Flash Jump Animation

This animated gif was made using Flash. We manipulated the assets provided in frames, by keyframing. 

Onion skin is a useful tool that allows you to see through objects and symbols like the layers of an onion.

Budget research

My Animation in Current Trends

I feel as though Trace would fit in well to the current marketplace. It has the necessary ingredients to make a cult classic animation short. The intended high budget CGI animation allows for infinite possibilities when it comes to visual effects, and with some darker themes and dystopian atmosphere i believe it could give animation a foothold in the young adult market. (Somewhere that animation isn't so prevalent.)

Trace would deliver with some of the edgiest trends, especially parkour. Parkour is very much in it's infancy, and has sky rocketed in popularity due to it's seemingly 'dangerous' image. In the animation i would highlight Parkour as a beneficial pursuit with positive effects for the protagonist, and avoid as much as possible the exacerbation of any negative misconceptions

With the internet playing an increasingly large role in the digestion of media i think a platform like Vimeo or Youtube is where this animation belongs. It would provide quick and easy access to the piece, as well as the ability to share and distribute it through the likes of social media, where it would be bound to build an audience.

Trace - Target Audience

Name: James

Age: 18

Average Day: James begins his day with his commute to college via train. After doing his lessons for the day he heads to the local climbing wall to train. When he gets home he eats and showers before completing homework and gaming. He listens to music at intervals throughout the day.

Hobbies and Interests: James has been practising the increasingly popular discipline of parkour for around a year now after hearing about it in college. He naturally warms to it due to his climbing background. In his spare time he also plays piano.

Spending Power: James has a part time job at a local sports centre, he doesn't earn much, but what he does earn is entirely expendable as he lives with his parents.

Typical Daily Media Consumption: In a typical day James will listen to around half an hour of music, particularly during travel. He will also game through Steam for about an hour. In college he may also read a magazine during lunch. At home James will catch up with his social media, and read news articles online.

Trace will appeal to James because he shares an interest in the themes of parkour and climbing. He will enjoy the style of animation because it includes themes from popular games that he plays.

Trace - Legal and Ethical Issues

Representation and Ethics in Cartoons

The writer of the article has spotted some things which he deems to be problematic with Rio 2.
He notices that the lead characters are voiced by white american people, and that characters who are indigenous to the setting of Brazil are voiced by Latin actors / actresses. In addition the "singing dancing, comic relief sidekicks" are mainly voiced by african-americans like Jamie Foxx and will.i.am.

With regard to stereotypes in animation, PEP means 'Problem context', 'Entertainment context' and 'Performance context'. Dr Charles Da Costa is a british lecturer who uses these in his lectures.
He says that within animation, black people typically "strive to pacify, make others happy and be exceptional or extraordinary." He goes on to state that "Villainy, exoticism, jocularity and athleticism are common indicators of this malaise".

Da Costa believes that one of the reasons we end up with stereotypes in animation might be because "Decisions on character and performance must be made quickly in order for design and production processes to commence and advance." He goes on to mention that "representations of ethnicity and epidermal type, family animation often finds itself in a bind.

Trace - Budget