Animated Text 2

Animated Text 1 from AMG Blog - MMalone on Vimeo.

Found a tutorial which achieves the effect i was looking for using the liquify tool. The text layer is duplicated a number of times over the composition, with every other text layer have the liquify tool applied to it. Using this method certain areas of the text can be changed in order to create the hand drawn sketch movement seen above

This is a very basic version of this effect and is looped over time based on a short period of animation. Further development can include create a longer basis from which to loop from, providing more varied detail in the final video

Animated Text

Animated Text 2 from AMG Blog - MMalone on Vimeo.

A test video to try and achieve the so called movement and wobble that occurs with hand drawn animated text. A wiggle was applied to an adjustment layer, which the text was parented to. However the adjsutment layer moves the entire text, rather than sections of each letter. Therefore a method is needed that can alter the shape of each letter over time

Sweet Landscape Environment 2 - Sketched Imagination

Potential ideas for development incorporating Lolly graphic and designs for trees, that will make up a small wooded area within the scene.

Sweet Landscape Environment - Sketched Imagination

Basic sweet landscape environment. Further graphics needed to be added including forest graphics, birds and sketched character.


Appearance of sweet production credits does not follow with the cartoon visual theme of the rest of the environment. One of the main reasons may be the font which seems too bold within the scene. It also needs to be made clearer that these are sweets rather than coloured circles. Further sweet graphics needs to be included such as candy canes and chocolate bars

Sweet Landscape Environment - Sketched Imagination

Basic outline of the sweet landscape scene. Further detail needs to be added in order to make the scene more visually effective such as a small forest and a variety of sweet graphics, currently being produced.

Animation will be added to the cookie sun, such as rotation, as well as sun rays rotating across the sky. In the initial storyboard the character is flown across this setting by a large flock of birds. The scale of the scene will need to be edited in order to fully accomodate all graphics.

Sweet Graphic - Sketched Imagination

Based on M&M's, the graphic will be used in order to provide the audience with production credits within the sweet landscape environment. This is a tester graphic and may not appear in the final title sequence as blending this particular graphic into a cartoon environment may be difficult.

May be issues with copyright with the use of certain fonts appearing on the sweets.

Sweet Landscape Graphics - Lolly

Basic Lolly vector graphic to be incorporated within the sweet landscape scene. Created within Illustrator to be used as 'flowers' within a sweet landscape.  The environment that this graphic will appear in is key in helping to express the imaginative qualities of the young child that features within the film, consisting of a forest and environment made of sweets and chocolate.

Space Scene - Sketched Imagination

Space scene to be used within the title sequence. Further development will include adding the female sketched character, shooting stars and incorporating the production credits as star constellations.

Moon Graphic - Sketched Imagaination

Moon graphic created within Adobe Illustrator complete with detailed craters.  A gradient mesh was used in order to create the shading beneath each crater, adding a cartoon effect to the graphic. This graphic will also be used within the space scene.

Further development of the graphic will include adding personification, playing upon the idea of 'the man in the moon', leading to possible interaction between the graphic and sketched character.

Planet Earth Graphic - Sketched Imagination

Graphic created within illustrator to be featured within the 'space' scene in the title sequence. 
The graphic itself will be dynamic within the particular scene with a moving lighthouse, boat and clouds. The individual elements featured on the planet also emphasize the key scenes within the title sequence. (see above for space scene environment)


The unrealistic element of the graphic planet also provides the audience with a sense of the imaginative qualities of the title sequence

Swinging movement within After Effects

Cardboard Swinging Stars from AMG Blog - MMalone on Vimeo.


A short animation playing with the idea of realistic swing movement and understanding the physics that are behind realistic movement.

The movement itself is created by an expression which links a number of custom created effect sliders. Each slider is able to change a basic parameter such as swing speed, amplitude and time decay.  The role of each slider is assigned by the expression used within the rotation parameters of the swinging chain.

In order for each of use the chain is a single graphic, duplicated, with a single position expression applied to each. This makes sure that each chain segment is the same distance away from the previous

This particular scene could be developed by having each star drop down from the top of the composition and recoil, due to weight.

Cardboard Graphics

An example of graphics created using the cardboard texture. This could potentially be used within the 'space' scene, revealing itself within a Punch and Judy stage (helping promote childhood connotations) before the stars and planets swing into view (Further research and testing into realistic rope movement is needed)

The main content of the graphic follows the hand drawn theme. A variety of blending modes were used in order to allow the cardboard texture to still be seen through the colour of the graphic. Ripped edges were also used to add a sense of realism.

3D was also tested using the offsetting method mentioned below.

Cardboard Texture

Cardboard texture created within Photoshop, which would form the basis of any images drawn upon it.  I created a texture, rather than using a stock image as I have more control over the appearance, tone and detail within the cardboard. All of these features can be adjusted accordingly.

Cardboard Setting

Potential to alter the material used within the title sequence.  Rather than just base all of the animations and graphics on paper sketches the incorporation of cardboard may make the sequence more visually dynamic and appealing.

This particular idea is based on the imaginative qualities that younger children use when playing with the conventional cardboard box. A child can imagine the box being a spaceship or racing car. Therefore the connotations and imaginative qualities could be expressed through the use of sketches on cardboard.

Final Character Design

Final sketch of hand drawn character that will feature within the title sequence. Moving on from the initial design the strokes used are more jagged and rough in order to convey the hand drawn feel.

Basic colour has been used in order to make the character more visually appealing

Note - may include 'scribbled' colouring, giving the impression that the character has been roughly coloured by a child.

Basic animation will be used - simple walk cycles created within After Effects. The use of a stick figure will add this process as joints are created by layering the legs.

Title Sequence Character Sketches

Three hand drawn sketches exploring the appearance of the main character of the title sequence. The hand drawn sketch is a representation of the human character that features within the main body of the film. Therefore the sketched version needs to reflect the qualities and characteristics of the human counterpart. This is achieved through basic hand drawn stick figures in order to give the impression that the images have been drawn by the young girl herself.

The sketched character plays a key role in the title sequence, as the sequence itself is seen as a journey into the young girl's imagination. Therefore the presence of the character adds visual support to the key theme behind the sequence.