The Magic Motley

A fantastical bag brings a group of friends together

The Magic Motley is a short animated film created by Honors Photo III and AP Photo students at Clover Hill High School and details the short adventure of a magic bag bringing a class together as friends. The film was created by rotoscoping, a type of animation. Video footage was imported and transferred into single image frames at 12 frames per second. Each individual frame underwent two animated filters and then selectively hand colored/drawn to exemplify and bring attention to the joy that each object brings. The Magic Motley is a compilation of thousands of layers and could not have been accomplished without the extensive, ten-hour work time done for each students debut. Each classmate’s object visualizes an interest, hobby, or passion for the corresponding clip. Between the beach and boxing, it is easy to understand a piece of each actor’s personality. As one student, Sammy, finds the magic bag and brings it to lunch, her Photo III classmates get to find their objects first. When another classmate, Haley, finds there is nothing left for her, she throws the magic bag to her AP Photo friends. Each student finds their own object, leaving Haley as the only classmate without a new find. To create an experience that the entire class can enjoy, each student’s object is thrown and shaken up inside the magic bag. Haley then finds an old Polaroid camera inside, and the class comes together to photograph themselves alongside their incredible friends. The Magic Motley depicts a class with varying interests coming together as one, a true motley in itself.