1. Motion Graphics and
Compositing:
Case Study
Francesca Hall
1

2. 2
Critical Discussion

3. Motion Graphics
Motion graphics are video animations that consist of moving design,
illustration and images to create a video sequence that can then be
distributed via variety of different media platforms.
The first use of motion graphics was within titling sequences where
were fundamentally used within silent films. They were used to provide
context and information so that the viewer can have a further
understanding of what the film is essentially about. This technique was
also used to the show speech such as the 1922 film A Symphony of
Horror. [1]
They can be used to add a comical element for the audience, for
example Charlie Chaplin used this technique within his films.
Although title sequences can be used simply to inform the audience the
start, the title of the film, and the end of film.
Originally the titles were produced on a black background with the
white lettering on top, this made it a lot easier when the film was
projected as it was mainly black and white at the time. The method
used to make the title cards is called typography and people called
typesetters were employed to type and therefore produced the title
cards.
Title sequences and also motion graphics evolved and moved on to
used different techniques such as stop motion, montage and in some
cases even live action and this occurred more frequently ad technology
advanced.

4. Motion Graphics
In the 1960s title sequences started to develop more and had aspects of
movement within them. Title sequences in terms of motion graphics
were expanding in terms of movement but also timing in typography to
match with a metaphorical image. Vertigo (1958) and Psycho (1960) are
just some of the examples. With both these title sequences I found not
only do they have movement present within them but they also further
empathize the tone and establish the type of film the audience is going
to watch, as it allows for the audience to infer this from how they are
created and the elements they used compared to the steady title card of
The Great Train Robbery for example.
Both the the title sequences mentioned were made by Saul Bass.
With Psycho he, Bass, uses a series of simple grey bars to move the sans-
serif titles and then escort them back out. Although these lines come
form different areas of the screen, they never once break or intersect.
From this you can infer that not only Bass but Hitchcock wants you to
read between the lines in reference to this film. [2]
Now you can also match your title sequence with sounds alongside
movement or cuts so that on a certain beat it can change, rhythmic
cutting, which means the audience can infer the overall genre of the film
in a more creative way.
For example this is present within the James Bond title sequence which
was released in 1962 by Maurice Binder. A title sequence can be used to
set the tone and reinforce the franchise as well as the brand to the
audience. Again referring 1962 Dr No the iconic gun barrel can be seen
within most if not every James Bond Title Sequences and is easily
recognizable for the franchise. [3] [4]

5. Motion Graphics
Motion graphics today don’t always have to be present within films and title sequences they can be used
and are present in an array of different media platforms.
Motion graphics have become increasing popular and now can be seen and used everywhere.
For example they can be used as a business marketing toll that can not only help to both sell a given
product but to also give more information out.
Animated text is used frequently within motion graphics and the typography is that of an aesthetic nature.
Overall the main aim is the that text being shown via or with motion graphics is to get the information out
to the audience in way that is going to capture there attention.
Although sound plays a key element to most if not all modern motion graphics they shouldn’t heavily rely
on them. This is because on social media platforms such as Facebook people don’t tend to listen with
their headphones or they tend to mute videos so therefore the motion sequence needs to capture the
audiences attention through a visual aspect but also relay the information through text, this is more for
contemporary use rather an for a title sequence.
Motion Graphics in media sectors such as contemporary film the opening titles are optional. This is due to
the fact that so many more people are present and needed to be given credit, more so on big budget
franchises such as Marvel for example that is is easier to show the credits at the end. Though depending
on who was part of the film will depend more so if there will be a title credits sequence as well as an end
sequence, the more popular the director, actors and producers the more likely you are to see a title
sequence. Recent James Bond films as well as Mission Impossible films are an example to this but even
films that are stand alone and not part of a franchise such as Fight Club use a title sequence.

