The educational film “Artwork in Motion” by the Calvin Company, a producer of industrial films, likely dates back to the late 1950s/early 1960s. It was part of a series of “Workshop” films aimed at promoting the company to potential clients, and educating the public. The film provides an overview of animation techniques used in industrial and educational films, including optical effects, pop-up animation, wipe-off animation, cycle animation, and more. It also highlights common presentation mistakes and offers “do’s and don’ts” for information delivery. The Calvin Company, founded in 1931 by Forrest and Betty Calvin, was based in Kansas City. For nearly half a century, it was one of the largest and most successful film producers of its type in the USA.
(00:21) Title: “Artwork in Motion: A Calvin Workshop Film”
(00:35) Man working on animation drawing
(00:48) Artist using precision equipment to photograph drawings for animation
(01:04) Demonstrating optical effect animation with fading visual material
(01:21) Footage of technique preparation
(01:25) Animator preparing layered drawing elements
(01:35) Close-up of exposing the drawings
(02:20) Pop-up animation demonstration, new material emerging over a drawing
(02:33) Animator preparing pop-up animation.
(02:46) Continuous exposure of drawings in the intended order
(03:14) Demonstrating sudden emergence of new material onto a pre-existing drawing (pop-up animation)
(03:25) Wipe-off animation demonstration with movement between London, New York, Dakar, and Cuba
(03:46) Close-up of technique creation, artist completing the drawing
(03:57) Footage of drawing on animation stand, camera exposing the final scene first and then working backwards
(04:33) Footage of wipe-off animation showing travel routes
(04:44) Another example with a line drawing of a family
(05:02) Demonstration of cycle animation showing repeated movement
(05:16) Close-up of artist’s hands preparing cycle animation of a piston
(05:27) Cycle animation exposed on animation stand
(05:38) Final result
(05:48) Animator drawing a character for straight-ahead animation
(05:54) Flip-through of character drawings, each one unique, for straight-ahead animation
(06:22) Demonstrating visual illusions through single-frame exposures
(06:40) Demonstrating camera pan creating the illusion of movement
(07:02) Straight-cutting drawings of short scenes giving the impression of movement, example features stereotypical representations of Native Americans
(07:59) Animation of a sailor on a ship using a looking glass
(08:34) Footage of a man using an SS Diesel Massey-Harris lawn mower
(08:45) Footage of an engine
(08:51) Animation of the storage of petroleum gas
(09:07) Animation of flower growth
(09:14) Animation of chemical action inside a storage battery
(09:29) Animation of pulsating circles expanding from Omaha, Nebraska
(09:39) Animation of concrete coating for an underwater pipe
(10:10) Animation with excessive visual material, a common error
(10:20) Another error: material too small
(10:28) Another error: excessive lettering
(10:42) Another error: pulsation
(10:52) Another common error: jump backs
(11:03) Footage of three animators working together
(11:15) Artists using a storyboard
(11:33) Close-up of animation pegs and cell punches
(11:40) Footage of an exposure sheet and animation stand
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
