The Wndsn Blog

Discover the Wonders of Wndsn Instruments: WndsnVFX on YouTube

2025-03-12

I would like to invite you to explore the world of Wndsn instruments through the lens of the film camera. I opened a dedicated YouTube channel, WndsnVFX, to share movies that dive deep into the intricacies of Wndsn's unique tools and instruments, offering a blend of education and entertainment.

Design/Production Manifesto

This document shall serve as a manifesto on the WndsnVFX design and production principles.

In the Age of Generative A.I., We Are Going Back to the Roots of Animation

With WndsnVFX, we are committed to creating short, impactful videos that highlight the distinctive features of our instruments. Our approach is rooted in the use of old-school animation techniques, prioritizing information design over mere aesthetics. We draw inspiration from the pioneering work of animation legends like Karel Zeman,^[1] aiming to develop a unique visual style that resonates with our audience and our message. Another parallel to old-time movies is that the WndsnVFX productions are silent films for now, not necessarily a hard guiding principle, but this is how it evolved so far. The emerging style is further informed by a theoretical framework in parts derived from information design research conducted at Xerox Parc^[2] over 25 years ago. More on the latter over time.

Practical > Digital

While we do use modern digital editing and compositing tools, we pledge to refrain from the incorporation of any A.I.-generated material into our films. In fact, we actively strive to incorporate as many practical, real-world, and tangible elements as possible, such as our actual instruments, paper-cut shapes, and other props and materials in more or less refined collages and assemblies. That said -- we will absolutely use green and blue screens, digital elements, as well as digital effects and enhancements. You may or may not recognize them as such, though.

Moving Fragments

In times of ever-increasing attention deficits, long-form writing (and reading) becomes the exception. Attention and perception are not only selective, but in addition, they are highly fragmented. So we do just that and offer mere fragments.

To accomplish this, we are borrowing a concept from VR technology, “foveated rendering”,^[3] where the user’s eyes are tracked, and the resolution is only high at the focal point and much lower in areas out of current, ever-changing focus.

The techniques of cutout animation and collages of only relevant, isolated information take that to the extreme, showing only the areas of interest, leaving out everything else. We invite the viewer to fill in the blanks or ignore them altogether, conserving valuable cognitive capacities or maximizing available attention spans.

Ultimately, we are explaining complex concepts using moving fragments.

Notes

Through the exploration of animation and information design, we have made several key observations that guide our movie creation:

1. Clarity Over Decoration: Effective information design aims to eliminate unnecessary decorative elements, focusing instead on clarity and understanding.
2. Embracing Imperfection: Interacting with presentations that are imperfect or appear unfinished can be more approachable. This strategy helps us avoid the Aesthetic-Usability Effect,^[4] which is the tendency for people to assume that "things that look better will work better." This bias can hinder critical engagement with the material of overly polished presentations or interfaces, as well as the undue respect often given to excessively refined material.
3. Information Transmission: Once a message is successfully conveyed, the transmission stops.
4. Quality of Animation vs. Storytelling: Higher resolution, smoother animations, photorealism, and enhanced lighting do not inherently improve the narrative. The essence of storytelling lies not in the visual polish but in the substance of the story itself. We say, "No story, no story"^[5] -- regardless of how visually stunning the presentation may be.
5. Form Follows Story: In our creative process, the form will follow the story, not the other way around.
6. Variability in Production Quality: Given the emphasis on clarity and effective information transmission, as well as the prioritization of storytelling over visual polish, we acknowledge that production quality will inevitably vary. This variability arises from the diverse approaches taken to prioritize message and engagement over aesthetic perfection. As a result, some presentations may appear more polished than others, but this should not detract from their effectiveness in conveying the intended message or engaging the audience. The focus remains on the substance of the material rather than uniformity in production standards.

A special effect is a tool, a means of telling a story. A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing.
--George Lucas

Introducing the First Animation: The Wndsn "Station ID"

The inaugural animation, titled the Wndsn "Station ID," serves to establish the identity of our channel. This animation illustrates how the Wndsn logo is derived from a wind barb found on meteorological charts, symbolizing the powerful north wind. In a twist, the original meteorological chart is incorporated into an embroidered patch from the Wndsn collection, seamlessly blending the brand's identity with its roots.

Exploring the Meaning Behind Wndsn Morale Patches

In addition to our foundational animation, we present The Wndsn Morale Patch Chronicles, a light-hearted, experimental series that showcases our morale patches through mixed media cutout animation. Here, we are exploring techniques that in turn inform the tutorial videos. The Wndsn embroidered patches are not merely decorative; they are tiny infographics that serve as how-tos for Wndsn tools, magical sigils, or functional markers. Each morale patch carries a deeper meaning, and our animations explore the often-hidden significance embroidered into their designs.

Wndsn Scientific Tutorials

Moving image tutorials on the many aspects and functions of Wndsn tools are in various stages of production, among which is a series on the basics of astronomy, to be found in a dedicated playlist on the channel, as well as a few videos helping with instrument setup. Stay tuned for more.

Interested?

If you are curious, you are cordially invited to join us on this creative adventure as we unveil the animated stories behind Wndsn instruments. Subscribe to WndsnVFX today and immerse yourself in a world where education meets art, and every video is a further step towards mastering the unique tools that Wndsn has to offer. See you there!

Footnotes:

1. IMDb: Karel Zeman ↩
2. Woodruff, et al: Using thumbnails to search the web (PDF) ↩
3. Foveated 3D Graphics ↩
4. The Aesthetic-Usability Effect ↩
5. A riff on "No risk, no story" -- you know who you are... ↩