6. Visual Effects – Matte Painting
When creating a visual story one of the key concepts that a director
wants is for the audience to believe and become fully immersed in this
world that they have created and this can be increasing hard when said
world is in a fictional setting. Nowadays you can use post visual effects
such as CGI and green screens to convince the audience but before this
technology was present directors and film companies had to come up
with other ways to create/establish another location.
One of the earliest ways in which they did this was through matte
paintings to create the illusion that than actor or actors were in a
different location to which they actually where.
To create a matte painting for a location a static camera would be set
up and placed ready at the set of the original scene/location. The
matte painting would also be present within front of the camera so
that is was within the shot/frame. This worked because the matte
painting blocked part of the image and either removed an original
element or added another element on top of the original scene. The
camera would do this simultaneously as long as the painting was
within the shot frame.
Matte paintings would then continue and evolve to be used in
franchises such as Star Wars.
In the 1990s digital matting techniques became increasing frequent
within most films not just sci-fi and fantasy.

7. Visual Effects – Matte Painting
As mentioned before matte painting as a visual effect works on the bases that the camera has
to be static and therefore this meant that in theory no real action could cross the line between
action and the matte painting itself, this is referred to as the matte line.​
A method was later created to record actors against background and then they create a high
contrast negatives. This would therefore create a black and white silhouette that would then
create a travelling matte because it would all for them to be able to move.​
Matte paintings are often either filmed on set, this in which they are framed to look like an
actual physical part of the set. They can also be combined with live footage in post production.​
One of the earliest use of this visual effects is Georges Méliés with his 1898 film Un Homme
de Têtes (The Four Troublesome Heads). He would use a glass black pane as his matte. When he
was shooting, the black matte would keep the light from reaching the camera and therefore
since a since a section of the film wasn't exposed to the light the frame would therefore appear
empty. In addition to this Méliés would then go back on the film and then remove the original
matte and black everything else out. The film would then when put together fill in the blanks
and it will create the effect that he hand more than one head and also be able to interact with
them. ​[5]
An example of more modern use matte painting in use is when Industrial, Light and Magic used
this visual effects within Indiana Jones and Star Wars. On of the artist working with ILM was
Christopher Evans who created the iconic Star Wars images such as Darth Vader's march.
Furthermore ILM also created the finale of Raiders of The Last Ark It took three months to paint
all of the crates and boxes.​
One of the last hand painted mattes used in a major motion picture was in the 1997 epic,
Titanic.​
However as technology advanced it meant that matte paintings didn't have to two
dimensional images anymore and you can now create entire three dimensional backgrounds
and even sets that can be created digitally. In addition you can now even add movement by
using digital cameras. For example Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban used matte
paintings as backgrounds, they used six 100-foot canvases which were stitched together to look
more as a whole painting and then placed behind the set. [6]

8. Visual Effects – Blue Screen
In 1930s at RKO Radio Pictures they developed the blue screen
method. This worked by removing the colour range from the
foreground footage allowing for it to be composited onto the
background footage. Blue was primarily used because in terms of skin
tones it was the farthest away,
In addition throughout Hollywood continued to experiment variations
of this method including UV Matte and Yellow Matte.
Chroma key is a visual technique used when you wish to combine two
frames together in a method in which you replace a colour or even a
color range within on frame with that from another frame.​
Another way in which this Chroma key can be referred as
is colour keying or colour separation overlay. Although most
commonly and in most cases the most identifiable name is green
screen or blue screen​
In 1940 The Thief of Baghdad was the first film to feature the use of
the chorma key using the blue method or blue screen technology.
Blue was predominant due to this blue method until the late 90s
where green become the overall norm with features such as green
screen. In saying this however this method is still used within
blockbuster films today such as the live action film of The Jungle
Book.
In the 1970s the colour blue in Chroma key was favored for the colour
green both in video editing and photography.
The process for each scene that wanted to use chroma key in either
colour was a longwinded one as the film would have to be combined
one frame at a single time.
However in 1980 with The Empire Strikes Back the process was
redefined using a quad optical printer. [7]

