Tail lights in Otomo's Akira

[Matt Winchell]

Bruce,

This particular case from Akira isn't mimicking a film technique, it  
is instead animating the photographic effect described below by Kurt.  
While David is correct in his description of how you *could*  
accomplish this, the effect as seen in Akira could not be reproduced  
in-camera in the real world due. That is, the effect can only be done  
in still photography, and traditional and CG animation.

The technique isn't borrowed from motion pictures,  it's rather using  
animation to bring a technique from still photography into the  
'fourth dimension'. Can anyone think of any other examples of this  
animation technique being used in other films? I'm pretty sure it is  
unique to Akira and most likely originated with Otomo.

Check out this site for lots of still pictures of the technique and  
some videos of live action stop motion to which replicates the effect  
seen in Akira in a video piece.
http://tropist.wordpress.com/2007/06/

Cheers,

-Matt Winchell


On Oct 30, 2007, at 2:43 AM, David Blair wrote:

> hi Bruce,
>
> I think you already mentioned shutter angle, but just to pass by  
> that point again....
> the frame stands still for something like 1/24th sec,
> the iris controls exposure,
> and so does the angle of the shutter opening...
> ie the flat disk rotating parallel to the film,
> on which you can open or close a wedge-shaped hole.
> Large angle means that fast moving objects are exposed longer,
> and they can blur or even smear...
> that can be taillights, or even the image on a tv screen.
>
> hope that is both correct and clear,
>
> best,
> David
>
>
> Bruce Baird wrote:
>> I thank Kurt for this response, but also want to press a bit  
>> further.  I understand the mechanics of how you do this in still  
>> photography.  But does anyone know how you do this in motion  
>> pictures?  Can you leave the aperture open when the film is  
>> passing behind the aperture to be exposed at 24 frames per second?
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Bruce
>