Assignment 2 reflective

In general, Master student’s self-study skill is more important and difficult than undergraduate students. Such as software skill, research skill and how to give a presentation, all of them are very important in academic skills and higher level study. So it ask students need to think independently, and to analyse question and solve problem by oneself.

My Master Major is animation, in fact, I studied graphic design when I was a undergraduate student. So how to use software to create a animation is the first big problem when I start my Master course, and I only have one year to finish my study, I need to solve this problem as soon as possible. After first class, I talk with my teacher and he encourage me to do anything I want, and gave me some websites, especially one which is combine 2D and 3D to create an animation, after that I decided to use flash as main tool to help me to do projects, because flash is the most easy way to understand and can study quickly. In addition, teacher said the idea and thought are the most important to animator, whole project is important, but how and why is more important in process. Diligence is the path to the success.

A successful project is born from many problems, when i get a new idea, I must write down on my notebook, brain storm is very useful and helpful way to help me to think about next step or which idea is the best one. Of course, I can develop more than two ideas in the meantime and choose the best one after finish my develop work, but in fact, how to understand brief and develop ideas to the point also difficult, because sometimes I may understand brief in a wrong way. So before I start to make something, I need to make sure I totally understand the brief. Moreover，when I start my project, I give an outline and to plan step by step, this is also important in all of steps.

When I decide my aim before, I always watch a lot of other people’s work, not only animation, also paintings, design and works from many different areas. If I like the style I often draw down or write down their thought, after that to think about how to create my style and world in animation world. For example, in my current work is to develop with my one project called place of the minds, I watched lots of other people’s works.My inspiration comes from a film Seven，seven means the seven deadly sins：pride wrath sloth greed envy gluttony lust。These seven deadly sins come from human nature，In china a monster who we called tao tie is a mythical ferocious animal in Chinese fairy tale，this monster means glutton，so he is a symbol of greed.
I want to talk about and discover greed from seven sins in people's deep mind. And this monster is a character or symbol to express greed and glutton，combine western and eastern culture to create a unique world view. I use Chinese traditional style and culture to expend what is greed. Studying also is a communication with students who come from other countries.

When finish each work, I always use critical thinking in my project. According to Bailey(2003), critical thinking means making clear, reasoned judgments. But it is difficult to judge your work is finished or not finished, in my opinion, it means endless. Because when I review in every time, I always find insufficient and can improve my works again, so it will be do better in the future works.To get a thorough understanding of yourself is to gain a correct view of yourself，to understand strength and shortage.

    

Reference

Stephen Bailey (2003) Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students

Available at https://www1.doshisha.ac.jp/~ji-iie/Bailey.Academic_Writing.pdf
[Accessed: 20 December, 2015]

word count：640

“When the buying stops, the killing can too”

Figure1: advert(sources:http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/wwf_blood）

When i did some research i found this picture，that is a public Service Advertising means don't buy exotic animal souvenirs.

In my opinion，this is a really good project to remind people what is more important in our life.

According colour，environment，body language……i can get many information from this picture，that real helpful for my work. To study how to describe your idea show your viewers

In this picture, the woman wear a dress, slippers and bring her luggage in the airport, it seems like to trip. And this picture used bright color, but it can not to make people enjoy, in fact, the color is dark and cold tone , even the woman wear a colorful clothes, people also feel cold, dark and without any vitality. And in this cold tone, a large amount of blood screamed out from the floor, it appears that the blood is come from the luggage and extend to outside of the picture, the woman may buy some exotic animal souvenirs and put in the luggage. This scene let people feel cruel and when they read the topic which wrote by The Wide World Fund of Nature under below “Don’t buy exotic animal souvenirs” In people’s mind, this is only a luggage, and they buy some souvenirs from tourist attraction, but they never consider what are they come from why a lot of public service advertising said don’t buy it. The blood on the floor is not only blood, it forebode the future of human. And the extinction of animal will lead people to destroy, because the ecological balance is like a tower, if people break one of floors, it means people break the balance. In fact, this behavior is very dangerous. So the blood is red, not blue or green and to warn human when they protect animal, also protect themselves. Moreover, there is a yellow line under the floor, this is also a representation of warn. As is known to all, yellow and red are the same meaning of warn and be careful or dangerous. This yellow line like a cordon to warn people do not over the line and pay a attention to how to protect animal, especial endangered animal, they have the double meaning in this picture. In this case, people can easy to understand the meaning of this public service advertising and impressed them.

