Colouring backgrounds workshop
Set the film on a background.
On the basis of the story board, identify all the sets and backgrounds that are required for the film.
The background sets the mood of the film. Defining the time of day or night by the choise of colour and form, the background sets the ambience of the film in visuals.
A spooky witches hut on the top of the hill on a full moon night is dark blue and purple. The mood is set for mystery, the land of the unknown ...
Think about "perspective". What is the vanishing point? Where is it in each background?
Think about proportion. What size will the character be when he/she are in the foreground/background?
How fast the characters move across the background is determined by his position being in the foreground or the background.
Think
Visualize
Plan
Create
Use a large rough cartridge sheet, 20X30 inches to colour the backgrounds.
Use oil pastels, water colours or poster colours to make the backgrounds.
Make them colourful. Leave a minimum of white space. Use the advantages of the texture of the rough cartridge sheet to colour the backgrounds.
Make many backgrounds. Imagine multiple camera angles for the same situation.
How do you build suspense? How do you reveal the story to your audience?
Seperate drawings for wide angle, normal and close-up shots will make the film more interesting.
Use paper cut-outs for trees, clouds, buildings and bushes to add depth to your animation films.
Experiment with different kinds of paper, colouring techniques and transparencies.
Be abstract,
feel free
to try new things.
 Colour the backgrounds well. They will be visible throughout the sequence. |
 A good background is one that makes you proud. |
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