Extended Practice: Initial Sketching and Character Design

I wasn't 100% on my story, but I knew for definite that I was going to involve young Maressa and me as characters, so I began sketching from old photographs...

Initial Character Sketches

...Then I realised, I hate character design. I love drawing people, but the second I have to come up with characters and visualise them in a space and from different angles, I struggle. I'm an animator; I want to make things move.

So, I have recruited Wing to work on my character design. I asked her if she was up for it - because she has a drawing style that I was somewhat aiming for with my own designs, and because I have worked well with her in the past - and she said she was happy to take on the job. I have since sent her a collection of old family photographs and we have sat down and discussed my idea and what it is I am after with the designs. I also set a rough deadline for her to work to; I'm not particularly in a hurry to have these completed as my main focus is nailing my story right now, so I said I'd like to have them done by the time we get back after Christmas break. Which I thought was reasonable.

I'm very excited to now be collaborating, and I can't wait to see what Wing comes up with. 

Extended Practice: Initial Ideas

For a long time now I've wanted to create an animation that is almost a tribute to my Mum. I didn't want it to be overly dark or upsetting, but I did want it to be either based on her, or something for her. I've never had the opportunity to do something like this before, as I've never had the time nor the experience, so I thought Extended Practice was a good opportunity to finally do this. It would be a passion project that I'd enjoy working on, but also would be suitable (potentially) to send off to animation festivals. 

The idea that I couldn't stop thinking about was making an animation based on a memory I have of me and my sister as young children. We were out playing with our kites not long after my mum's passing, and I suggested to my sister that we should "let all the string out so we could get the kite high enough for her to climb back down."

At first I was thinking of developing this into a story. My idea was:
- Maressa (younger sister) is feeling down
- I come to comfort her, and suggest that we go out with the kites
- We are playing with the kites
- Eventually we manage to fly the kites and let out all the string
- Potential for the kites to fly higher than clouds, reveals sunny weather
- Ends with us both happy, either still playing with the kites/walking home/sat in the field

I as fond of the idea, as it didn't focus too much on sadness, instead it implied loss and focused more on the relationship I had with Maressa. Though I did decide to take this in a different direction as I thought the story was quite... lacking? I think I had made it better in my head because I knew what it was based on and wanted it to work. Instead I am going to focus entirely on the two of us flying kites, and create a montage of attempts at making them fly.

Initial Ideas