Editing and Sound on Talking Dog

Editing took some time to get right, I did get rid of quite a bit of stuff. . . from about 6 mins down to 4 1/2 mins. It did flow better, but it is very different editing your own work compared to someone elses.

I didn't get all the sound finished though. . . got some metal sounds done for sword fighting, the trumpets, and the tools sounds but ran out of time for voices and other background stuff.
I don't mind editing sound I think I just get lost when you have to think of how to create the sound effects and what type of sound to use, which is not always a literal sound, for animation.

But overall I suppose I should be pleased that all the visuals were finished for the deadline.

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.