Barbican Visit

Yesterday we visited the Barbican Exhibition Centre to look at the experimental animations that where being shown as part if the Digital Revolutions exhibit as well as shots and videos of how 3D films and programs have been produced in the animation and film industry. The professional films that I felt where worth taking notes of where Gravity and We are the future (Will.I.Am) and for experimental animations where Wishing Wall, The Treachery of Sanctuary and the Atmospheric 3D Interactive Laser Room.

The reason for me taking such an interest in Gravity was due to the techniques that were used. the film itself is predominately 3D but they used recorded footage of the actress' face. These where then combined to create the final film.
I'm also interested in the 3D animation that was created for Will.I.Am's track, 'We are the future'. the animation is projected on to a screen, however, the area where the face is projected on to is con-caved giving it the illusion that the face is following your movements.

I also enjoyed the theme of the animation, having an ancient Egyptian feel to it, with the head dresses that where used as well as ray of golden light emanating from behind the head.

Whilst I found these animations intriguing, I did find the experimental animations to be far more interesting as such I've decided to look in to the Wishing Wall and The Treachery of Sanctuary.

The Treachery of Sanctuary is an interactive animation, created by Chris Milk, with is divided in to three sections, in the first section the users silhouette.
The second segment the users silhouette is then picked apart by the birds turning the screen in to a blank screen is built up on the screen by birds coming together.
The final section is the one which found the most interesting and impressive. This section turns the users arms in to wings, this is done by when the user lifts their arms above their heads. Following this the user then flaps their arms, like a bird, and the silhouette would then take off depending on how fast the actions is done. The video below shows the animation in process.

This was done by using Xbox Kinect technology to map the depth of field and track the audience which is then projected on to a wall.

The final animation I wish to talk about is the Wishing Wall, again, this is an interactive animation where the user talks into a microphone and the words spoken then write them selves on to the screen. These words then turn them selves into a butterfly. The Wishing Wall was created by Varvara Guljajeva and Mar Canet.