LO3: Production Schedules★

 

LO3: Evaluation Justification of Frame Rates and Duration★

I used 13FPS for my animation, for 2 reasons.

One is that my animation, being a cartoon, required me to re-draw characters, backgrounds, etc. on each frame. This made it so that about 10 seconds of footage took around an hour to produce. As I was working with a deadline, this meant that it would be quicker to produce, while still looking smooth.

Any more than15FPS, however, caused issues in the process. Even making tiny movements from one frame to the next, the movements would still happen far too quickly, and the only way to combat this was by having each frame repeat itself at least once. Even if it was at 15FPS, this would produce the safe effect as an animation with a 7.5FPS, which was too choppy and not ideal. It looked unpolished and would not appeal to audiences.

The duration of my animation is just over 2 minutes. This is because the animation is designed to be posted on social medias like TikTok that only allow short form content. I thought that by making it under 3 minutes, this would maximize the amount of people who would watch it on platforms like TikTok, because although you can have up to ten minutes, people lose interest and scroll past if it is too long. It also follows the conventions of a web series, because it is ideal for watching on mobile devices and it is also shorter than a conventional TV cartoon.

LO3: Optimising the Animation

Optimization is the act of making a product the most effective for the situation. In the case of an animation, this means the act of correcting and changing things in a way that will make the product more effective in being well-received by audiences. 

In order to optimize my animation, I colored over lines that were not supposed to be there, which was from either a sketch that was supposed to be erased, or where I had rested my hand while  

using the stylus. This caused there to be lines that appeared irregularly on certain frames, which made the animation look poor quality and even buggy. By correcting the issue, I was able to make the animation look of better quality and therefore is nicer to watch and more enjoyable  for my target audience. This was also something that testers asked me to change. 

I also got feedback to say that there was some frames that were from another scene or blank frames that were appearing in the animation. I went back through and deleted any of these scenes, but the issue was still happening. I rendered the animation again and it seemed to make the issue go away. This ensured that the animation looked more of a professional quality, but it also made the storyline less confusing when parts of other scenes were flashing up. This then made the product more enjoyable for audiences. 

It is important to save assets as lossless png files because this ensures that the overall aesthetic of the animation is not taken away and so that the final product can be rendered as high quality when it is put in to an editing software. 

My animation was created in 15FPS, which is enough to make the whole animation look smooth, but it is also not too high of a frame rate, because going higher than this requires lots of skill and experience, and is also a lot more advanced and time consuming on any platform, including Animation Desk, but also Adobe Animate, Blender, etc. Because of this, it was likely that I could not make it look as good as it could be, deterring audiences.

This is a screenshot of the rendering box on animation desk. This was important to do so that the animation looked smooth and movement and animations didn't look choppy and poor quality. 

I also exported my animation from animation desk, straight to my photos as a video. This is because this method is lossless and ensures that the animation remains in a high quality. On top of this, it means that it is ideal when opening the animation in an editing software or uploading to the internet, especially with platforms like TikTok where you can only upload video files from camera roll. 

This is the way that I did this. 

LO3: User Testing★

 

Overall, my feedback was mainly positive. There was a few issues that were mentioned, however. 

All testers thought that the frame rate for my animation was appropriate, which was reassuring as there wasn't a great deal I could do about it after this stage. 

25% of testers agreed that there were bugs in the animation, one of which disclosed that the bugs were all about glitching frames and colors appearing at random points on the screen, which I will fix by deleting misplaced or blank frames and erasing any lines that are not supposed to be there. 

My testers all agreed that this is a product that they would access via TikTok or YouTube, however, which meant that it was fit for its purpose and method of distribution. 

LO3: Debug★

I only had one issue with bugs through the production process of my animation, which was the fact that in some sequences, parts of or entire other frames would flash up on screen, making the animation look poor quality, glitchy and confusing when trying to follow a narrative. When searching through the sequences, I found a few empty frames, which I deleted, but I was still having this issue. In the end it was resolved by exporting the animation again. This made the problem disappear and made the animation look much higher quality, which would help to build an audience, as audiences do not want to consume poor quality content.

