If I was to go from zero to learning one tool/software for professional 2d video animation and editing (creating simple animation/transitions and splicing live/animated content) what should it be? [more inside]
posted by DaftMythic on Jan 28, 2013 - 4 answers

Can I Convert Video Footage to Animation? We are making a video documentary about college students and their attitudes towards dating and sex. Much of the documentary involves one interviewer interviewing different people on the same set. As you might guess, many of the potential subjects are reluctant to speak candidly onscreen, BUT, most of them will consent to their voices being used…I am wondering if there is some not-crazily-expensive way to take a video interview and, using some kind of software, animate it, turning the interviewer and subject into animated avatars. The animation does not have to be super super high quality—a fairly simple avatar for each of the people onscreen will do…We have a lot of technical and post-production people on the crew, so someone involved probably has access to almost any software program available…Any help—especially specific programs or plug-ins—would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
posted by laswingkid on Aug 30, 2012 - 12 answers

Valentine's Day video: I'm a really babe in the woods with video, but I'd like to make a loving video for my real babe in the woods, if you know what I'm saying. I'd like to add animated, circling, twittering birds, as an overlay to my video. You know, the kind cartoon characters see when the get hit on the head with a mallet or stove. [more inside]
posted by largecorp on Feb 10, 2012 - 4 answers

Looking for an animated film that went viral a few months ago. [more inside]
posted by Ms. Toad on Oct 1, 2011 - 2 answers

What are some good English-language TV shows for toddlers where the characters aren't speaking in overly affected voices? [more inside]
posted by holterbarbour on Aug 18, 2011 - 25 answers

Looking for outstanding examples of animations and videos that explain a difficult-to-understand concept or topic. Not KhanAcademy-type, but rather interactive Flash works or videos with 3D animation. [more inside]
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese on Jul 9, 2011 - 12 answers

I need to animate text (short quotes, one or two sentences each) for a video presentation. Are there any (free or cheap) softwares other than Keynote/Powerpoint that do this? [more inside]
posted by ddaavviidd on Apr 7, 2011 - 5 answers

I half-remember a music video from the early 90s (possibly late 80s) that featured stop-motion animation. Everything in the video was covered with what looked like magnetized iron filings. Does any one know the song and artist?
posted by catastropher on Mar 4, 2011 - 12 answers

I love RSA Animate videos. What makes these videos so great, and to what extent can I replicate this process in attempting to convey information on complex subjects in creating my own online content? [more inside]
posted by Muffpub on Nov 8, 2010 - 3 answers

Please link me to great (yet simple DIY) animated music videos. [more inside]
posted by bonobothegreat on Sep 29, 2010 - 4 answers

How difficult is it to create something like this? [more inside]
posted by AceRock on Sep 28, 2010 - 6 answers

Do you know this crudely animated stop-motion music video (or the song it is a video for)...can't remember the song, but part of the refrain is like "shake the house, shake the house" with female vocalist. Two characters standing outside of the house, with a nice tree in the side yard. I think its a love song or some other similar "you're crazy" kind of number but upbeat and fun!
posted by talljamal on Aug 26, 2010 - 3 answers

How do I make an animation involving text, still photos, and music? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer on Aug 12, 2010 - 4 answers

I'm looking for a particular video clip of a CGI animation of a biochemical process. [more inside]
posted by darkstar on Mar 24, 2010 - 8 answers

Flash animators: When I export my flash cartoon to quicktime, moving objects leave behind horrible artifacts. Apparently I am not the only one with this problem. If Flash's quicktime export is so crummy, how do the professionals publish their cartoons to video? [more inside]
posted by buriednexttoyou on Sep 26, 2009 - 12 answers

Looking for a good animated Biblical DVD for my five year old. [more inside]
posted by lynnie-the-pooh on May 30, 2009 - 9 answers

What's the easiest way to create HD-quality (1080x) animated maps for use with video? [more inside]
posted by nitsuj on Mar 19, 2009 - 3 answers

