TITLE: Object Abomination
STATUS/DATE:2006
GENRE:Claymation
APPROX LENGTH: 5 min
LOCATION: Produced and Filmed in Columbia South Carolina

WHAT IS:
Claymation showcasing movement, and the positive effects the right Foley can have on a piece. The Title is a play on words: instead of "Object Animation" it was "object abomination".

PRODUCTION:
This was created to fulfill an assignment while I was studying animation at USC. The genesis was as simple as walking through a local store on the right day and finding a common child's toy called Bionicles in a discount bin (such as the way that many of my ideas start-discount bin) I bought several different kits and assembled the miscellaneous pieces to form a slightly cartoony plastic skeletal system (armature). They worked well because they were able to be put together and altered to need. They didn't work well in one respect because the clay at times was too heavy for the armature moving it between shots. The clay had to be shaved off a little more than I would have liked exposing the armature.

The idea for the project before this one got scrapped. It was a variation of the old elevator gag (story board and full story here) where each time the door opened there would be something juxtaposed on the other side;  ie a beach, dinosaurs.. or some other type of humorously  interactive environment. When I presented the pitch before the class the professor drilled me so bad I began to doubt myself, but in retrospect I believe the one I had storyboarded first would have been much better than this one by far.

The footage was shot with a run of the mill high resolution digital camera in a forward sequence then composited in Adobe After Affects.  the soundtrack was "Jerry was a Racecar Driver" by Primus. It was ok to use the track for purposes of the assignment, but I eagerly await someone to step forward to create another soundtrack that I may use commercially when I release this in an Easter egg on a DVD in the near future. Like I said I only used it for the purpose of the assignment, but Primus through the years has always been a source of inspiration for much of my art and animations. It fit really well.

I used a multitude of  foley effects, which intensified the reactions of the character, and added a dimension that without, would have fallen flat. Never underestimate what some good music and well timed sound effects can add to an animation or short.