Beware!
My Role: All (solo project)
A project focused on type in motion and motion graphics using After Effects and Illustrator. It explores the legacy of Mary Shelley through a quote from her novel, Frankenstein. One can feel stronger and more confident if they let go of their fears, as Frankenstein’s monster realizes after breaking away from fear.
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Initial Styleframes:
After Effects Work
Introduction
I chose to do a motion graphics project on an author I admire: Mary Shelley, the author of “Frankenstein”, published in 1818. The quote I want to focus on is “Beware; for I am fearless and therefore powerful.” In the novel, it is said by Frankenstein’s monster threatens Frankenstein after being rejected from society and by his creator. Mary Shelley began "Frankenstein" on a stormy night as part of a horror writing challenge.​
Ideation
I wanted to highlight the intensity of this quote and how it is meant to inspire awe and fear. The story of Frankenstein is to do with a reanimated corpse created by a scientist that is ridiculed and rejected from society.
The quote can be read in the context of Frankenstein’s monster's anger and despair. However, it can also be interpreted separately from the story as an inspiring quote. Therefore, I want to convey that by having Frankenstein related imagery, but also emphasizing the words “Beware", "fearless", and "powerful.”
Storyboard
Audience Profile:
My primary audience is people who have read “Frankenstein”. They could be people who perhaps read it in school or on their own time. They will be familiar with the themes of reanimation, societal rejection, and the paranormal. They will also likely recognize the quote to be said by the monster, and have the context for it.
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The secondary audience is people who know “Frankenstein” from popular culture and Halloween. They will likely be familiar with symbols like lightning and sewed up scars that are associated with the monster. They may not know of the author or the book, but from other reimaginings and iterations of Frankenstein’s monster in movies and television.
Moodboard
Perception/Tone and Communication Strategy
The tone of the piece should be ominous and dark. I want to communicate the feeling of Mary Shelley writing this in the middle of a stormy night and reflecting on her life and relationships as she creates these characters. One font will be heavy and bold, reflecting her determination to finish the novel and the strength of the monster. The other font will be more eerie, calling to the monster theme and fear.
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The spot color I am choosing will be green, because in popular culture, that is the color that is most often associated with the story of Frankenstein. There will be destructive elements such as lightning, and graphics of Frankenstein’s face and scars.