Weight of Spirits

Here's quick look at some process on some graphics which needed to be turned around quickly.

This was for the National Geographic documentary "Moment of Death".

It starts with a script or in documentary terms a "paper cut".

this is for another part of the show, but you get the idea

From this we do our storyboards.

the boards are developed after in depth discussion and research

We had a design style in mind. One that would be too costly and time consuming to animate, so we decided to do it in more of a cut-out style.

Christina Riley drew up a bunch of parts and positions.

This technique doesn't require registration, or all that much drawing.  Scaling and position is done digitally.

Since the opening shot involved compositing a crane move, we had to draw several backgrounds.

we printed out maybe 20  frames to match to

note how these are registered and numbered just like real animation

At one point Mark Mannucci, the documentary's director, wanted an establishing shot.

this scene was eventually cut

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“We have passed beyond the absurd; our position is absolutely preposterous.”

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And and amazing essay in art and words by Maira Kalman.

from the NY Times

The content of this piece is remarkable.  Smart.  Funny.  The form isn't there yet, you have to scroll down a long page like reading an olde tyme edict or Roman conscription.

The art is alive, the writing and observations are moving -ironically the presentation is placid.

Perhaps its an example of "old" media, newspapers, trying to adapt to new media.  The New York Times, though, thinks it can make this new fit into its own preconceptions -too stubborn to realize its perspective and presentation are rapidly becoming antique.

Set Your "TiVos"

Most animation fans will be watching the last quarter of the Pittsburgh - San Diego on Saturday night, but I'm sure all you TV lovers will find a way to catch to catch the rebroadcast of Moment of Death, the Explorer special we worked on for the National Geographic channel.

It's an hour-long program that broadcasts at 7 PM on Saturday, January 10th.

This special grew out of our collaboration with Mark Mannucci for Thirteen/WNET's Curious.

A few days ago we posted a little clip from that show, saying how we didn't want it to look too "science-y".

There are moments in Moment of Death where we did want to be all "House, M. D." and whatnot:




But there are many more instances that call on cartooning skills. Like this one:

It's an interesting show with even more interesting parts that didn't make the final cut (to be available on the DVD and in earlier posts of this "blog").

Moment of Death - Blurb/Review

Here's a blurb on "Moment of Death" from United Media syndicated columnist Kevin McDonough:

-- The "Explorer" (10 p.m., National Geographic) presentation "Moment of Death" presents a fascinating discussion about when we die, what happens to our cells, organs and consciousness while we are in the process of dying and invites conversation about near-death experiences and the nature of the soul.

In addition to provocative interviews with doctors, scientists and survivors, "Death" uses clever and often beautiful graphics and animation to make its points. Informative and thoughtful, this "Explorer" can even be called profound.

PROGRAMMING ALERT!!!!!

MOMENT OF DEATH

Airing Tuesday September 2, 2008 on National Geographic Channel at 10:00 PM

Part of National Geographic's Explorer series, Moment of Death investigates the medical history of death, our current definitions and experiences with it, and the possible future of death. Is it possible that one day only taxes will be certain?

We did several dozen shots, some animation, some graphics -all deadly!

Here's one, designed by Noella Borie, animated by Christina Riley:




We made this show with Mark Mannucci who contracted us to work on Curious -the show that netted us the Emmy nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Design and Art Direction for News and Documentaries.

Moment of Death - Post One

Next time you find yourself looking forward to dying (like I do almost every second), consider that medical science doesn't really have a clear definition of death ---the one thing that is certain; its a process that may take as long as hours.

I imagine those long minutes stretch into years, much as the most complicated dreams happen in a few seconds.

Perhaps those minutes seem longer than our natural lives. Perhaps you're going through them right now.

Some of these questions are addressed in the upcoming National Geographic special "Moment of Death" (premieres September, 3).

We did a few dozen animation and effects shots, similar to our work for WNET/Thirteen's "Curious" but cooler.

One of the sequences is an illustration of a woman's "near death experience". We wanted to avoid the white limbo look often used to show these things, so we experimented with several looks.




above: Going for a Stan Brakhage inspired look, we painted on two inch artist tape.
This original piece of art is about 25 feet long.




above: This is another using footage of the actual Near Death Experiencer and give her a wispy, flowing brush line body.

Tune in September to see how the sequence finally turned out! (It doesn't use either of these treatments.)