Mind-map!

So I've been brainstorming some ideas about what sort of Stop Motion video I want to create, I've uploaded it for you to see, I have literally put down every idea I have, not in any detail but overall design ideas. Some ideas are contrasting, but of course i will eventually eliminate one or the other, nearer the time and once i have a strong clear idea to what i am creating. The words in pink, are the things i will be trying to ensure regardless of what i choose to do!

Click on the mind map to make it bigger!!!

My own Stop Motion

I have already created 2 stop motion videos as part of my college course; the first was an advert promoting an Apple MacBook Pro, and the second was a Music Video, for Bruno Mars Count on me. Both videos are similar yet different, i think that it is important  to include them at this stage of my research, so i can use them as a development and reflective stage in my project.

2D or 3D?

Okay so there are a variety of different options I have in regards to how I make my video, I have seen many stop motion animations which are 2D, however there are also many stop motion videos which are 3D. So i now need to consider for my final major project whether I am going to create a 3D animated piece or 2D.
Here are some examples of both, 2D and 3D animations:

The video above is an example of a 2D animation, its Drawn Stop Motion.

The video 'The Little Red Plane' is an example of a 3D animation, it's a short story, all created out of knitting.

Layering Sections-Turning 2D to 3D.

I think that it would be effective to possibly try to layer up the background, mid ground and foreground in a 2D stop motion video. I hope that it would allow me to create a 3D element, within a 2D world. For example if I were to create a static background on a piece of paper, and place a piece of transparent material (plastic or glass) on top then create a mid ground (characters & props) and again place the glass or plastic on top and then create things in the foreground (trees, flowers etc.) and then move the individual layers, however to give this effect there would ne3ed to be a gap between the transparent layer and each of the other layers to be able to create this effect, and the camera would have to look down and through each layer to establish a 3D effect. I have no idea whether it would be as effective as just creating one layer, however it was an idea that I felt may allow me to be original amongst the other work already out there.

Innovation-Angles!

I have been looking at a few different videos online to get a feel of what sort of thing is 'out there' already. I've noticed that when creating 3D videos people have become more innovative with their angles, trying to make the animation more realistic.

This video is called scacchi clay stop motion - chess clay stop motion  and was found on YouTube, it was created by Italian stop motion animator Riccardo Crocetta.

Throughout the video Crocetta uses a variety of shots, these include Ariel shots-looking over the game, low shots-allowing the viewer to feel as though they are in the game. High angled close ups, low angled close ups, medium shots and medium close ups. By including a variety of shots means it captures the attention of the viewer for longer, and also allows the viewer to be drawn in creating a realism of the overall video, and it also helps the viewer to 'forget' it is all animated.

Video taken from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXM3wrIhcwY