Possible finished template for final sequence

Since having the feedback from the animation students, I went back and improved the transitions and cut out some confusing shots. Overall I much happier with the pacing of this animation and its ability to clearly illustrate the narrative.

 I was initially concerned that taking out long transitions would shorten the animation. However after making some changes, there was very little effect on the length of the film, at the most 5 seconds difference. Looking back, the repetition of the fade in/out transitions dragged out the pacing. For example, when the previous sequence was showed to the animation students, they kept on mistaking long fade outs to being the end of the animation. This of course then lost the suspense needed to keep the viewer 'intrigued' about the unfolding of events. On another note, I found that the long transitions were damaging the structure of the narrative (i.e beginning, middle and end). This was because each fade in/out transition gave the impression of a change in scene, when sometimes the shots with this transition needed to give the impression that they happening in the same period of time.

 In addition to the change in the transitions, I have added the chair scene to the end of the animation to end on a reflective note. I definitely feel that ending with the bear reveal was a little sudden. So, in effect, the chair scene gives the audience time to process the climax of the narrative, before the end credits roll up. Also the empty chair suggests to the audience that the character's beauty is being stolen from her. This emphasises the suggestion of her vanity in the shots of her putting on make up and brushing her hair. By ending the animation with this shot, I am essentially stating that the character has realised her beauty has been stolen and is left feeling lost in the world, vulnerable to life's tribulations.

Also, I made some slight changes to the sequence. This includes reversing the original animation of the character's initial reaction to her legs. I found that the transition wasn't quite right as the legs were in a different position in one shot to the next. However, when watching the original animation, I discovered that if i reversed it, the legs would be in correct position to transition into the different viewpoint. Here is the original video and the remastered version.

(Original)

(Reversed version).