Vector Based Animations

My second research assignment is looking at vector based animation.

These are the artworks I looked at:

Urbance by Steambot Studios

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrLdXY_lsy8&list=PLkw-h12KMtYl115hH9BzDeooFi2PNTwkH&index=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgZoSPNbwgk&list=PLkw-h12KMtYl115hH9BzDeooFi2PNTwkH&index=40

The Cat Piano by The People's Republic of Animation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj4RBmU-PIo&list=PLkw-h12KMtYl115hH9BzDeooFi2PNTwkH&index=11

Secret world of Kells  directed by Tomm Moore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMPhHTtKZ8Q&list=PLkw-h12KMtYl115hH9BzDeooFi2PNTwkH

Archer by FX Network
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x6KApzgtjU&list=PLkw-h12KMtYl115hH9BzDeooFi2PNTwkH&index=66

Vector animation usually has very clean lines with smooth and flowing movement. This effect can be used for a variety of work, from kids cartoons, to adult comedy shows, to more serious pieces.  The films I looked at were very different from each other.

Urbance, is a stylized but semi-realistic cartoon. Archer is also realistic, but has a flatter look. Archer's scenes play out like a sitcom, while Urbance's camera angles are very dynamic. Both portray action adventures but in quite different ways. The color palate of Urbance is contrasting dark rich tones with florescent bright colors. It gives the whole piece a futuristic urban look, and as it happens to be set in a city in the future this works very well. Archer uses a much wider range of colors, depending on the scene. It's characters are outlined by thick black strokes, that give the show it's very two dimensional appearance, especially when compared to Urbance's shaded three dimensional style.

The Cat Piano and the Secret World of Kells, both are less realistic than Archer and Urbance. Like Urbance, the Cat Piano's color scheme is very dark, using mostly dark blue, grays, and black, contrasted with a little bit of white. Unlike Urbance, the Cat's world is more abstract, though still in an urban setting. It's drawn in a way I can only describe as pointy, from the cats' features to the world around them. The Secret World of Kells also uses a style that is very basic shape oriented. It has a wide range of vibrant colors that give off a feeling of being alive. Like Archer each character has clear outlines around every feature, unlike Archer the lines do not draw attention to themselves. Each outline is a different color that best fits with the object it is encompassing, while giving a flat appearance not quite as dramatic as in Archer.