Aesthetic Experimentation

In our previous workshop we were advised to try to recreate a piece of work we found inspiring. I chose to recreate Somewhere Down the Line because I'm really fond of the colour scheme, and I think it uses just the right amount of detail, that isn't overly complicated.

To start my process, I used a shot from the film and analysed each parts that moved. I found this really useful, because it made more aware of all the little things that go into making an effective animation.

I traced the image, using different layers which I'd outlined in the diagram. The drawings themselves weren't too complex, allowing me to emulate the style quite easily.

I used the eyedropper tool to select the colours used. I noticed that a lot of the colours in the scene were very similar to each other. This has inspired me to use more harmonious colours within my own work. Also, since I was using mainly flat design, I could colour the majority of the image in Illustrator, rather than using Photoshop.

I did use photoshop to add further small details to the image. This stage also made me realise how much effort goes into making a visually pleasing image. But again, this process proved that it isn't too difficult to do, if I just set my mind to it.

Finally I used After Effects to add movement to the shot. I moved the three background layers at different speeds to create a realistic parallax effect. I also made the woman appear as if she was breathing. Again these actions weren't too complicated to recreate, I just normally wouldn't think about putting all those components together. 

The video above shows the final outcome. Although I chose a very simple scene from Reynard's film, the process of recreating it was very useful. I feel inspired to create more work in a similar way.

I think experimented with using the adjustment layers in After Effects to change the colours. Above I tried using the tonal adjustment and black and white.

To make the image closer to my own personal style, I think I would have preferred to use warmer hues.