Project Update: Ignis et Aer Final Comments

To be honest, I think the reason Aer isn't as upset over being trapped underwater as you'd expect is because damn would you look at that. that lake looks magical under the surface.

       That aside, what can I say. It's been a rough few months with things hardly going according to plan, but we still try to keep going. Overall the development of this project ended up being fairly similar to last year's, though I managed to take it further on a few notes. I got to animate more than one character for my film (progress!!) and explore different colouring techniques to fit each character, experiment more with colour, work further to reach a number of finalised backgrounds and the lighting and effects these may entail (and even animation applied to background elements, whoa!), and the like. These are things I didn't really get to delve into with last year's film, so I'm happy for that. 

       Going along with project length, the number of finished shots I managed to achieve is also higher, and each this year's are also more complex, so I'm going to go ahead and take this as a double win.

       There were a few hiccups towards the end of the road that, unfortunately, I didn't manage to solve. With this I'm referring to problems of a more software-based nature. Things that work differently between different software, even though the company is the same and the tools are the same, but go figure.

       I'm sure I would've found a way around it, but alas that would require some looking up and exploring for which I didn't have the time. Don't you know, the fourth dimension is my eternal rival. Either way, it's unfortunate that something like this would affect the final look.

       But overall I do believe there's been progress, and is that not the main goal? For what it's worth,

Project Update: Ignis et Aer Post Production Visuals

Aaaaayy, Nature.

Project Update: Ignis et Aer Shot Animation Progress

It does take a fair few stages.

       Here's a look at a few of the stages I've had to clear to reach the final look for this film. Or, well, for one of the shots of said animation at least. Ignis is a bully who won't allow me the pleasure of having one drawing last a fair number of frames, damn the constant flickering of his flames.

       For the record, these wolf-like creatures don't bite. They're a friendly bunch. Probably vegetarian too (what are those teeth for then, it is a mystery).

Super Dangan Ronpa 2, bringing the despair onto a new level.

         I can get carried away drawing fanart for my everyday shenanigans; case in point, drawing a cute SDR2 wallpaper for my phone.

Dangan Ronpa is great if you like the idea of losing yourself in despair.

No really, that's it, that's the game.

         I quite like the ending theme song for the animated adaptation, so I played with one line from the lyrics for this one. It means 'It seems my world has found an error'. Error as in bug, computer error. Which is why I wrote it with the wrong characters - one of the basis for Japanese humour/puns, in fact - using ones that bring up a negative idea or represent something important to the character instead. Emphasis on the idea of virtual bugs, aye.

         Really, when the idea of killing your own classmates becomes a real life rule, it's no wonder your brain goes all 404 on you.

Project Update: Ignis et Aer Initial Test

Okay but how do you fire.

       First go at animating Ignis' fiery head. Looking back I have to wonder; is this really what I got myself into.

(´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)

All I can say is that I was experimenting with digital painting.

Project Update: Ignis et Aer Background Development

         Here are some background experiments on getting the look I visualised for this film, showing the three main locations: the clearing, underwater, and the forest. Heavy on the blues, it's one Winter night all the way through, after all.

[Cardiff Castle / Black pen, ink and watercolour]

Meticulous? No, not at all.

Playing with ink is good fun.

Project Update: Ignis et Aer Shenanigans

This little guy was supposed to be a mum but then there was that moustache there so he became.

Papa Owl.

That's it, that's his name. Poor single owl dad taking care of three.

[Cardiff Bay / Black pen and ink]

I like flat colours.

Project Update: Ignis et Aer Character Design Development

Have some of my characters doing shenanigans.

Ignis is a precious little guy.

Ah, yes, Ascona, the next door of my origins.

They said there'd be loads of animals

But then they were all dead??

New film in the works!

         Now for the actual recent stuff. What am I working on now?

      Well. See, there're these little creatures out there, they're like sprites of the fours elements of Nature. Ignis - the one who represents fire - flies around keeping the living creatures warm during cold Winter nights. That's what he's doing one night like any other, except this time, he notices the animals seem to be having trouble breathing. But what's he to do about that? He does try to think of a way to help them, but he really doesn't know what to do, so he carries on floating about the forest, doing what he can - keeping the others warm.

        It's when he comes to a clearing and flies above a frozen lake that he sees something. Something moving underwater. That shouldn't be so surprising, but Ignis is a curious one, so he gets closer to the surface to investigate. He doesn't see anything at first, but the Aer pops up in front of him. Or well, below him, under the ice. She's the air sprite, and Ignis is immediately drawn to her. He realises she's trapped under the ice, so he tries to help her get out. But nothing works; he tries to pick up tree branches to break the ice, but by the time he gets there, all he carries in his hand is a pile of ashes! Again, he doesn't know what to do, so he goes back to Aer, his head down in an apology. She doesn't blame him though, instead reaching out a hand to the ice wall between them in understanding, her eyes closed. He does the same.

         None of them notice the layer of ice starting to slowly melt.

Never forget the times you animate animals.

┐('～`；)┌

         Oh look there was that one character I designed for Coleg Glan Hafren's virtual learning platform OLA back in the day.

         Hey don't look at me, I got to buy a second-hand iPod with the prize so it suits me fine.

Okay but who are you?

         Well I could answer that in a number of ways, but in light of the context here I'm going to take this opportunity to take a look back and bring a little something I worked on during my second year in Animation, a film that I intend to get back to in the future. Let's go from the early stages to see how things grew from there.

          So what's the story about? Have a premise.

      Destiny may be up to each of us to map, but what if we have, from the very beginning, something to guide us along the way? Inspiration and motives are what can get us to cover a wider distance and, unknown to everyone, there’s a little creature, invisible to all, in charge of giving us that which will possess most meaning for us.

      Whenever a new human life is developing its form, Initius joins it inside the mother’s belly. There, she colours the irises of the child that is to be born. Whatever she paints in their eyes will determine what each child will find most important or be most passionate about. So what happens when Initius finds herself unable to illuminate one particular child before birth?

     Being an occurrence without precedent as this is, even years after this unfortunate case, Initius can’t forget about that child that was born with colourless eyes because of her.

    So when she meets that same human years later, it brings her a great feeling of redemption. Furthermore, her unique connection with him before his own birth resulted in his ability to see her; he becomes a direct link between Initius and our world, and that provides her with her own share of inspiration, as well as a new motive.

         Meet grown-up Nur, the guy with the colourless eyes.

         Now feel free to have a look at the little things that make up Initius.

         And how about a short peek at how she moves around once inside a happy mum's belly?

         

         Sad as it is, I was unable to finish the film as a uni project, but I'm very fond of this little story, so hopefully I will come back to it once things settle a bit. Until then, Initius will keep doing what she does best, in between little breaks here and there where learns more about Nur and the world.

Or gets some well deserved rest.

Welcome one and all!

Greetings.

         Here's a start to a series of visual goodies I work on, both final and in-progress. This is the concept I've designed for my main image, and it will be present in most products I work up to introduce myself and/or my work, so adapted versions will be found in my current business card and website.

         The foundation for this comes from two points: mascots and a simple, strong colour palette. Reasons? I've always been fond of the idea of representing yourself through a fictional little character and adapting your experiences to it, and making up two characters, I can represent two sides of myself. 2-in-1, what a bargain. Then, the choice for the colours comes from the fact a limited colour palette earns you a stronger image, and therefore your image is more likely to remain in the viewer's mind. Using tones close to primary colours, together with the strong contrast, only adds up to that.

           So there you have it.