PRE-PRODUCTION

Thisprojectwentthroughalotofiterationsinthepre-productionphase.Bytheendofthisphase Ihadaboutfourdifferentdistinctversionsandeachhadit’sownuniquelooktoit.ThefirstphaseIwentthroughinvolvedhanddrawnbackgroundswithwatercolor and colored pencil. On the right is a piece of concept art from that beginning stage.

The characters also went through many different iterations. The whole time the basic design stayed the same, but small thingskeptchanginglikeheadshape,smallaccessories,andmostofallrenderingoftheeyes.Shownontheleftarethefinalversionsofthecharactersastheyappearinthefilm.

ANIMATING

WhenIbegantheanimationphaseofproductionmyworkflowbecamefarmoremechanical.InordertogetitalldoneontimeIneededtoconstructanassemblylineapproachtomyworkingtime.Myprocessbeganwithroughanimation,followedbycolorandslightcleanup,andfinallycompositingandaddingminimalsoundcamelast.

OntheleftisamotiontestIdidlateinthefallsemester.Althoughthestyleanddesignsareold,theprocessIusedtoanimateitisthesameastheoneIusedforthefinal.

OntherightisaframefromthefirstshotIcompositedtogether.IputthisonetogethermidwaythroughtheanimationprocesssothatIcouldbegintovisualizewhatthefilmwasgoingtolooklikeintheend.

BACKGROUNDS

PaintingthebackgroundswasthelastthingIdidbeforecompositingthefilm.Iwasgoingtopaintthemallinwatercolor,butsinceIwasdoingthemlastIhadtheleastamountoftimeleftwhenIgottothem.ThewatercolormethodprovedtobetoocostlyintermsoftimeandIadoptedthisloosedigitalpaintedstylethatstillcapturedthetexturedfeelingthatIwantedfromthe watercolors.

PartoftheprocessIusedforthesebackgroundswassettingatimerforthirtyminuteswheneverIbeganabackground.Thistime limit helped me stay on schedule, while also helping me to not get stuck in unnecessary details, and allowed for the brushwork to show through.

Thesearepresentedintheorderthattheyappearinthefilm.TherearetwodistinctmoodsIwasattemptingtocapturewiththesebackgrounds.Oneisthegloomiercloudymoodthatyoucanseeinthefirsttwobackgrounds.Thesecondisamoresunny and livelier mood which you can see in the rest.