9. Visual Effects – Green Screen
Green was/is a lot easier to use then blue for a number of reasons for example it requires less
light and it works better in out door environments. It is brighter in electronics and green is less
common in costume design so therefore it is much easier to use on a range of
actors/genres ect.
Within the film industry this technique to replace a scene's background by either using a blue
or green screen as the initial background and then placing the actor in the foreground. If you
were to use a blue background it would work because the difference in colour of a person skin
tone to blue is very clear so therefore it will be easier to select the colour without having to
working about any part of the actor being included within that section. Then the whole blue
section is replaced with another frame as the background. This is done either as computer
generated or can also be done via a separately-shot scenes all in which happens during the
post-production stage.​
​One of the main reasons that this effect is used is because it is a cheaper method and process
than to shoot in an expensive location or even a location that doesn't exist can now be created.
Furthermore it means that production and filming can also run at the intend pace and time
schedule because it is most likely shot within a studio indoors it means that the reliance on
good weather and outdoor conditions aren't a factor and therefore don't matter.​
An example of the use of a green screen in a film is the use of it within Alice and Wonderland
2010 as well as Avengers 2012. Similar to with previous visual effects Industrial Light and Magic
also were behind the special within avengers due to the fact that ILM is a in-house
company for Marvel and therefore Disney. Deadpool also has scenes in which a green screen is
used. Similar to Avengers the green screen was used to show the city destroyed. [8]
The only issue with using either colour screen is that the actor can’t be wearing the same color
costume as the background i.e blue or green and this in most cases works out well because
they can just use the other colour screen however issues such as Raimi Spider-man 2002 saw a
problem where both Spiderman's costume and the Green Goblins costume contained both
green and blue this meant that it was increasing difficult to film when there were in scenes
together so therefore they had to split the action sequences up with each character
completing the scene in front off the opposing colour screen and then editing together.

10. Visual Effects – CGI
CGI is abbreviated from Computer Generated Imagery and is now surprisingly present
within most blockbuster films today.
CGI is frequently used because of the increase in sci-fi and fantasy films being produced
but also because is is cheaper than the physical methods that you would have to go
through to create effective shots.
The first use of 3D CGI was used within Futureworld 1976. The film featured a hand and
face that was computer generated by Edwin Catmull and Fred Parke. Although very brief
within the film the CGI can been seen within roughly an hour of the film. (It’s the scene
where Fonda and Danner watch how the robots were made). [9] Side note the hand
which is present within the film is of significance not only because of it’s use of 3D CGI but
also because the hand belonged to Ed Catmull as, previously mentioned, who would later
become Pixar’s technical officer but he would no become the company’s president as well
as the president of Walt Disney Animation Studios. [10]
The first film to really feature and implement CGI were Tron (1982) the film however was
not considered an Oscar for Visual Special Effects as people believed that computer
graphics was too easy compared to that of traditional animation. The environments
within Tron are recreated using computers as instead of matte painting it evolved into
digital matte. When Tron was made computers were only able to produce static images
not animations and therefore the light-cycle sequence within the film was inserted by
hand for each frame. It was roughly estimated that 600 coordinates were necessary to
create just four seconds of the film.
Steven Spielbergs 1993 Jurassic Park were a heavily featured with CGI that was so
photorealistic that was a box office hit. There 63 visual effect shots within Jurassic Park
that are created by CGI which compared to The Avengers with over 2,200 visual effects
shot with CGI or Guardians of the Galaxy where 90% of the film contains visual effects
shot with CGI is quite astonishing. Spielberg went on to say that “ We were all a little
scared if being to experimental at the beginning of the learning curve, but after a while,
we were shooting this thing like we had been doing CGI movies for ten years” [11]

