Animations

Note: The developers of the Animation competition and the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust were disappointed in the number of entries received in the recent Animation Competition.

For this reason no winner has been chosen, but we are considering the possibility of reopening the competition again in early 2011 in the hope that the New Year will inspire creative minds to enter. Please keep watching for an announcement. In the meantime have you entered our latest competiton – a limerick about the penguins and the sea? Go to Limerick Compeition.

Design an animation that describes how yellow-eyed penguins need privacy to nest and survive. We will feature them on this website. 

Background information

Yellow-eyed penguins need privacy to nest and survive because:

• They are solitary creatures
• They get stressed around people and animals
• They nest in the forest out of site of other penguins
• They need more space than other penguins
• Their heart rate increases when people are around
• They won’t come out of the water to feed their chicks if people are blocking their way on the beach

Some tips for making a great animation clip 

• Chart a storyboard with a beginning, middle and end
• Make sure the animation describes how yellow-eyed penguins need privacy to nest and survive
• Do your research and find out as much as you can about yellow-eyed penguins
• Make it authentic – Remember members of the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust are judging it!
• Make sure it runs under the one minute
• It could be funny
• Trial it on your peers and listen to their comments

Curriculum – The Arts

Understanding the Arts in Context  

Investigate, analyse, and evaluate ideas and interpret artists’ intentions in animation. Investigate any penguin animations you can find on the web and discuss what each is telling us.

Communicating and Interpreting  

Research and analyse how an animation can be presented to communicate important meanings. Start with investigating why yellow-eyed penguins need privacy.

 Developing Practical Knowledge

Explore some animation conventions, applying knowledge of creating individual frames of action and then viewing them in sequence through the use of such programs. 

Download the free animation programs Alice, Scratch,  Pivot Stickfigure Animator or Flash (costs money).

Developing Ideas 

Usually only three individual frames of action are required for a simple animation.  By sequencing and linking ideas systematically make these three work for you.  

Look here for ( simple but effective) ideas as well as these animation hints from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.