soundtrack, final piece etc.
These programs are great because they make animating
so much more accessible to people. and your set up can
be way more simple and nomadic. I am currently working
on a project that I have worked on in 4 different
cities at my home studio, in each.

B) How traditional
> Cutout animation is/can be an element of a larger
> digital composition - a more hybrid approach.

so my take on this is......

I am into traditional aniamtion over computer
animation because sometimes computter animation seems
like cheating. i.e. when flash does the inbetweening
for you or toonboom does the mouth movements for
lipsynching, etc. this offends my sensibilities,
heh...

I am really into using the tried and true animation
techniques. either drawn or under the camera, moving
things around as if I was using a film camera. then I
import these frames into final cut or after effects
and edit them together or else create different
layers, by doing digital multiplane. so shooting
different layers of animation seperately and putting
them all together as one image in after effects, etc,
using chroma key (blue screen) to erase the
backgrounds, etc.

basically i like to animate as if I am using film but
then do post in video, so addding effects, layers,
sound, etc...
i like the accessability and cheap cost of video over
film, but I like the traditional film way to animate
so i spend more time making art and animating in real
life rather than on the computer.

i am just babbling away, maybe we should talk about
this on the phone. tomorrow night might be good. or
sunday?
I can talk to you more about ow I actually used it to
do my cut out animation A SINGLE TEAR and also the one
I am working on now.