2D/3D composite test

STORYBOARDS - full pdf version

SORRY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES< FIXING LINK...

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Here is the first version of the full storyboard sequence.





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Galaxy High, a childhood memory...

Galaxy High is a cartoon I vaguely remember watching as a kid. Seeing some of the designs, I can see where I may have subconsciously picked something up. enjoy

-Alex

part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXw9xpkdzik&feature=related
part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMPs7f6JIcQ&NR=1

3d props - R. Shorter

Vehicle update -T.Quach

First look at smitty - A.Pascual

Smitty is Coleman's co-worker and mentor. Working together under hoods of spacerods, Smitty lets on less than what he appears to be. Smart, good with his hands, and a good kind spirit all around.

zipped files doc_021809.zip

click here for files, then rt click to save

Production Pipeline

click here for pipeline

Story Boards - Act 1a *click image to view*

With more revisions to the script, I decided to test some of the scenes by making some storyboards.

Storyboards are a useful technique when wanting to pre-visualize a script. Although some may get very detailed, storyboards tend to be rough and try to communicate the most in direction, composition and timing, without dedicating valuable time and effort.

Unfortunately, posting all the storyboards would take up too much space on the blog. perhaps on a later date I will post a link to a viewable slide show. The posted picture is a shot from Coleman's introduction.

This scene not only eventually shows Coleman's affection to Nika, but a great spot for a gag.

Coleman is happily working under a hood of a spacerod. First tightening a plasma coil on one side ad then the other. While tightening the left, the other pops and spews forth. Quickly tightening the loose coil, the other coil pops and spews. Returning to both and making sure they are secure, Coleman is satisfied. Suddenly Nika's name and face are mentioned on the TV. In excitement he hits his head on the underside of the car hood, falling to the ground. The two coils burst and spew forth. Shaking off the injury Coleman obsessively looks at Nika's image in the monitor and dreams of the two of them frolicking in space.

That's it for now folks,

Alex

Car Concepts - M.Grauer

Here it is.

Concept Art - A.Pascual

Now that we have further developed characters, vehicles, and story, it is time to visualize these concepts in context. More concept than an actual shot or storyboard, this scene attempts to convey the possible look or feel for the bar/club scene.

Frankenworst in the midst of abducting Nika as Coleman stands in the face of danger.

-Alex

Car concept - T.Quach

Frankenworst run cycle v01

Spacerod concepts - M.Grauer

NIka's character sheets

Frankenworst's character sheets

Colman's character sheet

Coleman:
-lowly mechanic, "the underdog"
-builds and fixes spacerods
-madly in love with Nika
-friends with Smitty
-naturally shy

Here is a great speed drawing by youtube account jawboneradio. His simplistic style and colors resemble some of the illustration techniques we wish to use for the 2D-animation. A genre of animation called "retro" is a nod to the stlye approach in the silverage of cartoons. Much as seen in Hannah-Barbera cartoons, like Yogi Bear or Huckle-Berry-Hound. Coming from a neccessity to create animations for weekly or bi-weekly time-slots, characters and overall aethetics had to be simplified, but retain a certain qulity to them.

The retro-style, hence its name, is due to the resurgence of the simplistic style. As seen today in Dexter's Lab, Samurai Jack, and even the commercials for E-Insurance; some taking it more or less simplistic than others.

Check out more of jawboneradio's illustrations at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/jawboneradio

Past Winter 2008 Prodution Teams

*click on image for article*

Here is the article from the Spring 2008 issue of FUEL, The Art Institute of Seattle's creative magazine. The two animation featured are the culmination of previous production teams in their last quarter.

Being in our infancy with our project, this is a great article discussing the challenges and technical hurdles for such an undertaking.



-Alex

The beginning...

Colman by D.WALTERS

It has been slow to start with the blog, but we have been up-to-date with the initial stages of the story creation. As of last quarter, the winter 2009 pre-production students have been writing scripts. The "gauntlet" began as a brainstorm of excitement. Every student coming first week with a script.

Through a process of elimination, students had to "sell" their story and pitch it to a panel of instructors. The panel paid a lot of attention to the script writing both in format structure as well as creative content.

From these interviews the panel would then narrow the number of scripts down to more than half. With 8 scripts still on board, those students became directors. The remaining students gravitated to the scripts that interested them. To then become a part of that production team, thus ending "round-one".


With both excitement and anxiety, the students gathered with their respective teams to a formulate a game plan. Positions, duties, skill-sets. Decisions to make either a 2D or a 3D-animation. Revisions of the script, you name it. Styles, themes, and characters had to be conceptualized in both personality and visually.

Concept art is the general term for these visual pieces. They can range from simple character model sheets to a full digital paintings of a scene. Students became quickly aware of the script writing process. Aiming for no more than 5 to 7 minute animations, scripts had to be shortened, or the opposite; expanded. From revisions of characters, of themes, to even total overhauls of scripts were being taken place.

Come following week and fully re-armed, the eight directors and their teams gave a second pitch. Not only showcasing their concept material, but this being the first time the rest of the class gets introduced to each others scripts.

After a private discussion, the panel decided to keep the majority of the remaining on board. Differences only in what the teams need to improve; some more than others. Below is a selection of some of the concept art done for this last pitch. With my skilled team at hand and my duties of director, there is more to come!

-Alex


*click on the images to view full-size*

Frankenworst, by D.WALTERS

Frankenworst, by D.WALTERScrowd_alien #1 by T.QUACH

crowd_alien #2, by T.Quach
crowd_alien #3 by T.QUACH
Main Characters Concept by A.PASCUAL

Welcome to Spacerace Blogspot!!

This site is dedicated to the efforts of Alex Pascual, Dan Walters, David Johnson, Tony Quach, Mike Grauer, and associated faculty of The Art Institute of Seattle, to bring you an exciting and funny animation. More to come!