For my final semester I was part of the Live From New Worlds studio, which explored the sense of invisibility and magic existing in the relationship between nature and technology. For the final outcome in this studio, I was inspired by the potential of smart devices and the consciousness of technology. My other studio was Motion for Industry which included working with and pitching to a real client as well as opportunities to explore the types of animation we would like to pursue beyond university. Animation has become a great outlet for me since studying at Monash because of its ability to bring together my two other passions of illustration and storytelling.
In The Clouds
One of three film title cards for the first assignment in Live From New Worlds. This well-known phrase to describe someone out of touch with reality seemed perfect to reflect the effect technology can have on us. Our devices do not always connect us to our environment in a positive way, it can also be hindering and make us unaware of changes as it weakens our senses. This message is reflected by the subtle shifts in colour, which would only be noticed by paying adequate attention.
Square Eyes
This myth from watching too much television was very appealing to use as it aligns with the broadcast theme of ‘the invisible’ and because eyes are very symbolic. An unexplainable alteration that couldn’t be seen and does not occur by touch is certainly magical. The glitchy static type mimics the blinking of eyes while the tribal lines define the dark face and enhance the symmetry.
Generate Name Here
This title card was inspired by online identities, which can be real or fake. One person can also have multiple different usernames for different platforms and websites. They have become very impersonal and random, especially with computer game avatars, which are notoriously a strange sling of numbers and misspelled words. The use of the phrase ‘generate name here’ instead of the common ‘enter name here’ alludes to this fortuity.
Broadcast
From the perspective of a recording system, a man uses technology to interact with his environment in a new way through an experimental device that is essentially a ‘smart dresser’. It plays on the gimmick that humans will invent a ‘smart’ version for everything and eventually will never have to do or touch anything again. It also extends the notion that devices are not simply ‘off’ when we don’t use them, perhaps physically, but invisible to the human eye they continue to develop and learn.
Little Food Festival, ‘Sustainable Food Systems’
This educational animation was my response to the first project for the Motion for Industry studio this semester. We were briefed by Deana, a representative from the Little Food Festival, to produce a video that aligns with the event activities. I chose to create an animation that explained sustainable food systems, which was to be targeted to children aged 5-12. This prompted the use of an easy-to-follow storyline with simple dialogue, as well as hand-drawn illustrations and a silly narration to engage the audience.
Free Choice Project, ‘Lone’
Lone' is my submission for the final project in Motion for Industry, where students had creative freedom in what they wanted to produce. I have a real passion for storytelling and love creating worlds within my work that have intricate characters and relationships. For this piece I wanted to achieve something I hadn’t done in my other animations, which were mostly fun and lively, instead I aimed for eerie, suspenseful and gripping. I enjoy challenging tasks and thought broadening the emotion in my designs would be a great way to cap off my university motion journey.
Brad Anthony, In The Clouds
Brad Anthony, Square Eyes
Brad Anthony, Generate Name Here
Brad Anthony, Broadcast
Brad Anthony, Little Food Festival, ‘Sustainable Food Systems’
Brad Anthony, Free Choice Project, ‘Lone’
