Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Pre-Production Booklet for Animation

Name: Sam Turnbull

Order of contents (italics show areas you must add in yourself)

Assessment criteria

LO2

Mind maps of ideas

Risk assessment

Format of your animation

Subject and storyline

Character notes and profiles

Movement of characters

Moodboard

Sets/backgrounds

Audio and soundtrack

Sound table

Props list

Audience

Storyboard and script (add script to booklet)

Frame rates

Lighting design

Production schedule

Crew details

LO3

Frame Numbers

Dope Sheets
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

How to use this booklet

You will need to complete every page of this booklet, and all sections / questions
required.

Assessment criteria for Distinction grade;

LO2

Plans will show a full consideration of movement and continuity, perspective, point of view,
transitions and special effects.

Precise and workable planning of timing and synchronisation to a soundtrack will be

produced. It will be clear at this stage, from the documentation, what the finished piece will
look and sound like.

Learners will follow industry conventions and terminology used in storyboard production
correctly.

Plans for the construction of models, sets and props will be realistic and clear.

Drawings, script and storyboard will all show a creative interpretation of the idea.

LO3:

The documentation linked to the production will be full and detailed and there will be
evidence that the production management and scheduling of the project has been effective
and carried out in a professional manner. The techniques used in the production of the work
are likely to be related to an understanding of current trends in the industry.

Both LO2 and LO3

In all practical activity learners will be capable of working autonomously and effectively. They
will work on their own initiative, will not need constant support or supervision, will give the
work their full commitment, work positively and cooperatively with others, and meet
deadlines. In other words, they will have the kind of self-management skills that would be
expected of them in a professional context. Note also that this criterion should not be taken
to mean that learners do not seek advice or that they work without discussing things with
their tutor, but rather that they are not dependent upon the support of others and that when
they take advice they weigh it carefully for themselves.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Planning
Brainstorm / mind map (add extra pages if necessary)
Fairy
Tales Plastercine
The
Wool
Shining Iconic Wood
characters Materials
Mario Cardboard

Music
Video

Location Snow

House Woods
The
Shining

Attach a 400-word treatment of your idea

The video is a stop-motion music video for Mystery Fish by Aesop Rock. It will recreate
Stanley Kubricks The Shining and Hansel in Gretel in roughly 3 minutes. The video will
follow Hansel and Gretel as their father dumps them in the middle of nowhere and they
follow a breadcrumb trail to The Shining hotel.

It will feature iconic moments from both stories such as the elevator filled with blood and the
breadcrumb trail as well as other fairy tales (i.e. the two girls will be replaced with two of the
three pigs, the bartender will be Pinocchio, etc.). I will be replacing Hansel with Danny, The
Witch with Jack, Gretel with Wendy and The Dad with Scatman Crothers.

It will end with the children escaping in the snow mobile and the witch left frozen in the
maze. I will make the characters out of various materials such as action figures and
plasticine. I will be filming in a variety of locations such as doll houses, shoe boxes and
outside if Im lucky enough this Christmas season. Scenes like the maze and the opening
will be shot outside and the rest of the film will be shot in shoe boxes and dolls houses. I will
have to uses either green screen or matt paintings for backdrops of mountains and the sky.

The only audio needed will be the song, the rest of the video will be silent. Im going to
recreate most shots by filming them instead of animating to save time, so shots of lake and
the car will be done out doors with no animation. I might have to films the elevator of blood
along with The Dad getting axed in the chest due to complex blood effects. I will be able to
film the elevator scene in a shoebox if I time opening the elevator doors perfectly with tipping
a few litres of dyed water through the floor. That scene will have to be shot on my phone
because my camera wont be able to shoot higher than 30 frames per second however my
phone can shoot 240 frames per second.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

How will you meet the requirements of your brief?

I will meet the requirements of the brief by including as many materials as possible. I think if I
combine plastercine with household objects such as silver wool and what not then hopefully I
will be able to meet the requirements for the brief.

Risk assessment: Are there any health and safety issues you may encounter?

