Project Proposal!

Synopsis

My project is intended to create an amazing, engaging animation that will get the public involved in the International children’s book day. I will be working in animation and illustration. The prototype allows the viewer to experience the world and culture of the story both visually and by reading the story.

Project aim

I am creating an interactive animation that will promote International children’s book day. My project idea is that when you read the story, it comes to life visually. As you progress through the story the visuals change. It is a virtual reality experience that shows an animated world. When you start the children’s story, you’re looking at the opening sentence surrounded by a white background. As you read the story, the world slowly comes to life visually. There is a voice recognition and as you read the sentences, the corresponding images appear. The story is set in another country and you are reading, viewing and experiencing the story and culture from the first person.

Background

International children’s book day is about promoting international understanding through children’s books. Their goal is to give children everywhere the opportunity to have access to books. Storytelling is an important part of life. We learn from storytelling and we experience new cultures through stories. My interactive project would be a new form of storytelling. The reader can experience and gain an international understanding of a different culture through words and also visually.

Objectives

·       Research International children’s book day.

·       Research the storytelling and interactive storytelling.

·       Research virtual reality, voice recognition and 3D animation, illustration.

·       Research information about interactive animation and film.

Research is key in this project because it means I won’t stray from the theme and it will give me a better understanding of this day of observance.

·       Create a rough storyboard/Map of what the environment will look like

Having a map/storyboard gives me a rough idea of what the visuals will look like and how they will work together. Furthermore, what doesn’t work and how I can fix those issues if they arise.

·       Sketch assets. Additionally, source all video, audio, font files.

This will be the start of the production phase. I will create/source all the assets before going into After Effects.

·       Animate assets in After Effects. This will be the middle of the production phase and where I will create the prototype of the interactive animation.

·       Prototype testing to see if the interactive piece works and is suitable

·       Evaluation of project. See what areas need to be improved.

Timetable

Week 3: Project Proposal

Research.

Week 4: Presentation/ Final Project Proposal

Create rough storyboard/Map of different possible prototypes. Research interactive animation, website, games and film.

Week 5: Pre-production

Start creating assets and detailed illustrations of storyboard. Research prototypes. Continue researching International children’s book day.

Week 6: Pre-production

Create assets and illustrations. Continue research. Prepare for presentation and production stage.

Week 7: Assessment R&D review and presentation

Start animating assets for prototype one in After Effects and continue illustrating assets/storyboard.

Week 8:

Continue illustrating assets/storyboard. Continue research.

Week 9:

Start animating for prototype two in after effects. Continue research.

Week 10:

Develop prototype two in After Effects. Test prototype. Continue research. Prepare for presentation.

Week 11: Prototype review & presentation.

Review each prototype and make final decision for final prototype. Continue research. Start report.

Week 12:

Finish prototype- Final interactive animation. Finish report.

Week 13:

Final adjustments. Submit.

Week14: Final Presentation.

Big Ideas!

Ideas for International Children's Book Day
1. Borrow a book
Website with a list of children's books from around the world that you can borrow and read.
The delivery charges costs you money with an additional €2 which goes towards the organisation for donation to the cause.
When you finish the book you return it to the organisation.
On the interactive website, underneath details on that book, you will see a list of all the people in the world that borrowed and read that. You can see where that book has travelled to. There is a discussion section so you can talk to people around the world about that book.

2. Learn a new language
Interactive website that has a list of books that you can read online.
You can change the language of the story.
Simple interactive games during the story to help teach you basic words in another language of your choice.
You must complete the challenges to move forward in the story.

3A. Read out loud (New Technology idea one)
Interactive website that tells a story.
They are first person in the story and the visuals are animated. It's almost like a video game
The sentences are at the bottom of the page. The child uses a microphone and reads the words out loud into the microphone. The website picks up the words (like Siri) and when the child is reading the sentence, it will change color. If a child gets stuck on a word they can either spell it out or click on the help button. The child will then be told the word with the correct pronunciation. If the child pronounces a word incorrect the helper will correct the child and the child will have to repeat the word until they get it correct. It's almost like a video game except that your voice controls the movement of the story.
3B. Read out loud (New Technology idea two)
Interactive virtual reality that tells a story.
It is similar to the idea above expect that instead of it being an interactive website, it is an interactive virtual reality. The visuals are animated and the characters move around the first person. The words/sentences will appear around the first person. The child uses their voice to control the journey of the characters and story. When they read the sentence the words will change color and disappear. The next sentence will appear then. You can set the language of the story to any language that's on the list. If a child gets stuck on a word they can either spell it out or click on the help button. The child will then be told the word with the correct pronunciation. If the child pronounces a word incorrect the helper will correct the child and the child will have to repeat the word until they get it correct.
Idea for International Animation Day
1. You are the animator
Website that's an interactive animation/story
The story is fixed but you design the main characters and the props that are required during the story. Story moves forward once you finished drawing and clicked submit. Once you click submit then your character and props will be animated and interact together.

Idea for International Museum Day
1. Explore a museum at home
Interactive website that's of the inside of a museum. Google map street view kind of style with 360 camera. You can rotate, look around the museum. You can click on the arrows to move forward to the next area. On each of the exhibits there's a star and when you click on them you get to here the audio tour about that piece with a video showcases that piece from different angles( if it's 3D. Just an image then if its a painting or 2D image).

Idea for World Ocean day
1. Explore the ocean
Interactive website/animation/film/game of a beach and sea. You can explore the animated world of the sea/ocean by clicking on the arrows. There will be animated creatures trapped by plastic and the challenge of the game is to save them from it. When you have saved them from the plastic, a video will appear about them and how plastic affects them and their environment. The purpose of this interactive website is to create awareness about World Ocean Day and the damage plastic is doing to this environment and species that live in it.

Research

Animation day

http://www.asifa.net/what-we-do/iad/

“ASIFA was established in 1960 as a non-profit corporation devoted to cultivating and promoting the art, craft and profession of Animation.”

“ASIFA role is both to enhance and reach the public’s curiosity”

International children’s book day

http://www.ibby.org/about/what-is-ibby/?L=0
http://www.twinkl.ie/event/international-childrens--book-day-2018

•    “To promote international understanding through children's books

•    To give children everywhere the opportunity to have access to books with high literary and artistic standards

•  To encourage the publication and distribution of quality children's books, especially in developing countries

To provide support and training for those involved with children and children's literature

•    To protect and uphold the Rights of the Child according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child”

International Dance Day

https://www.international-dance-day.org/internationaldanceday.html

https://www.international-dance-day.org/videoarchive.html

“The intention of the International Dance Day Message is to celebrate dance, revel in the universality of this art form, cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers, and bring people together with a common language - dance.”

“To share the joy of dance with others.”

International Museum Day

http://network.icom.museum/international-museum-day

"The objective of International Museum Day is to raise awareness of the fact that, “Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples."

World Water Day
http://www.worldwaterday.org/theme/
"Instead of wasting wastewater, we need to reduce and reuse it"

World Oceans day
http://www.worldoceansday.org/plastic-pollution-resources

"TAKE ACTION AGAINST PLASTIC POLLUTION"