Set Design

Bellow are shots of the sets used within the film:

 Single use- bridge shot

 Multi use- wider shot, mid shot
Establish shot of home

 Single use- running through the light within the forest.

 Single use- Dark, gloom corridor.

Character Sheets

Mazikki Poach

Mazikki Poach is a feline creature living in a small village surrounded by woodland in which both him and his wife, Annetted lived peacefully. He had always been a good natured, well established man within his village but a series of events caused him to lose touch with the world.

Annette unfortunately past on, dying from illness and a year before the series of events within the film took place. She was the love of his life, and without her, he fell apart- isolated from the village. He started to drink and loose touch of his home before hopelessly staying in bed.

He became even more distant to the real world when he meet his dream friend who declared herself as 'She'. It was up to her too pull him out of the mess he created by symbolically finding Annette and forcing him to accept her death.

'She'

She is a shadow of a feline women who treads the line between reality and dream world. The reason she came to Mazikki was unknown and never really explains who she is during the events. She communicates through very little speech, repeating or asking questions to reveal the true emotions of her friend.

Her body mass is unknown while she never stays the same shape between land and water. She remained a mystery after events, never to return to Mazikki again. He always questioned if that was Annette in shadow form but never thought to ask because of his emotional state.

Annette Poach

Annette was a kind natured feline creature, similar to Mazikki, but with delicate features. She passed on due to an unexpected illness a year before Mazikki met 'She'.

No detail is reveal about her within the film, as Mazikki could never bring himself to even say her name. He seemed to refer to her as she, similar to the shadow women, giving clues that he may have though of the shadow women to be Annette at some point.

Research- Character Design

Research- Character Design

From doing a research proposal about the changes of the representation of anthropomorphic characters during the world war 2, I have learnt a lot about character design in general. The proposal itself and the research that I will carry out will help to inform my specialist project in general.

Firstly, anthropomorphic by definition is to put a human behaviour or characteristic onto anything that you see around you. This can be an object, animal or even the weather. Anthropomorphism is well know within the Japanese culture with their humanoids and other non-human characters within titles such as 'Spirited Away' from Studio Ghibli as well has featuring heavily within Western children animation. Not only that but in today's society, these characters are also featuring in more adult films and animation such as 'Family Guy' or 'Ted'.

Interestingly, as a part of our daily lives, we also anthropomorphise especially if we have pets. Even by naming something, you are placing a human characteristic (an identity) onto your pet, car or house. Within the media, hurricanes or other weather disasters are given that same quality. Thus becoming an entity itself, it gains a likability because people can now find something similar between themselves and the uncontrollable issue at hand. By 'likability' I don't mean it in the sense that people start to like harsh weather conditions, but to empathise, relate, or find reasoning for its existence. Public preparation is better and the understanding between the reports from the media and the community is a lot clearer. It is funny to think that a single anthropomorphic trait can help public awareness.

Mazikki Poach is an anthropomorphic character. He experiences emotions like a human and deals with situations the same as well. Not only does it create more appeal to his design, but also helps inform my narrative. Grief is a hard subject to tackle at the best of times, as well as heavy smoking addictions, and alcoholism. Driving a story through a more appealing style of character, the narrative is easier to convey. Anthropomorphism softens the narrative. For example, in 'Finding Nemo' the story begins with the death of a loving wife and many children with on surviving but given a disability that hinders his life. Through people, this film would of had to been told carefully but with animated, non-human characters, not only does the narrative feel less harsh, but also begins to have a family appeal to it.

Here is my presentation of the subject and about the research that I will undertake.  In terms of my specialist project, my literature review and reading into the subject will help inform my work.

FDA HLS Research Proposal

Progress Review

This week has been long with other projects to do which is why this weeks blog posts are lacking. However through-out this week I have still been working on my shot list and animating.

 My work flow is improving because I am drawing faster and painting faster, leaving me more time to animate and colour. The ultimate goal this within the next week is to get the anger section completed of the film.

I must apologise for not making sense, when talking about 'sections'. By this I mean the chapters that split the film (but of course flow naturally together) into areas linked to grief.

This week has been a challenge because of the other projects I have to balance along with this one. However, it is a interesting challenge none the less. For the most part I have created a shot a day and for the times I missed a day, made up for it by doing two. In terms of my time management, this week has been adequate because I still need to improve the balance between projects.

I believe this to be an important learning curve and a part of the process of the Specialist Project. It prepares me for the tight deadlines in the real world of work and well as the process of animation. Therefore this should crush the ambition that drives this project so far, but inspire it to move forward!