11. Visual Effects – CGI
In 1995 the first fully CGI feature film was Pixar’s Toy Story and it was
hugely successful that existing companies such as Disney started to
merge over to making CGI films rather than traditional animation. They
started of the process with a team of 27 animators who created
storyboards and clay models to develop characters before creating
over 400 computer models. Once the computer models were made
this meant that he animators could then work on code for the overall
motion and motion control. For example the character Woody within
the film had over 723 motion models, 212 in his face and 58 just for his
mouth. A lot of work went into this film with roughly 8 seconds of
footage taking around a week to create. Not only that but each
generated shot went through eight teams. [12]
As mentioned CGI is present in the majority of major blockbuster films
and in the early 2000s it become the dominant form of special effects.
CGI can make or break how successful a film is for example the use CGI
in Avatar and The Avengers saw both films sore in the box office.

12. 12
Analysis

13. Motion Graphics Sequence – Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a television show based in 80s and you can tell this from the
nostalgic feel as well as the homage towards pop cultures present during that decade.
For example the typography is very similar towards that of Stephen Kings novels which
back a huge hit in the 80s. By using this typeface it not only sets the tone and mood for
what is to come based on the themes of Stephen Kings novels as well as the also nods it
hat of to Stephen King as well. In addition by having the sequence open with an extreme
close up of the title, so close in fact that you can see some noise and grain immediately
gives the audience a sense of unease and fore boarding of sense of what is to come. Add
together the extreme close up and a slow pan with letters that are unreadable to the
audience it further highlights the genre of horror and mystery to the audience. Mirror is
when the music informs the movement of the text as the letters transition together to
form the title.
The title sequences uses dark colours that are easily identifiable to the audience of that of
the horror genre again reinforcing the tone and style of what the show will be based
around. For example the only two colours used throughout this whole title sequence is
red and black. Red is the colour that most people associate war danger, power and love
with as well as fire and blood, common stereotypical elements you would see within a
horror show/film. Red is also a very good colour to be used to bring text to the foreground
as it is a bright and impacting colour. The connotations of black is that of power, death and
mystery. Black works well against the red in this case not just because of the
information that it gives the audience and the tone that it overall sets and the way in
which because it contrast bright colour of red to make the colour scheme to become more
aggressive again fitting into this idea that the show has a dark element. Overall the two
colours work well together to inform the audience that all the show has a nostalgic feel
that it isn't going to be a light hearted show if you bring both colours together as black can
also be symbolic for grief coupled with red for blood and death. The music also works to
alongside the text and movement to set the tone and mood for the audience so much so
that the title sequence doesn't have to be bombarded with different shots and fillers that
it can still be simplistic and toned down if compared to something like American Horror
Story for example but yet it is still extremely powerful in setting the tone and informing
the audience. [14]

14. Motion Graphics Sequence – Mission Impossible Rogue
Nation
The immediate use of bright colours flashing colours attracts the audience
attention and influences them to continue watching while also setting the
tone and pace for the overall film, which is that of action which can be
inferred by the way the names of the actors within the film quick flash on
screen coupled by the use of orange and red, that associated with fire
emphasised on a black background gives all the indications to the audience
that of an action movie.
The music or soundtrack used in this title sequence is ionic for the mission
impossible franchise in the same way that it is for other franchises such as
James Bond. The pace of the music speeds up during the duration of the
sequence and as it does so the cutting rate of the different shots increase
as well making it become more intense to the audience.
The use of typically iconography and props that you would find in a
action/spy film are present within shots such as the use of bullets and
therefore guns and also a lock of a safe and also burning rope are a big
indicator to the audience of the type of genre that film they are about to
watch is, if they haven't seen of the pervious films as part of the franchise.
The burning rope alongside the colour scheme of red and orange which is
associated with fire also adds to the tension and suspense and can also be
foreshadowing events later to happen within the film. In addition the use
of a variety in shots such as the use of close ups on the lock safe also keep
the audience interested as they wont get bored but even more it allows for
the audience to connect for with the story/outline of the film that the
sequence it trying to portray (It's like a montage of what the show is about
and gives hints to the audience). [15]

