Six drawings of a character doing an action-type thing

Some ideas for a final project

Final project? Oh dear, what's that?

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, I was really intrigued by the idea of using some other medium than just pencil and pen. I really like the motion of the one animation shown in class (the one with the dancing figures, I can't recall the name), as well as the feel that the use of blended materials gave. I'm thinking that I might end up with a bland of traditonal (line drawn) animation with pastels to give a soft, even sort of color.

As for concept, I've felt really drawn to the more abstract animations that utilize shape and color to tell a story. I was thinking, however, of having the shapes morph into more recognizable things (I guess I love the idea of metamorphosis). So, as for a concept, I almost picture showing some sort of food chain - a predator and prey relationship between things. Granted, this might be really really ambitious, but I can picture it in my mind so well - one small thing manifests itself, is eaten, that thing is eaten, etc, etc. I'm thinking it might be a fun way to utilize animal locomotion to tell a recognizable story without words.

So, then, a recap:
1. Soft, fluid colors
2. Probably no lines
3. Focus on color (possibly music)
4. Animal locomotion
5. Predator/Prey relationships
6. Metamorphosis

Global Warming

Ten Critical Issues
1. Massive production of Carbon Dioxide and other green house gasses
2. New Technology and Old Habits - This limits how active people become in making changes
3. Warming of Ocean waters by a full degree (fahrenheit) since the 70's
4. Tropical storms that come as a result of warmer waters
5. Melting of polar ice caps - the only way the earth can deflect heat is diminishing!
6. Drought as a result of global warming - an imbalance of water distribution
7. Forest fires as a result of drought
8. Loss of delicate flora and fauna that cannot withstand the temperature changes
9. Introduction of tons of freshwater into saltwater oceans as a result of melting ice caps
10. Slowing of the Gulf Stream as a result of added freshwater

Ten Solutions to the Problem
1. Live greener - use solar energy, geothermal heat, etc. as a way to cut carbon production
2. Drive a hybrid car instead of a gas guzzler
3. Recycle - can be done with anything! Such as clothing, even!
4. Lessen your carbon footprint - move to a smaller house.
5. Live up, not out - skyscrapers have a smaller carbon footprint than any other type of dwelling
6. Share rides or ride the bus
7. Turn down the heat in the winter time and rely upon cross ventilation to cool your house in the summer, as opposed to the AC
8. Become a vegetarian - beef farms produce many greenhouse gasses
9. Plant Trees (or bamboo) - this helps to give off beneficial oxygen
10. Use the internet - this can help to reduce paper trails created by bills, etc.

Both this reading and An Inconvenient Truth scared me somewhat - it's frightening to think of how the damage that was started during the industrial revolution has caught up with humankind. I did, however, find the suggestions of how to improve our carbon output to be very interesting - if everyone was willing to do these small things, it seems that it would really help to save the environment, or to at least assuage further damage.