JAZZ LIP-SYNC ASSIGNMENT: AN INTRODUCTION TO ANIMATING LIP-SYNC

Scat Blues: https://vimeo.com/268260595

Inspired by Norman McLaren's drawn on film leader collaboration with jazz great Oscar Peterson, "Be Gone Dull Care".

“Scat Blues” with Sarah Vaughan ‘69. Soundtrack licensed courtesy of LRC LTD. Stephan Leeper/Central Michigan University 2018

 

This project was done by the students in my Introduction to Animation class as a fun way for new animators to learn the grueling process of lip-sync animation. The backgrounds are done by swapping various pages of scrapbooking patterns.

 

 

1. AUDIO BREAKDOWN/DESIGN PHONEMES

Oral Hygiene: https://vimeo.com/268260595

 

Design Phonemes: Take some time to research animated character designs. Then based on one of the three mouth sets provided, design your phonemes and and construct a full set that you feel compliments the assigned audio clip.

Breakdown Audio: Following the Dragonframe Lip-Sync Tutorial, import the psd file for your chosen mouth set, break down the voice track and assign phonemes accordingly. Playback the audio with assigned phonemes and if you like what you see export a movie to Playblast.

Movie Name: simpsonB_JazzPlayblast.mp4

 

2. TEST BACKGROUND PATTERNS

Be Gone Dull Care: https://vimeo.com/268260595

 

Test Animated Background Patterns: Test background animation by swapping various patterns under the camera in Dragonframe. You should animate about 240 frames (about 10 seconds @24fps) exhibiting a variety of experimentation. Export movie 16:9 MP4 @24fps from Dragonframe.

• Experiment with timing. Swap out patterned sheets in 1's, 2's and 3's @ 24fps. Play them back at different speeds and note how different speeds create different kinetic sensations on the screen.
• Try controlling the intensity of animation by juxtaposing patterns that contrast compared to patterns that are similar. What happens when you keep the color and shapes the same while changing the scale and orientation from frame to frame? Or preserve the scale and orientation while changing color and shape?
• Notice how vertical patterns speed up the animated image while horizontal patterns cause it to stutter and slow down.

Background Test Specs:

• 10 Seconds of pattern test with multiple variations
• Include audio in export
• 4:3 1440 x 1080 @ 24fps

Movie Name: simpsonB_PatternTest.mp4

 

 

3. FINISH PHONEMES/FINAL ANIMATION

Final Animation: Final animation should be done by swapping background patterns in a rhythm informed by the previous testing in step 2 while simultaneously replacing phonemes following the frame-by-frame breakdown as exported to your Dragonframe Checksheet. Beside swapping phonemes, your mouth should also translate up, down and from side to side in ways that compliment the music you are animating too.

Final Shoot:

• Swap patterns to animate background.
• Replace phonemes as indicated in DF Checksheet.
• Animate Mouth shapes up, down and from side to side to accentuate performance.
• Export MP4 4:3 1440 x 1080 @ 24fps

Movie Name: simpsonB_JazzLipSyncFinal.mp4

 

Tutorials and Resources:

Dragonframe Lip-Sync Tutorial.pdf

Lip-sync Charts and Face Set.zip

Stephan Leeper/Central Michigan University 2018