Mood boards

Here are examples of moodboards I've generated with the research I've done to understand style and structure of my animation.

Here is a mood board of the style of water colour I want for the backgrounds.

Initial Sketches design and colour: Merchant

Initial Sketches done 13/10/2015 These are a few initial sketches for the merchant Character (Secondary character) of my piece.

Finalizing the design with emotions poses and some different angles of the charater. (Drawn 19/10/2015)

Final concept of the merchant realised.

Initial sketches design and colour: Kiiba

A few initial design sketches for Kiiba my main character of the short Drawn 13/10/215

Some more final sketches and expressions and poses of what I want from the film 15/10/2015

And here is the final sketch of the design I want for Kiiba 15/10/2015

Here I test out colours as well as style I'd like to animate in. I went with a purple and blue colour pallete with a block coloured style and a few lines inside the colour to indicate clothing. Drawn 17/10/2015

This style I want to carry on to my other characters. But at this point Im not sure about the backgrounds yet.

Research #4

Research: Merchant

Since I took inspiration from Okami's style while researching I decided to research the merchants they have.

 

Most merchants in the game have this similar body type which I didn't want

This is closer to what I wanted. A small older man. Although I'd rather go with a more realistic design.

Feedback- week 2

DREW:

Drews feedback given 15/10/2015

-Keep unedited version of animatic

-Cut some parts (Kick scene and a couple of shots to save time

- Add sound of marketplace to create illusion of bussle

- Get rid of bag?

- Approaching scene acting sneaky or cut it to save time. 

- Longer opening shot (Done)

First Draft Animatic

First untouched animatic with all storyboard panels put into place in sequence.

Rough storyboards:

These three panels, the first of the three come first in the animatic, then the other two come after those three 

 

This was a spare storyboard panel that goes before the last panel of the previous.

And two small assets were added at the end.

completed 15th october 2015.

Research #3

Research: Location

Includes village, forest, opening, research images.

Google search forest village http://img06.deviantart.net/f490/i/2014/055/c/2/forest_village_by_innercat-d6tlm8x.png  05/10/2015

I like this one for the seperate village and forest. The tree iself has houses in it which I like the idea of. Although i don't particularly like the colours.

Google search forest village 

http://digital-art-gallery.com/oid/113/1500x786_19567_The_forest_2d_illustration_forest_fantasy_village_picture_image_digital_art.jpg

 05/10/2015

I love the dingy colours, perhaps of the dark forest, although I don't image the forest to be old and rotten.

From here on research was carried out on the 12/20/2015

https://supriyaprathapan.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/dark_forest_2.jpg google search on dark forest village 12/10/2015

http://hdwpics.com/images/06B8A328F36E/Enchanted-village-on-the-forest-trees.jpg

 google search on dark forest village 12/10/2015

These images I like because theres a sense of darkness but also fertility and life to them.

http://orig00.deviantart.net/8c1e/f/2012/158/c/9/enchanted_forest_by_jerry8448-d2p6w9e.jpg google search on dark forest village 12/10/2015

This is a really good one for the opening the colours are dramatic and foreboding.

http://fr.4story.gameforge.com/img/artwork/artwork17.jpg 

I love the washed out colours of this one. The water colour feel is really what Im after.

http://img04.deviantart.net/7eb1/i/2013/121/5/c/enchanted_forest_speedpaint_by_puccanoodles2009-d63sl12.jpg

 I love the paintly feel of this background too

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCIiE17_avMgCFUvSGgodNOkGcg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwide-wallpapers.net%2Ffantasy-tree-house-wide-wallpaper%2F&psig=AFQjCNEx0lv0pCY9NYo6VH-SF0hwbx3p-A&ust=1444731513567156

I love the concept of this tree house for my village idea.

http://digital-art-gallery.com/oid/101/r169_457x256_17521_Swamp_Tree_Village_2d_fantasy_swamp_forest_tree_house_village_picture_image_digital_art.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/b8/61/6d/b8616d31692df27136f7921eaf2a7365.jpg

Script

EXT. NORDAN (Village in a tree)

Establishing shot Title NIAN fades in

Kiiba comes onto screen right to left and wipes away title.


EXT. edge of Forbidden Forest

Kiiba runs to edge of the path, pauses to look at village, then looks to forest and runs toward an opening.

EXT. Forest Entrance

Low angle wide shot showing warning signs and tape around opening telling her to not enter.

cut to map in her hand with warning signs etc.

Cut to in front on Kiiba in the forest as she ducks under the tape and enters.

EXT inside forest

Kiiba walks sees a rock and kicks it into the brush, where an animal in distress squaks presumably being hit

EXT Forest Opening

Kiiba enters a opening in the forest blinded by light.

Low angle shot of golden mushroom on the floor.

Pause before she runs over, stops over it and quickly picks it up, then runs back through into the darkness with a skip in her step.

Another pause before a paw hits the ground where the mushroom was.

CUT TO BLACK

EXT in the village

Kiiba tries selling the mushroom to an old merchant

Midshot of the two as he accepts.

Cut to the forbidden forest as slow zoom

Monster jumps out and rushes to Kiiba

Cut back to Kiiba as she turns and the merchant falls over

Long shot as the creature bites her leg, and turns to go back to the forest.

Kiiba POV as shes dragged back into the forest, shakey camera blood flying past the camera, twigs and panting.

EXT inside forest opening

Shot of the ground high angle as the creature throws her on the ground.

Kiiba scrambles back and stops in shock.

POV she looks around to see the forest has decayed.

Close up she looks back directly at camera and shadow looms over her

Shot of the floor as shadows show her head being bit off and blood splatters on the ground.

CUT TO BLACK

credits roll

EXT. opening of Forest

Long shot of a body buried in the ground.

Out of corner of screen the merchant approaches uncertainly. He looks at the mound then jumps as a little golden mushroom grows from it.

Theres a pause before the merchant reaches over.

CUT TO BLACK

END

Research #2

Research: Style

Research conducted by searching for inspiring images on google of a cartoon style conducted on 7/10/2015

Semi realistic is the style im used to an interesting expressions although for this project i want to go more cartoony and simple for easier animation, i like the rounder face though.

resource found at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kR3hdRcjcIUIaScsKYXzKE36IcIK6MQt-qOW5Eq3VK4AG0icotaM8sFF5_EZvj4wjCdjbv-SXdapocj5f3Pd-SiZY_s2rXY0PDpwyHH-dhK2kokjsivwLXIxRE1Tx1KAzOJ5FWQ03R83/s1600/AM_P2_Sketches_Female_01.jpg from google images search

This is a simpler design and more of what I want although I still think the eye detail will be too much for me, and the hair to animate. Resource found at: http://orig00.deviantart.net/8fe5/f/2013/050/d/b/character_design__style_2__female_1_by_wolfsmok

e-d5vkicq.jpg by google images search

I love the rounded face of this one and the simple short body. Although yet again i think the eyes are still too detailed large and require a lot of expression. Resource found at: 

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/07/31/25/073125620d0ed312dcd2b45847abeeb1.jpg by google images search

This is the closest to the idea I want, shut eyes could make for interesting character feature, I know in the picture the woman is asleep but I feel these simple features is what im after, although her body seems too long and thin for what I'm thinking. Resource found at: http://www.geocities.ws/s_ng_99/sg01.JPG by google images search

Its here it accured to me I played a game with the ideal style I have in mind: Okami. So I did some more research into okami's character design and some fanart. Research from this point on was conducted on the 8/10/2015.

Theres an actual thief in the game called Hayazo so I looked at his concept art.

I don't particularly like the darker colours, but purple seems to stand out to me, Also the bandages on the arms and legs. The bag too seems cool. Resource  found at http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/okami/images/e/e9/Hayazo.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20101224032708

http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/okami/images/0/04/Image-0.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150607205738&path-prefix=fr

http://okami.wikia.com/wiki/File:Rao_alternate.jpg

http://www.artofokami.com/images/characters/characters_117.jpg

the women tend to be long and slender, with sleeves and dresses that cover the feet and hands, I like this idea as it removes effort to animate fingers, although my character wouldn't suit a dress. So I may expose her feet. Resources found at google images.

Click here to see initial Main Character designs after this research was conducted.

Research #1

Research

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nian 30/09/2015 Research into Nian Extract from wikipedia

 " According to Chinese mythology, a Nian (simplified Chinese: 年兽; traditional Chinese: 年獸; pinyin: nián shòu) is a beast that lives under the sea or in the mountains. Once each spring, on or around Chinese New Year, it comes out of hiding to attack people, and prefers children. Weaknesses of the Nian are purported to be a sensitivity to loud noises, and a fear of the colour Red. The Chinese Lion dance (Chinese: 舞龍舞獅) is known to have originated from the legend of the Nian. The tradition has its origins in a story of a Nian's attack on a village. After the attack, the villagers discussed how to make the Nian leave them in peace. The traditions of firecrackers and red robes found in many Lion Dance portrayals originate from the plan the villagers had in which drums, plates and empty bowls were hit, red robes were worn, and firecrackers were thrown, causing loud banging sounds that they hoped would intimidate the Nian. According to this same myth, the Nian never appeared in the village again. The Nian was still believed to exist, but was never expected to make an appearance to a human again. It thus became symbolic in the eyes of the town people, and they continued doing what was needed to drive it away. With time this become a tradition. "

