Motion Graphics.

The Design for digital lecture with Rob Tovey (a researcher at the cambridge school of art) in my opinion was the most interesting and inspiring lecture yet. He put motion graphics into simple terms and presented a wide range of different motion graphics, good and bad. Motion graphics is simply graphic design that moves, They typically feature sound because sound anchors the meaning.Their are two different types of motiongraphics, Animation and film. But what is the difference? Animation is manugraphic meaning they are open to the viewers interpretation of something and film is photographic meaning it is what you see. However sound anchors their meaning, showing you how they are meant to be understood.

Coleridge: the suspension of disbelief

Definition

the suspension of disbelief is an effect where by an audience accepts what happens within a narrative unquestioningly, despite the implausibility of the narrative

or the limitations of the medium.

Motion Graphics use different framing modes, one being diegetic mode and the other mimetic mode.

Diegetic mode - The audience is told whats going on normally by an authorial voice.

Mimetic mode - The audience is shown whats going on therefore they are invited to suspend disbelief.

Although the majority of motion graphics have diegetic content there are some out there with mimetic content however, very few. We see more and more motion graphics around today than ever as it is used not just in film credit and titles etc. but TV idents too

which are becoming more popular because they reinforce the brand association and remind the viewer what channel there watching. In my opinion Channel 4, More 4 and BBC have the most interesting Idents.

In my opinion Channel 4 and More 4 have used a little bit of diegetic and mimetic as you are shown what is going on however they are inviting the audience to suspend disbelief as it is almost like a collage of photographs together, you are told by an authorial voice what you are about to watch but not what is happening in the motion graphics.

Our brief from Rob was to create an American educations sho

w for children that is based around a character called Brainiac Jack. The show would teach children about different historical facts by using Brainiac Jack as a super hero that encounters a variety of historical times and figures. My interpretation of Brainiac Jack is that he is an alien landing from outer space, landing in different historical times and learning about them on his journey. I chose to use an alien like figure because in my opinion it is something children are familiar with and is a friendly figure. It also adds humour because it is completely unbelievable and is completely mimetic.

I created a short storyboard which I found to be quite hard to get across what was happening in the scenes and can now fully appreciate the amount of work that goes into creating short motion graphics.