Lighting rigs will be used so I should tape the wires to the ground to avoid trip hazards.
There is also the concern of filming in the snow, I should wear extra grip shoes to avoid
slipping on ice. I also need to wrap up warm because I will be in freezing conditions for hours
and hours.

Discuss any legal issues you may face. Eg; sound, plagiarism, age restrictions

My idea is copying The Shinings most notorious scenes however it is transformative enough
to avoid plagiarism. Due to violent scenes, the video will not be allowed to be shown to
children, which would be expected when remaking The Shining. The song also features
swearing so children wont be allowed to watch this.

The song is copyrighted so I must get the rights to use it, if I contact the legal department at
Rhymesayers then hopefully they will allow me to use the song.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Use of possible formats

Circle which of the following formats your animation will take;

stop-frame techniques
time lapse photography
plasticine animation
Claymation
using found objects
modelling
puppetry
combined formats

Why are you using that particular format?

I think that this format can create some bizarre visuals that match the nature of the song.

What are the different possibilities you could explore using this format?

I think a large range of possibilities are opened to me if I use this format. I can create
anything out of anything. I can make the video look cheap and professional. I can create
some bizarre realistic effects which will be even more effective when accompanied with the
cheap style.

What are the limitations of using this format? (i.e what problems/ obstacles might you
have?)

I dont really have any limitations because I can make anything out of anything. The only
limitation would be making it look great/professional, but thats the look Im going for. The
only limitation Ill find would be trying to make things. Plastercine models are also easy to
break when positioning them.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

What imaginative or inventive animations have you seen which use this format?

Add in links and screen shots of three examples of animations using this format.

This videos cheap and bizarre

look matches the style that Im
looking for. Its realistic
sculptures mixed with its cheap
background is exactly the style
Im looking for. However, the
lighting and tone is too bright
for what Im doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NgRiVb38p0

The cheap aesthetic and dark

tone matches the look Im using
for my production. The video is
more violent than my
production but the idea of
combining a film with in this
case cats helped inspire my
idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_z3EBalwI4&t=73s

This animations fast and quirky

movement combined with its
wool aesthetic is the type of
look I want for my production.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPnwaNp_x80
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Subject
What will the subject of your animation be?

My animation will be a short retelling of Stanly Kubricks The Shinning interwoven with
classic fairy tales.

Storyline

Describe the storyline of your animation. What events will happen to your characters?

The video will start off with the woodcutter driving his children to the middle of nowhere to
dump them off. After being abandoned the children follow the breadcrumb trail and stop at
The Shining hotel. They are invited in by a witch which forces Gretel to do housework and
tries to fatten up Hansel. Due to the isolation of the hotel the witch goes insane and tries to
kill them both. The woodcutter comes back to save them but is axed down by the witch. The
children escape into the snow and the witch chases after them being left frozen in the snow.

Characters
What characters will be in your animation?

The Woodcutter-a muscular, poor man which makes a living from cutting wood.

The Witch-a struggling writer/witch that looks after an isolated hotel for the winter. She is old
and brittle.

Hansel and Gretel-two young children which are kicked out by their father for financial
purposes.

The Two Pigs-two little girls who previously stayed at the hotel and were killed by their
father, appears as visions from Hansel.

Pinocchio-the bartender vision from the witch, dark and disturbed. He is responsible for
setting the witch on the children.

Red Riding Hood and The Wolf-visions from Gretel as she attempts to escape the witch.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Complete the character profiles for each character in your animation

Name: The Witch

M/F: Female
Age 43
Costume:
Black Witch Hat, Red Jacket, Blue Checkered Shirt, Brown Chinos,
Black Witch Shoes
Occupation:
Writer, Witch

Character
Background:
Looking after hotel for the winter, practices witchcraft.

Name: Gretel
M/F: Female
Age 7
Costume: Green and brown rags

Occupation:
N/A

Character Sister of Hansel, daughter of Woodcutter

Background:

Name: Hansel
M/F: Male
Age 7
Costume: Red and blue rags

Occupation:
N/A

Character Brother of Gretel, son of Woodcutter

Background:
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Add in images and drawings/ sketches of what they will look like.

What will they be made of?

