Ever notice entertainment seems to be getting a bit more entertaining? I suppose there are many different facets that deserve credit, but one in particular has been stealing the spotlight.
I am referring to Motion Graphics. Motion has not only managed to bridge a few gaps in the entertainment and advertising industries; it has also placed itself at the top as a key asset.
Motion Graphics doesn’t really have an exact starting place in history, but you can pick up the trail of one of the most important pioneers as early as the ’50s with the title sequence of Hitchcock’s “Vertigo”. The man responsible was Saul Bass and his evolutionary work creating opening and closing credits for film has changed the industry forever.
Today when I go to the movies, I keep it parked until the credits are over. We also find Motion completely dominating TV. The opening to your favorite show, the commercials in-between breaks, and even the network you are watching it on.
Do you like ESPN? How about in HD? That’s even better, but I guarantee ESPN wouldn’t be the same without the sleek animated graphics that highlight your favorite player and his stats. So what is it about Motion Graphics that makes it the right choice over other mediums? The answer to that in my opinion is FLEXIBILITY. It can be as informative as print and as entertaining as film. It can stand alone, or it can live alongside live action film or the web. It can be part of a kiosk or a scientific explanation. Its versatility allows it to take on any style, any feel, any place.
Any place? That is an interesting idea. Usually everything relating to film or TV is from the coast, right? Well, that really isn’t the case anymore. Technology has come a long way over the years and you don’t have to be in a big Hollywood studio to pull off these sort of effects. In fact, Motion Graphics is constantly being outsourced around the world. Agencies depend on other agencies that specialize in Motion to complete work for their clients.
So when will the wave of Motion Graphics hit the Midwest? Well if you were waiting to see it sweep across the plains, you may be disappointed. It happened already. In fact, when it happened it was instantaneous around the world. The real question is when will the Midwest start to see it for what it is, use it and embrace it?
