Creature Comforts was produced in 1989 but the final episode came out in 2007, it was created by Nick Park. Creature comforts used the stop motion technique of claymation.
The idea of creature comforts was to combine real life interviews from the public with animal characters for entertainment. To create creature comforts they would ask the public about every day issues or conversations question within interviews, for example the weather. Next they would play back the sound track they got and the which animal or character would go well with the voice. Also, to add realism to the character they would record real life movement while saying the words. This would mean the character would have a human elements to them to add to the comedy for example reactions or certain movements. If they did this without having characters it would not catch our attention as much.
There are over 150 characters, with a lot of different expressions. They create different expressions so they can create the realism of the characters talking. The creators of creature comforts also use the principle of stop and stretch.
Each set has a different scale but it depends on the shots they would like to take but also the lighting to create a certain mood.
My favourite sketch of creature comforts is the hamster. Because it over exaggerates how the character is feeling through it surrounding and the character itself which makes it funny to watch. Also, the voice goes well with the characters as it gives the impressions that he is bored of living in a cage and what he has to deal with.
As a part of my primary research, I performed a focus group to gain more information from my target audience. The questions are I asked were what did you like about the advert? If you directed the advert what would you no like about the advert? Did the chocolate symbolise chocolate? Do all their adverts symbolise chocolate? Why is it memorable? If i was to use pixilation in my advert do you think it will be effective? The advert I showed was the cadbury dairy milk marvellous creations.
As a part of my Unit 33 Stop Animation work, I need to deigns a stop motion advert for a brand so I have chosen to do Cadbury Chocolate more more specifically 'Marvellous Cadbury Creations'. Do make sure that the advert is right for the product I have created a questionnaire, and I would be very grateful if you would take a few minutes of your time to do.
The Brothers Quay and Aardman are some of the best animators today.
The Brothers Quay:
On June 17 1947, a pair of american identical twins were born in Pennsylvania, they were Stephen and Timothy Quay. Who are one of the most unique and original film makers today.
Both Quay brothers went to Art school at the university of Arts in Philadelphia and then went to the UK in the late 1960's to Royal College of Art in London where they set up their studio. While in Philadelphia they learnt about films and were introduced to a number of European movies which had a big influence on their movies episcally Jan Svankmajer and Walerian Borowczyk. Quay brothers created a number of short films in the UK including animations but their short films do not exist as the print was damaged.
There best known work is the 'Street of Crocodiles'. Which was their classic film which was released in 1986. There work is recognisable for their outstanding detail, the command of colour and texture, camera movement and the use of focus. Many critics would call their work surreal (meaning more a fantasy than it being real) as they would animate objects coming to life which would create a dark, moody atmosphere. This then lead on to them on winning an award for outstanding set design, due to them being experts of miniaturisation.
Source: Youtube; uploaded by Brighton cinecity; Nov 12 2008; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNOfsJz4TjA
Other films which the Brothers Quay have done are..The PianoTuner of Earthquakes (2005), In Absentia (2000), Stille Nacht 1 (1988) and Duet (2000)
Source: Youtube; uploaded by AmiraCasar; Oct 29 2008
Aardman:
Aardman was created by two men their names were Peter Lord and David Sproxton, they began animating at school and then they registered the name of Aardman creation in 1972.
They then created the animated character of Morph which was for a children program called 'Take Hart' which they created after they graduated in 1976. They also created Conversation pieces which were televised in 1982.
A new member of the crew joined them in 1985 his name was Nick Park, who they meet at Nation film and television school.
In 1986 they collaborated with director Stephen Johnson and the Brothers Quay to create a rock video which was called Sledgehammer which won many awards. Furthermore they also won the academy award for best short animated film with Lip Synch in 1990.
The awards became flying in afterward as they as they won an oscar for the "The wrong trousers" which then became one of the most successful animated films ever winning over 30 awards in 1993. They also won an oscar with the film ' A close shave' in 1995 and a BAFTA for stage fright.
In June 2000 Chicken run was released which was the first full length theatrical feature film, this was funded by DreamWorks. It was grossed in the box-office for over $220M worldwide.
Source: Youtube; uploaded by Chellon88, Feb 3 2009
Wallace and Gromit was next to be created in 2002, which was a series of 10 x 1 minute films, which was later shown on BBC 1. Leading on from the success of the 1 minute films they didn't to create their first feature film of Wallace and Gromit 'The curse of the were-rabbit' in 2005. Which lead on to winning an Academy award and a BAFTA for best British film, it was top of the charts in both the US and USA.
Flushed away came next in November 2006 which was the studio's first CG film. Then came along Shaun the Sheep in 2007, a children loved program about a sheep which got up to tricks when the farmer wasn't looking which still carries on to today.
Tim Burton is one of most known directors in the world.
Source: Beneath Magenta Skies; blog; 29 Oct 13; http://www.beneathmagentaskies.com/2010/10/halloween-soon-tim-burton-rocks.html
Timothy William Burton was born in California on the 25 of August 1958. Since a young age he has had a interest in paintings, drawings and movies especially monster movies. Vincent Price was one of his heros, who later on he got to work with and they became great friends until Price died, and furthermore loved the work of Ray Harryhausen.
Vincent Price
Source: Pulp Sushi; 11 May 11; http://www.pulpsushi.com/2011/05/inspire-me-vincent-price.html
California Institute of arts is where Burton studied. Where he joined Disney in his second year and then he was brought in to Disney animation ranks in 1979. However Burton didn't like being an animation due to it taking a long time to create meaning he got bored. Even though he was brought in to help with the film 'Fox and the hound' ( one of my favourite films so add it to your movie list if you haven't seen it).
Source: Youtube; DisneyMovies; April 28 2011; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LaljvQAg8I
Disney realised that they were not using Burton talent wisely so he became a person who design characters for films; The Black Cauldron. Burton was let lose and created poems and artwork which created his own film called 'The nightmare before christmas' (another great film) also, a short animated film called Vincent and a live action shot called Frankenweenie. Frankenweenie was the film that got him his first feature directing job and he created 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure', 3 years later he created a screenplay called Beetle Juice.
Which led him on to creating Batman, which is known today as one of the most influential hollywood movies and with a office gross of over $250 million. This film then led on to creating the film which made everyone take him work seriously. The famous film of Edward Scissorhand which was the first film he had complete control over. This film, led Burton to create many more amazing films such as Batmans Returns, Ed wood which won him 2 oscars, Sleepy Hollow his first proper horror film, Planet of the apes, mars attacks!, Big fish and Charlie and the chocolate factory.
Source: Youtube; uploaded by scarlettgirl64; Sept 29 2009; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyB4s9eox2o
Burton then returned to doing stop motion animation by creating the film Corpse Bride which realised in 2005 which was nominated for an oscar. Also, produced the animated feature 9 and then directed the children classic of Alice in Wonderland which both incorporated animation and human characters. His latest film is Frankenweenie which was realised in 2012.
Youtube: CieonClips; May 8 2012; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2luLW-9ySw
If I had to pick my favourite film of Tim Burton's I think it would have to be Alice in Wonderful because it gives the fancy a realistic feel to it, as by the end of it I feel the characters are actual humans compared the animated character they are. Also, the way it has been directed and filmed from different view points from Alice makes the plot really clear to understand even though there are parts you wish you could skip ahead to as you want to know more.
Source: Youtube; uploaded by Walt Disney Studios UK; Dec 15 2009; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9POCgSRVvf0
