We had to complete the main task and choose two of the Anicillary tasks; the two I have chosen were to create the front cover to a magazine for the series and a DVD cover for the series.
To start off, I researched and watched various children's TV programme's opening sequences, looking into and analyzing how they are made and if I could create something similar.
Saved by the Bell - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K4iTh1TL9g
Sonny with a Chance - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOKvPDeX4Sw
Sabrina the Teenage Witch - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL6pCdpNPNI
As the Bell Rings USA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIMAoVfLAxA
Kenan and Kel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSew6YIc4TU
Bear in the Big Blue House - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enwSyQo8d7k
Recess - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51hoVQdS9bA&feature=related
Arthur - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zkX6kfnWbk&feature=related
These are just a few examples of the opening that I'd look at and liked; they vary from real life people mixed in with animations to full-on cartoon openings. I looked at these to get an idea of the different openings of kids shows, from the 1990's to the 2000's and how different things can be created to make an effective and exciting show opening.
Other things I looked at aswell as the TV show openings were the E4 indents, which are the small adverts shown before television shows on the channel showing some small animation leading up to seeing the logo; some are made up of big animations and some are just as simple as lots of photographs merged into one to create a small video.
http://www.e4.com/video/t2ZyAV5277HHObzSZGnWGh/play.e4
http://www.e4.com/video/ruJHND4rf7rG4hTbt7Z37/play.e4
http://www.e4.com/video/3vzK5lTGrPztB7749GYJ6k/play.e4
http://www.e4.com/video/JyimDpRHZlrfaAPHhoNQAv/play.e4
http://www.e4.com/video/zpuz00BAt17SORhUqDAhKZ/play.e4
http://www.e4.com/video/Ew1F2qfPUhUccRqz3DEWsG/play.e4
http://www.e4.com/video/uBWq5jqnGcozCIsYG27al/play.e4
Deconstructing Videos
Out of all the opening sequences/idents I have researched and looked at, I have picked 3 from each which I like the best and think are most successful; I will deconstruct these explaining why I think they are successful and how I could use them in my own work and recreate them as a stop-motion video.
1) Sonny with a Chance
One of the first opening sequences I will be deconstructing is the one to the show Sonny with a Chance. I think this opening is very successful and exciting, and although I won't be able to produce something as flashy and advanced as this, I think it's good to look at for ideas and how I could set out my opening (timing, music, text, etc).
First of all, the layout and storyline of the opening sequence very much so links to the name of a show - it shows 'Sonny' getting a phone-call and then screaming, which leads on to her room merging into her being on an aeroplane to Hollywood, which connotes the idea of her 'big chance' of making it as a Hollywood star; I like how when she gets the phone-call and begins to pack her bags, you see the things in her room (e.g. beanbag, frames on the wall, books) all vanish, as if she's leaving this all behind, and this sort of thing could be achieved using stop-motion, it's research which is accesible to use.
Then, next along in the opening sequence is the picture of a map and lines showing Sonny's journey from her home to Hollywood; this could be accesible using stop-motion as it could be achieved using things such as Photoshop - adding a line to each picture and adding it to a sequence - or even something as simple as using pen and paper and adding that into a video. The next clip in the opening sequence storyline is Sonny walking through Hollywood and things like the palm tree's, the Hollywood sign, buildings and etc appearing behind her - this could also be achieved using stop motion as I could attempt to do something such as getting a person to stand infront of a white sheet and taking various snapshots of them 'looking around' their surroundings, and then using Photoshop, adding in all the things appearing around them, so it kind of looks like it does in the actual Sonny opening.
Other things that are included in this opening sequence are things such as a bus coming across the screen and covering the surroundings, so another character can enter in a limo; this could be achieved by me using a 'wiping' transition effect between clips on movie maker, so it could switch from different backgrounds and different characters being introduced. Another thing I found interesting was the clips of the two boys on the billboard; this could easily be achieved using stop motion as it wasn't very complicated, it was simply 3 pictures repeating themselves, and I could attempt to put them on the billboard like in the actual opening using Photoshop.
Some other things I noticed in the opening is that there are clips of Sonny's reactions as each character comes and introduces themselves, so I could do something like this, meshing together stop motion clips of the characters and video clips of Sonny's reaction as they join the sequence.
Finally, the last thing I noticed and liked about the sequence was how the name of the show was at the end, and it pushes Sonny out of the way; I think this could be quite achievable if I used stop motion and Photoshop to give the illusion of the title 'pushing' Sonny out the way, or if this is not quite successful, I could use another way of stop motion, or the letters of the title appearing in MovieMaker.
2) Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Another opening sequence I looked at was the one to Sabrina the Teenage Witch. I think this opening is successful as it is much simpler than the one to Sonny with a Chance, and making my own interpretation of the style of effects and things is much more accesible to make than the other opening.
