LAUAN504 Task 2 - Competition - Environment Development

Environmental final scene 1 background

Developing the night time colour scheme with overlaying yellow lighting for the buildings in the background.

Lighting effects in the night background, overlapping the foreground and character assets in this example. But also featuring new ideas to create atmosphere such as the cat standing out through the yellow light.

This background uses abstract and simple coloured shapes with no lining as to stand out the main characters, because the characters use lines and a similar colour scheme. The lining is important for the defining of all the characters, stopping them from blending in with the dark blues and shadowy colours.

This background style is simplistic and effective for keeping the characters the centre of attention during this short cartoon. It was designed through a blend of styles from group participation in designing a background and similar standard for a colouring pallet based from referenced material.

Having designed this environmental scene background with different layers, a back layer for the sky and a front layer with the buildings, I am able to change the 'levels' and edit the colour tone. The group decided that a darker night sky looked better because it didn't blend in as much with the foreground buildings, also the stars and clouds stand out more.

LAUAN504 Task 2 - Competition - Character Experimentation

Character Experimentation




Researching character design, reading Creative Character Design Bryan Tillman
Characters using archetypes and design elements such as shadows and line with the tips and techniques, Bryan Tillman explains technique of drawing characters and the theory of good character design by using case studies.



Functionality of the character, "form follows function" -'no matter how cool a design looks, it should always look like it would work'

Trial and error, sketching and drawing is an important element, one that I need to improve on, 'sometimes you need to know when to walk away form the design'

(group related imagery)

Hannah Sessler's character experimentation artwork

Creating 'doll' like character designs, that appeal to a younger audience, these blocked out and rounded characters are easier to squash and stretch, mostly with motion lines. These are features of more contemporary character design.

Designing the character silhouette first and basing the design from basic rounded shapes and clumpy features.

Hannah Sessler's character experimentation artwork

Adding detail, outlines, developing the outfit along with the character.

Hannah Sessler's character experimentation artwork

Bach Do's character silhouette 

(we are looking at AGE RANGE of Ages 0-4 to Ages 5-8 character design)

Silhouettes are important once the general shape has been created.
Recognisability is the fuel for iconic characters, arranging the overall silhouette that can describe my character design, with no other detail. Not breaking the "form follows function" rule.
This approach can also make multiple designs in a short amount of time, not focusing on detail, which I believe is my problem with character design.
I over complicate the design instead of looking into the overall look and outline, which is the most important element as I have realised.

LAUAN504 Task 2 - Competition - Environmental Experimentation

Experimentation - Environmental

The short animation wound be an introduction into the action hero series for the BEANO characters, as a group we decided that the background would be at night and clear, the best setting for crime.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, background referencing/referring

After storyboarding the animators would then prepare the key character poses, layout, background art, and other main elements, using Flash programs to optimise the placement and posing of the characters and other elements in the environment that are static, simplifying on the amount of work.

The backgrounds involve simple animated features but mostly are not detailed, the depth is conveyed by the bold shades of colour and vivid colouring scheme.  

My concept art design for night time town roofs scene

Researched referencing artwork from. 'All the Buildings in London: That I've Drawn So Far'

Referenced book:

James Gulliver Hancock is a well travelled illustrator known for his playful illustration style.

James Gulliver Hancock's unique and charming drawings of the city's diverse architectural styles and streetscapes. The offbeat drawing style gives a sense of whimsical and delightful fun to his illustrations, while perfectly capturing each building's architectural details.

This unusual combination of the artistic and the technical presents London's cityscape like never before. The book includes such beloved iconic buildings as St.

This art is mostly formal elements such as line, colour and shape, in detail for the architecture.
The line art is the majority of the illustrations, with the most detail and the colouring being simplistic and only features small amounts of shade with darker tonal areas, but mostly negative space.














My concept designs don't feature any outlining, only the colours at the moment, as a group we are searching for what work well for the colour scheme, and leave the outlining for later.

The night scenes will have a variety of different blues and purple, building window lights and street lights with warm yellows and/or clear blue tinted white.

My concept art design for night time, dark car park scene

These are scenes from the storyboard backgrounds.