15. Motion Graphics Sequence – Comparison
I like both title sequences and yet they are both very different. The Stranger things sequence works so well because of
that eerie tone and feel that it gives of and just the overall nostalgic it gives that it doesn't need to add anymore
elements otherwise it would just be overpowering and that connection with the audience will be lost. I feel that
although it is very simplistic compared to a wide range of title sequences, such as Mission Impossible Rogue Nation it
still is very clear cut in the message, tone and style that it is giving to the audience.
With the Mission Impossible it is very much a contrast to Stranger Things in many ways for example the cutting rate and
pace is so much faster and the colours are brighter as well (yet both use simplistic colour schemes).
You can also tell for the title sequences that difference audeicnes that they are trying to attract for example Stranger
Things is on Netflix and is trying to appeal to smaller audience where as Mission impossible is competing to a much
wider audience, because it's being show in the cinema globally but also because it has to compete with the pervious
films. Which I can infer is one of the reasons in which Mission Impossible uses shots in it's title sequence of the actors
cut from the film as they are using peoples love for the actors to draw in the audience and crowd where as Stranger
Things when it first came out wasn't a big market product/show and wasn't originally aimed for such a wide audience
that it has now received, hence the new cast compared to that of the A-list celebrity cast of Mission Impossible.

16. Visual Effects– Game Of Thrones
Within this scene from Game of Thrones there is a lot of effects within it, specially because
there is a dragon but the special effects also present within this scene aren't as easily
identifiable.
For example there is a part in the scene where Tyrion one of the characters is looking out into
the battlefield as he watches his brother's army being slaughtered. When in actual fact what
he his looking at is a green screen. Not only was a green screen used more than once within
this scene there was also the use of CGI present as well. The green screen means that later the
scene can be edited so that it looks more like a battlefield/warzone rather than an empty field,
this than adds more emotion to the audience when we see Tyrion's reaction shot.
The CGI is present within different parts of the scene but one of the main ones that I thought
is present is when one of the main characters Jamie is staring out into the battlefield and the
shot shows that there are hundreds of men charging towards him when in actual fact there is
about 20 men max. They used CGI to manipulate this so that it looked like there was hundreds
of men, this worked well because it add the dramatic effect for the scene by showing all the
men but also in terms of a production rather an audience perspective is that by having less
men means that the set will be smaller and more easily controlled and during post-production
easily to manipulate. They did this by copy and pasting the men onto the scene and then
changing the scale and in places using blur as well.
There is also a Dragon within this scene and the interesting thing I found out about this was
that they actually used drones and flow them to create a path for the simulation that would
be within the studio for the green screen and said simulation would copy/simulate the
movement of the drone that was going at around 60mph.
They use blue and green screens within the scene with the dragon but it was predominantly
green screen however there was CGI present as well. The use of the dragon is a high point for
the audience in this scene but the fact that the character Danny is seen riding the dragon
further emphases and creates this dramatic motion for the audience. For the dragon, the
actor had to sit upon a robotic object that moved, this was then covered in chroma key
material. The material was then marked so that later in post production editors can then know
what part of the dragon is meant to move in they also work alongside the drone footage so
that it had an extra layer of depth and movement to make it look as realistic as possible.[16]
[17]