LO3: Project Files★

As I used my iPad to create the animation, the actual assets were stored on there. Most things were in an album in my photo gallery, as this didn't lower the quality of them and it also was the most convenient when exporting because the files app sometimes changes the file type. This included assets, edits, and the videos sent to me by voice actors.

I did this in the photos app because it is lossless. It keeps all the assets high quality, both audio and visual. It also keeps it in video format that means that I can upload it straight to YouTube and TikTok with ease, as well as add it in to editing software. 

LO3: Animate Assets★

This is the duplicate tool, which allowed me to loop a set of frames. I did this for scenes where I would otherwise have to draw each frame individually, such as the scene where Petal is running and the one where Dad is dancing. This saved a lot of time because it allowed me to only have to animate the action once before I could loop it.

This is a screenshot of me sketching an image out on layer 2. I did this so that when I inked over it, it would look neater and would save me the pressure of having to freehand it. I did it on layer 2 so that I could clean up the lines on layer 3 as well as add color, and so that I could add the background to layer 1.

This is me using the copy and paste filter to copy and paste images from one layer to another. I used this for places where I only needed a slight movement, so that I could copy and paste the picture without having to draw it out all over again, which is time consuming and not ideal when working under a time constraint. It also means that the moving asset can be uniform to the previous frame.

This is a screenshot of me using the opacity tool to change the opacity of my brushes so that I could get a sheer layer of color for scenes such as Petal blushing. This was useful because it let me build up colour gradually without having to find different colours that would layer on top of each other to give me my desired effect.

LO3: Create and Edit Assets (Audio and Visuals)★

This screenshot is an example of how I created some of the voiced lines. I recorded my lines while editing in iMovie, which was a convenient software for me to use because the product only needed minor edits and it was on my iPad too. I recorded my own lines in the app as this was the easiest way to do it and the sound quality does not get reduced.

This is an example of how I edited the sound effects and incidental music throughout the product. I faded most of them using the "fade" tool. This is because it fits the conventions for an audio-visual product.

This is how I sped up some clips using the speed tool if the FPS looked too low, the animation looked choppy, or the action was too slow. In this case its because the action was too slow. This makes the animation looks more polished and more consistent without having to go back and re-draw everything from scratch.

This is a screenshot of how I added the audio in to the product from the videos that my other voice actor sent me. The app allowed me to add audio only to the sequence without having to import the video too. This is a good way to not lower the audio quality, and it was also quick and convenient to do.

LO3: Log Assets and Footage★

 

LO3: Rough Edit★

 Rough Edit YouTube Link: (64) Unit 10 Rough Edit - YouTube

LO2: Risk Assessment/ Recces★

 

LO2: SWOT Analysis★

 SWOT Analysis

Strengths

The first strength about my product is that it is a good fit for the target audience. The product is supposed to be happy and lighthearted cartoon that people can use to relax and unwind. My target audience will mostly be students, so this means that they will likely have a lot of stressful days and will be able to unwind using the product. 

On top of this, there is already a market for cartoons that are child-friendly but not necessarily aimed at just children, with animations like Adventure Time and Regular Show becoming mainstream. Better yet, this market is not particularly saturated at this time, so my product already has a market shaped by other animations, which will help me to gain an audience.

On top of this, there is also a gap in the market for Northern based cartoons. Shows such as Ackley Bridge have been well received by a Northern audience, but the only popular cartoon that is Northern based is Wallace and Gromit. Therefore, I have identified this gap in the market and decided to fill it.

The product is also relatable, which is a unique selling point. People like to consume relatable content, and people who have pets are definitely going to relate. This makes light out of an annoying situation and appeals to people who have pets who misbehave.

I also plan to distribute the product via YouTube and TikTok, which are sites that teenagers frequent. This means that the product is distributed in a way that is familiar to, and popular amongst 

Lastly, my product also follows Todorov's narrative structure, which is conventional for products with a narrative. This structure will be familiar for audiences, and also is resolved in the end, making it a good comfort show.

Weaknesses

The first weakness that I can think of is the fact that the audience is narrowed when we look at the amount of people who don't like cats, which is unfortunate because they probably won't find the evil cat character very amusing.

