Camera Positioning and Movement
As with any animation or movie, controlling the camera is a huge factor in defining the overall feel and appeal of the film. Many elements of the film can be masked out using clever camera positioning. Similarly, certain features can be exaggerated in the same way. So in a sense, the camera is the eyes of the viewer into the world of the film. This I think is where this animation really shines. The first thing you notice are the real movie type shots. For example in the screenshot on the left (13:19) the camera follows the vehicle at a different angle to set up for the next interesting shot when it flies off the bridge.
In the screenshot on the right (12:26) the camera is placed on the ground near the road even before the vehicle passes thereby creating some anticipation. Then, when the vehicle actually
does pass by, it seems as if it's going much faster than it probably is because of such close camera placement. Another camera trick often used to amplify the sense of speed is to quickly move the object out of the camera view. This can be seen on the left (12:46): as the driver accelerates, the vehicle quickly goes out of the camera view.
By flying the rocket close to the ground (as shown on the right - 12:30) instead of at higher altitude and having the camera follow it closely, the sense of speed is again increased because the ground appears to disappear fast. Another effect that adds to realism here is the slight rotation and shaking of the rocket as it's flying. The shaking is probably there to simulate slight course corrections and wind influences. This sense of speed could not be possible had the camera been far away or the rocket high up without the ground nearby for visualizing the relative speed.
In some scenes (starting 12:31) there are numerous cameras changing from the rocket to the vehicle, to inside, back to rocket and so on. This definitely adds to the suspense while the audience is waiting to find out whether the rocket will hit the vehicle or not. Zooming in on the action as opposed to looking at it from further away helps keep the audience interested but also delivers information to them as well. For example, in the shot on the left the camera very briefly zooms on the control panel in the vehicle. This not only tells the audience that there is 1 missile 6.12 miles away, but it also gives them the impression that it is moving in very quickly since the numbers are just flying.
Now, the numbers are flying because there are two decimal digits which of course changes much more frequently than if there was for example only a whole number there. How exciting could that possibly be? In the shot on the right (12:36) when the decoy flares are released, the camera isn't just watching it from the above so that you can get a nice overview. Instead it is
right down by the wheels where not only you get a cool shot of the flares but you are also reminded that this is all happening at very high speeds (as emphasized by the fast spinning wheels and some suspension travel). Similarly in the shot on the left (12:46) you can not only see that the character speeds up the vehicle but the camera is so placed as to see his face and show the change in facial expression from that of satisfaction, in the previous shot, to a feeling of focus (like he means business). But even still, we don't really know how much faster is the vehicle going now. So to portray that, the camera moves to the outside where the audience can get a good side view of the vehicle quickly going out of the camera's view as it speeds up. Without this, the shot of speeding up the vehicle wouldn't really do much since the vehicle was already moving really fast and noticing the change in speed would be difficult (if there even is any!).
Overall, I think the camera action here plays a crucial role in setting up the mood of the scene and delivering so much information to the user. Thankfully the director has made a really good use of it here to the point where I dare to say that this is the best, most polished aspect of the animation that brings it to the level of Hollywood movies.
<<< back forward >>>