Experimental Animation with Optical Sound

The Teaching Development Grant Experimental Animation with Optical Sound explores novel, digital approaches to the old, analogue technique of optical audio. It revisits the concept of the optical or photographic soundtrack in the context of experimental animation to open up opportunities for creative expression where the sound is generated directly from the image and strong synaesthetic film experiences can be crafted. By designing specific shapes, musical tones, melodies and rhythms can be composed visually. The project is rooted in the PIs artistic practice and research in visual music, audiovisual performance and abstract animation. The Co-I’s creative research in music, sound and sonification provides added rigour and insights in the delivery of this project. Teaching will be conducted by the PI through the undergraduate course SM2717 Abstract and Experimental Animation, in Semester B 2023/24 and Semester A 2024/25. The artworks created through this project will be presented in screenings and submitted to international film and animation festivals and media art exhibitions. The project’s findings will form the basis of a scholarly paper for conference presentation and publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal. This TDG leads to the creation of new knowledge and artworks through interdisciplinary research within contemporary media arts. It teaches students to think as artists and researchers who contribute to and directly shape the forefront of an international moving image culture. Film and media art festival participation raise the profile not just of our students but of the School of Creative Media and CityU as a whole.