Despite their experience and action of over three decades, November 2016’s “Moana” was a new chapter, a new accomplishment for the director duo. This went on to be Musker and Clement’s first film with 3D animations.

The last Disney 2D movie was 2009’s “The Princess and the Frog”. It was directed by the duo. All animation used were hand-drawn at their studios. In “Moana” lot of traditional techniques were used for production and pre-production, especially with the Mini-Maui character who was entirely drawn by hand.

Moana’s character was drawn using a computer and not by human hands. However, the character of Mini-Maui is a mix of 3D and 2D animation. The film’s Mini-Maui character travels using Maui’s body. This character represents a big technical accomplishment, as it is a 2D character who seamlessly interacts with the 3D animated world all around.

Animation is an art. For a film, after the artist adds the final touches to the drawings then the technical animation team takes over to draft the animations to the 3D model. Now unlike paper, our body is not flat and has curves. The skin moves and the muscle flex, which moves alongside the character. So to avoid any warping or stretching, the technical animators whipped a whole new technology. This would preserve old-fashioned and modern-day animation.

During the film’s production, the adjustments between 3D and 2D techniques did not always go smoothly. At times Musker and Clements asked for some changes, which made the animators push their limits. In fact, as the movie progressed, the team discussed as to how to make the movie more interesting. Now as 2D animators produced new drawings and the computer animation team had to frame and rearrange digital objects.

Combining a balance of modern as well as traditional animation and also of the techniques and ideas wasn’t easy, but in the end, was really worth it. The audiences and the critics agreed that this was the most advanced technologically animated movies ever produced. Not to mention that it had the same humour, charm and warmth for which Disney has been known and loved for over 100 years.

At Magic Elements Studios, we are experts of 2D and 3D animation styles. We appreciate good pieces of art. Disney’s Moana blended the freshness of 3D animation with old-fashioned 2D, creating a new cult. What a masterpiece!

We’ll start with the production designer who works closely with the director, director of photography and VFX Supervisor to develop the overall look of the film. The production designer oversees the art department. An art director supervises the construction of sets and modifying locations. The set decorator is responsible for the decoration of the sets. And the property master deals with all things that the actor will have to handle.

The art department also includes production illustrators, concept artists, and storyboard artists. Environment design, Vehicle design, Creature and character design is usually done by specialists brought in by the art department. The design and the look of the film have a large impact on the approach and techniques employed for visual effects. The art department creates a number of concept art studies in pre-production for the director and the studio to review. Once this concept art is refined and approved, it will be used by the visual effects artists as both a reference and a guide.

This is the core of the pre-production team roles in any big budget Hollywood movie production besides the role playing on screen.

Well, Story, Character strengthen and support each other and are created in parallel during the concept development stage. A good character can be developed from a story. A good character can in turn inspire a story. While Story is the important element in animation films (or live-action for that matter). Creating appealing characters to tell it is the other most important thing. But then, which element should the animator develop first?

Development is an awe-inspiring process in which the journey itself is as important as the destination. It’s what you do, and also how you do it!
In this blog, we’ll discuss the elements of the animation process, in as detail as possible. Going beyond the cliché saying “actor with pencils (or mice for the digital artist)”, ‘cause I personally feel that term does not cover what an animator really does.

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We are proud to announce the launch of a new logo as part of the ongoing evolution of our brand. With the new vision to be the foremost Indian animation house that develops ideas from script, through to finished piece.
We continue working with advertising and digital agencies, as well as direct with brands, entrepreneurs and companies. We love working on anything that moves with character- TV commercials, brand idents, web banner ads, online explainer videos. We have the facility to produce it all- from concept to delivery.

And we also produce our own short films.

There are a number of storyboards differences between a live action and animated productions. Most storyboarder specialize in one or the other. As their personal drawing style may not work for all types of productions. For instance, live action directors don’t want to see cartoony looking storyboards or live action story artist may not able to draw cartoony style.

In live action boards, artists style vary greatly. The look of the characters and the boards don’t really have to look much like the look of the live-action actors. In fact most of the actors may not be cast when we start boarding.

Just ask the Director for general info of the characters and draw them all different enough so that you can tell them apart from the boards. For instance, if one character is bald and other is fat. Those are simple ways to make them look different on your boards.

For traditional animation, the storyboard need to look exactly like that of the character on the model-sheets. This is because most of the overseas animation studios tend to follow the look of the storyboard exactly as they animate.

When boarding a CG (Computer generated, also known as 3D animation) animation, matching the look of the character is not as important. The character designs may not be complete, when storyboarding starts on a CG project. But even though they are complete, you should have boarded characters somewhat like the final design, but you don’t have to make them exactly.

Another big difference between live-action and animation boards is how many drawings is generally necessary for any scene or action. In Live-action we need to draw the beginning and the end of any action and add drawings for any specific actions in any shots which needs to be seen. We don’t have draw every little actions for the characters as the actors decides for themselves how they act.

But in Animation, the animators are the actors. The storyboards for hand drawn animation in particular, needs to show most of the “key frames”. Key Frames are the key drawings dictating every big and little action drawn by the animator. The “In-betweens” are then added during the animation process to smooth out the action.

