Role:
Creative Concept, Direction & Motion
Year:
2024
Duration:
2 Weeks
Overview
A self-initiated, directed project where I organised an open call for motion designers and animators of all levels based in Berlin to collaborate on a one-minute animation.
This collaborative film was inspired by the analogue Exquisite Corpse game, and created remotely in just 15 days by 13 artists of all levels who had never met before. It was an incredible experience where a few simple rules were set, but beyond that, each artist had the freedom to bring their own unique style and ideas to life.
Credits
0. 00:00 - 00:05 TITLE DESIGN - Micha Kablitz - @micha_kablitz
1. 00:05 - 00:10 OPEN EYES - Katia Boarino - @kattervile
2. 00:10 - 00:15 TRAWLER TRASH - Jenny Lewis - @jennylewisanimation
3. 00:15 - 00:20 BIRD - Leonardo Martinez - @lio92_
4. 00:20 - 00:25 MORNING DEW - Christina Walther - @irrsinne
5. 00:25 - 00:30 NATURE'S KEEPER- Mireia Aixelà Bohigas - @meetmireia
6. 00:30 - 00:35 ZENIT- Luca Büttner - @luca_buettner
7. 00:35 - 00:40 ENCOUNTERS - Debora Fernandez - @_debiaje
8. 00:40 - 00:45 DUNES OF DREAMS - Marco Klein Nijenhuis - @marbelsi
9. 00:45 - 00:50 GROW TO BLOOM - Sebastian Aaron Paul - @s3bast1an._.creats
10. 00:50 - 00:55 RODENT QUEEN - Doga Uslu - @doga_v.a
11. 00:55 - 00:60 LIZARD'S LEAP - Kudzai Chizema - @Biggieengine
12. 01:00 - 01:26 FLOW & CREDITS - Micha Kablitz - @micha_kablitz
DIRECTION - Mireia Aixelà Bohigas - @meetmireia
MUSIC COMPOSER - @music4evrythin
Challenge
Commitment & Continuity:
On the one hand, commitment from all participants was essential for the project, since the core of it relied on seamlessly interwoven animations created simultaneously. On the other hand, achieving continuity presented a challenge due to two factors: the transitions between animations and the diversity of styles. Although the variety of creative perspectives was intentional, the aim was to create a cohesive final piece.
Approach
My direction approach was based on creating a clear framework and timeline.
Music First:
A composer started by creating a song inspired by the theme of nature. Each of the 12 participants was then given a five-seconds music segment. They were encouraged to create freely in their own style.Colour Chain:
Three colours per segment and one colour swap per animation. Shades and tints were permitted.First Frame Submission
Transitions: The 4+1 Seconds Rule.
After submitting their first frame, each participant had one week to create a four-second animation and a one-second transition to the next segment. Until that initial submission, participants were asked to keep an open mind, as they wouldn’t know how their animation would end until later.
The best part? None of us knew what the final animation would look like until it all came together. It was inspiring to see the different approaches to the same brief and how each person's work flowed into the next.
My Contribution
In addition to directing the collaborative animation 'Exquisite Corpse: A Path Through Nature, I also created a five-second segment as one of the participants.
The concept was inspired by the immeasurable value of nature and the need to conserve it. The symbolism was influenced by Indian culture, in which the tiger represents power and courage, but is also seen as the guardian of ecological balance.
When creating the first frame of the animation which had to be delivered first, there was no way to know how the animation was going to end, since it would depend on the next participant's first frame. The approach was to remain open-minded and identify an element that could serve as a "portal" between the two frames, creating a seamless transition. The tiger's open mouth during its roar proved to be the ideal choice. Once the next frame was revealed, it was a pleasant surprise to discover that a snake appeared in the following animation. From there, the transition was developed in reverse: the snake's form was gradually deconstructed so that, when played forward, it would appear to grow organically into the next sequence.