The distribution of the product online would also mean that the success of the animation would heavily rely on algorithms, which are hard to learn and adapt to, and even then, there is no success guaranteed.

As the target audience will likely be students, there is also the chance that things could go the other way in the sense that they are simply just too busy to watch the show. This has lead me to consider the possibility of aiming the product at a younger audience.

Opportunity

The product has the potential to be played in a school setting if I do change it to be targeted at a younger audience, such as wet playtime.

The product also has the opportunity to be made in to merchandise such as stuffed animals of the cat. This would also appeal to a younger audience and possibly even the older one too.

There is also the opportunity to make it in to a series, which would mean more viewers, engagement, and therefore, more profit too.

If aimed at a younger audience, we could also host competitions in local schools, for prizes such as being a guest character in the series, free merchandise or even a donation to the school. This gets the community involved and builds up a loyal audience, as well as a good reputation for the series.

We could also have the screening of the first episode in a local cinema. This would promote the animation to a local audience who would want to come and make a day out of it. It would also be advertised by the cinema, which would mean that we would not have to pay for it.

Threats

As there is already a market for cartoons that are enjoyed by adults, the closest one to my product probably being Bluey, which is a very popular product to compete with, meaning that my animation may not grow to that size.

The algorithms on YouTube or TikTok may not promote the animation as I would like, running the risk of it not being seen by the target audience.

Small clips of longer products are frequently re-uploaded to TikTok by pages ran by bots, which know the algorithms well. If the product was to be stolen and re uploaded to one of these accounts, it would likely have a larger reach than the original content, meaning that they profit from it more than we do.

LO2: Script★

 

INT.                BEDROOM.                          MORNING.

Petal jumps up on the bed where dad is sleeping, causing him to jolt up.

DAD

What the hell are you doing Petal? You scared the living heebie-jeebies out of me!

 

Petal looks up and meows.

 

DAD

I can’t stay mad at you with that face.

 

PURRING

 

Dad starts stroking Petal.

 

HOLLY

Dad? DAD!

 

DAD

Holly? What’s wrong with you? It’s six o’clock. Pack it in shouting like that.

 

Petals face turns mortified. Dad looks at her.

 

Zooms in to Dad’s face.

 

DAD

Oh shhhhh-e pooed on the floor!

 

 

 

INT.                BEDROOM.                          MORNING.

 

Zooms out. They are in the bathroom.

 

DAD

I’m going to kill her.

 

HOLLY

Dad! That’s awful!

 

DAD

Just go to school. And put that beast outside as you leave.

 

HOLLY

No! It’s raining!

 

DAD

Put her outside, Holly.

 

Holly walks out.

 

DAD

Holly? Holly! Holly!

 

DOOR SLAMS

 

DAD

Perfect.

 

 

 

INT.                KITCHEN.                          MORNING.

DAD

Right then, let’s get this show on the road.

 

He puts bread in the toaster.

 

ROCK MUSIC

 

Dad is dancing in the kitchen. Soft meowing gets louder and louder until it’s louder than the music. Dad angrily turns off the radio.

 

DAD

What the hell do you want now? Huh? What do you want you idiot?

 

Petal looks at the food bowl, then back at Dad.

 

DAD

Fine. Give me a second then.

 

Dad gets the toast out of the toaster and spreads butter on it before getting cat food out the cupboard and filling up her bowl. He turns around and the toast is gone.

 

DAD

Huh?

 

He looks down at Petal, who has toast crumbs around her mouth.

 

DAD

You. You aren’t my friend anymore.

Petal looks up at him for a few seconds. Dad seems to be warming back up to her.

 

GAGGING

 

Petal coughs up a hair ball on to the floor.

 

DAD

That’s it. I’ve had it with you. Get ‘ere.

 

He picks her up under her belly, opens the door and throws her outside.

 

DOOR SLAMS

 

DAD

Lovely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXT.                GARDEN.                           MORNING.

Petal looks lost and sad. She is sat on her own in the rain. The wind blows a leaf at her, and she jumps up and runs away.

She hides under a bush. She looks down at her tummy, which starts to grumble. She lays on her belly, as if she’s going to sleep, but gets into a hunting position and pounces on a bird.