Reference

Figure1: advert(sources:http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/wwf_blood）

[Accessed: 20 December , 2015]

[Animation work2]Places of the Mind — Developed project

Inspiration

According my first work,I still need to develop my work and let it more finished.
I watched some people's animation and short video.
In my opinion can give me inspiration how to develop my project.

Aubade-Pierre BOURRIGAULT

This story said the character finds an injured bird and looks for somewhere to "repair" it.

lovely story and details,I can study light and shadow from this animation

Piotr Dumała - LAS (The Forest, d. Piotr Dumała, 2009)

This is a really interesting short video，because this is combine animation and film.This is also a black and white project，That's it what I exactly want.

According my work, i talk about a monster who is a mythical ferocious animal in Chinese fairy tale.This monster means glutton,so i want to create a little horrible story to discuss what is greed and how it feel in my opinion 

About background，when i want to use this shape to display deadwood，because i said i need to create a little horrible story and world，and this way often used in many films and animation

Into the woods（2014）

magical black forest

Figure1: film(sources:http://netstorage.metrolyrics.com/editorials/into-the-woods-musical-movie-lyrics-facts/featured.jpg

Tim Burton's Corpse Bride（2005）

Figure2: film(sources:http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/11400000/The-Corpse-Bride-tim-burton-11476131-320-452.jpg

some deadwood

Figure3: wood(sources:https://overheadproductions.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/c0044t011.jpg

Figure4: wood(sources:http://img09.deviantart.net/198f/i/2014/037/1/b/deadwood_tree_by_joeramsayofficial-d75e1d3.jpg

My sketch

It can display my style and more easy and cartoon

The monster walk into the forest，fog cover he，because i dont want people to see what he looks like，he is not real，he only has big mouth，this is the only one important.

Rainbow not real rainbow，it means everything，because he eat everything

At last he become human，it means he is you，you is he，he live in your mind

Reference

Figure1: film(sources:http://netstorage.metrolyrics.com/editorials/into-the-woods-musical-movie-lyrics-facts/featured.jpg）

[Accessed: 13 December , 2015]

Figure2: film(sources:http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/11400000/The-Corpse-Bride-tim-burton-11476131-320-452.jpg）

[Accessed: 13 December , 2015]

Figure3: wood(sources:https://overheadproductions.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/c0044t011.jpg）

[Accessed: 13 December , 2015]

Figure4: wood(sources:http://img09.deviantart.net/198f/i/2014/037/1/b/deadwood_tree_by_joeramsayofficial-d75e1d3.jpg）

[Accessed: 13 December , 2015]

Iridescence – A Visual Journey of an Ephemeral Existence

Iridescence by Richard Feynman

Iridescence is an abstract, experimental short film documenting the behavior of iridescent colors on the skin of a soap bubble, but in my opinion, it more like cells at the first. It seems like Under the microscope. 
For the time of its existence – in reverse. The experiment was inspired by a quote from American theoretical physicist Richard Feynman
we can see a lot of colour in this video for example rea,blue,green,orange and white, so on
with music we can feel the life and power in it.
One interesting thing is there just some oil and water colour used in these video，but created a wonderful and awesome visual project.

Copper Bronze Dichroic Window Film by 3M

In addition，these video show amazing light and colour to us.
That is only use some glasses to make colourful shadow, when person turn around the window under the Sun, we can see the colour change like rainbow，that is real amazing work.

BUT the most interesting thing is this is a advert of window, this advert told people, we make them comfort，safety and energy.In my opinion，this video more like a visual journey to show people，the maker who is absolutely a genius

According those two projects, we can find different and details in our life and to reserach how to use them in our works,maybe they are almost negligible and not worth mentioning.

[Animation work3]Nostalgia and Memory — Developed project

Inspiration

According to my first stage，i watched some people's projects
This one is come from a Chinese animator-Ron Hui

Ode to Summer

This is a 3D animation,but seems like a ink painting, very beautiful scene and colour,Chinese traditional style.

Deer in Village

This animation was was made by Shanghai Movie Company during 1980's

In that time，there are lots of water ink animation were made by many awesome animator in China 

Lovely colour and image，the characters also wonderful，this style is only one in the world and unique.

I tried to study these style but ues my own way to display what i want to show to viewers.

I use my sketches into this projects and the lullaby.

beside i read a poetry from a Chinese poet guangzhong Yu，this poetry called Nostalgia（its match my aim）

Nostalgia 

by guangzhong Yu

When I was a child, 

Nostalgia seemed a small stamp: 

"Here am I 

And there ……my mother." 

Then I was a grown-up, 

Nostalgia became a traveling ticket: 

"Here am I 

And there……my bride." 

During the later years, 

Nostalgia turned to be a graveyard: 

"Here am I 

And yonder……my mother." 