My concept art design for night time town, dark alleyway scene

This is an opening scene concept illustration for the town, mostly using the 'My Little Pony: Friendship is magic' colouring.

My concept art design for night time town street scene

LAUAN504 Task 2 - Competition - BEANO character research

BEANO character research

Based form imagery from the original comics from 'Billy the Cat', using the imagery and relating it to other modern and mainstream cartoons for a redesign.

Using the brief as a strong project guide, we are coming up with 'new and exciting' for kids entertainment, looking at new design techniques, abstract and exaggeration. 'Not being constrained by the norm'.

Lazoo, children's cartoon

Lazoo 'encourage growth (at any age) is to challenge kids' minds and foster creativity.'

Brazilian, cartoon with simplistic cartoon design, solid character design without exaggeration or breaking character outlines.

Oswaldo, cartoon series.
Oswaldo is a Birdo Studio original animated cartoon. The series was created by Pedro Eboli, which first premiered on Cartoon Network in Brazil.

Cool collective Cartoon Network character design with plenty of room for exaggeration, a common feature in contemporary cartoon character design.

Referencing material for cartoon character design, original comic book page from BEANO's, 'Billy the Cat. More importantly, a comparison for the change from traditional to contemporary character design, from realistic to a more cartoon based design.

Billy the Cats, realistic hero design from the BEANO comics.

Conceptual art work for Billy in Billy the Cat character concept design.

The Beano comic strip featured William Grange, later joined by his cousin Kathleen, alias Billy the Cat and Katie. Both were acrobatic crime fighters who helped the police to solve crime and catch "crooks" in the town of Burnham, and they wore "cat-suits" to conceal their true identities.

LAUAN504 Task 2 - Competition - Researching the brief

Study Task 2 - Competition

Beginning - Choosing the TASK

The TASK is for a D&DAD or YCN competition involving group production on a particular chosen brief.

(brief info)
'There are two main practical elements within this brief that will be delivered seperately:
Competition; 09 February 2018 - You will be expected to engage with a competition brief set through D&AD or YCN, both of which are internationally recognised and respected foundations. You must work in teams of up to 3 people to identify a brief and propose your solution which must then be produced...

Documentary; 16 March 2018 - You will be expected to produce a documentary based animation in teams of up to 3 people or through negotiation as an individual, this must not be about yourself or any team member and should follow one of the following themes:

Sustainability, Science, History, Politics...'

I need to read through each brief and choose which one best suites me or that I will be most productive in.

I have decided to make notes based from the two briefs that interest me the most and what they would involve in terms of animating work and design.

Art Fund_

This is about advertising historical art with an animation, explaining how computers and technology  dominates our lives and reducing the creative mind. By breaking away from technology and finding a new source for inspiration in art museums, and discovering creativity we can find our roots and explore new creative spaces. (wound be done in traditional media to emphasise the aspect of using something other than digital technology, to make a point but would be very challenging)

An opportunity to try and interest a teenage aged audience and/or younger about museums and art galleries related with the offer in this advertisement brief.

BEANO

To recreate a female BEANO character(s) for a new generation of children and contemporary cartoon theme, designing the character for modern emphasis in todays cartoon industry, resigning the original old BEANO character design from one of the comic series cartoons.

Most of the other groups seemed to have formed while I was still reading the brief options, then I found that everyone had pretty much decided with a few personally uninteresting briefs.
I almost successfully persuaded a few to partake in the Art Fund_ but not enough for a promising group. So I joined up with a BEANO group brief.

The Challenge - BEANO - D&AD brief
'Reimagine and evolve an existing female Beano character for a new generation.'

Female Characters:
Angel Face
Beryl the Peril
Billy the Cat (reimagined as a girl)
Secret Agent Sally
The Belles of St Lemons
Valda

'Then bring your updated designs to life through a short, narrative animation, bringing new stories and exciting new perspectives to an established and well-loved character. All illustration and animation styles are welcomed. Be innovative, and don’t be constrained by what’s seen as ‘the norm’ for kids’ entertainment.'

'The Character Breakdown in your brief pack will help you get to know your character'... When I joined my group the team was already working on character design. So I was dedicated to background and environmental design.