Bishop Nick "Our Story" Mini Documentary: Cut Out Animation Techniques & Inspiration

I want to create an innovative historical documentary skinny of Bishop Nick from the perspective of the Ridley family and their long associated history with brewing from Bishop Nick through to Nelion Ridley today. This will go in their "About Us" section on the web-site and convey this long association with brewing in a funny, quirky, pacey and memorable way. One way I am considering doing this is using cut out animation techniques and the handmade quality, clash of source images and craft feel of it which I feel will work well with the company branding and image.

Below are some examples of the films I researched for ideas and inspiration. I will show these to my client to give them an idea of the mood, tone and feel I am going for.

This animation below simply entitled "Collage - Cut Out Animation" demonstrates one of the techniques I am considering applying. The techniques is a very old one and involves cut outs being animated moving around the frame. Today it is easy to recreate and be more innovative with it using Adobe After Effects and rather than simply playing around with the animation on a flat plane use the foreground and middle ground as well as the flat background. The interplay and variety of sources of image and juxtaposition of these can be really interesting.





Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame was also a pioneer of the cut-out animation technique combining fun visuals with a real sense of humour. The "Miracle of Flight" and "Monty Python Versus Animation" both below illustrate this excellently.

"To Thee Moon" is another excellent example of this technique. Again the juxtaposition of images and basic nature and "handmade quality" of bering crafted shine through. The film also has a darker feel that I may able to draw upon for elements of my idea.