Solar Flare Explainer Video
The goal of this project was to create an animated explainer video that explains what a solar flare is as well as how they function. The video was to include a character that would serve as the host of the video and explain the concept to the audience. As such the creation of this animation not only involved asset creation but also research on the topic in order to tell accurate information.
Programs Used:
- Asset Creation
- Longform 2D Animation
- Character Animation
The first step was to write the script and then storyboard the animation based off the script. Being that this animation was going to be longer compared to anything I had created previously I needed to make sure I knew exactly what was going to happen at all moments. The next step was to create the character that was going to be featured throughout most of the animation. I opted to create an astronaut character to fit with the space theme which also gave me the benefit of not needing to create lip synching due to him wearing a helmet. All I needed to do was separate each segment of every limb and create different positions for his head so he can both look at what he’s explaining but also look back at the audience when necessary.
After the creation of the voice over and all additional assets such as stars, planets, and of course The Sun it was finally time to begin animating. Using the voice over as a guide I animated every scene timed with what was being said in the script. The astronaut was rigged and placed in most scenes to guide the viewers eye towards what’s being explained in the video.
The final product was a three minute animation that accurately explains what a solar flare is through animated graphics and an explainer character. I enjoyed coming back to this project and the revisions made to it later on were a great improvement overall.