Category: Collaborative Projects

Collaborative Projects, participatory animation

Collective Emergence I

Facilitator: Gizem Oktay

Description: Hello! This is the first of three blog posts about a series of workshops organized by me (Gizem Oktay) for experimenta.l. to introduce lab members to numerous softwares that use neural network models to produce images and videos.

For the first workshop, I introduced Ebsynth, a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows the user to transform their animation by painting over a single frame. Ebsynth takes the painted over frame as a reference to mirror the effects to all frames, cutting down the time and effort needed to paint over every frame in any time-based media.

Ebsynth

How does it work?

Participants started by turning their time-based media to a PNG sequence using After Effects. Exported PNG sequence was then moved into a folder named “video”, containing all the frames. Later, participants chose keyframes to paint over to be used as reference by Ebsynth. Painted-over keyframes were put in a separate folder named “keyframes”.

After keyframes were ready, both the “video” and “keyframes” folders were dragged and dropped to Ebsynth. In order for Ebsynth to recognize which keyframe was painted over, the number of keyframe was referenced in the Keyframe section of the interface.

Results

Gerardo Reyes

Danny Laboda

Source: LEGO Movie

Elham Doust-Haghighi

Source: Shawshank Redemption

Dr. Christine Veras

Source: Singing in the Rain

Martin Namwook Cho

Source: Animation by Martin

Gizem Oktay

Source: Video by Gizem

Dates: TBA
Semester: Fall 2021 – 1stSession (09/21)
2ndSession (09/28)

Participants: Week 1: Martin Cho, Bryce Alexander Sheehan, Danny Elizabeth Laboda, Dr. Christine Veras, Eesha Muddasani, Xochitl Juarez.

Next Post: Using RunwayML to create an interpolation of characters drawn by participants

Collaborative Projects

Halloween Sand Animation

Facilitator: Dr. Christine Veras
Semester: Fall 2021

Description: We have started experimenta.l.! Our sand animation exquisite corpse was launched today. Drop by the lab (in person) to draw in the sand your contribution. The station name is PETROV, and the login information and steps to continue the animation follow below:

Guidelines/Instructions:


1. LOGIN: experimenta.l.
2. PASSWORD: animate
3. Launch the Dragonframesoftware. Click open in the sand project saved on the desktop.
4. Play the animation and continue the drawing from where it was left.
5. In Dragonframe when pressing ENTER you will capture a frame. Wait for the capturing sound to be complete and continue to change the image, frame by frame.
6. Remember to turn on both lights (on the side of the table) and to turn off the fluorescent light of the room. Please do not move or change the position of the light.


Hopefully, by Halloween time we will have a long animated spooky sand animation. If you have questions about this project or would like to participate and access the lab, leave a message here.

IMPORTANT: This is straight ahead animation and not keyframe animation. You can only move forward and once a drawing is changed you cannot go back.

Participants: Norman Cox, Dr. Ann Wu, Kirstin Schmidt-Stevens, Danny Laboda, Benjamin Wu, Bryce Sheehan, Philip Martin, Eesha Muddasani, Hamida Khatri, Gizem Okaty, Arianna Meisetschlaeger, Zack Nguyen, Martin Cho, Dr. Christine Veras.

Watch the complete animation:

Collaborative Projects

Collective Emergence II

Facilitator: Gizem Oktay

Description: Hello experimenta.l., Gizem Oktay is facilitating a series of workshops that will start next week, called Collective Emergence with GAN-1st Session. Lab participants are welcome to attend in person (limited to 10 people) and online/remotely through Teams.

For the first portion of the workshop, we will use EbSynth to create a stylized movie sequence of our choosing. Here is what you need to do before the workshop:
What would be your choice of movie to stylize? It can be a personal favorite, a one that you thought of working well as an animation, or simply a fun one!

Choose your scene. Make sure that the scene you chose does not change drastically and do not introduce a new character, object, or a different scene during the timeframe of your choosing. Make sure the scene you chose is no longer than five seconds! (Remember rule number 2. Make sure the scene doesn’t change in these ten seconds.)

Choose keyframes from the sequence to paint over in the workshop. (You can image sequence as PNG and pick out 2-3 keyframes to paint over).

If you are painting over a character, make sure one of your keyframes is one that fully shows the face from the front. Green screen rule: Your video does not have to be green screen, that being said, it would make your job easier if it were, as some masking might be required).

Watch this video for preparation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RLtHuu5jV4

Registering Movement -Collective Emergence:
Here is your HOW TO NOT for the workshop on Tuesday. I wanted to share an example with you guys so you better understand the importance of painting over keyframes (I mean, “key” keyframes). Sorry for the bad quality of the video! I’ll show the main version on Tuesday.