Production Tests

 Making sure my pieces of artwork animate is very important because not only do I get to practise and experiment, but I also get a feel for how the project is going to look overall. Above and bellow are two test animations, one of which has had a slight change. Bellow is the same bedroom animation, but with an added element within it. Mazikki was getting lost in the detail of the setting and background and some movement would help draw the eye towards him sooner rather than later. 

Above is the movement of cloth, something to signify Mazikki is in the bed in a stylistic manner. The camera blur is an experiment for now. It gives the shot a 'hazyness' or an uncertainty which relates well to Mazikki's well being at that point. The movement feels ok, possibly a few more frame is needed. However overall the focus is on the blanket and movement, not on the background which is something I will have to think about within my other shots.

New Scenes

Above is shot of plant. (Background out of focus while foreground is in focus)
Establishing shot of house- will be raining- possibly a slight zoom. 

Weekend achievements:

• To complete two other shots in isolation section.  (Complete)
• To have animation schedule up on blog.

 

Animated Test

(Above is still image of frame.)

Creating a first rough render of a beginning  shot is very important at this stage to make sure frame rates, colour, export settings and screen size are adaquate for when I export all the clips to be edited in premier pro.

The issue I have with youtube specifically, is that the image becomes soft and loses detail between the line art and painted sections. I don't think this will hinder the project completely and even if I wanted to change my export settings to suit render output I may hit trouble when editing the clips in Premier Pro.

In the animation industry they use high spec computers to render most of their output which unfortunately I don't have therefore my final outcome my have this 'soft' look about it.

In terms of the animation itself, the fan shadow and the fan will need some work. I think it is too big and makes the visuals look closer than they should be from the ceiling. I will focus on improving this after a few more shots are fleshed out which will lead into my next next of production- animatic storyboard.

Final Script

FDA Specialist Project Final Script

Mock Up Shot development

The contrasted areas will be stronger to add a sense of depth and mood to the image. Adding to this, more light will be painted coming in from the left to the right.

The final bit that will be added is in the foreground, in which a cieling fan will be placed (out of focus) and animated to create more atmosphere.

Update 24/03/2013

This week I have been mainly working on developing my visuals. The week in itself has been a little busy, with other projects on the go, but I have managed to find time to do some character development and line work that will go towards the final animation.

I am not confident in showing the final images yet, purely because I want to work on them a little bit more, but the line work would give an idea of how the character fits into this world I have created and also how the audience will first view Mazikki.

(Above) Here are two stages that will finally turn into a more tonal piece.

The largest threat for this project is being too complicated and I think this processes has highlighted this a little. Even though it can be achievable, the threat is still there I am thinking that a back up is in order. This would involve making the script more streamline which will give the project some breathing space.

Another aspect to think about is the schedule. I believe an detailed animation schedule is important to help keep this project under control. The way I am going to go about things may have to change such as listing scenes and animated them instead of trying to create everything separately without any order.

These things will be factored in this week in my achievements.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright was a well established American architect who created around 1000 structures. In particular (below) the building fits well within it's surroundings making it apart of nature.

'Buildings designed by him to complement the environment, they are not perceived as a closed space, but as a place in harmony with nature harmoniously.' (Maryana, 2012)

link:  http://www.minimalisti.com/architecture/01/modern-architecture-the-legacy-of-frank-lloyd-wright.html

On a side note, he was also a keen Japanese wood block painting collector who stored and sold them. I recognise some Japanese influence within his own works as he focuses on using the natural environment to bring the best out of his structures and to curve something organic out from the earth.


 'Falling Water by Frank Lloyd Wright'

 I have looked at his structures because they are a good reference for my first few establishing shots introducing Mazikki's home through two thin belts of trees. The house itself is a bit too grand for an average neglected bungalow, but the overall look of it peeking through the trees gives it mystic effect. Not only this, but the structure and perspective can help me with any technical aspects of the structure I make.

Update 16th March 2013

The script has been written out, and is ready for further steps of shaping. Now what is left is very visual, in other words the time consuming part! This isn't a negative but has the potiental if I don't ensure that my designs (sets) and characters are simple enough to look good but also re-create dozens of times.

To speed up the process of the set design I am going to use a combination of basic 3d imagery and photographs. (Both would be compiled together in photoshop and used as reference to create the final image). Google Sketchup is the quickist way to make 3d imagery because of its presets therefore the time spent in 3d will be minimal. Here is an example using 3d:

The great advantage is that I can set the camera where I want it so in photoshop all I have to work on is the apparance without having to worry about perseptive or compostion.

