The '3 P's' for animation!

Planning, Preparation and Patience. . . copious quantities are required of each.

Planning out the Animatic as a thumbnail version first was probably the only way of ever getting this work done. . .this preparation and trying to iron out problems in story flow and continuity meant that I had a really good idea of the work load and a clear visual impression in my head (and on my wall at home with a print out of the thumbnails).

I am now trying to get through about 55 Flash scenes, which are only about 4 to 10 seconds long, and some are stills, but it all takes time. At the moment I am just over half way through, with the next 4 days going to be very long days.

I want to finish all the scenes by Sunday, which will leave Monday for editing and Tuesday/Wednesday for a sound track. With a couple of days left for finding mistakes and getting all the work put together.

It sounds OK at the moment. . .time will tell!

First Flash Scenes for Animatic

Started on one of the fight sequences and got really stuck at the first hurdle!

Eventually got something but it took days to get one sequence, and then it was only because I added a gag that isn't in the script. But it did kick start the process, so hopefully it will start to flow now.
'The Pearce Sisters' animatic which Andy showed me got me thinking about the process in a different way, that of more sketchy in drawing style, and with more emphasis on the story telling process. And of course my favourite 'Sound' making a huge impact on the way in which the story is put across. The use of still images in more close succession as well, rather than using animation in cut out style.

But I'll probably carry on with the style that I have started with for now and consider a different approach next time. Some of the scenes will be still images though to move the process on a bit as I want to get all the scenes done by the end of next week, to leave a week for sound and editing.

Here are some of the first Flash pieces!

Knights storyboard animatic

First stage of the animatic was to re-arrange my thumbnail storyboard into some sort of order in an 'rough' animatic. This took some time, the script is quite complicated because of the repetitiveness of the action sequences, so getting everything to fit together was a bit fiddly. . . but I got as far as I could without having a second opinion to pick out further bits that needed work.

I feel time is running out so it will have to do so that I can get on with the 'actual' animatic.

I am trying to do 'cut out' bits for the action sequences as it could help speed things up, but I think it is going to get a bit complicated. . . not really enjoying this at the moment!

Going to use Flash again for all the sequences and edit in Premiere, I want to get as many scenes done as quickly as possible, and try to concerntrate on getting some timing sorted rather than spend a lot of time drawing. Don't feel like its going to get finished at the moment.

Knights Character designs

The Blue and Red knights (wearing long johns and vest), (Green knight isn't seen out of his armour). . . and colour coordinated slippers.

The knights Seconds wearing colour coordinated tunics.

Knights Armour designs

I wanted the armour to look 'butch', as it is described as 'metal behemoths' in the script, but I also wanted it not to be so serious, so I went for more almost ridiculous rather than 'iron man'.

I'm quite pleased with them as I think they each have some personality without any facial expressions.

My main source of initial inspiration was from fifties animation, and although the style that has emerged isn't the more graphic image of that period I think it helped get a distinctive overall design style for the concept artwork.

The main action is between the blue and red knight, and blue knight wins, so I wanted him to be a little bit of a 'show off' with a burly pose. Red knight used to be good at winning at sword fights,
but he is a bit past it now, and Green knight is big and robust in stature, but he has the squeaky high pitch gruff so when he comes onto the scene he looks impressive but ends up crawling off on his hands and knees.

Colour background design

Didn't really like this landscape when it was first finished but it is growing on me! The action would take place in the close-up shot, zoomed in, above.

I am trying to keep some idea of monotone in the artwork, with the colours of the three knights as the distinctive areas of focus, so blue, red and green from the plumes on their armour. But it was difficult to do that in a full landscape piece as this with so much land on show, so I decided to go 'green' . . . maybe its ok.

Anyway, this would be the opening panarama . . . but I would maybe add some more land at the left, didn't only because of paper size.

Doing most of my work by hand at the moment, just because I am enjoying that way. With a few touch-ups in Photoshop.

Knights background design

Still like my initial idea of 'black and white with a few touches of colour' for the animation, but most of the artwork has more colour than originally planned, but thats ok. Just letting it all develop as it happens.

Knights rough sketches

Landscape rough sketches. . .started by just doing landscape stuff. I decided on the scene layout and the castle design, then put it all together into colour artwork. I have used mostly colour pencils so far to get the detail I was aiming at, so I'll start with that and probably add some bits in Photoshop.

Knights Sketches

Sketches for the characters, didn't really know what would emerge when I started to sketch out initial ideas. . . its always a bit of a nervous time I find.

Wanted to get characters that were quite cute rather than too tough looking, and I was conscious of the other knights groups ideas, not wanting to be influenced as they were ahead of me in their artwork. But I think I am satisfied with the designs so far, I managed to get the look that I was after for both the armour and the people. My designs are perhaps not as exciting as the other groups work, but thats OK!!