SONDER
Animation,
Motion Design,
Video Editing
MA Animation
University of the Arts London
Year: 2021
INITIAL
CONCEPT
"Sonder" is an animated project that aims to foster understanding and empathy towards the intricate tapestry of life that surrounds us. Set against the vibrant backdrop of London, I joined a team of animators to embark on creating an immersive experience that is both uplifting and contemplative, shedding light on the significance of sondering and its potential to combat societal apathy.
In our quest to bring this concept to life, we decided to employ the interesting technique of lenticular animation. This method, which encourages viewer engagement by allowing them to walk past the exhibits and witness the animation in motion, perfectly aligns with the essence of sondering, therefore creating an immersive and interactive encounter for our audience.
Initial Development Stages:
At the outset of our project, our primary challenge revolved around determining the optimal scale to bring our vision to life. We sought to create an immersive experience by suspending our lenticular prints, as opposed to conventional display methods. However, this required for us to identify a location that would accommodate the installation of fishing wires from the ceiling. Presented above is the initial draft of our conceptual framework of our initial idea. (Draft above illustrated by Lucia Bencini)
Character Design
Each animator on our team conceptualised and designed a unique character each to represent an individual on the bustling streets of London.
We made a deliberate decision to showcase each character in our own distinct artistic style, aiming for authenticity. To ensure a seamless transition of the on-screen animation into dual lenticular frames, we opted to animate the characters at a frame rate of 2 and 3fps.
We began experimenting with 3D and manual techniques of lenticular animation. Though both methods held their own appeal, we opted for the latter for its scale and portability.
Following our character designs, we purposely chose an outdoor setting for our installation as we believed it would encourage viewers to engage with the concept of sonder in their everyday surroundings. By immersing them in the streets of London, we aimed to evoke a deeper sense of connection and understanding between them and strangers on the streets.
The positive response from our audience has motivated us to hopefully seek sponsorship for further development of this pitch. We envision incorporating 3D Lenticular technology to hopefully enhance the animation's fluidity and depth, while also integrating the sounds of passersby as a reflection of their thoughts using directional speakers.