Video Stories: The Leap from Classic Animation to AI
Welcome to the digital screening room of mycrappyproductions.com. This category is where I’ll be sharing the evolution of Harvey and Ethyl in motion. My stories have always been rooted in real-life inspiration—taking those funny, relatable “mishaps” we all experience and giving them a second life through my characters.
The Great Technological Shift
For years, I’ve focused on the “Classic” way of creating—using Moho and Clip Studio to build every movement by hand. While that gave me total control, the jump into AI-assisted video (using Google’s Gemini) has opened up a world of incredible detail and visual depth that simply wasn’t possible before. It is a giant step forward, but it’s one that requires a whole new set of skills.
The Reality of the Learning Curve
Working with AI isn’t a “magic button.” It’s a collaboration that can be inconsistent, picky, and occasionally frustrating. Here is what I’m currently navigating behind the scenes:
- The 6-Second Constraint: Most AI clips are currently limited to short bursts (6–8 seconds). For a story that runs 90 seconds, I have to learn how to “stitch” and extend these clips seamlessly so Harvey can finish his sentence or cross a room without the world changing around him.
- The Sound & Continuity Struggle: One of my biggest hurdles is maintaining sound and visual logic. If a character is talking or a background noise is playing, I have to ensure that audio carries over perfectly into the next extended clip.
- A Work in Progress: Because of these technical challenges, the production of full-length videos will be a slow process. You might see very short clips or experimental tests as I “prime the pump” and learn the rules of this new medium.
Learning Together
This isn’t about putting the technology down—it’s about being honest about the process. Both Gemini and I are learning as we go. My focus remains on the idea and the story, and I invite you to follow along as I overcome these deficiencies and push the boundaries of what Harvey and Ethyl can do in this new AI frontier.