These characters will be made of plastercine, other characters of little relevance will be
made from other objects and items.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Movement of characters

How are you going to make your characters move?

The characters will have a bendable armature built inside them, they will have the ability for
slight movement frame by frame.

What is the purpose of an armature?

The armature is the skeleton of the model. It gives the model its structure and allows them to
move without destruction.

Will you use them for your characters?

I will have to use them if I want to ensure that my characters move freely and smoothly
without crumbling apart.

If so, how will you make it?

I will get some wire from a D.I.Y store and shape it into a humanoid shape. Once Ive done
that I will shape the character around the skeleton.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Mood board
Create a mood board showing what look your animation will have. Add images showing
ideas of mise-en-scene, characters, costumes and colours that will be present in the
different shots.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Sets / backgrounds
Will your set be;

A three wall set

A blue/green screen

An existing location

A Combination of two or more of the above

Draw sketches of how your sets/backgrounds will look. Add in labels to your diagrams and
details of locations / lighting etc.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Add in photographs of your sets/backgrounds.

 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Audio and Soundtrack

What audio will you have for your animation?

Complete the sound list, detailing what sounds you will use, where you will source them,
what equipment you will need to record them and when you will use them in your animation.

You will need to design your own soundtrack. You cannot use copyrighted music, and it
must be more than simply adding a track.

What actions will need sound effects?

Think of the scenes in your animation. Each scene should have different sounds/music to
give information about the mood / emotions of the characters.

Sound Table

Production Name: Aesop Rock Mystery Fish Music Video

Producer: Sam Turnbull

Action Description Diegetic/non/diegetic Atmosphere Music

of Sound created

Whole Music Non-diegetic Bizarre, Aesop Rock

Video Strange Mystery Fish
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Props List
What props / models / furniture etc will you need to make your animation?

PROPS LIST

Production Name:

Producer: Sam Turnbull

Item Scene Description Character/location Notes

Car Opening shot Cheap The lake

looking, old
70s style
piece of junk

Breadcrumbs Breadcrumb Trail of The woods/The The trail goes past

trail breadcrumbs hotel the hotel
that leads our
heroes to he
hotel

Typewriter Inside the An old The hotel

hotel typewriter with
a sheet of
paper that
reads all work
and no play
makes jack a
dull boy

Broom Inside the A raged broom Gretel This appears twice,

hotel used to sweep when Gretel is
the hotel cleaning and when
The Witch attacks
Gretel on the stairs

Assortment of Inside the Assortment of Hansel

foods hotel fatty foods
used to fatten
up Hansel

Tricycle Elevator of The tricycle Hansel

blood used by
Hansel when
he is
confronted by
the twin pigs
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Axe Witch goes A fire axe the Witch

crazy through witch uses to
to end try and kill the
children and
successfully
kills the
Woodcutter
with.

Knife Witch goes Bread knife Gretel

crazy that Gretel
finds to fend
the witch off
with

Snow truck End A specialized Snow maze

car used to
travel through
the snow
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Audience
Define the following characteristics of your audience;

Gender

Male and Female

Age

16+

Interests

Unique visuals, the abnormal, something different.

What forms of animation might they already watch?

Any

What images do you think they enjoy watching?

Bizarre, unique, strange, abnormal

What might they consider distasteful or offensive?

Racism, a recent terrorist attack, violence against children

How will you ensure that your animation will suit your chosen audience?

I have based it around other work from Aesop Rock so Im sure that if they appreciated
music videos that are abnormal then Im sure theyll find mine suitable.

How will they physically watch your animation? (i.e in an exhibition format, on screen,
projection, online?)

Online
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Storyboard
Who? Complete a storyboard for your animation.
Which
Where?
characters/ What is the
objects are in location for the
the scene? shot?

Say What? Lighting

Is there any Natural
dialogue/text? Ambient
Torchlight
Spotlight
Direction of
light?