BIRD CRIES

 

She lays back down, to go to sleep.

 

BIRDS TWEETING

 

She looks up, to find a flock of angry birds staring at her. They walk towards her.

 

She sprints away, through treacherous weather conditions, until she finds another plant to hide under, where she falls asleep. Screen fades to black.

 

Fades back in. She is waking up. She crawls out of the plants, all wet and looking rough.

 

HOLLY

Petal? What are you doing out here? Oh, you poor baby.

 

She picks her up and takes her inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INT.                LIVING ROOM.                        MORNING.

Dad walks into the room when he hears Holly come in.

They see each other and their eyes light up.

 

CHARIOTS OF FIRE BY VANGALIS PLAYS

 

DAD

Petal!

 

PETAL MEOWS

 

DAD

Petal!

 

PETAL MEOWS

 

DAD

Petal!

 

They reach each other. He bends down to pick her up. She jumps up to him. He opens his arms to catch her and give her a hug.

 

ANGRY CAT NOISE

 

She scratches his face, screen turns black.

 

 

 

LO2: Storyboard★

 

LO2: Treatment★

My animation product is going to be a cartoon called Petal the Purple Pain in the Neck. 

The animation will be a 2D animation because this is what I have found works best for me in order to achieve the style of animation that I want due to the fact that I can digitally draw all of my own assets. It also is less expensive and time consuming than other options that would allow me to do this, such as cel animation. 

I plan to make my animation between 3 and 4 minutes. This will allow me to include the whole narrative without dragging it out and making it seem forced. I also have the aim of allowing my viewers to de-stress while watching, and this running time will help me to do this because with it being so short, it is easy to follow and doesn't require too much brain power to consume. 

The animation will be about a cat, called Petal, and her owners, a teenage girl and her dad. The animation will mainly focus on the comedic co-dependent relationship between Petal and Dad, despite the constant arguments. The teenage daughter, Holly, will be the peacemaker of the household. The narrative of this episode will be that Petal has been kicked out of the house for misbehaving. There is a dramatic scene of her in the wild, struggling to survive until Holly comes home and lets her in, revealing that she's been in the garden the whole time. 

It will be aimed at females, ages 15-25. They will likely be interested in other animations, such as The Simpsons, Bojack Horseman, Wallace and Gromit or even Bluey. They will also likely be students, in either high school, college or university. The purpose of my animation will be to entertain an audience, but also help them to relax and un-wind after a stressful day, since many of them will be students. 

LO2: Final Idea and Narrative With Justification★

My final idea is going to be a cartoon called Petal the Purple Pain in the Neck. It'll center around a family of 4, a dad, his 2 kids, and their cat, mainly focusing on the relationship between the dad and the cat. 

Taking inspiration from Wallace and Gromit and The Simpsons, I plan to create it as a 2D animation, which I also plan to aim at women, aged 15-25. The purpose of this product is to entertain. I plan to do this for the intended audience by using a soft, pastel color palette, wholesome storylines and making it short (just a few minutes long) to retain the attention of viewers. 

The narrative that I'll be using for my first episode will be the cat being incredibly annoying all day, to the point that the dad has to put her outside. She then is shown being exposed to severe weather conditions, hunting for food to survive, etc, until the daughter comes home and lets her back in, when we see she was really just in the garden the whole time. It has a good balance of wholesome and funny which will entertain my target audience, making them want to watch more. 

LO2: Audience Profile★

 My Invisible Entity

My invisible entity is a girl, aged 18. She is in her first year of university, somewhere down South, but is originally from Yorkshire, and likes to watch my animation, because it reminds her of home. She enjoys other popular animations, like Wallace and Gromit, The Simpsons and Bojack Horseman. She loves cats, and likes the fact that my animation focuses on the friendship between the family and the pet, because she misses her cat that she had to leave at home. She also likes music and social media. She likes to watch my animation because the wholesome story line and the soft color palette helps her to wind down after a stressful day at university or part time job. She also likes that it is funny, which brightens her mood after a long day.

LO2: Narrative Ideas★

Narrative Ideas

Character Information