Lion Locomotion

Since I've chosen to animate the lion, I researched into the way the animal moves. I found Eadweard Muybridge's Descriptive Zoopraxography really helpful. He thoroughly studied the movement of animals through electro-photographic investigation in 1872.

I used this Zoopraxiscope of a lion walking as a helpful guideline as it captures each stage of the lions body as it walks, also when the dial is turned it becomes an animation. 

Planning

At first I had the idea that the animation would show a hand coming into the screen which would drop and a few coins, the 10p coin would roll away so that it would be the focus. However I decided that intro isn't really relative to the animation so I cut it out and I'm going to start the animation with the coin rolling into the frame. Maybe there will be the sound of coins dropping beforehand. I also had so trouble decided which coin I wanted to focus on, it was between the £1 coin with the dragon or the 10p coin with the lion. To solve this problem I listed each coins pros and cons and decided that the 10p coin would prove to have more meaning in terms of the narrative. I was drawn to the dragon at first because I could experiment with it flying and I had the idea that as it was flying the cityscape of London could pass by at the bottom of the frame, however this idea would just be visually pleasing. With the lion I feel the animation would be more of a statement, as the lion is meant to represent the Pride of Britain but I would represent it in a playful manor with the animal letting out a meow rather that a mighty roar.

Joanna Quinn

I found that this animation by Joanna Quinn really related to my idea. The fact that this animation shows the pride of Britain but portrays it in a really playful way and in the form of an animal is very similar to my idea of the lion in the coin coming to life and representing Britain in all its glory but in an ironic sort of way because the lion will just be a playful feline.

 



 

I also found this video on youtube of Joanna Quinn working. It was really insightful to see how she animates. Her work is very expressive and you can see how she does it which I found really interesting. With my idea I need to research into the way lions and cats move to make my animation a true portrayal. Although for this project I don't think it's neccessary for it to be 100% accurate in terms of movement just as long as you get the idea and the feeling of the movements.

Coin Collector

I found my dads coin collection the other day it has a variety of different coins from all over the world, countries include South Africa, Singapore, America, Dubai, Philippines and many more. I looked closely at the markings and illustrations. Many included side profiles of important people, there were crests, flowers, trees, fish, buildings, boats, jugs, kangaroos, eagles, antelopes etc. Like our coins, the images related to the country they belonged to. It was very interesting looking at coins from countries i haven't even been to, however I think my animation will just be based on British coins since we are in England and it will relate more to the viewer. Hopefully it will make them look again at their loose change.

Ideas

I was thinking that my animation could involve these illustrations, maybe bring them to life so that the viewer can understand a bit about the nature of these symbols, maybe they'll leave the coins completely so that what's left are just meaningless bits of copper.

Symbolism

1p (copper)

Issue Date-15 February 1971

-the illustration on a 1p coin shows the portcullis of Westminster Palace

2p (copper)

Issue Date-15 February 1971

-Prince of Wales feathers

5p (silver)

Issue Date-Current and smaller version - June 1990
(Larger version introduced 1968, demonetised 1990)

-the thistle is a symbol of Scotland, on top of the thistle is the British crown

10p (silver)

Issue Date-Current and smaller version - September 1992
(Larger version introduced in 1968, demonetised in 1993)

-a lion, a proud symbol of Britain's strength, wearing the British crown

 

20p (silver)

Issue Date-9 June 1982

-Tudor Rose, national flower of England, British crown on top

50p (silver)

Issue Date-Current and smaller version introduced September 1997
(Larger version introduced October 1969, demonetised in 1998)

-Britannia (symbol of Britan) and a lion

£ 1 (gold)

Issue Date-21 April 1983

-There are many different pictures on the £1 coin to reflect the different countries of Britain: lions for England, a thistle for Scotland and a leek for Wales.

£ 2 (gold and silver)

Issue Date-15 June 1998

-The design of the 2 pound coin represents technological development. The edge lettering features the quote "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" by Sir Isaac Newton

The letters D.G.REG.F.D. appear after the Queen's name on the edge of the coins. The letters stand for the Latin words Dei Gratia Regina Fidei Defensor, which means 'By the Grace of God, Queen, Defender of the Faith'.

Change of Object

I've had some trouble choosing an object to base this project around. The wine glass was good for the joint project as the two objects had substance in common. But on its own I'm finding it hard to get ideas, and I dont find it that interesting. I've dabbled on obects such as maps, dolls, lighters and playing cards but I think I'm going to settle on something more simple so that I can expand on it. My final object is going to be coins. I was looking through what I had in my bag and there was a bunch of stray coins, I looked at them closely observing the markings on them, there was a dragon, a robed woman holding some sort of branch and more notably the queens head. I realised I had no idea why these images were chosen or what they symbolised, in fact this was probably the first time I had properly looked at the coins that I nearly always have on me.