Art teacher / animation project / OS X 10.5 : I am using Handbrake to rip portions of DVDs into digital files. I would like to edit these files with Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 into 2-12 second segments. I need a little help figuring out how to do this properly, please. [more inside]
posted by Slothrop on Jan 30, 2009 - 4 answers

I bought some stock video footage of a dog on a green background which I plan to chroma key out. Then I want to morph seamlessly into a graphic - still with the background masked out! And I want to do this all in Flash! For my Christmas Card! Not a total newbie at all of this - details inside. [more inside]
posted by katyjack on Dec 2, 2008 - 3 answers

[video/printing filter]I want to take video from Final Cut Pro, export them, and then print them on a grid on paper. I know how to do the first part, but am confused about the printing. How do I do it? [more inside]
posted by history is a weapon on Jul 6, 2008 - 9 answers

I want to find a video I saw on YouTube about a year ago. It was a short animation about a pig with a song in Spanish. What is it called? [more inside]
posted by comfortinsound on Jun 28, 2008 - 1 answer

A few years ago I saw a music video with a female singer whose face had been blue screened into a animated scifi setting. The video was very cool despite its somewhat "Clutch Cargo" (or Johnny Chimpo if you prefer) vibe. Anybody have any idea what song it is?
posted by tcobretti on Jun 4, 2008 - 5 answers

Flash? After effects? Maya? Toon Boom? Something else? I want to make some very simple abstract animation videos. The simplest would be just full screens of solid colors fading slowly into each other. Slightly more complex would be the same full screens of colors fading into each other, but not all at once. That is, maybe start the fade in the center or corner, and slowly leak in the new color. Or another slightly more complex: The screen divided into multiple blocks of different color that slowly fade into other colors. Real simple, slow, mellow stuff. So, what's the right software for that? Thanks!
posted by The Dutchman on Apr 28, 2008 - 11 answers

What is the best software that can be used to create a vector animation of a business process for use in a video? (MI) [more inside]
posted by thedevildancedlightly on Dec 4, 2007 - 8 answers

Could someone show this Linux n00b to use ffmpeg to convert a folder full of PNGs to an MPEG? The system I'm running doesn't have Mencoder, and I don't have root (it's a Dreamhost shell account). Thanks!
posted by potch on Nov 26, 2007 - 2 answers

Please help me learn a few simple techniques in Blender. Including outputting an animation to video. [more inside]
posted by austinlee on Oct 4, 2007 - 1 answer

What's the quickest, easiest way to turn a directory of sequentially numbered JPG files into a video file? Linux or Windows. [more inside]
posted by Jimbob on Jul 14, 2007 - 12 answers

How do I convert a (simple) SMIL file into an mpeg (or anything else I can upload to YouTube)? [more inside]
posted by DU on Mar 6, 2007 - 3 answers

Name that animated internet meme [more inside]
posted by Milkman Dan on Sep 29, 2006 - 5 answers

I am looking for the title/artist/director of a 90s animated music video that takes place in space. [more inside]
posted by Binliner on Jun 20, 2006 - 7 answers

Music/VideoFilter: Looking for the name of a music video with a Mexican Day of the Dead theme. [more inside]
posted by MasonDixon on Mar 13, 2006 - 9 answers

I used to make little movies in Flash. Nothing big, just fun little projects. I'd like to start making them again, and was wondering if there are any alternatives to Flash. [more inside]
posted by soplerfo on Dec 6, 2005 - 6 answers

Video question: I'm working on some homebrewed video animation pieces on my mac. Basically, using matlab to output a stack of images that I then use Quicktime to turn into a movie. The final product of which will be burnt onto a DVD using iMovie and iDVD. Question: what resolution and framerate shoud I be outputting to prevent these apps from having to resample my movie, in either space or time? [more inside]
posted by garethspor on Sep 16, 2005 - 7 answers

I am looking for short videos | animations that show good information design. They could be scientific, engineering, educational or even artistic, as long as they provide clear demonstrations and explanations about dynamic processes, and do so with some graphic / 3d / animation flair. [more inside]
posted by signal on Apr 29, 2005 - 6 answers