Dot. The world's smallest stop-motion animation character shot on a Nokia N8

[amarjyoti]

Cute Video
Dot. The world's smallest stop-motion animation character shot on a Nokia N8
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD7eagLl5c4)

[ysss]

Thanks for sharing that.
It's pretty amazing.

[cfh11]

That was freaking awesome. I would pay $$$ for a video game that looked like that.

[aligatro]

I doubt that it was made using N8, but I am not saying that it's impossible. Just too much time wasted on clicking a button and then saving a photo somewhere. Then copying all of the files to the hard drive. They probably used some professional camera with direct image upload to a computer. Nevertheless , it's a nice vid.

[ysss]

@alligatro: if you watch til the end, you'll see the lens + rig they use with N8 hooked up to it.

[aligatro]

@alligatro: if you watch til the end, you'll see the lens + rig they use with N8 hooked up to it.


I saw it, but it doesn't prove anything. This video is one of those "viral videos". Nokia made a cool video, everyone is gonna link it now. Linking this video to your friends or people on forums = free advertisement. Clever no ?

[ysss]

I'm glad that you've learned of the benefit of viral videos ;)

Judging from the previous N8 sample photos/videos released and reading about its technical (photo related) capabilities, I don't think they need to fake this process at all.

[MINKIN2]

That was awesome. Well worth watching a fourth time :)


@Aligatro

I'm not sure if you are aware of the company mentioned in the credits there but *Aardman are a very respected animation studio with a huge portfolio of Stop Motion movies to back them up. They would never put their name to some hoax as you may beleive this to be.


...Now that reminds me. I need to buy some cheese.

[aligatro]

I'm glad that you've learned of the benefit of viral videos ;)

Judging from the previous N8 sample photos/videos released and reading about its technical (photo related) capabilities, I don't think they need to fake this process at all.

I wasn't saying that N8 can't take picture of such quality. I was saying that it would take MUCH longer to make each still frame using N8.So, I see no reason to spend more time to get the job done. If you were offered to take a plane or a train. [Ticket prices are the same.] What you choose?

[Bundyo]

The one that fits better with my budget. The same goes for Aardman. I'm sure Nokia pays them a hefty sum for this promo video.

[ysss]

@aligatro:

Chances are the 'pro' rig functions the same anyway. They take sequential pictures and dump them all on a storage device to be processed. Granted the pro rig may take higher resolution RAW pictures with higher capacity storage and the shutter button is placed in a more convenient location.

For a viral video that Nokia pays a hefty sum though?
It shouldn't be a problem to bear the N8's limitations for the duration of this project.

The post processing is most likely not on the N8 anyway. They never claimed that.

[aligatro]

The one that fits better with my budget. The same goes for Aardman. I'm sure Nokia pays them a hefty sum for this promo video.

Ok and what if the plane and other expenses for it were payed off in advance? (Professional cameras,lights, etc) Why would he take a train? (N8) Nokia offered him a fix amount of money and told him what they want. I don't think Nokia cares about how the video was made, as long as it looks as if it was made using N8. So, why would he spend more time on one project when he can finish it faster and start working on another project.

@aligatro:

Chances are the 'pro' rig functions the same anyway. They take sequential pictures and dump them all on a storage device to be processed. Granted the pro rig may take higher resolution RAW pictures with higher capacity storage and the shutter button is placed in a more convenient location.

For a viral video that Nokia pays a hefty sum though?
It shouldn't be a problem to bear the N8's limitations for the duration of this project.

The post processing is most likely not on the N8 anyway. They never claimed that.

I just don't see a reason to work longer on something.

[ysss]

I just don't see a reason to work longer on something.

Authenticity.

So you don't get sued for false advertising claims.

Cause it's cool to do crazy stuffs from time to time. Artists dig that.

So they can show "making of" videos or some behind the scene pictures.




It's no big deal. It's a very short feature.

[ysss]

Dot. The Making of.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTbzSiwbRfg

Cellscope attachment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIdRaMJpFmM

Dot entry at Aardman's website:
http://www.aardman.com/about-us/news-events/aardman-create-world-record-breaking-film-for-nokia/

Nokia blog entry:
http://blogs.nokia.com/entertainment/2010/09/aardmans-dot-shot-on-the-nokia-n8/

It apparently qualifies for a Guinness World Record too, so the whole process must've been verified by them to be authentic.

[sjgadsby]

They probably used some professional camera with direct image upload to a computer.

Or a bit of custom software the N8, the computer, or both to accomplish the same thing.

[aligatro]

Or a bit of custom software the N8, the computer, or both to accomplish the same thing.

Yea, that what they probably had.

[ysss]

4 seconds of footage shot per day.

4 x 24 fps = 96 shots a day...

[aligatro]

4 seconds of footage shot per day.

4 x 24 fps = 96 shots a day...

+ number of shots that they screwed up/didn't like. :P

[ysss]

+ number of shots that they screwed up/didn't like. :P

Do check out their 'making of' video..

[aligatro]

Do check out their 'making of' video..

How much do they pay you? xD Joking. I saw it, but still could be misleading as much as the video itself. But the world records thing, yea the video was probably made using N8, but we still can't be sure if they used custom software or not.

[sjgadsby]

...we still can't be sure if they used custom software or not.

We can.

Dot. was uploaded to YouTube on August 31. The four seconds per day estimate puts shooting time at about five weeks. Post adds more time.

As I write this, the N8 still hasn't shipped.

Whatever software the N8 was running for this project was custom by necessity.

[ysss]

I'm kind of skeptical with the 'custom software' part.. I agree that due to its timing (as sjgadsby pointed out) that any software they use around that time would have to be 'custom' by nature; but they would not need much 'custom features' to create this feature.

It could only be a custom build of the official camera app.

The only non conventional 'custom feature' that they need may be translucent/flip-book like feature. But that is not mandatory either, due to all the rigs they use and post processing capabilities they already have.