The Making Of Slow Train..

Although it may look like a very simple clip the process behind the animated video of Slow Train was quite extraordinary and certainly was an eye opener to the tedious and clever world of animation.

The director and chief animator was found through London School of Animation. Kim Alexander was a 2007 graduate whose treatment Alex loved as soon as reading.

The plot of the story which most of you would have picked up by now was a couple breaking up but their shadows refusing to part. As well as the beautiful emotional aspect of this clip Kim suggested some interesting techniques to create the look of the clip.


See above some of the original drawings of the treatment, Kim and her team used natural objects such as lavendar and bark on trees to create the colour and texture in the background of the clip.


From these simple pictures the initial animatic was done, simple drawings that show the overall movement and camera angle of the clip. Not knowing the process of animation Alex wondered what the finished product of this clip would be like how is it going to work?

The next step, a long photo shoot capturing the silhouette of different people from which to trace the characters every move. Then its to the drawing board where over 6,500 frames needed to be drawn, with 14 characters in the whole clip it becomes around 40,000 individual drawings!!

Slowly each scene was pieced together and lastly backgrounds and gaps were filled in. Over 8 weeks in the making, some 35,000 sheets of animation punched paper and lots of people to thank for their incredible work to make a thought provoking artistic video clip. Heres the list of credits for the clip, a big thank you to all of you!!!

Slow Train
4m22s animated music video

Kim AlexanderDirector, Art Director and Animator

Tamara LesniewskaAnimator

Tim McCourtAnimator

Michal Konstantynowicz Animator

Simon TestroAnimator

Maja HillAnimator

Daniel M.C.AlviteAnimator

Joanna RodziewiczScanner


With a huge thanks to:

Daniel Alexander Photographer

Jack McGinity at RushesPost Production

Denny Cooper at RushesColour Correction


Also with thanks to:

Tom Lockwood for After Effects advice
Asa Lucander for advice and clean up
Dave Anderson and Tom Mortimer at 12foot6 for advice and paper
Philip Crawley and Hannah Cohen for equipment loan and technical support
Laura Crawfurd and Anne Alexander for advice and support and Miron Lesniewska

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Alex
• LLoyd
• Slow
• Train

[Draggles]

Ah this is amazing! Its great to see what went into, what is by quite a margin, my favourite song of the year. Good stuff =)

Kinda sane, but a little mad.