Within the history of animation production, there is a continuing
growth and development of methodology that is as turbulent
today as it has been since the birth of this creative art form.
Past methods used in Animation production are quickly
forgotten as new,
adapted variants take hold, adding efficiency and higher profit
in an industrial setting. But what of those lost methods? Was
their only potential for efficiency? For the last two years, Melvyn
Ternan has brought back 'Shooting Blind', the only method that
his L4 students are allowed to use for the first 6 weeks of their
learning in Stop Motion Animation. 'Shooting Blind' does not
permit the animator any reference of how much they have
moved a puppet when animating, compared to todays 'Onion
skinning' method
where animators can see precisely how much they have
moved the puppet. Shooting blind is deemed impossible,
difficult, unwieldily and defunct. But what of it's pedagogical
properties? The focus required to use such a method, where all
physical tools fall away
only to be replaced by a rampant focus of the mind to fully
portray the illusion of movement? Let alone the ignorance set
around even the existence of the shooting blind method, it's
difficulty is greatly misconceived and its benefits, within
Animation development
seem crucial at least as used in this L4 module. if not a method
to be used in industry, then a method to properly illuminate the
actual benefit of onion skinning for animation students. This
presentation will contain a live demonstration of both methods,
for the audience to understand and comments from students
on the Animation course who have spent 6 weeks shooting
blind and the benefits that experience has brought them