17. Screen Ratios
Depending on where you wish to distribute the finished product the screen ratio will be different and therefore this can affect
the final version of the video and how it looks. For example film ratio is 1.85:1 and 2.40:1.
Television is 1.77:1 and the internet which would typically be YouTube is 16:9. Film ratio refers to the height and width of an
image.
Resolution
The display resolution of a digital television, or a display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be
displayed. An example would be the common resolution with films and most television nowadays is 1920 X 1080 (this is full HD)
Resolution can be effected by screen ratios. 4K: 3840 x 2160, HD is 1280 X 720 and finally normal or standard resolution is
typically 720 x 576.
Frame Rate
Frame rate can also be known as frames per second (FPS) and this is how the frame rate will be often expressed in as well. The
film rate depends on the where the final product will be used – for example for Film would be 24fps, television in the United
Kingdom is 25fps and if you wish to distribute or show it online it can be up to 60fps. One Game of Thrones episode had a film
rate of 60fps which is the same frame rate used by YouTube and other online steaming services that wish to show content in HD.
Video Format
Video file format has a variety of extensions and this is due to have you wish to be able to export and distribute the file and
therefore whether the file needs to be compressed or not. Some examples of format types are: MP4, WAV, GIF, AVI and
QuickTime. The majority of these are available on all software as they are the standard files type however there are formats in
which you will need specific software to be able to access and view the file. When at college I typically export most of my after
effects files as either MP4’s or as a QuickTime files depending on if I wish to upload them to YouTube.
Compression
Compression can either be lossy or lossless. No information is lost in lossless compression. With compression you should always
take into account what the preferred playback method. Most files that are uploaded on YouTube will be at 1080p and would use
the format of H.264 . For example at college I will upload files or videos onto YouTube and it is much easier to compress the file
as it streams the video online and therefore the uploading and viewing time will be shorter due to compression. I will typically
upload the file at format H: 264 and 1080P 25P.

18. Catalogue
[1] Nosferatu 1922 Symphony of Horror - Classic Horror. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d_Cb7yFaYU.
Last accessed 19th September 2017.
[2] Psycho Title Sequence. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4L9J-CUAl8
Last accessed 19th September 2017.
[3] Dr No. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD-YR-3KmyE
Last accessed 19th September 2017.
[4] James Bond Gunbarrels. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icWQ8udCVNA
Last accessed 21st September 2017.
[5] 1898 Melies. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzsdqsiJQ6Y
Last accessed 21st September.
[6] Michael Maher. (2015). How Matte Paintings are Composited into Film .Available: https://www.rocketstock.com/blog/visual-effects-
matte-paintings-composited-film/.
Last accessed 23rd September.
[7] Kristen Bialik. (2012). Keyed Out, Colored In: Chroma Chromatic Dreams. Available: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/network-
awesome/green-screen-history_b_1576851.html
Last accessed 23rd September 2017.
[8] Deadpool Visual Effects Breakdown. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8D_o8bOeOc.
Last accessed 23rd September 2017.
[9] Futureworld - CGI. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfRAfsK5cvU.
Last accessed 23rd September 2017.
[10] Michael Gallucci. (2014). Futureworld - A Look Back At The First Movie With 3D CGI. Available: http://diffuser.fm/futureworld-movie/.
Last accessed 23rd September 2017.
[11] David Crow. (2015). Jurassic Park: Still the Best Use of CGI in a Movie.Available: http://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/jurassic-
park/246791/jurassic-park-still-the-best-use-of-cgi-in-a-movie-steven-spielberg.
Last accessed 24th September 2017.
[12] Kelly Fine. (2013). This week in history: Toy Story and CGI. Available: https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/412181-this-week-in-
history-toy-story-and-cgi.
Last accessed 24th September 2017.
[13]
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19. Catalogue
[14] (2016). Stranger Things | Title Sequence | Netflix. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RcPZdihrp4
Last accessed 26th September.
[15] (2016). Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation Title Sequence. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QkpxpjY2F8.
Last accessed 26th September.
[16] Kirsten Acuna. (2017). Game Of Thrones without visual effects.Available: http://www.thisisinsider.com/game-of-thrones-lannister-
dragon-battle-without-visual-effects-2017-8.
Last accessed 26th September 2017.
[17] (2017). Loot Train Attack. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE2wcBeyNdk
Last accessed 26th September 2017.
.
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