The first thing I noticed was the use of music and sound effects in the background; it very much so links to the title and theme of the show - a teenage witch - especially the chime at the beginning sounds very mystical and witch-like, like casting a spell or something. Further along, a guitar theme comes in which connotes the idea of this teenage witch living a crazy life because she has to act as normal as possible infront of people. I like both of these pieces of music/sound effects as I feel they fit in very well with the scenario of the show; if I was to re-create this opening, I would do something quite similar (the witch chime noises and crazy music).
Another thing I liked about this opening sequence was the use of simple special effects - for example, when Sabrina is infront of the mirror, and every-time she does a different pose, she switches to a different outfit on herself and in the reflection. I think doing something not quite as complicated as this, but very similar could easily achieved using stop-motion and video on MovieMaker.
A few last things I noticed that I thought were successful were at the beginning - when Salem runs across infront of the mirror - and the use of text throughout which I believe could easily be achieved in the same effect on MovieMaker. I also think that, like at the beginning when Salem runs across in front of the mirror, this could easily be achieved using stop-motion - it could be done by the use of taking various pictures of drawings, or otherwise.
3) As the Bell Rings USA
The last opening sequence I will be deconstructing is to As the Bell Rings USA. I think this opening is successful as it is quite complicated effects-wise, but still done so it's quite short and simple; effects like these could easily be achieved, maybe not as well, but the I could take the idea of the simplistic element.
The first thing I noticed about this opening is the use of music and the backing track; it is quite a short tune but is extremely relevant to the name of the show (for example, it repeats the name of the show over and over, followed by some sounds of a bell ringing behind it). Also, I like how the song is short and simple, but it's still something that's so catchy, you'd always associate it and remember it with the show; this shows me that when making my own track, it doesn't necessarily have to be big and extravagant, the simpler things can sometimes be more effective.
Another thing I noticed was the use of effects; much like in the Sonny with a Chance opening, the characters are overlayed over an animated background, and as I've said previously, this sort of effect could be achieved using stop-motion images and photoshop layering.
One of the most interesting and unique things I recognized in this opening sequence is how the characters names appear on screen and the font they are in - they are like each character has written it and it explains a bit of their personality; effects like these could be achieved by me getting people to write their characters name down in a specific way which they thinks explains them, and I could add it to the stop motion frames using Photoshop. Also, when the name of the show comes up on the opening sequences right at the end, the backing track says the name of the show, and then the text splits apart and comes back together, to give a 'ringing' effect; this could also easily be created with Photoshop and stop-motion images.
1) E4 ident: Attack of the Peas
http://www.e4.com/video/t2ZyAV5277HHObzSZGnWGh/play.e4
Another thing I will be deconstructing is E4 idents; the mini-videos played inbetween parts of a television show, showing the channels name. The first one I am deconstructing is called Attack of the Peas which uses stop-motion clips showing peas 'attacking' a piece of bread and unveiling the logo.
The reason I think this ident is successful is because it is simple, but still looks effective and gives the right aim across that the company want to achieve. It starts off by a piece of bread lying on the table, with pieces of play-dough on it, making it seem as if it had a face; there are also two of the purple 'peas' standing opposite, and what looks like a crushed one infront of it. Then, the face on the bread changes to a shocked one as more 'peas' appear and come over to it and attack it - all gathering on top of the piece of bread and a munching noise played over the video. As the video progresses, you see pieces of bread flying off, giving the effect that the peas are eating it, and then they slowly come off of it to unravel the E4 logo, made out of the colours of the bread's 'face' and the peas.
I like this ident and think it is successful as it is done quite simply using stop-motion, and is very accesible; it could easily be achieved and made, but it still looks effective. I could look at this for reference when creating my own stop-motion piece as this is very creative and effective.
2) E4 ident: E-robatics Display
http://www.e4.com/video/Ew1F2qfPUhUccRqz3DEWsG/play.e4
The next ident I will be deconstructing is called E-robatics Display. I think this ident is successful as it is different to the others I have deconstructed, but still gets across the name of the project and the overall aim that these idents are trying to achieve. I also think that, although this ident may be a bit more advanced and harder for someone with the software like what I have, I think it could still be achieved using lots of precision and photographs, putting it into a stop-motion animation.
I could look at this ident, not to necessarily copy it, but to use for reference when creating the title of my television programme; for example, instead of trying the plane writing on the purple 'sky', I could try this thing using something as simple as pen and paper, slowly adding more to the word in each frame, unveiling the name of the show. On the other hand, I could also attempt the plane thing, but instead of animation, like I said before, creating it by using pen and paper and then editing each frame in photoshop to give the illusion of the plane in the sky.
Another thing I like about this ident is how the camera slowly zooms out and you see the logo of the TV channel appearing across the 'hill-side', and then the plane flies forward, into the camera and through the clouds, unveiling the logo.
Mood Boards
