A little History of Motion Design

I googled "Motion Design".  The third link took me to this company's site. They built this animation based around the history of motion dating back to the 50's. It's pretty cool, but could have probably been more action packed if they are trying to sell their services today.  It's a good overall history though.

Motion Served Creates Promotional Identity Animation

Here is a little change from my norm. I found this promotional identity piece that I thought was intriguing. I like the simplicity of the lines used to depict the animation. It moves in 3D space in one particular part and it's nicely done. Probably a little too simple for my taste. It's very lightly colored in many areas and kind of difficult to see. Just looking at the screenshot below, you can see what I mean. What I did really like though is the use of the white background that seamlessly transitions into the background of the page where above the animation sits a jet airliner that appears to continue to fly "or hover" over the continuing animation. Check it out.

SXSW 2012 Wrap Up

We're working on our 4th and final project of the semester in Motion Design. For this project, we are going to create a film festival opening sequence for Ebertfest. This is going to be a lot of fun, but challenging to get footage and music again.

So, I found this in doing some research about film festival openers. I thought this one was very well done and appeals to me for what I want to strive to achieve.

Art Institute Promotional

This is a terrific promotional animation for The Art Institute. I found it via a Communication Arts Daily email that I get (literally daily). It does an excellent job of illustrating the skills that they are implanting in students.

Machete

I don't know that I will ever forget running across this movie on TV a few weeks ago. After seeing this title sequence, I was in it for the duration. I immediately sent my wife a text. She's a huge movie buff and can name all actors, who their children are, who they are married to or divorced from, etc...

So, I asked her "What movie has Steven Segal, Jessica Alba, Robert DeNiro, and Don Johnson in it?" Her reply - "There is no movie with that cast".  Lol. It gets better. Michelle Rodriguez, Lindsey Lohan, and Cheech Morin are also in it. Jeff Fahey is in it too and Danny Trejo is the lead in the movie.

 

So, when I see a Steven Segal movie, I know that I'm in for a kind of cheesy, corny, action flick. But, I was in the adventurous mood and kept going with it because I love all the other actors and the title sequence was bloody. It was actually a pretty good show with a solid plot and lots of action. I wasn't disappointed until the final 25 minutes or so when everything went cheesy.  However, it was definitely worth watching and I'm going to see it again when I can. Designer Kurt Volk at Troublemaker Studios is interviewed below video at the link. Great work Kurt and Troublemaker Studios on a fantastic rugged and gritty title sequence.

Game of Thrones Title Sequence

I was taken in by the series that debuted last year for its first season on HBO.  The show is set in medieval times with Kings Empire's clashing and the battle for the throne is always foremost on everyone's minds in the period. Family's keep their lineage true and pure while only allowing unions of their heirs that benefit the family's strength and power. The period has always fascinated me although, I am grateful to live in my time.

The title sequence takes you aerially over a terrain of the land created as an intentional model form. The model of the cities and land has a kind of classic technological feel to it with gears, spline, cylinders and the like. As you are transported from one continent to another and up the great white northern wall you are taken on a fantastic journey. Incidentally, the second season just opened last night. 

Animated Illustration - Book Promotion

I just received an email from my wife's family regarding another piece done by her uncle. The illustration was done (I'm certain) by hand and probably using watercolor.  Larry Day, my wife's Uncle has been doing this all his life and has amassed quite a portfolio of accomplishments. His son, Peter Day did the music score and I think it is perfect. He has been into music for as long as I have known him. It is really great to see them work together on a project. I am nearly certain that the director/motion graphics was using After Effects to assemble the work into this amazing example of what our project 3 should look like this semester.