Final Character Designs

Finally!!! As the animatic is close to being finished (adding more sound effects), I worked on Character Model Sheets for the two main characters, and finalized the look. Please, let me know what you think!!

Jackson T. Blacktail

Stan Buriana

PROGRESS!!!

Been very busy. Freelance work, and regular teaching work. But I haven't flaked. Here is a small group of scenes that I put together. This is only the introduction. No sound (I'm still gathering source files/audio) for the animatic. As I am creating it, I find that I need a couple more visuals for clarity. What do you think?

Thug/Posse Character Designs

While I work on the animatic, I am perfecting the style and look of the "bad guys" of the piece. For most of the animation, I see them in shadow, or concealed by particular camera angles, to add to the mystery. Over time, and in the next installment ( My animation idea is after all, a Part I), the posse's identity will be more clear. As you can see, the characters are all desert animals.

Head studies: Mountain Lion, Coyote, Bobcat

Coyote character

It can be argued that I am copying Rango, the 3D movie that came out a few months ago. I came up with this idea a couple of years ago, with no knowledge of the movie. I do not let it stop me, though, because I have enjoyed creating these characters. The animals are all around me, in Tucson. Yes, I have a lizard character, but not a chameleon (RANGO). My idea has a science fiction element as well. If you have any comments or critiques on the design, I welcome you to do so!

Promotional image

Having fun with the characters, and drawing them, so I created a poster.

Having too much fun with all of this!

DEADLINE REACHED!!!!

Finished and toned 104 rough drawings for the storyboard/animatic!! Mission accomplished!

I have already started looking for free sounds to create my scratch audio track. My hope is to complete the animatic by the end of the week. The summer semester begins tomorrow, and I am searching for freelance in the meantime, but I should be able to find a little time to complete this task. I am really focused on finishing this!
Here another new storyboard. I checked all my boards alongside with a shot list, and found that there were at least 7 new shots I could create to help make the story more cohesive and flow better:

Initial storyboards finished

Over 97 drawings scanned, and only 15 more to grayscale! I'm meeting my goal. It is taking a bit longer, due to a busy Memorial Day weekend. Looking for freelance this summer is taking up much of my time, but I made a deadline for myself, and I am going to meet the deadline!

Grayscaling the boards assists in adding mood and basic lighting. A great reference I use is the blog:
http://sevencamels.blogspot.com/2010/09/quick-primer-on-values.html
by Mark Kennedy. Its a quick lesson on toning values and offers some great tips! Check it out!

More Storyboards

Working continuously on storyboarding. Had to take a break yesterday, because I got in such a mode, that I only got 3-4 hours of sleep! Hard to concentrate on drawing or be creative, when one is having a hard time focusing. My goal is to have all drawing complete by the end of the week, and find/create sound effects after the holiday weekend!

Here are a couple of new ones:

Looking forward to animatic phase! Well, back to drawing and scanning!