Dates: TBA
Semester: Fall 2021 – 1stSession (09/21)
2ndSession (09/28)

Participants: Week 1: Martin Cho, Bryce Alexander Sheehan, Danny Elizabeth Laboda, Dr. Christine Veras, Eesha Muddasani, Xochitl Juarez.

Collaborative Projects

When Shadows Speak WSS

Facilitator: Zack Nguyen

Description: “When Shadows Speak”is a collaborative project that invites everyone to use their own perception, emotion, and positive thinking to visually, and virtually lift each other up. We will be applying similar techniques to shadow arts, but with a meaningful intention: Practicing the act of kindness, and improving our own mental well-being through art.

Link to Presentation, please visit: https://pasteapp.com/p/DchoW64wIOw/s/FLw0x16TUX3?view=1Zsld5C3ULS

Guidelines/ Instructions:
You have a week starting today (03/29) to Sunday (04/04) to submit your work!
Preparation:
•light sources: desk lamp, iPhone flash
•an object: anything you love, to be honest!
•a helping hand (if you want to when you take photos)
•your favorite song your positive intention <3 -A MUST

Suggested steps


•Phase 1:
•Capturing shadows
•Place your object on a flat surface with a background color of your choice.
•Place and move light sources around the object.
•Capture the shadows, and object in different angles however you love!
•Important: Creative exploration is welcome!


•Phase 2: Animating
In your own space, please play your favorite songs while thinking of a kind and positive message you want to send to your loved ones. Look at the shadows you have captured, please visualize how your final piece would be.
•LET’S ANIMATE!

I hope you will have a fun and joyful experience creating this project with meaningful intention.
Inspiration:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2uX6Z0OAbY&t=5s

Submission:
Size: 1280 x 720
File format: GIF or MP4
Naming: Lastname_Firstname_WSS
Note: You can do as many as you want!Thank you so much for participating! I am looking forward to seeing amazing works!

Participants: Kirstin Stevens, Emily Banditrat, Kristen Duong, Gina Rattanakone, Christine Veras, Maria Montilla, Zack Nguyen, Martin Cho.

Collaborative Projects

Improvisation Project I

Facilitator: Elham Doust-Haghighi 

Semester: Spring 2021 

Description: Using a collaborative canvas interface called aggie.io we will create together a 42-frame animation of the Experimental Animation logo, mapped to music. 

Guidelines/Instructions: 

We are going to create a 42-frame animation all together next week (3/29). It will be easy and fun. I put an X-sheet and a music track in the files so you can check them. Here is the link to the board we are going to work on: https://aggie.io/

Facilitator Message: Here is the final result of our logo motion. I hope you like it as much as I do. 

Participants: Elham is checking their names. 

Collaborative Projects

Horse Power

Facilitator: Dr. Christine Veras 

Semester: Spring 2021

Description: Each participant will create their own unique frame from the galloping horse animation. The frames of Muybridge’s Galloping Horse will be distributed among participants. 

Guidelines/Instructions: 

Week 1: The first 12 frames were assigned. The submission deadline is next Monday [Feburary 8th, 2021] @1pm. Here are the details about the submission: 

  • Submit 1 frame of the galloping horse
  • Aspect ratio is 16 x 9, resolution 2K   
  • File format PNG   
  • Name your file following the format with you name and frame number: LASTNAME_NAME_frameXX   
  • You can change colors, add elements, using different techniques, the sky is the limit! As long as you keep an identifiable shape (of the horse).   
  • Inspiration: Check the Johnny Cash Project to have an idea of a similar project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwNVlNt9iDk&feature=emb_logo 

Week 2:  This round we will continue to animate the galloping horse and you will be assigned different frames. There are different (and optional) guidelines this round. A color palette is suggested and you are invited to select a 0.5 second sound for your new galloping horse frame (this is a new experimentation that we are adding on to the project). Sound files should be submitted in MP3 format. 

Galloping Horse Animation:

Participants: Elham Doust-Haghighi, Emily Banditrat, Sara Mcclanahan, Naznin Sulatana, Mayson Gunnar Bray, Kirstin Stevens Schmidt, Martin Namwook Cho, Austin Maddux Sewell, Gina Rattanakone, Rachael Kathleen Drury, Neda Ghassemi, Philip Carl Martin, Jacob William Reeder, Zack Nguyen. 

