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!

Storyboarding Away!!!

FINALLY! I found some time between semesters to work on my project. I taught 5 classes from January to May (no repeats), as well as I took an animation course called Character Movement. I learned a lot, and look forward to traditionally animating this project. I realize it has been too long since I posted, and even devoted time to this, but now I'm drawing like crazy! Over 100 scenes to block, and I have drawn and scanned only 68 so far! Here is a sample of one of the frames:

I really love this part of the process! Imagining and blocking out camera angles and providing mood, to enhance the storytelling! Once it is all drawn, scanned, gray-scaled, and then placed in animatic form, I will be soooo excited!

Exerpt from the Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler

"We writers, poets, painters and musicians face difficult, contradictory Calls. We must fully immerse ourselves in the world to find the material for our art. Beut we must also at times withdraw from the world, going alone to actaually make the art. Like many heroes of story, we receive conflicting Calls, one from the outer world,, one from our own insides, and we must choose or make compromises. To answer a higher Call to express ourselves, we artists may have to refuse the Call of what Joseph Campbell terms 'the blandishment of the world.'"
(The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler, pages 109-110)

Collaboration and Story vs. Plot

I have just returned from a meeting with fellow colleague and possible collaborator, Max Cannon. Many may know Max through his syndicated strip, Red Meat. He is truly a gifted storyteller, and one I wanted to help me develop my idea(s), and further strengthen my storytelling skills.

Without a good solid story, animation is just fluff. I had Max read over my treatment, and he challenged me quite a bit. He said that I had a lot of great plot points and grandiose ideas for entertainment-sake, but the core story was lacking. After the challenge, I found that he was right. I need to find a core story or element that is emotionally resonant for me and a possible audience for my animation.

If there is no underlying story or focus, the rest of it is just filler. There has to be a reason for an audience or an individual reader/viewer to stay connected to the story line. There has to be some reason for someone to want to stay emotionally invested. 

I have been an avid follower of Joseph Campbell's Heroes Journey. I have figured that this is all I need to create my "opus" or animation, and now I am challenged to think on a more simple level. 

I took some great notes, and I am going to meet with Max on a consistent basis, to help me improve my idea(s). I also will research story and other basic ideas. One such individual who has explored this concept is Doug TenNapel, graphic novel professional, creator of Earthworm Jim, and experienced storyteller. His advice on storytelling is a fantastic reference for those who want to develop a meaningful story.

Check out Doug's work, as well as Max's strip called Red Meat. You will be glad you did!!!

In the meantime, I have homework to do.

Cyborg Tortoise- - Nuff said!

Character Development

The main character actually started out as a human being, living among desert creatures, but I couldn't make it work. I was not as excited about it. When I thought to change the human into another desert creature, a jack rabbit, it was like adding the missing piece of a jigsaw puzzle. Here are some initial sketches.