My introduction and inspiration to morphimation.

For more information of terminology used in this blog, click the highlighted words.

The first time I saw Morph animations, is probably the one animation series that we all have come to know and love, that is of course "MORPH".

Here's a video below of an episode of Morph.

You can find the Youtube link to the Morph channel, HERE.

Morph is a 'Claymation' (Clay Stop motion), series that first appeared on television in the 70's.
It was produced by Aardman animations and would often be introduced by Tony Hart who was often seen interacting with Morph.

I was very young when I was first introduced to Morph and he was very influential in my future expectation of animation, I became mesmerised with the surreal world of animation and I was in love with the idea that there was a multitude of worlds where the possibilities were endless!

I paid extra detail to the timing in transformations within the series and even more attention to the fluidity of which it all took place.

From a very young age I was very interested in the movements of anything, taken away by animations that used blurs and smears in extreme movements and later came to learn about "Squash and Stretch".

Squash and stretch is a valuable feature in animation because it accentuates and exaggerates movements to the point of impossibility.

All of these things are a crucial factor in creating anything that appears to morph in an animation.

Another influence which started my interest in stop motion animation is a children's stop motion series called "Mio Mao", which had so much much fluidity and abstract movement that as a child, blew my mind!

Mio Mao is another clay animation, TV series produced by Misseri Studio and was also first aired in the 70's, and was a series of short episodes about two very playful kittens and often focused on their curiosity for other animals.

These animations included a lot of squash and stretch to accentuate the playfulness of these two characters, often times being depicted in completely other shapes and objects, their movements were boundless!
There were no two same actions and were so smoothly orchestrated.
The animation was so simple and was limited to basic shapes and colours yet was still depicting what was intended in creation.

Here is a video below of an episode of Mio Mao. 


You can find the Youtube link to the Misseri Studio channel HERE.
Misseri Studio also have a website with some of their other works, HERE. 

Another children's series that became popular because of it's use of strong movements will have no doubt influenced a lot of animators. This animation series was called PINGU.
Pingu is no doubt one of the more popular Television series around the globe and has recently become more popular again throughout many Internet sub-cultures.

Here is an episode of Pingu.
You can find the Youtube link to the Official Pingu Official Youtube channel, HERE.

Pingu is a series about a family of penguins who live in igloos, Pingu is the main character and was often getting into a lot of mischief with his younger sibling, Pinga.

Yet again another great example of the limitless possibilities with movement in animation.
Pingu is one of the more memorable of the Television shows I watched as a child as it was produced and aired a lot later than Morph and Mio Mao.

In 93, David Hasselhoff released a rap single called "Pingu Dance".

Pingu has always been a childhood favourite of mine and still remains to be my favourite. NOOT NOOT!

Squash and Stretch.

Squash and stretch is a method used in animation that pretty much writes itself.
It is considered the most important of the basic principles of animation.

The idea behind squash and stretch is that a subject, for example, a ball; will retain it's volume, but change shape in the process of movement to simulate the idea that it is interacting with it's surroundings.
These interactions could include falling, bouncing, moving at any kind of speed.
It is crucial when using "squash and stretch" to consider the spacing between frames, for the full desired effects to work, timing is absolutely vital.

Squash and Stretch is to create dynamic movements to achieve the whimsical flow that seems more realistic, despite a lot of the shapes formed being impossible in a real life situation.

These two GIFS are my own example of the difference adding squash and stretch makes when animating. The image to the left is certainly more pleasing to the eye and they are both the same object following the same trajectory.

Without Squash and Stretch

With Squash and Stretch

Many animations, films, and even illustrations have paid homage to squash and stretch over the years years and one particular artist that has stood out to me for using squash and stretch and 'anticipation' beautifully, is Ryan Woodward!

Some of his more known pieces is called "Thought of you", this animation is a hand drawn frame by frame of two character's dancing with one another.

Ryan Woodward has his own website that you can find HERE. 

 This animation is beautifully whimsical and a perfect example of Squash and stretch, though technically rotoscoped, he adds his own touch, including his unique colouring and style to the motion blurs and movement, with flawless flow. There's something rather intrinsic about this piece to me and is definitely one of my favourite pieces of work!

My experimentation with Morphing.