How to create a sponge bob? video

[trkmills]

Ok, my ideas are usually bigger than my talent, but you guys are so amazing, I thought I might be able to figure it out. I'm trying to make a video for kids to watch prior to surgery. I thought it would be cool if I could somehow incorporate some of our instructions through sponge bob or another cartoon character. Maybe not the whole video, but at least part of it. The only experience I have is I did create a video that contained still pictures, with audio and music and it turned out well. (probably took me 10x's longer than it would you guys), but it was fun, I love challenge. Anyone have any advice or other idea that might be doable?
Thanks

[liquid217]

Copyright issues aside, you could always use footage from a cartoon show, and re-dub your own audio. I don't really recommend that for a copyrighted character, such as spongebob, if it is going to be viewed publicly though. You might have good luck visiting archive.org and find a public domain video of a cartoon character with enough footage that you could re-use it, and redub with your own voice.

[lowellriggsiam]

I am a little confused, are we speaking about animation software, of just something very generalized? If you used After Effects, for instance, you could could take a still picture and mask out the environment the characters are in and place them in a new one. Then move the still character about. Use text tools to create text, or thought bubbles. On my end if I was in a bit of a rough I'd probably mask out the characters in after effects and then export the picture with a transparent background. The basic text features are easier to use in Sony Movie Studio.

[hech54]

The only experience I have is I did create a video that contained still pictures, with audio and music and it turned out well. (probably took me 10x's longer than it would you guys)

If you used After Effects, for instance

[DarrellS]

My brother is a brain injury patient and where I take him to get his medications, the patients are mostly kids. They used to have their walls all painted up with scenes from Disney movies but they were forced to repaint the walls to cover up the Disney scenes.

[lowellriggsiam]

trkmills, something like this that is done in scenes? Where the chartacters can be moved to some degree? I did a very loose mask and used a green backgound in after effects. I exported spongebob as one image and then patrick as another. I then loaded them into Sony Movie Studio and used chroma key to remove the green background. Here there are a few layers. Text and the thought bubble at the top, spongebob and patrick each with their own layer and the hostpital room on the bottom. Think of it like a sandwhich.

[lowellriggsiam]

More Pics
The characters can now be manipulated (to some degree)and moved anywhere.

[lowellriggsiam]

I guess with patrick maybe I should have used a blue solid. I appear to have removed his green shorts...but you get the gist.

[filmboss80]

You know what? It would not be a bad idea to contact the Sponge Bob producers about making a generic form of video that can be used by all Children's hospitals. If they don't want to do it for charity, then there may be some charitable organizations that would be willing to fund it. Pharmaceutical and surgical supply companies could also be potential sources for sponsorships. Production companies are always looking for ways to do good deeds, so I don't think the Sponge Bob team would be opposed to doing a short project to help sick kids, as long as it was a logistically reasonable undertaking.

You just need to start getting on the phone.

[budwzr]

If all else fails, why not create your own simple character (like Barney), and sew up a costume. Then you could green screen yourself performing different generic gestures that could be choreographed and voiced over.

[trkmills]

Oh my! You guys were 100x's more helpful than I ever thought possible. You have given me a ton of possibilities! I will present some of these ideas to my manager and hopefully be on here with some more questions I am sure I will have. Thanks for helping make this a visual!