Visual Shot List

Through my second draft of my script I have not created rough ideas for the visuals. The difficultly will be the amount of shots I can afford to do before it becomes too much and re-creates the threat of being overcomplicated.
However, for now I have an estimate of around 9 shots per a chapter, which doesn't seem much but there are five chapters. The scenes themselves however can linger as it is meant to be a slowed paced 'tension builder' drama, and therefore some of the shots can be cut out. I aim to have this shot list finalised but the 29th of March.

Second draft of Script

FDA Specialist Project Script

Script Update

First page of the script! Not all actions or visuals are layed out here but the voice is being developed.

As a first draft, I have just let words flow and even with that said, my initial ideal for him to have a gloomy dipostion has developed further into being bitter, cold and alone. 

INT. Mazikki’s bungalow, Dark and melancholy setting of his bedroom

Mazikki is lying lazily in bed.

MAZIKKI (V.O)

It was a dull, stony winter.

It was clear both within my inner most turmoil and around my pointless existence that my life resembled that very cold, prickly nature of both winters past and present.

That is why I put myself away like an exiled criminal shut out from the light.

Strangely yet purposefully, that is what I wished for.

Chapter one: Isolation

INT. Bathroom. Day time

The bathroom was suffused by an artificial indistinct light.

MAZIKKI (V.O)

It was within this exile that life did me no favours. My mindless brothers surpassed me in every way without caring for my existence.

My life separated from others when my heart separated 5 years ago- a sweet, delicate woman that slipped out of my grasp before being confronted by icy blackening manner of death.

It is only natural that I too surrounded my life in darkness.

ANNETTE (TEXT)

Why?

MAZIKKI (V.O)

Something had become of me within the many nights. A dream of some kind- a women somehow.  

Action Plan update 8th March 2013

This week has been big in terms of the development of my story, however it still has a long way to go. Unfortunately, I only have a short time to do this in but it is still achievable.

My next steps involve the scripts development. To start me off I have written the piece as a monologue, separating all of the sections (of grief)  but leaving out the visual elements until the voice element is finished. I plan to finish this by next Friday (15th) with most visuals set in stone also.

Along side this, I need to start collecting ideas and designing some of the backgrounds in which scenes take place. To start of, I will create the home of Mazikki. To keep the design simple and to avoid the threat of complicating the animation, I am going to use a collection of photographs similar to how 'She and her Cat' was produced, to create interesting detailed backgrounds. But for now, I am in the designing stages.

First Proposal

FDA Specialist Project Proposal by

She and her Cat

She and her Cat by  Makoto Shinka

When looking at Studio Ghibli shorts, I came across 'She and her Cat' created by Makoto Shinka. He isn't a part of the Studio Ghibli universe but sits close next to it. This work in particular is interesting to me because of it's simplicity, yet it is conveying a message of loneliness in a heart felt way. It does away with the complex character types and focuses on a single bond that two characters share.

First Chapter extract from 'The Road' by Cormac Mccarthy

An extract from 'The Road' describing a dream of seeing a creature inside a cave:

''When he woke in the woods in the dark and the cold of the night he'd reach out to touch the child sleeping beside him. Nights dark beyond darkness and the days more gray each one than what had gone before. Like the onset of some cold glaucoma dimming away the world. His hand rose and fell softly with each precious breath. He pushed away the plastic tarpaulin and raised himself in the stinking robes and blankets and looked toward the east for any light but there was none. In the dream from which he'd wakened he had wandered in a cave where the child led him by the hand. Their light playing over the wet flowstone walls. Like pilgrims in a fable swallowed up and lost among the inward parts of some granitic beast. Deep stone flues where the water dripped and sang. Tolling in the silence the minutes of the earth and the hours and the days of it and the years without cease. Until they stood in a great stone room where lay a black and ancient lake. And on the far shore a creature that raised its dripping mouth from the rimstone pool and stared into the light with eyes dead white and sightless as the eggs of spiders. It swung its head low over the water as if to take the scent of what it could not see. Crouching there pale and naked and translucent, its alabaster bones cast up in shadow on the rocks behind it. Its bowels, its beating heart. The brain that pulsed in a dull glass bell. It swung its head from side to side and then gave out a low moan and turned and lurched away and loped soundlessly into the dark.

Pitch of Idea

The Cave of Nuppeppo by tarapeak

For a swot Analysis and notes read more: