Project 3: Week 5

Animation Storyline (change)

Through an analysis of what I have and haven’t done so far, I have decided to simplify my story to make the animation easier in order for me to be able to finish it.

Starting frames will be my main character’s younger self standing on top of a mountain, holding up a strelitzia in awe/happily, signifying his childish innocence.

As he continues to admire the flower, he realises it is wilting rapidly in his hand. Through my previous research post on the flower, the strelitzia signifies freedom, being a symbol for how his freedom is stripped away from him.

The frame will go black for a second, and it will switch to the current main character, standing on the same mountain. However, the scene will be darker and murkier, signifying the change in atmosphere and life itself after he grew up.

He will stand there for a few seconds, opening and closing his eyes. At the end, his eyes will glow, as if possessed by some strange power.

This story line will be a lot easier to animate within my time frame in comparison to the last, and it will still maintain the story aspect despite being not as detailed.

Project 3: Week 5

Practical Work

Backdrop Art

After using my Pinterest board dedicated to the region of Zhangjiajie, I quickly sketched up and designed a backdrop inspired by the images I had collected. I created a single and rough sketch (since I am not too experienced in background art) that I could add a gaussian blur to to add full focus to my character, who would be centre stage.

I proceeded to colour balance and change the hues of the scene, to create a murkier darker version. This version will be what I use to transition to my characters timeskip, to signify the darker version of himself.

I am not fully satisfied with this piece, due to the fact I was experiencing art block at the time. This meant that my art was more sub par than usual, due to the lack of motivation. However, despite the messy colouring and half-done job, I believe I have managed to create a scene background relevant and familiar to my inspiration.

Comparison between the landscape and the real source of inspiration

Project 3: Week 5

Concept Work

Main Character (Pre-Timeskip Design)

For my characters younger self, I have decided to create a concept sketch through purely line work to decide on his design.

I chose to give him shorter hair (a contrast from his long hair in the timeskip), vision in both eyes (contrast to the singular uncovered eye in the timeskip), and I gave him a tângzhuāng, additionally known as a tang suit- a formal piece of clothing worn in Chinese culture. I decided to choose the tângzhuāng to fit him into societal norms, where he wouldn’t stand out as a child, resonating with his ‘normal’ lifestyle. This changes greatly as he ages, which is the contrast I am trying to portray.