This week, let’s embark on designing an animation exercise, beginning with the conception of a story segment.
The first story segment revolves around a Chinese Taoist priest combating a demon. The inspiration for this shot stems from the cool visual of a Taoist priest flinging talisman papers backward, akin to a knight fearlessly charging at the enemy.
Here, I have conceptualized two distinct shot types to experiment with, in pursuit of discovering the one I deem most visually appealing.
The second story segment shifts focus to the concept of ‘personal vendetta’. I have devised a narrative where a man, who was bullied in his youth, enters the abode of his childhood tormentor as an adult. The culmination of this tale is marked by the man exacting his revenge, ultimately wielding a knife to end the bully’s life.
Here, we delve into the exploration of animation shot composition, also known as MISE-EN-SCÈNE. In the process of shot design, we may commence with a variety of aesthetically pleasing poses. However, at this juncture, it is imperative to adhere more closely to the principle of ‘proportion’ in our character shots. By conforming to these standards, we can craft our animation shots with precision and artistry.
So, how can one swiftly learn the intricacies of shot setup? In fact, we can turn to film trailers for guidance. These trailers are replete with dynamic camera movements and meticulous shot arrangements. The wealth of information they provide can expedite our comprehension of shot design principles.