Storyboard

Storyboard panels by Adam Scarisbrick

Final Character Designs

I have received the final designs. I am really pleased with them! I usually never work with such in depth character designs, I tend to work from a vision in my mind and let it take its course. I feel like I wasn't particularly good at explaining what I wanted because of that reason.

These were the first examples I was sent. 

After seeing these I asked for them to be simplified and without armour. The Odin I want to portray won't be so "war-like".

The first set of boots are similar to what Erik has, but I much prefer this style. It fits in the the style I want Odin to be.

As I have already made the head of the puppet, I chose the last eye. I will need to add a little more detail and possibly some pink onto the eye to make it look more like a scar.

After talking with Laura today I informed her of the aspects I liked and did/didn't want. This was the final outcome. 

Time to get to work and bring him to life!

Character Designs

As mentioned in my previous post, I have already started work on Odin. For the time being I am leaving him as a head while I concentrate on other things.

These are a few quick sketches to get some ideas down. (With obligatory tea stains...) 

So I got to work. I used sculpey to make the face, the same as I did with Erik. I used a can of body spray to sculpt on... needs must! [Insert low quality phone pictures here]

Annoyingly I left it in the oven a little too long, but the burnt bits were easily covered. I also added a little more (uncooked) sculpey to the nose to make it more defined. The beard was built up layer by layer. I have used the same method as I did for making Erik. The beard is made of roving wool fibre.

As the head is hollow, I have made a skull from half of a polystyrene ball. This keeps the head as light as possible. It also allows me to have access to his eyes if need be.

As mentioned in the last post, Odin hasn't really changed much since this picture was taken. 

I have asked a second year student to assist me with character design, these are a few examples so far.

Designs by Laura Durrant 

Hopefully there will be more to come in the next few days.

Lots of developments!

It has been a long time since my last blog post, I apologise! There have been a lot of development in terms of my final major project. 

At first I was going to stay away from the Viking idea, simply because I wanted to try something different. I opted for clay-mation [in the style of Mio & Mao]. This fell through quite early on [but only after the presentation to the second years, annoyingly enough]. After making prototypes of the models, that would have been a mouse and and elephant; I came to the conclusion that at this moment in time I cannot make it look how I want it to. When an idea leaves you so frustrated that you wish to leave your course, obviously it is best to let it lie. I have left the idea on the back burner, so hopefully I will pick it up again one day.

With that idea put to the side, I looked to Erik once more. In the beginning I had hoped to use Erik once more, but as the narrator this time round. Although after some thought it was decided to keep Erik away from this particular animation; as I had done what I could [story wise] with Erik for the time being. Alas, I decided that sticking with Vikings was a good idea. It is a vast topic which I really enjoy. 

But what about Vikings? I chose Norse Mythology. Odin was the God that stuck out to me the most. 

To get some ideas going, I started making Odin. He has been made in the same way as Erik, although slightly bigger and with some improvements. From making Erik I learnt a lot about something [puppet making] that I once used to abhor. The only change from this photograph, is that he now has an eyelid!

After doing a lot of research on the Gods and their worlds, I have finally been able to chose the worlds I will include in my animation (and finalise the script!)

The animation, at the moment, is called "Odin & The Creation". This may or may not be its final name. In the animation I will visualise Yggdrasil, the tree of life. There are many diagrams out there where the names and worlds differ. To see some examples please go here.

These are some quick designs I did earlier today. Obviously they are just thumbnail designs to capture my ideas. 

The worlds will be introduced using shadow puppetry. I will be using a lightbox for this, hence why the illustrations are round - that is the proportion [shape] I will be working to.

Within the next week or so I hope to experiment with some prototype shadow puppets; to see if it will actually work the way I envisage or I will have to change it slightly. I will also experiment with the backgrounds to see what material is best suited - ink or tissue paper. 

I'm looking forward to the results!