Generating interactive, digital data narrative animations by dynamically analyzing underlying linked datasets
The disclosure relates to methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and systems that leverage underlying digital datasets corresponding to static graphics to generate digital animated data narratives. In various embodiments, a digital narrative animation system receives static data graphics and a corresponding dataset and generate scenes for the data narrative using the static data graphics. Moreover, in one or more embodiments, the digital narrative animation system presents a storyboard animation user interface for customizing animated transitions between the scenes of the data narrative. Specifically, the digital narrative animation system can use the corresponding dataset to drive the animation transitions between scenes by linking values based on the data attached to each element, showing a different version of the data graphic based on a subset of the dataset, and/or changing the timing of an animation as a function of the data attached to each value.
1 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computing device to:
receive a static data graphic and a corresponding dataset comprising one or more data attributes;
based on interaction with a data ticker element, provide, for display via a storyboard animation user interface of a designer device, a data ticker configuration window comprising a data attribute selection element indicating an independent variable to vary across a narrative duration and a scene duration selection element;
receive a selection of a data attribute of the one or more data attributes based on user interaction with the data attribute selection element and a scene duration based on user interaction with the scene duration selection element; and
automatically generate a data narrative that varies the independent variable across the narrative duration based on the data attribute and the scene duration by:
generating a series of data graphics and transitions between the series of data graphics based on the corresponding dataset and utilizing the data attribute as the independent variable that sequentially iterates between each data graphic within the series of data graphics by:
generating a first scene portraying a first value of the independent variable and remaining data attribute values corresponding to the first value of the independent variable; and
generating a second scene portraying a second value of the independent variable and remaining data attribute values corresponding to the second value of the independent variable; and
displaying each data graphic of the series of data graphics and the transitions for the scene duration.
2 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to:
receive the corresponding dataset by receiving the independent variable and at least one additional variable that changes relative to the independent variable; and
automatically generate the data narrative that varies the independent variable with the at least one additional variable across the narrative duration.
3 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 2 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to generate, based on the user interaction, a data animation comprising a first scene corresponding to a first data graphic of the series of data graphics portraying a first independent variable value and a first additional variable value, a second scene corresponding to a second data graphic of the series of data graphics portraying a second independent variable value and a second additional variable value, and a transition, wherein the data animation:
portrays the first scene with a first graphical data element of the first additional variable value in a first position;
portrays the second scene with a second graphical data element of the second additional variable value in a second position; and
portrays the transition with a plurality of intermediate graphical data elements in a plurality of intermediate positions between the first position and the second position.
4 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the independent variable comprises time and further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to generate the series of data graphics by:
generating a first scene portraying a first time value from the corresponding dataset and remaining data attribute values corresponding to the first time value from the corresponding dataset; and
generating a second scene portraying a second time value and remaining data attribute values corresponding to the second time value from the corresponding dataset.
5 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to, based on the selection of the data attribute and the scene duration, generate a plurality of additional scenes within the series of data graphics.
6 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to provide, for display via the storyboard animation user interface and based on user interaction with a transition indicator element, a transition animation information interface for modifying the transitions between data graphics in the series of data graphics.
7 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the corresponding dataset comprises a plurality of data attributes with a plurality of data values and further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to provide, for display within the data ticker configuration window, data narrative information comprising at least one of a range of attributes to be included in the data narrative, a number of scenes in the data narrative, or a total duration of the data narrative based on a currently selected data attribute and a currently selected scene duration.
8 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to, generate the series of data graphics by:
accessing the corresponding dataset to identify a first value from the data attribute to generate a first scene comprising a first data graphic portraying a first graphical data element of the first value; and
accessing the corresponding dataset to identify a second value from the data attribute to generate a second scene comprising the first data graphic portraying the first graphical data element of the second value.
9 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to:
based on user selection of a timeline view element, provide, for display via the designer device a template animations interface comprising a timeline objects element and a timeline properties element;
ordering data driven animations for graphical data elements corresponding to the series of data graphics based on user interaction with the timeline objects element; and
modifying visual properties of the data graphics in the series of data graphics based on user interaction with the timeline properties element.