And now at present, 

Nostalgia looms large to be a channel: 

"Here am I 

And yonder……my Continent!" 

i decided to create my world.

I created a world from my deep mind in my memory，i just want to show the simply line world because that is easy for to draw，and a boat means i，i always beside my family.

Candy rain from the lullaby“Grandma gives me lots of candies ”

I stay at the front of my grandma's home，it seems like i never leave  

This is my hometown my childhood my first and most deep memory in my life，this is my gold age.

In our surroundings

Talking about somethings in our daily life，can bring a lot of inspiration to me

Figure1: Fingerprint(sources:http://shmector.com/_ph/4/389479084.jpg）

Fingerprint 

Everyone has fingerprint, and we can observe our finger.

Everyone’s fingerprint is comprise with lines.

Same lines around and around, always repeat this motion.

But these lines make the fingerprint is different for every people and one of a kind in the world.

So in means we can use someting which are very normal,but also can create very special thing.

Figure2: Kaleidoscope(sources:http://www.ohcrafts.net/kids-homemade-kaleidoscope.php）

Kaleidoscope is a normal toy in our life

This is a toy in the shape of a tube with a small hole at one end. If you look through the hole and turn the other end of the tube, you can see a pattern of colours which changes as you turn the tube aroud.

It is very easy to play, you only need to turn the tube than you can see pattern, but when you turn other side you will see different pattern.

This tube like triangle and when you repeat your action you can find different things in it,

When i do my topic, i can not only focus on one part, i need to consider all of them.

Figure3:Clock(sources:http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/0175112_PE332983_S5.JPG）

Clock is a normal thing in our life

And it use minute hand and hands of a clock to

record time.

This is a very simply way to record time.

And hands of a clock always repeat motion, turn around and around, like a circle.

This thing can teach me when i make flash, how to plan every frame to display the action.

Figure4:(sources:http://tintcity.com/wp-content/uploads/oldimages/2013/03/wheel-upland.jpg）

Everyday, i need to by shuttle bus go to University.

And i find car how to work.

If car want to move, it is relate on wheels.

When wheels turn around, car can move it.

So wheels always need to repeat this motion that can let car or bus move, also like bicycle.

So repetition also is a power lead to something happen, so i can not confined to one point.

Figure5:Melody(sources:http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/nqmusic/national3/concepts/repetition.asp）

Everyday we often listen music, for example alarm, headphone sound, and different kind of music.

In fact, it is easy to compete a song, but how to make a song is difficult,and you need to use notes to compare melody.

So notes are same，but when you put notes on different floor, you will get different melody, when you repeat this motion，final you will get a song.

This teach us although you use same thing to do, but we can get different outcome.

Figure6:Wave(sources:https://tattahaara.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/2.jpg）

Waves on the river.

When wind, raining day, people can see curve on the river and make different patterns or shadow.

So this is waves, they are always like a winding line , although curve are same, but they can make different things.

Reference

Figure1: Fingerprint(sources:http://shmector.com/_ph/4/389479084.jpg）

[Accessed: 26 November, 2015]

Figure2: Kaleidoscope(sources:http://www.ohcrafts.net/kids-homemade-kaleidoscope.php）

[Accessed: 26 November, 2015]

Figure3:Clock(sources:http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/0175112_PE332983_S5.JPG）

[Accessed: 26 November, 2015]

Figure4:(sources:http://tintcity.com/wp-content/uploads/oldimages/2013/03/wheel-upland.jpg）

[Accessed: 26 November, 2015]

Figure5:Melody(sources:http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/nqmusic/national3/concepts/repetition.asp）

[Accessed: 26 November, 2015]

Figure6:Wave(sources:https://tattahaara.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/2.jpg）

[Accessed: 26 November, 2015]

[Animation work5]Light and shadows

Inspiration

The shadow puppet play, also called "shadow play", is a drama form in which the player holds the human figures that are engraved by the animal hides with colored paintings, and reflected on the curtain through the light, singing and dancing controlled by the player with the silk string, gongs and drums music, playing a series of stories. It is widely spread in most regions in China, except Tibet and Xinjiang, with different styles of shadow puppet play in different places. However, the characters shaping and performance skills are all quite exquisite, with play themes including the Chinese ancient magic, myths, religions, monarchs, legal cases, wars, as well as talented scholars and pretty ladies, the secular life and so on.