In CG Animation, the drawing to show the action will fall somewhere in between those needed for hand drawn and live-action productions.
Another difference in live-action and animation, is to how to properly number scenes and shots. In Live-action, a scene includes various shots or various camera angles used in one location during one period of time.

For instance you can have a scene in your living room that includes a wide shot and two close-ups. And all three shots are a part of one Scene. Hand-drawn animation considers every shot to be a new scene. So when they are saying the living room example you will have three scenes. We don’t even use the term “shot”, in 2D Animation.

The CG Animation can be numbered either way, but as more often than not they are numbered live live-action. The production which we work on will tell us how they work on a scene number.

This could sound a little confusing but knowing the distinction between them could make all the difference. Whether or not you get us back on a another production.

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As human beings, we live in a story all of the time. Story is as natural and essential to us as breathing. We all have stories to tell, but telling our personal stories on a daily basis and constructing a story from scratch are two very different things. Usually when we tell stories on a daily basis, we are relating events to one or two other people. On the other hand, when constructing story, we are trying to communicate with a mass audience. When we tell stories to a friend it is because it’s important to us or to them. We are connected and moved emotionally because it is personal. When we construct story, we are moving not just an individual, but an audience. The goal then becomes to make the personal universal.

But what is a Story?
As Karl Iglesias put it “A story has someone who wants something badly and is having trouble getting it”.
The above determines three elements: character, character goal, and conflict. Without these elements, any story cannot exist.
1. Character: The Hero, whom the story is about and through whose eyes the story is told.
2. Goal: This is the physical object the hero wants to obtain: the princess, the
treasure, the girl, the recognition, and so on.
3. Conflict: Conflict is what is between the character and his goal. There are three forms
of conflict:
• Character vs. Character
• Character vs. Environment
• Character vs. Self
Conflicts create problems, obstacles, and dilemmas that place the hero in some form of danger, either physically, mentally or spiritually. This means that there will be something at stake for the hero if they do not overcome the conflict.

Then there are Linear and Non Linear Stories.

Great experiences make great stories, usually. The world around us is filled with great stories, we just need to open our imagination. Every person on earth has a story to share. Every success or failure has a compelling story to express. Those unforgettable moments, those unexplained encounters, those unexpected love stories are the experiences that compel us to write a story. We simply need to become aware of our surroundings. Stories are like ping pong balls and all we need to do is catch the right one.

A good storyteller is one who can ignite the emotions of the audience. Storytellers are good listeners, good readers and are aware of the happenings around them. If we see something that incites our emotion, we find ourselves telling the tale.

The more dramatic your story is, the more engaging it will be to the audience. Use interesting words that keep the audience hooked.

Infusing these key elements to make your story more dramatic:

• Conflict/Tension
• Surprise elements
• Extraordinary character behaviour and nuances
• Controversy
• Mystery
• Suspense

There are many ways to tell a story visually:

• Computer Animation: 2D Animation, 3D Animation,
• Graphic writing: Comics, hand-drawn animation
• Drawing
• Movies

Scripts – the key to Storytelling in a visual medium

A good script helps you to hook the audience into the story. The audience, in turn, needs to see and hear the suffering of the protagonist to feel it themselves.

Previsualization is important for good storytelling. Here, you don’t just explain the feeling, you show the feeling. We only love the movies and characters that captivate our imagination.

As laymen, we may fail to technically understand creating or using the effects. It may be difficult to differentiate between special and visual effects. However, there is a considerable difference between the two.

Visual Effects Explained !

The visual effect is the process of creating moving images or imagery, enhanced or manipulated with the help of Computer Graphic Imagery (CGI). These effects are added to a scene later during post-production after primary imagery is complete. These effects are an integral part of science fiction movies.

Techniques such as matte painting; rear- and front-screen projection; miniature or forced perspective sets; computer graphic objects, characters, and environments; and compositing disparate images are some CGI techniques. The best example of this is the movie, Avatar. All of Pandora was CGI, including the planes and helicopters shown in the movie.

Special Effects Explained !

Special effects are generally described as effects that can be done while the scene is being filmed and are commonly called Practical effects. Even though it is often difficult to determine as both of them (Visual Effects, Special Effects) go hand in hand going by current methods. This collaboration has been enhanced by digital technology.

For instance, digital rig removal from live-action footage has allowed more freedom for special effects artists to create more elaborate rigs on. Other than that examples of more typical special effects are bullet hits, practical explosions, rain, fire, car gags of all sorts, flying rigs, motion rigs that shake sets or props or vehicles, gimbals to mimic the motion of boats or planes, and artificial ocean waves and spray.

Hope now the difference between Visual Effects, Special Effects is clear !

It always is a special feeling to be a part of an Incredible Movie. But to be appreciated by people of the highest order for our contribution is something that stays with you for years to come. On the eve of the LOP India release, sharing this mail from Erik Jan De Boer, Animation Director (Rhythm and Hues) on Life of Pi, sent as a token of gratitude !!!