Start Date: January 25th, 2021
End Date: February 8th, 2021 at 1:00 pm (CST/Dallas Time) 

Watch here the complete animation:

Collaborative Projects

Food Project

Facilitator: Emily Banditrat (Graduate Student) 

Semester: Spring 2021 

Description: Do you enjoy food!?! Join us for a collaborative art piece that will be revealed on March 8th! Using any 2D software, 3D software, or camera, each contributor will produce 5 frames on a circle template provided by the facilitator.  

Guidelines/Instructions: 

For this project, you will only need any 2D or 3D software that is able to create on the circle template and produce 5 PNG or JPEG files. If you would like to illustrate on paper and submit it as a PNG/JPEG I have uploaded the template (print out at least 5 copies for this Project). During this lab, we will be drawing a total of 5 frames inspired by sound with Pizza in mind. The final compilation of these frames into an Animation. 

  • Phase 1 (2 Frame Drawing) (5 minutes each) 
    • Draw 2 frames inspired by Sound 1.  
      • 1st Frame are illustrations ONLY on the outside of the circle. 
      • 2nd Frame are illustrations ONLY on the inside of the circle. 
  • Phase 2 (2 Frame Drawing) (5 minutes each) 
    • Draw 2 frames inspired by Sound 2.  
      • 1st Frame are illustrations ONLY on the outside of the circle. 
      • 2nd Frame are illustrations ONLY on the inside of the circle.  
  • Phase 3 (1 Frame Drawing) (10 Minutes) 
    • Draw 1 frame inspired by sound 3.  
      • Illustrations are drawn on the inside of the circle. HAVE FUN! 

Template: in the Food Project Channel on Teams. 
Materials: Any 2D software, 3D software, or camera! 
Size: 1280 x 720  
Format: PNG or JPG (No MP4 files) 
Naming: LastnameFirstname_FrameNumber.png/jpg  
Bonus Frames Naming: LastnameFirstname_BonusFrameNumber.png/jpg 
Length: 5 frames (or more if you already completed 5 frames and would like to draw more). 
Inspiration: Sound, pizza, bold and simple shapes, be free with your strokes, no pressure. 
Instructions: Outside and inside the circle, provide an environment and pizza. 

Facilitator Message: Thank you again to everyone that could participate in our experimental lab on March 8th! Attached to this message is the outcome of what we have created together. I would like to thank you all once again for trusting me with your illustrations to create a different type of collaborative video. https://youtu.be/dYCVa4BLygg Please attend our lab today at 1 PM so we can all talk about the result of our food video and also collaborate together on a new project! 

Participants:  Dr. Christine Veras, Naznin Sultana, Gina Rattanakone, Sara McClanahan, Elham Doust-Haghighi, Padsala Devanshi, Martin Cho, Emily Banditrat. 

Start Date: March 8th, 2021 1:00 PM (CST/Dallas time) 
Due Date: March 10th, 2021 11:59 PM (CST/Dallas time) 

Collaborative Projects

Abstract Project

Facilitator: Sara Mcclanahan (Graduate Student)

Semester: Spring 2021

Description: A short multimedia abstract animation linked through sound using a square shape.

Guidelines/Instructions:

  • The lab participants will create a short abstract animation linked through sound. Sound clip provided for inspiration.
  • Do not animate to the beats, all audio will be removed and an overlapping audio will be applied.
  • MUST use a square shape in some way
  • Materials-Anything you want-Get Creative!
  • Size: 1280 x 720 (HD)
  • Format: mp4
  • Naming: LastNameFirstName_Abstract.mp4
  • Length: 5 seconds (120 frames) Less is fine More is better!
  • Frame rate: Up to you
  • Create the animation on your time

Facilitator’s Message: Thank you for participating in the Abstract Project this last week! I know 120 frames can seem like a daunting task at first but everyone went above and beyond with this and absolutely exceeded my expectations. I hope you enjoyed the final edit. I had a lot of fun working with the various mediums and design choices you all submitted. As I mentioned in the lab today, I spent a lot of time carefully choosing which animations should be paired and fade into one another as well as considering which beats should be hit in line with the sound. I am incredibly happy with the way y’all animated to these guidelines and were inspired by the music. I hope you all enjoyed this experiment, and if not please provide feedback during our meetings so we can improve our future projects!

Participants: Emily Banditrat, Martin Cho, Gina Rattanakone, Naznin Sultana, Elham Doust-Haghighi, Philip Martin, Zack Nguyen, Sara McClanahan, Jacob Reeder, Dr. Christine Veras.

Start Date: Feb. 22
Due Date: Feb. 28 by 5:00 pm (Dallas Time)