10 . A system comprising:
at least one processor; and
a computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:
receive a static data graphic and a corresponding dataset comprising a one or more data attributes;
based on interaction with a data ticker element, provide, for display via a storyboard animation user interface of a designer device, a data ticker configuration window comprising a data attribute selection element indicating an independent variable to vary across a narrative duration and a scene duration selection element;
receive a selection of a data attribute of the one or more data attributes based on user interaction with the data attribute selection element and a scene duration based on user interaction with the scene duration selection element; and
automatically generate a data narrative that varies the independent variable across the narrative duration based on the data attribute and the scene duration by:
generating a series of data graphics and transitions between the series of data graphics based on the corresponding dataset and utilizing the data attribute as the independent variable that sequentially iterates between each data graphic within the series of data graphics by:
generating a first scene portraying a first value of the independent variable and remaining data attribute values corresponding to the first value of the independent variable; and
generating a second scene portraying a second value of the independent variable and remaining data attribute values corresponding to the second value of the independent variable; and
displaying each data graphic of the series of data graphics and the transitions for the scene duration.
11 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising generating a data animation between a first scene corresponding to a first data graphic of the series of data graphics and a second scene corresponding to a second data graphic of the series of data graphics, wherein the data animation:
portrays the first scene with a first graphical data element of a first value in a first position;
portrays the second scene with a second graphical data element of a second value in a second position; and
portrays a transition with a plurality of intermediate graphical data elements between the first value and the second value in a plurality of intermediate positions between the first position and the second position.
12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to generate the plurality of intermediate graphical data elements based on the first value and the second value identified from accessing the corresponding dataset.
13 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to generate the series of data graphics by generating a set of sequential scenes portraying sequentially iterating values of the independent variable and corresponding values of remaining data attributes.
14 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to provide, for display via the storyboard animation user interface of the designer device, a plurality of client interactivity elements corresponding with one or more interactive mechanisms, wherein the plurality of client interactivity elements comprises at least one of:
a playback control element corresponding with an interactive mechanism comprising selectable playback elements for playing and pausing the data narrative via a website;
a stepper control element corresponding with an interactive mechanism comprising selectable stepper elements that allow one or more client devices to select scenes in the data narrative via the website; and
a scrollytelling control element corresponding with an interactive mechanism comprising a scrollytelling feature that controls playback of the data narrative based on a scroll event corresponding to the website.
15 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to provide, for display within the data ticker configuration window, data narrative information comprising a range of values of the independent variable to be included in the data narrative.
16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the independent variable comprises time and further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to generate the series of data graphics by:
generating a first scene portraying a first time value from the corresponding dataset and remaining data attribute values corresponding to the first time value from the corresponding dataset; and
generating a second scene portraying a second time value and remaining data attribute values corresponding to the second time value from the corresponding dataset.
17 . A method of generating interactive, digital data narrative animations comprising:
receiving a static data graphic and a corresponding dataset comprising one or more data attributes;
based on interaction with a data ticker element, providing, for display via a storyboard animation user interface of a designer device, a data ticker configuration window comprising a data attribute selection element and a scene duration selection element;
receiving a selection of a data attribute of the one or more data attributes based on user interaction with the data attribute selection element indicating an independent variable to vary across a narrative duration and a scene duration based on user interaction with the scene duration selection element; and
automatically generating a data narrative that varies the independent variable across the narrative duration based on the data attribute and the scene duration by:
generating a series of data graphics and transitions between the series of data graphics based on the corresponding dataset and utilizing the data attribute as the independent variable that sequentially iterates between each data graphic within the series of data graphics by:
generating a first scene portraying a first value of the independent variable and remaining data attribute values corresponding to the first value of the independent variable; and
generating a second scene portraying a second value of the independent variable and remaining data attribute values corresponding to the second value of the independent variable; and
displaying each data graphic of the series of data graphics and the transitions for the scene duration.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising generating a data animation between a first scene corresponding to a first data graphic of the series of data graphics and a second scene corresponding to a second data graphic of the series of data graphics, wherein the data animation:
portrays the first scene with a first graphical data element of a first value in a first position;
portrays the second scene with a second graphical data element of a second value in a second position; and
portrays a transition with a plurality of intermediate graphical data elements between the first value and the second value in a plurality of intermediate positions between the first position and the second position.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
providing, for display via the storyboard animation user interface, a plurality of client interactivity elements; and
based on user interaction with a first client interactivity element, exporting the data narrative to a website for display to one or more client devices such that the one or more client devices can control presentation of the data animation utilizing an interactive mechanism.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of client interactivity elements comprises at least one of:
a playback control element, wherein the interactive mechanism comprises selectable playback elements for playing and pausing the data narrative via the website;
a stepper control element, wherein the interactive mechanism comprises selectable stepper elements that allow the one or more client devices to select scenes in the data narrative via the website; and
a scrollytelling control element, wherein the interactive mechanism comprises a scrollytelling feature that controls playback of the data narrative based on a scroll event corresponding to the website.