Figure1: shadow play(sources:http://www.yejocircle.com/uploads/9/2/4/9/9249622/1875998_orig.jpg

The shadow puppet play with written records dated back to the Song Dynasty, and Bianliang, the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty had the performance of shadow play yet. At that time, the shadow plays were divided into the shadow hand play, the shadow puppet play, and the large shadow play. Many grand occasions of the performances had been recorded by the Song people. While in Yuan Dynasty, owning to the westward conquest by the Mongolia troops, the Chinese shadow plays were introduced into the Middle East, Arab, Turkey, Egypt, and other countries, and later brought to some East European countries. In Ming and Qing Dynasties, the contents and forms of the shadow plays had some new developments, thereby forming the various genres with local colors.

Figure2: shadow play(sources:http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2012-02/16/131413770_11n.jpg

Revolving scenic lantern is one of this play

Revolving scenic lantern is a traditional Chinese art installation. And it is perfect to combine Chinese tradition drawing with Animation. Because image on the screen can move it without electricity.

This lantern originate in Han dynasty. Traditional lantern bracket by the main body and composed of two parts, a main body formed with a cylindrical onionskin paper fixed to the cylindrical screen and the top of the pinwheel paper screens, various patterns painted on the surface of the paper screen and through a rotatable shaft is connected to the bracket bracket, bottom hollow, set on a candle holder.Candle is lit, paper screens inside air is heated up, rising hot air pushing paper screens at the top of the windmill rotate and rotate with paper screens, you can see the difference from the pattern troops chase, moving image material for King .

Figure3: Light(sources:http://13gramm.com/bilder/produkte/gross/Geschenke-Weihnachten-Krippe-Windlicht-in-Geschenketube.jpg

In this work，we need to study and creative use of light in the animation.

I watched short animation from Lotte Reiniger - Papageno(1935)

In this animation Lotte Reiniger used shadows to their fullest extent.The whole animation is a shadow play. Very interesting animation and it has a distinctive artistic style to display a story.

Although Lotte didnt use colour in this animation, but we still can feel rich emotion from image and music.

One of this work's way is Chiaroscuro, It seems like negative space.Negative space means the empty or open space around an object that defines it.In layman's terms, it is the breathing room around the subject that determines how appealing it looks.

Figure4: Negative space(sources:http://tangyauhoong.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Negative-space-thumb.jpg

So i want to use this way to create a short animation of people who come home but still busy to work or other things until midnight.

I just want to use simply shape and line to display what i want to tell.

I use moonlight，light and some cloud shadows in it.

With rhythm of music illuminate the ambience

Reference

Figure1:shadow play(sources:http://www.yejocircle.com/uploads/9/2/4/9/9249622/1875998_orig.jpg）

[Accessed: 31 October, 2015]

Figure2:shadowplay(sources:http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo/2012-02/16/131413770_11n.jpg）

[Accessed: 31 October, 2015]

Figure3:Light(sources:http://13gramm.com/bilder/produkte/gross/Geschenke-Weihnachten-Krippe-Windlicht-in-Geschenketube.jpg）

[Accessed: 31 October, 2015]

Figure4:Negativespace(sources:http://tangyauhoong.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Negative-space-thumb.jpg）

[Accessed: 31 October, 2015]

[Animation work4]Music and animation

Inspiration

This inspiration is come from rain.
As we all know UK often rain in all year,the climate in the United Kingdom is defined as a temperate oceanic climate，These conditions allow convergence between moist maritime air and dry continental air.
So this is why often rain in the UK.

Most time when people talk about rain they all feel melancholy,unhappy or upset.
Some people don't like rain so when raining，they are feel blue.

But some people can let it become a happy thing,for example，the famous musical—Singing in the Rain （1952）this is a really famous one in the world and we can feel love,happy or any emotion in the rain, that is a amazing musical

I even love the rain and can feel the rhythm of rain.

I watched some people's work,rhythm is real important.This is one of the first music promos to feature characterization of a performer

This short animation bring me the inspiration.

This work by Oskar Fischinger （1938）rhythm of music and simply pattern to display all of visual effects, we can feel the power,energy and emotion in the animation.

I choose a music “Rainbow”This song sound good and feel happy and enjoy

But at the first of animation，the colour is black and white and feel blue，only sound of rain，very boring.

The raindrop cross the cloud and when they falling down on the umbrella，something changed，colour and bgm changed. Everything become colourful.