Thoughts

1. Fire crackers = weakness instead of gun.
2. No colour red on girl but maybe in village.

Images

·         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nian#/media/File:MingQilin.jpg – wiki pedia – 30/09/2015

·         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nian#/media/File:StandingMingLion.jpg - wiki pedia – 30/09/2015

Main resource: Wikipedia article of the Nian creature. 30/09/2015

10 point outline of story which includes changes

10 point story outline

1.  Opening shot of forest and village. Title 
2.  At entrance of forest, labelled "DO NOT ENTER" "WARNING KEEP OUT" and tape over some of the trees, a girl approaches with a treasure map. looking at it also with warnings plastered over it (even blood stained) there is treasure indicated inside.
3. She goes in the blue and greenish forest (spooky ghost like noises as she goes) and soon comes across a golden mushroom.
4. She takes it and rushes back. Low angle so you can see the greying the area where the mushroom was, then a beasts foot steps in it's place for a split second then goes black.
5. Time has passed and the girl is talking to a salesman who happily buys the mushroom off her and she hungrily takes the money.
6. Through the bushes the beast comes launching out grabbing her and dragging her back to the forest. The man is seen running after them but the beast is FAR too fast.
7. The beast throws her into the spot where she took the mushroom, she look to find a whole section of the forest decaying and ashen, grey and dying, a few moments of shock is across her face before she turns around and the beast attacks her, spilling her blood then another cut to black.
8. As the credits roll you see the man approaching her dead body half buried in the dirt with her hand sticking out, the man looks around in dismay, unsure what to do.
9. The final shot is of him leaving a low angle where the girls head would be and from it a golden mushroom starts to grow.
10. The man in the background turns, with a pause he heads over to it, and the last shot is his hand reaching down to pick it up before it cuts to black.

Feedback- Week 1

Sabrina:

Sabrina's feedback given: 5/10/2015 during tutorial.

- Possibly ambitious (too long?) consider shortening it. From a minute and a bit to under a minute
- 3 characters to animate could be hard, depends on techniques- think about those.

Drew:

Drews feedback given 5/10/2015

-Message confused, make it clear the forest is forbidden, danger signs warning signs, keep out!

- Girl's motivation must be clear, designed like a thief, treasure map (Map has warning on it even)

- Get a composer

- E-mail drew for ex 2d animator advise on colours

- Timing timing timing

- Moodboards

Tasks: create storyboard's and short animatic for story beats and timing to check how long the story could be.

Done by next week: 12th october


Created 5/10/2015

Outline and Story Spline

Outline:

A woman journeying through her villages forest one day comes across a golden mushroom, seeing potential profit from selling it she picks it and takes it back. Little does she know in doing so she summoned a creature of the forest which is hellbent on hunting her.

Story Spline:

Once upon a time there was a young woman who lived in the village or Nordan.  A village under a great mountain and at the edge of a huge forbidden forest.

And everyday She'd sneak into the forbidden forest to see if she could find any rare items or treasures to sell.

Until one day She wandered through the woods and found a golden Mushroom she immediately took it and ran back to the village

And because of that the are where the golden mushroom decayed, this, summoned a spirit/creature of the forest with the relentless need to hunt her down. Back at the village the girl is selling the golden mushroom to a merchant of her village.

And because of that The creature followed, not far behind, it leaps from the bushes to attack the woman, but the merchant quick to react pulls out a gun from his belt and shoots it, it explodes into a puff of smoke.

And because of that the man tells her never to go back but the woman is too curious as to why the creature came, she journeys back into the forest to search where it came from to find the are where she took the mushroom. It is all decayed rotten and ashes fall from the grey sky, in shock the girl stares at the creature, alive and sitting in the middle of the opening.

Until finally the creature lunges at her, blood splatters and credits roll as the screen turns to black, during the credits it is shown the girls body and slowly on her hand a golden mushroom grows

And since that day the forest began to regrow and rebuild itself and no-one would venture into the forbidden forest every again.

The morale of the story is resist greed and respect nature.

Created 2/10/2015