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Stop
Frame Animation
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The
many advantages of CFS systems
over conventional methods
include:
- Integrated
DDR
- No time
wasted, or interruptions to creative flow caused by tape
deck pre-roll.
- For the
stop-frame animator working with video, individual frames
are captured straight onto the computer at broadcast quality,
and can be played back immediately and in real-time.
- For the
stop-frame animator working with film, the system is very
popular for video assist. The computer provides broadcast
quality images and can capture and replay instantly. The
animator can preview and view work instantly. No worries
waiting for rushes to see if you've got it right.
- Flexibility
of the PC platform
- Animations
are easily backed up, can be easily transferred between
computers and can be loaded into image processing software,
including very sophisticated paint and compositing packages.
- Silicon
chip technology
- CFS Sytems
are far more reliable and cost effective than traditional
methods - no tape dropouts, VTR maintenance etc
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| CFS supplied
systems and consultancy to the BBC for their BAFTA winning production
"Hooves of Fire," starring Robbie the Reindeer. This magnificent thirty-minute
animation was shot directly onto computer with a dedicated stop-frame
animation front-end on a CFS Digital Disk Recorder (DDR). |
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| Aardman
Animations and Hot Animation
use the same system as Video Assist to their film cameras. The BBC,
The Little Entertainment Company and Cosgrove Hall Films
use the system for direct mastering. Cosgrove Hall Films first
used CFS systems for direct mastering as far back as 1996! In fact,
we believe Cosgrove Hall Films have examples of every generation
of our DDR's. Hot Animation and Cosgrove Hall Films pioneered
the latest breed of stop frame animation Digital Disk Recorders and
took delivery of recorders early in January 2000. |
Scene from Cosgrove
Hall Films' Lavender Castle
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Animation company
Triggerfish is the first in the South African industry to use
dpsReality for producing high quality stop frame animation.
Jacquie Trowell,
Director, Triggerfish Animation says, "In the past, it has
proved near to impossible to find someone here who can advise me on
both computer systems and stop-motion animation.... I looked to what
other stop-motion animators around the world were doing and was immediately
directed to Computer Film Services.
"The
advantages, so far, are a substantial cost difference in transfers
and post production for broadcast (as opposed to 35mm). Plus, savings
are made because of the versatility of the virtual file system, the
flexibility to accommodate a broader range of projects, a digital
shooting process and the flexibility to upgrade and expand the system
with ease. These give us the opportunity to consider projects that
were previously too big to handle."
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Royco
Potato Wedges
Using plasticine animation. The ads won gold awards for the client,
Unilever International.
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| Read
more about Triggerfish |
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| Chris
Bowden, Producer at Cosgrove Hall Films says, "We
have been using the dpsReality systems here at Cosgrove Hall for about
two years. Actually, our association with Computer Film Services began
in 1996 when we were amongst the first to use the PVR systems to directly
record stop motion animation for the Gerry Anderson production 'Lavender
Castle.' By the time we equipped for 'Fetch the Vet,' three years later,
we had progressed to the latest Reality systems which we found displayed
all the stability of the old PVR and allowed us to record uncompressed
16:9 images. |
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"Stability
is really the key to any computer based recorder we put in to our
studios. Even over a two-year production cycle we just can't afford
to lose any time with machine failures. The dpsReality has performed
solidly.
"We
are now making good use of the ability to store soundtracks in the
machines. On some of our more complicated productions, this is proving
very useful in allowing directors and studio crew to test edit and
pre-visualise scenes.
"Overall
we've been delighted with the Reality systems, and they are finding
use right the way through our company from CGI to studio floor."
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Hot
Animation (part of HIT Entertainment)
has developed into one of the world's most successful producers of
children's entertainment by carefully nurturing its existing characters
and creating new ones. Hot Animation enjoys a comprehensive distribution
network and long-established relationships with the world's leading
broadcasters.
Joe
Dembinski, Director of Photography and Director Hot Animation comments
that there are many benefits of using CFS systems in Animation production.
"The systems are
"user-friendly and versatile; the programmes do exactly what
we want them to do and the animators feel comfortable using them."
"If you were to take this kit away from the animators they would
be totally stumped, it is an invaluable aide to animation production."
Hot Animation
uses the systems as video assists and finds them "invaluable" for
gauging the differences between frames. Reality allows the director/animator
to jog between frames and this is a vital tool for continuity checks.
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Sherbet
used dpsReality on 'Camouflage' - a short film commissioned by the
Arts Council, to combine animation with live action.
Donovan
Hide, Digital Compositor for 'Camouflage' & Technical Manager
at Sherbet enthusiastically endorses CFS.
Donovan
used dpsReality "...in conjunction with After Effects to keep
track of the film as it matured through production. We used a combination
of live action and animation.
"Using
dpsReality we did a rough on-line edit and transferred stills to Reality,
then slotted in the animation and did the compositing in the studio.
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"Being
able to keep track of the development of the film using the
system was a really good bonus."
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The Little
Entertainment Company used dpsReality in the production of their
beautifully crafted series 'Merlin the Magical Puppy' - a 52x10 minute
series for CITV. |
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The Little
Entertainment Company says, "It was decided early on in the
production that Merlin would be shot digitally onto a DDR as opposed
to the traditional film route, for both speed and quality. A secondary
benefit has been the ease with which we have been able to digitally
transfer picture material from our studio into post-production via dpsReality's
unique virtual file system." |
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"We
are currently shooting with five Reality set-ups, four running the
Animate software, linked to a fifth set-up for day-to-day back-up,
rendering composites and the final rushes output."
"Throughout
the eighteen months of this production, Computer Film Services has
provided us with quick and hassle-free backup, which is one of the
key reasons we have thus far delivered well within time and budget"
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