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 asks 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 an undergraduate student. So how to use
software to create an 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. Of course
this assignment is not my first work, I have done more than three or four projects,
I found my steps and what others can teach you is limited , you have to
continue to studying it by yourself!
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.
In my current work is to do a pre-production
about my final project. First, I need to think about which story I want to describe,
because this is my final project, I want to create different thing, like to make
an animation and add Chinese elements. I watched lots of other people’s works
and found an interesting book called A Chinese Bestiary - Strange Creatures
from the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas. According to Richard (2002) a Chinese Bestiary presents a fascinating pageant of mythical
creatures from a unique cosmography written in ancient China. The Book through Mountains and Seas, compiled between the fourth and first
centuries bc, contains descriptions of hundreds of fantastic denizens of
mountains, rivers, islands, and seas, along with minerals, flora, and
medicine. My inspiration comes from a film Seven
(1995)，seven means the seven deadly sins：pride wrath sloth
greed envy gluttony lust. These seven deadly sins come from human nature. I combine Easter fairy tale and western culture to creative a
story and talk about set off to symbolize good triumphing over evil. And
metaphor someone who is a generous self-sacrificing man.
When I decided what story I want to talk, I
need to think about what kind technique.
I did lots of research and watched some other
people’s works. And I found I am interesting about diorama. “Diorama can either refer to a 19th-century mobile
theatre device, or, in modern usage, a three-dimensional full-size or miniature
model, sometimes enclosed in a glass showcase for a museum.” It seems like still pictures animation. According to Stephen (2006)
They were extremely popular during the first half of the 20th century, both in
the USA and UK, later on giving way to television, film, and new perspectives
on science. Moreover, I research some short animations
Aftereffects Space Diorama Animation
I don’t want to just make a 2D animation,
and I think this technique will be more interesting. In fact, this inspiration is
come from a film Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) In this film, director used
a short animation to introduce the whole story, and this animation is looks
like diorama, I really like this technique to display story and attract people's
attention. I said I want to combine Easter fairy
tale and western culture to creative a story, diorama also is unique way to display my idea.
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
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 doing 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
Richard, S. (2002) A Chinese Bestiary - Strange Creatures from the Guideways Through Mountains and Seas
Review. 10 (18). p. 112.
Review. 10 (18). p. 112.
[Accessed: 20 April, 2016]
Stephen, Q. (2006) Windows on Nature: The Great Habitat Dioramas of the American Museum of Natural History, Abrams, New York, 2006; p. 10
[Accessed: 20 April, 2016]
Stephen, B. (2003) Academic Writing: A Handbook for International Students
Available at https://www1.doshisha.ac.jp/~ji-iie/Bailey.Academic_Writing.pdf
[Accessed: 20 April, 2016]
[Accessed: 20 April, 2016]
Figure1&2: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
[Accessed: 20 April, 2016]
