Third International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

Animation as an art form and media has many tools to represent the abstract ideas and concepts of science into moving images and sounds. Scientifics have always needed the images to explain themselves and make their theory comprehensible to others, especially to non-science people. Carl Sagan in his series “Cosmos” understood the power of the audiovisual language, and saw in animation techniques the means to represent scientific content in a didactic way so everyday people could share the passion for the study and understanding of our nature. Professor Sebastian Pagueguy at the Design Department, Universidad de Chile, has been study this subject since 2014 and has come up with a workshop that summarizes the process of making an animated scientific divulgation piece. The workshop begins from the making of the script, based on the three acts structure know as “The Hero’s Journey” by Joseph Campbell. In parallel with the scientific method, the audience will understand how to simplify scientific language to make it accessible and friendly, with special remark on the “comic relieve” method. The workshop continues with the audiovisual production pipeline takes the script to life. From the Storyboard, the art direction and basic animation techniques. Using the tools Adobe After Effects and Smithmicro Moho 12, the audience will learn methods and techniques from the animation world and apply them to a scientific divulgation piece as part of a fun process.