Animation:
Storytelling through the Illusion of Motion
(Using Keynote & iMovie)

You will be making a short animation.
We will use Keynote to create each frame or scene,
then export to iMovie.

In iMovie we will add sound and finalize our animation.

This project will demonstrate your creativity and your file management skills.

Return to

1. Write Story/Storyboard 

2. Create Animation using Keynote

3. Transfer to iMovie 

4. Edit in Movie Timeline 

5. Export Finished Product 

Resources:
Larry's Toon Institute (webpage)
Animation Principles (pdf)

Rubric

1. Write Story/Storyboard 

2. Create Animation using Keynote

3. Transfer to iMovie 

4. Edit in Movie Timeline 

5. Export Finished Product 

1. Write Story/Storyboard 

2. Create Animation using Keynote

3. Transfer to iMovie 

4. Edit in Movie Timeline 

5. Export Finished Product 

1. Write Story/Storyboard 

2. Create Animation using Keynote

3. Transfer to iMovie 

4. Edit in Movie Timeline 

5. Export Finished Product 

1. Write Story & Create Storyboard!
   (Use the Greek Mythology character from Humanities class and create a story based on a conflict from a Greek myth.)
   Keep it simple and short!
   • Your story must include the 5 Elements of a Story
     (Character, Setting, Plot, Conflict, Resolution).
   • Your story will include three parts:
     1. Narration setting up conflict (Text + voiceover)
     2. Conflict (Animation)
     3. Narration summarizing story (Text + voiceover)
   • Your animation must include a character (can be a stick figure, an image cutout, or a drawing) and an object. The character(s) and object must move and must include dialogue.
   • Your story should be short. For example, one minute of animation running at 10 frames per second is 600 frames (10 x 60), so keep it simple and short!
   • Download & print storyboard - Plan & create a scene-by-scene picture outline with a shot on the storyboard for every major point of action.


2. Create animation using Keynote
• Use a combination of drawing tools, images, graphics, and scanned drawings to create characters, objects, and backgrounds/settings.
• There are two approaches to creating animation in Keynote:
  1. Frame-by-frame
  *After creating each slide, choose Right-click > DUPLICATE, then make minor changes to move the action forward.
  * You will need ~10 slides (frames) for every second of action.
  * You will sometimes use one frame for a longer period of time. For example, while a character is speaking you may choose to keep the same shot on screen. Also, it is common to use 2-5 looping frames during dialogue to show the same shot, but with the mouth moving.
  * Export your slides as images [File > Export > Images > PNG > Next > Create a new folder to hold these images within your folder > Export]
  
  2. Animation "Build Inspector"
  * Select object to animate
  * Use Build Inspector to create Action Effects that advance automatically. (I will give you a lesson on this).
  * Export completed animation sequence as a Quicktime file. [File > Export > Quicktime > check "Include Transparency" > Next > Select your folder for the file location > Export]
  
• Be sure to save often! File name: animation_yourname.key


3. Transfer into iMovie
• When using frame-by-frame method. (iPhoto > iMovie)
  1. Open iPhoto [click the iPhoto icon in the dock]
  2. Create an album in iPhoto ("animation your name")
  3. Drag the animation folder from the Finder to your iPhoto album. (This will import your image files of your slides into iPhoto.)
  4. In your iPhoto folder, organize your frames/slides into the proper order.
  5. Close iPhoto and open iMovie.
  6. In iMovie, go to the Photos tab and find your folder
     (Media > Photos)
  7. Select all of your photos. (To select all of your photos, click on the first photo, then while holding the SHIFT key, click on the last photo.)
  8. Set the duration to 0:03
     (0:03 means 0 seconds: 3 frames
     ...based on 30 fps, 0:03 = 10fps)
  9. Drag the selected photos to the TIMELINE.
• When using Build Inspector method. (iMovie)
  1. Open iMovie
  2. Drag the Quicktime file(s) from your Finder folder into the iMovie timeline in sequence.


4. Edit in movie timeline
   • When using frame-by-frame method. (iPhoto > iMovie)
     1. Watch your animation to evaluate what you will need to do.
     2. Adjust the duration of clips, as needed.
        [double-click > change duration]
     3. Copy & Paste groups of clips to repeat actions.
     4. Add narration/dialogue & sound effects
     5. Add credits (opening titles and closing credits). These may be created in iMovie or in Keynote.
     6. Add transitions, if needed
     7. Add effects, if desired
   • When using Build Inspector method. (iMovie)
     1. Watch your animation to evaluate what you will need to do. If the animation needs to be adjusted, go back to Keynote to make the corrections and replace the existing Quicktime files.
     2. Add narration/dialogue & sound effects
     3. Add credits (opening titles and closing credits). These may be created in iMovie or in Keynote.
     4. Add transitions, if needed
     5. Add effects, if desired
5. Export finished product
   • iMovie
     1. File > Export > Full Quality Quicktime
     2. Save to the Movies folder...File name: animation_yourname.dv