Research Project:  Object Metamorphosis and Transformations

Fani Vassiadi

MA Digital Effects

NCCA, Bournemouth University

Morphing appears to be a very challenging method. It seems to me that morphing is becoming more popular as an effects technique. I asked some of the people I interviewed, if they would agree with this assessment.

Arman Matin, Rhinofx:

“Making transition from one shot another has been always the foundation of editing. I believe Morphing evolved as we pushed for different ways of transitioning from one shot or one situation to another. Instead of cuts we demanded to see the transition process and soon the whole concept of morphing or transition took over. Its popular because we see the process of transformation and nothing is hidden behind smart editing techniques.

Of course there is an element of Gag or gimmick to the whole thing and it has been used and abused repeatedly.  NWA falls into the category of transformation, where objects maintain their physical quality and characteristics. They don’t squash or bend and the net volume of the objects remain the same after their transformations. I believe this process is the most engaging and complicated to choreograph. Of course we are seeing many types of Transformations happening nowadays on commercials and music videos. Our demand for finding new ways to transition from one shot to another is going to continuously push the boundaries of morphing or as we call it now “transformations”

By the way the word “morphing” is rarely used now as it has become such a cliché. The word “transition” was preferred and now its all “transformations”

Andrew Glassner:

“One reason that morphing is popular because it is a visually interesting

technique for creative expression.”

Toli Lerios:

“It allows a human to relate two distinct models to each other by presenting a gradual, continuous transition between them. For example, the morphing of the original hieroglyphic symbol for 'cow' into the Greek letter 'A' via the intermedia phoenician alphabet illustrates the gradual evolution of language. In the entertainment industry, morphs (by contrast to sudden transitions across models) product a more believable effect that makes the viewer believe "yes, I can see how this happened" (by contrast to "there's no way this man can turn into this hideous werewolf") and therefore remain absorbed within the story.”