In this unlikely story, we examine the seemingly uninteresting operations of a flash drive. We paint the world of a librarian operating a physical library that governs the use of the flash drive’s content. The opening scenes describe the basic functions of the library, detailing a shield system that ensures the security of the library’s content. The caveat, however, is that these shields depend on proper operation of flash drive ejection. Inevitably, the drive’s user does not follow these rules (as many do) and the library falls into chaos. The librarian tries as hard as they can to restore order, but once they do, are once again presented with a misbehaving user. Exhausted from an immense amount of effort, the librarian decides to find a better way. This leads to a robotic arm system that carries out the librarian’s job, improving the operation of a technological system (an incredibly prevalent societal theme)

Stop motion and live action footage used to create a narrative about a creature who is in over their head after purchasing a new kitchen appliance.

Hi garth and suzie  

For this project, we aimed to show the growth and also cycle of life of a blob. The focus was on more of the internal structure of the creature.

For the internal structure we had sown together water beads which we lit internally and externally. The transitions was mainly from the smaller creature eating beads and then a larger creature eating the sleeping smaller creature.

We utilized mechanized forward movement and slightly vibration and external stirring of beads.

Originally we wanted to change the colors of the trees to show seasonal changes and the growth of the blob, but we realized it would be more interesting to see the consumption of the blob and to focus on the internal structure.

Finally the environment we created for the blob was a forest scene with painted backdrop. We felt this environment would work well with changing the lighting for the different times of the day. We adjusted lighting all manually by changing between gels to create different times of the day.

Blob – Stockings, with water Beads.

Sounds – used with pancake mix, egg crates, whistle, recording of birds, jacket, recycled patterned paper

For this character assignment, we created a drag ostrich. It is ostentatious in nature and flirts with itself in the mirror and to the camera. We digitally animated the eyelids with two separate servos and manually manipulated the head and body by hand. We had one puppeteer moving the head from above marionette style and another puppeteer moving the body from below.

Here’s a closer look at how we built Miss Mary. We started with some balled up paper towels and attached the servos to it. Once the servos were functioning properly, we attached the eyelids and eyes and built the rest of the head around it. After the head was completed, we attached the neck made from a slinky and the feather boa wrapped tin foil body.

Character study with two stepper motors, monofilament line, and a spring. Automated motor movement programmed in Python.

Video by: Cora, Davey, Felipe, Melodie, Michelle

Behind the Scenes

Our goal was to recreate the scene of a horror house. We utilized a filter on the lights to recreate the red tint with lighting rather than through edit. We created 2D characters to fit the doll house because the stillness would help the suspense. We also enjoy the slow motion of the robot to recreate walking towards a path. We didn’t want to go a direction that felt like wasn’t in first person because it was less connectable.