Summer 2013 Independent Work - part 3

Today I'll be sharing the body designs for the kids, as well as a slightly refined version of Daman.  Even though he has wings here, those wings aren't always visible, much like the kids' guardian angels.

UPDATE:  I've added the full body designs of the angels and Daman.  These were technically done during the Fall 2013 semester, and I've posted these images on the ANM 675 page in addition to here.

Sam	Tony	Kimi	Maria
Zack	William	Roland	Eva

Daman

Summer 2013 independent work - part 2

Where my earlier design inspiration came from such character designs as those for the Scooby-Doo gang and the Archie comics, this new style is more inspired by Kim Possible and Sabrina: the Animated Series.  Something else that factored in to this simplified design was watching Teen Titans GO!, and comparing the style of that show to the original Teen Titans on which it is based. GO! is more lighthearted than the original, and their visual style reflects that. It is my hope for The Navigators that the visual style will match the intended tone of the stories.

Here is some of my intermediate work on the new style, where I began to also experiment with color:

  

In going over the scripts and storylines for the show, my collaborator and I also came up with a new character - Daman.  Daman is there to cause trouble for our heroes, and serve as an obstacle to their goals.  As a counterpoint to the kids' guardian angels (seen above), Daman is a demon, but nobody realizes it at first.

In the next post I will share the body designs as they are finalized.

Summer 2013 independent work - part 1

At the end of the Spring 2013 semester, I had intended to refine my storyboards, but instead ended up re-designing the characters a bit. Their new designs are simpler and easier to draw and hopefully easier to animate. I feel I can now confidently move forward with boarding, now that there is a cohesive "look" for the characters and for the show in general.

Below are some of the experimental sketches for the main characters and one of the angel characters:

 The intermediate work will be in the next post.

 

Thesis Forum - Spring 2013 with Tim Hodge - week of May 13

Goals:

Goals this week were to do any final work on the storyboard sequences I had begun during this semester.  I didn't quite make that, but the "Rise and Shine" sequence is at a slightly higher level of polish than the rest of the sequences.

Over the summer I intend to go back and incorporate the suggestions made to me by Tim, Charles and my classmates.  By the time my final versions are finished, I hope to have professional looking storyboards to add to my pitch package and series bible.

Issues Covered:

During our last official meeting of the semester, Tim and I talked about how many of the goals I'd set for myself that I'd met.  Considering the artistic speed bumps, such as redesigning the four main characters, as well as their guardian angels, and also considering the medical setbacks encountered by myself and several members of my family, I feel I have met most of my goals and am quite satisfied with the progress I have made this semester.

I have definitely become more confident as far as staging and variation of shot length are concerned.  And, as always I am striving to improve my draftsmanship.

Goals for next week:

My goals for the summer are to continue refining these boards and to move into polished production art, some of which I've actually started on.

Comments:

This has been a productive semester, and one in which I feel I learned quite a lot.  I can't wait to apply what I've learned to my work as I progress toward completion of my Final Project.

Files:

Thesis Forum - Spring 2013 with Tim Hodge - week of May 6

Goals:

This week I was hoping to get back into the swing of things following two weeks away from my workspace.  Upon returning home on the 2nd, I ended up severely ill for most of the week.  However, I was still able to meet with Tim on Thursday the 9th, and I was also able to complete a rough pass on a third sequence.

Issues Covered:

Tim and I talked about getting back into it after missing two weeks.  We also talked about exaggerated human anatomy in character designs, such as those in Dexter's Laboratory.  Tim looked at the small portion of the rough pass I'd finished and gave me a few pointers on how to really push the expression on Tony when he's mimicking Sam.

Goals for next week:

for this last week of the semester, I want to go back through the other sequences I started, and possibly tie up a few loose ends.  For example, I would really like to board the opening of the second sequence, with Sam and Tony bursting into the conference room.

Comments:

I regret that I fell behind over the last couple of weeks, but I hope to do a little more toward the project next week, even though it's the last week of the semester.

Files:

Sequence 3 - rough

Sequence 3 - refined

Thesis Forum - Spring 2013 with Tim Hodge - week of April 22

Goals:

Before travelling to Alabama for a funeral, my goal for week 12 was to finish boarding the second sequence from the first episode of The Navigators.  I was not able to get that done.

Issues Covered:

Tim and I did not meet this week.  I had to travel for a funeral, then discovered my mother will be having knee replacement on May 14.  Staying here to help her prepare for pre-op on April 30.

Goals for next week:

I will be in Alabama until May 2, but I hope to start the third sequence (the first one from the second episode).  My goal is to get through at least one script page by the end of next week.

Comments:

I did get a little bit done in my sketchbook so I will post those pages here.

Files:

   

 

Thesis Forum - Spring 2013 with Tim Hodge - week of April 15

Goals:

Right now, as far as the work is concerned I am plugging forward on this scene, which will transition into the scene at the biker bar.  Unfortunately, I found out last night (April 19) that my uncle passed away, and now I have to determine whether I will be able to make the trip from Connecticut to Alabama for his funeral.  My own health isn't great right now, so this trip will be a challenge.

Issues Covered:

I met with Tim Thursday afternoon/evening (April 18) and we continued to talk about staging, camera angles/shot length and shot flow.  He shared tips for building a scene shot by shot and as usual, I am keeping his notes to refer back to when I make my next pass.

Goals for next week:

Travelling for a funeral is going to make working on my project difficult to impossible this coming week, but I will try to get something done.  I hope to get the chance to build the first part of the scene, which I've been wanting to go back and board for a couple of weeks now.

Comments:

The death of my uncle from cancer has thrown my family into chaos again, merely 15 months after the suicide of my brother.  I'm going to try to finish this semester out strong, but obviously this is going to have to take it one week at a time.

Files:

Pilot Part 2c