And Camera? Time?

then.? What is the Duration of the
What happens? camera angle? shot / number
Describe the of frames
Is there any
action. action is held
movement from
for.
the camera?
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Think carefully about the shots you will be using. Consider the range of shots/angles
to give interest and perspective

Shots Camera Angles

Extreme long shot Birds-eye view
Long Shot High angle
Medium Shot Eye-level
Two Shot Low angle
Over the Shoulder Oblique / canted angle
Medium Close up Worms-eye view
Close up Ground Shot
Extreme close up

Movement Editing
Pan Montage
Tilt Cross cutting
Tracking Shot Match cut
Zoom Shot, reverse shot
Eye-line match
Jump cut
Tracking shot
Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

You will need to convey all movements and actions. Copy and paste the storyboard to
make it as long as you need to show all the detail of your animation.
You will need to add pages to this section for your full storyboard
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame Rates
What is the duration of your animation in minutes? (minimum 30 seconds)

3:12

In seconds?

192

How many frames per second for video?

16fps/24fps

There are 60 seconds in a minute. How many frames (ie. Individual photos) will you
need to take?

3072/4608
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Lighting Design

Where will you be photographing your animation?

Most of the animation will be shot in a studio in a doll house or shoebox. Most scenes will be
shot outside.

Does it have natural daylight?

Yes, but I will be using it with available lighting.

If so, you will need to block this out. Explain why.

I wont need to block out the daylight because I will use it in scenes of the video.

Do you have a constant light source(s) such as a lamp?

I will have access to studio lighting such as read heads and various lamps.

Where will you place your light source(s) to create interesting effects?

It will depend on the shot where I put the light, I will try to replicate The Shining as much as
possible so I will replicate the lighting produced in that.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

(LO3)

Frame numbers
You will need to label your images as frames

The first 24 frames will be written as;

0_1

0_2 etc etc

the following 24 will be

1_1

1_2

1_3

Ensure your clips are labeled as such. Screen shot the folder your clips are in, and copy the
image underneath.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Dope sheets
A dope sheet is an animation tool which helps a animator organise the animation shot-by-
shot.
This gives the camera operator instructions on each shot type and how many frames this will
be used for.

A dope sheet is usually split into 5 different sections.

To indicate what action occurs on which frame number

To see what action is happening in this shot.
To see what dialogue used in this scene.
To show what level of animation is happening.
To give camera instructions (angle).

For example;

Because you will be working with video, you will be using 30fps. You will need to complete a
dope sheet for EVERY SECOND of your animation.

i.e, if you make a 30 second animation, you will need to complete 30 dope sheets.

This will be a time-consuming task, but it will help you understand what will need to
happen in each of the shots you take. The higher marks will come from a detailed and
careful collection of dope sheets. For example, if your characters speaks, you will need to
show the mouth forming every shape in order to look effective.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Dialogue / Camera
Frame Path of action Animation
Soundtrack cue instructions

0_1

0_2

0_3

0_4

0_5

0_6

0_7

0_8

0_9

0_10

0_11

0_12

0_13

0_14

0_15

0_16

0_17

0_18

0_19

0_20

0_21

0_22

0_23

0_24

0_25

0_26

0_27

0_28

0_29

0_30
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Frame Path of action Dialogue / Animation Camera

Soundtrack cue instructions

1_1

1_2

1_3

1_4

1_5

1_6

1_7

1_8

1_9

1_10

1_11

1_12

1_13

1_14

1_15

1_16

1_17

1_18

1_19

1_20

1_21

1_22

1_23

1_24

1_25

1_26

1_27

1_28

1_29

1_30
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Dialogue /
Camera
Frame Path of action Soundtrack Animation
instructions
cue

2_1

2_2

2_3

2_4

2_5

2_6

2_7

2_8

2_9

2_10

2_11

2_12

2_13

2_14

2_15

2_16

2_17

2_18

2_19

2_20

2_21

2_22

2_23

2_24

2_25

2_26

2_27

2_28

2_29

2_30
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Copy and paste as many dope sheets as you need. Remember to change the frame
numbering so that the first number refers to the second of animation ie, 1_24 is the 24th
frame of the first second, 3_17 is the 17th frame of the 3rd second.
 Stop Motion Animation Pre-production Booklet

Liaising with client (write notes on discussions between you and your client)