Good day Bad day: Goodbye cels...

Also over reading week and this past week, Ive been planning more about using cel animation to create the film. Me and Hannah produced tests on cels, draw them and painted them, and they looked nice. We struggled finding the correct pens that wouldnt rub and we'd need to get the right paint, but they worked and we could see the film looking nice at the end of it. The only problem was time...

In the time frame that we have to produce the film, getting them animated roughly on paper, then cleanign them up onto cels ready to then be painted would take a long time to get right, and may in the end be rushed and not look good at all, or simply not get completed. So for the sake of the film, and our sanity, we have had to come to the decision to leave cel animation for now- we thought theres always time to perhaps tackle it next year. Its a shame, but at the end of all this we need a finished film, and we weren't willing to sacrifice the quality of the final piece just so we could say we did it on cels.

Maybe next year...

Good day Bad day: Backgrounds so far...

Over the reading week, it was time to start finalising the backgrounds...

I like them with colour, and want to keep them with as limited palettes as possible so that they keep their simplicity and sketchy look. But at the minute, they do  seem quite strong and a little bolder than anticipated, so they may need to be toned down

Good day Bad day: what the cel?...

Now that the film is ready to roll into production, I ve been thinking more about the stlye and how I want it to be produced. The last time I did a piece using paper and flipbook, I ended that project not wanting to do animation anymore- it became too tedious, too  stressfull and not enjoyable for me anymore. So Ive been trying to think of different ways of working.

When talking to Hannah, the idea came about to do the film using cel animation. Weve been talking about how we could build a small rig to hold the cels in place, light them, and try and get that sense of depth in the images, and we are both really excited about going back to that way fo working, getting that style of the classic disney films and bringing the story to life in a different way.

We need to do some tests, but at the minute Im really excited about working with Hannah to get this done- I would draw the animation, while she would paint the cels. I feel that at the end of it we will ahve a piece to be proud off and have the cels as memorabillia in a way to the films production.
So now, while we have the time, we need to test the style and look and see how it will work out...

Good day Bad day: Production begins...

So thats it- pre-production is over, and after pratically developing and planning two seperate films, the fun bit starts...hopefully! First things first, the backgrounds need finishing- Heres how they stand now before being coloured and styled...

Im still happy with the designs and now just need to make them fit with the style of the film...

Good day Bad day: storyboards

So heres the final film as it stands so far in storyboard form. Alterations may be made over the course of production, but overall Im pleased with the story as it is and am excited about bringing it to life so that, fingers crossed, audiences understand it and like it...

And here is the storyboards in animatic form, which makes it easier to see what is working well and whats not in terms of timing and story...

Good day Bad day: Background designs

All of the backgrounds have to obviously keep a similar style and fit with the nature of the film and the look of the characters. I want them to stay simple, but not too generic and dull...

Keeping them rounded and curved will create a more rounded world that blends with the characters...

I am really happy with the background designs, and feel they are quirky and different, yet recognisable and not too dominating for the piece. But they create a world that the characters will hopefully slot well into...

The other less major characters also have to fit this rounded, simplified style so that they to fit in to the world...

And its the same with the probs and accesories...

I am happy with all of the designs and feel they will hopefully create a quirky, bubbly world that suits the film and characters. The cat will need to be simplified further, but that can be dealt with when needed.

Good day Bad day: Character style

The characters will obviously have to fit and sit well in the backgrounds, so I need to make sure that whichever style I choose from these three final designs blends well with them...

I feel that the bold, sketchy line work on the character will work really well- having a boil on the line will add further movment and life. And with this style of background particularly, the characters will leap out at audiences. The backgrounds will serve their purpose and will give the film and style and setting, but they wont overpower the main action and focus of the film...

So now all of the other backrgrounds have to be designed and made to fit this style, but at the minute Im excited and looking forward to getting the film going and looking like this...