Motion Graphics and Compositing / Project 1

 April  29, 2025 - May 30, 2025

29.04.2025 - 30.05.2025 / Week2 – Week6

Ryoma Kato / 0365874

Motion Graphics and Compositing / Bachelor of design (Honours) in Creative Media

MIB

WORK

For Project 1, we have two things to do. First is making an original Motion Graphics about Movement, Hierachy, Balance, Direction, Symmetry, Focus, Scale and Rhythm. And second thing, we need to compositing the video by using those motion graphics that I made at first step.

Task1

For the task 1 fist step, lecture told us that make motion graphics Balance, Symmetry, Focus and Rhythm first, so I start to make motion graphics from Symmetry.

This is the editing screen in the after effect. This is symmetry editing screen and the parameter setting is like this. This motion graphic's image reference is eye. So first, I make a diamond shape and adjusted the scale parameters to make it look like the eye is blinking. After that, I put the circle inside the diamond shape and added motion to the circle to correspond with the diamond shape that was previously animated to resemble a blinking motion. In addition to the previously added movements, I also added motion to the circle inside the diamond shape to move it left and right, making it look like the eyes are shifting side to side.

Next, I tried to make Scale motion graphic. For the scale motion graphic, I used three rectangles that change to different sizes at the same timing, creating a shifting point of focus. I intentionally avoided any pattern in the timing of the size changes, so I couldn’t simply copy and paste keyframes — everything had to be adjusted manually, which was quite challenging.

In creating the motion graphics for RHYTHM, I made a scene where a ball bounces off moving walls. The speeds and directions of the four walls were varied individually, and the ball’s movement was given acceleration and deceleration instead of moving at a constant speed.

For the focus edit, the only idea I could come up with was to guide the viewer’s eyes to the center. To achieve this, I used an "X" shape to draw attention toward the middle, and I also made the central circle expand and shrink in sync with the "X" effect so that the viewer’s gaze would naturally be drawn to the center.

Next, for the movement edit, I created a motion where a rectangle pops out from a square and crawls like a caterpillar to another square.

For the hierarchy motion, I started with an animation where identical rectangles of the same size and length move in. Then, each one transforms and changes shape, eventually forming a pyramid structure to represent the concept of hierarchy.

For the balance motion graphic, I created a scene where a board is balancing on a ball, moving like a seesaw. Instead of simply swaying left and right, I adjusted the swing range and speed to better capture the feeling of the board struggling to maintain its balance.

Finally, for the direction motion, I created an animation where triangles appear one by one from the bottom left in a regular pattern. In the end, a total of nine triangles are formed and come together neatly to close the motion.

Task2

For Task2, we need to remix the compositing and make a Motion Graphic video. 

This is the completed video.

Reference is below.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl3LZHXI-sM

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M01Q59fDGV4

In the Compose section of Task 2: Remix, I combined motion graphics that were mainly designed to draw the viewer’s attention toward the center of the video. However, I felt that relying solely on center-focused visuals made the composition less engaging. So, from around 7 to 9 seconds, I spread the motion more widely across the entire frame to guide the viewer’s gaze across the screen. Then, I gradually directed the focus back to the center, bringing the video to a close.

REFERENCE

In Project 1, I was able to learn the basic concepts, principles, and actual production process of motion graphics. Until now, I often wondered how motion graphics in TV programs, advertisements, and YouTube openings were created. Through this class, I gained a clearer understanding of how these visuals are made, which was a very refreshing and valuable experience.

What left the biggest impression on me was realizing that every single movement of each element carries meaning, and that visual design aspects such as composition, rhythm, and eye guidance are crucial. Through the assignments, I came to appreciate the depth of “communicating through movement,” and I was able to feel the unique appeal of motion graphics as a tool for delivering information — different from regular animation.

By learning the basic operations of After Effects and experimenting hands-on with motion principles such as balance, hierarchy, and direction, I also developed more practical skills.

I hope to apply the foundational knowledge and technical skills I gained in Project 1 to future projects, including Project 2 and more advanced tasks. I want to continue deepening my understanding so I can take on more complex and creative expressions moving forward.