Step 1: Package Your Project

When you’re getting ready to release your project to the whole wide world, there are a couple of things you might need to do first. One of the first things you should do is make sure that your project is presented in a way that exudes professionalism. Using what you know about design, make it clear that everything in your film represents all you can give to whoever you are submitting your work to.

To even submit your film you should make it easy and safe, using a password-protected service is the best for that. You want to make the experience easy and simple for your client, but still safe for your work. Ensure that whatever link you are sending out works across multiple platforms, you never know where it might not work until you try.

The next step in presenting your project is giving a clear and legible title and still picture. These are absolutely vital for promoting your film and should not be rushed or barely worked on. Make sure that it presents the film in the proper tone as well, it might be the only thing a person might see that advertises your work.

A synopsis needs to be included to try and give a general idea of what people should expect. Make it short and sweet, it will be what people read after checking out your title in the first place. You already have them interested, now is the time to hook them and make them interested. The synopsis should also be the easiest and best way to answer the question “What is it about?”. If it answers that question you’ll have a satisfied possible viewer, making it also intriguing or exciting will make a possible viewer into a definite one. You should also keep what your tagline for the film will be during this process, making them work together is extremely beneficial.

Your submission will most likely ask for a director’s biographical statement. Keep it short and sweet, leading with your title and name. The rest of the bio should feature your accomplishments and some personal details that might help sell you as an expert on your film’s subject. You’ll also need a proper headshot so people can know what you look like.

Then comes the story of your film. People will want to know how and why you created your film. What was your inspiration? How were you able to use certain techniques? Talking about it should endear people to your project, giving them a behind-the-scenes look creates a point of connection. 

Step 2: Determine Where to Show Your Film

One of the more vital parts of displaying your project is finding the proper audience for it. If you give an audience that is known for more abstract films and serious tones, it might not be in your best interest to give them your goofy cartoon meant for kids. Making sure that your film winds up in the hands of an audience that will appreciate and talk about your film can determine whether it lives or dies. Starting your career with smaller events is the best way to go, building your way up by audience scale.

Step 3: Consider Skipping the Festival Route

Film festivals might not be for your film whatsoever, and that’s ok. Uploading to platforms like Vimeo might actually be the way you need to go to get your proper exposure. It will also increase your audience size from festival-goers to the entirety of the internet.

Step 4: Create Your Network

As we’ve discussed, your audience can either benefit or destroy your film. One thing that will help your film is by connecting with your peers. Other than helping you with projects down the road or currently, they can also help your exposure, and you there’s. If you prop up your friends or co-workers, you might find that people will look kindly on you and prop you up as well.

While getting ready to release your work, it would also be good to tease what your project is. Release some concept art, a character design or even a scene, but nothing too deep or substantial. This will get a conversation started and gather interest for some.

Step 5: Share and Repeat

Once you’ve released your work once or twice, keep going! Release to as many people as reasonably possible. This way you will begin to cast a wider net, this will be supported once the proper audience has seen your work and begun to talk about it. Keep going, make new works and keep sharing, the more people that know you for good reasons, the better!

Advanced Animation Examples

I have always loved this animation. I think it is so creative and unique, pushing an important message about safety in a goofy way, that catches the attention of the audience, but still relays the importance of their message.

Another great animation is the series Avatar the Last Airbender. From the animation to the heart of the story, everything is executed beautifully and the series will always be an example of storytelling I admire. This scene in particular is quite amazing. From the beauty of the animated fire to the display of each character and their personality, this scene is really a masterpiece.

Lastly, this stop motion animation has always been a movie I am impressed by. The time and effort that went into crafting every little detail that makes the story come to life is so impressive. I chose this scene in particular because of how expressive the character is and how this scene amplifies his emotions.

My GIF Series

To wrap up everything I have learned in motion graphics, I wanted to go back to where I started, with a series of GIFs. I used the knowledge I have gained to improve my GIFs, adding more motion to them and taking advantage of more program tools. I kept the fall theme throughout my GIFs and ended with a transition of the seasons! I created them all in several different programs, all starting in Procreate and being put together in either After Effects or Photoshop.

This first GIF was inspired by the spooky seasons and ghost sheet trend. Since October began, my social media feed has been filled with adorable pictures of dogs in sheets, posing and vibing with the Halloween mood. Taking inspiration from this, I created my own ghost dog, but having him actually be a ghost! I created the animation with him fading in and out, since he is just a ghost trying to take advantage of a Halloween treat.

This next GIF was also inspired by my social media feed, with everyone making some post with a caption “hello, pumpkin.” I took this phrase and put it in a fall setting of an old red truck carrying pumpkins.

This last GIF was actually inspired by a previous GIF I have made; an image of 3 pumpkins stacked on top of each other with leaves falling in the background. I thought I could turn the pumpkin stack into a sort of jack-o-lantern snowman, having each fade into the other with the changing of seasons.