Liking this song—rainbow

Different shape and status

Figure1: rain(http://www.vancitybuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/shutterstock_140523640-984x500.jpg

Figure2: rain(https://regmedia.co.uk/2013/06/08/rain_cloud.jpg

Figure3: rain(http://www.aliasstudiosydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rain-1080p-wallpaper_113126502.jpg

Reference

Figure1: rain(http://www.vancitybuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/shutterstock_140523640-984x500.jpg）
[Accessed: 13 November, 2015]

Figure2: rain(https://regmedia.co.uk/2013/06/08/rain_cloud.jpg）
[Accessed: 13 November, 2015]

Figure3: rain(http://www.aliasstudiosydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rain-1080p-wallpaper_113126502.jpg）
[Accessed: 13 November, 2015]

Sunflowers

Vincent Van Gogh is considered the greatest Dutch post-Impressionist painter after Rembrandt, although he was not popular and famous throughout his life. Van Gogh's life is a sad story. When he took up painting, it was only in the last ten years of his life. According to Klein (2007), Van Gogh painted about 700 drawings and 800 oil paintings during that time, and now Van Gogh is known as one of the most well-known artists, for whom color was the main symbol of expression. In addition, Van Gogh’s works were famous for their emotion and color, also influenced 20th century art.

Figure1: Sunflowers (sources: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Vincent_Willem_van_Gogh_127.jpg)

“Sunflowers” (1888) was completed by Vincent Van Gogh in Arles and was made just two years before his death. This art work is the most famous one from his works, and Vincent van Gogh's Sunflower painting have been duplicated many times by various artists. Looking at this painting one begins to notice aspects that seem to flow from one piece to another. The colour is vibrant and express emotions typically associated with the life of sunflowers, bright yellow means alive, brown colour means wilting and death. Moreover, people can find two of his characteristic drawing skills. Van Gogh used his brush to draw angular and this can express Van Gogh’s mental life. And yellow is main tone and little green in this work, people also can experience passion and rich emotion. Before that, there was never has still-life painting can express so strongly effect in history of painting. Although Van Gogh's sunflower paintings are very similar in many aspects, each stands out as its own unique work of art. Without the vigour new colors, such as chrome yellow, Van Gogh may never have achieved the intensity of Sunflowers. Regardless, Van Gogh's paintings of sunflowers have altered mankind's perspective of art and life. These paintings captivate the mind and leave you astounded in their simplistic beauty.

I really like colour in his work，bright and vivid in your mind and you can feel what he want to display and show his idea or emotion to us.

This is a real successful work，and worth to study.

Reference

Figure1: Sunflowers (sources: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Vincent_Willem_van_Gogh_127.jpg)
[Accessed: 11 November, 2015]

Klein, A. (2007) Vincent Van Gogh，pp20-26

[Animation work3]Nostalgia and Memory

Inspiration

Nostalgia—Most people remember their gold age
Memory—maybe about you first memory,or something you can't to forget and other impact in your daily life

In my opinion,homesick is root of everything include memory.
According a nursery rhyme, I want to show memory of my childhood
This nursery rhyme called “Grandma's Lullaby”this is a famous lullaby in my hometown.when i was a child i often lived with my grandma, so this is a deep memory in my early life,and my grandma is one of the most important person in my life.

Grandma's Lullaby

We go to grandma's home by boat,waves shake the boat.

I said Hello grandma,Hello grandma,grandma smiles to me.

We go to grandma's home by boat,waves shake the boat.

I said Hello grandma,Hello grandma,grandma gives a lot of candies to me.

We go to grandma's home by boat,waves shake the boat.

I said Hello grandma,Hello grandma,grandma gives a lot of cakes to me.

We go to grandma's home by boat,waves shake the boat.

When the rain,the storm,and all is done.

caress me with your sweet lullaby.

This is the lullaby

In my hometown Suzhou is famous for historic buildings and classical garden in the world.

White wall and black tiles、old street and deep lane、Water bridge,sheltered in the rain.

Figure1: Garden(sources:https://meromtzion.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/china-2012-302.jpg

Figure2: Garden(sources:https://meromtzion.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/china-2012-302.jpg

Figure3: scene(sources:http://www.tropicalisland.de/Suzhou_canal_b.jpg

I found lots old photos in my computer, my father took these photos when i was 2-3 years older.And then i did some sketches about these old photos

And then i created a picture about my memory

I choose abstract way to show. 

I only use black,white and grey to display my work,because this is like an old photo in my memory, i try to tell viewer, this memory is a party of my life even i

This is also a powerful experience that happened to me.

Reference

Figure1:Garden(sources:https://meromtzion.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/china-2012-302.jpg）
[Accessed: 8 November, 2015]

Figure2:Garden(sources:https://meromtzion.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/china-2012-302.jpg）
[Accessed: 8 November, 2015]

Figure3: scene(sources:http://www.tropicalisland.de/Suzhou_canal_b.jpg）
[Accessed: 8 November, 2015]