Storyboard Squiggles

Hey, I've got a storyboard here! Of course it is just a first draft and bound to change.

I've got my inspiration from various shows and films. One of them being my childhood favorite, Bing and Bong (Tiny Planets). The base relationship of my characters are inspired by these two characters, how one is more of the adult figure while the other is more mischievous. However, their relationship is we simple and two dimensional while I think I will try to add more emotional dissonance for mine. Another aspect of this show that I attracted to is their adventure on various planets, meeting all sorts of whimsy creatures and learning new things. 

Next up is Ren and Stimpy, or really just any 90s cartoons with grotesque close up. I find this ugly zooming in of something that look normal intriguing--it doesn't even have to be gross just not appearing as it seems. This attraction is also from microscopic images of anything at all around us, they are images that I would not have imagine or associate with what I see with bare eyes.

As for recent inspiration here is a student film from Norway, you can read all about But Milk is Important here on their blog. Dark, eerie and at times verge on disturbing, this short animation is nothing like the incredibly adorable characters we see. With the juxtaposition of how you should feel about the film, an heart-warming yet uncomfortable feeling is created in which is exactly what I would love to instill in my film.

Another surreal installment, Fantastic Planet (1973). I could not describe more how mind twisting and tranquil nightmarish this film is. The world is dangerous and this film portrays that aspect of fear and existentialism very well. 

Lastly, a music style I would like to use for my film. Sweet and playful, a theme from an anime Kaiba.

First Draft of What is Going On

So I have extracted and mapped out a solid structure of how this scene will go. Hopefully I can use this as a trailer for my film.

The World is Forming

The world has now form itself and the creatures crawl out of oblivion. This is only just the initial design and things might change, but the basis of this world is that the surrounding seems to levitate and  the environment transform rapidly from one climate to another. Travelling in this world can be illogical as physics doesn't follow the usual rule. And of course, creatures. 

I have also invest in solidifying my two characters, giving them the base characteristics, behavior and some things they might say. What I would like to investigate is how the relationship of the two characters changes, starting off with the little one being all scared and frantic and the big one always needing to calm it down. Then there will come a change, a significant situation that will freak out the big one, in which it will be the little one turn to calms him down instead. 

Nevertheless story is still the main focus for me at the moment, because with a good script other components will fall along. Creating a good story is not easy so I have been discussing with several people to gather up some ideas. One of the people I have been talking to is Hilary Moses (check out her in-production animated film here and the facebook page here), in which she has given me great advice on some aspect I should consider about my film and help me to realize what my film is. Here are some points I have decided on my films.

- It's a journey story

- The goal of finding "The Thing" will not be said out-right but suggest by the characters actions

- Key turn points of the story will be told in a subtle way

- Random children innocence will be hid around

- There will be some grotesque imagery as appropriate

Currently there's one scene that I would like to create for this class. Hopefully it will make a good introduction to the final film.

The characters are in a laboratory, apparently walking around looking for something. The little one (LO) got really excited and runs to grab a glass jar filled with pulpy looking creatures.

LO: Neurons! Neurons! They are so bewildering!

The big one (BO) stays silent, when suddenly he hears a high pitch melodic voice and looks around. LO is now in a panic and running around.

LO: I feel tummyless and chilly in my spines!

BO grabs LO's horn and sit LO down and calms LO by rubbing it's head. The two then follow the sound through a hall way. They emerge into a vast cave-like room, within resides the Oracle Fish Blob (OFB).

OFB: Ffffff, the flowers are suffocating under the ground and the rainbow is the color of death. 

OFB keeps on announcing mystical nonsense before exploding with jolliness.

I had a fun recording session with Jamie Yano and Kieran McCarthy who voiced LO, BO and the OFB. They are awesome at making cute and weird noises and coming up with random sentences. 

The Buddies

Along with developing the story, I am refining my characters and coming up with other side characters.

Hello 2014

A little late for a New Year post but in any case, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It's another semester and more animation challenges to be work upon. Similar to last year I will still explore the method of stopmotion animation in stereoscopic 3D. The difference would be the techniques that I will explore, starting of with elements animation-creating wind, fire, water and other effects with stop motion.

As a little exercise, I shot some animation this week and practiced some sound design.

Bubblings from Natty Boonmasiri on Vimeo.

In this first week we began to think about the story and the subject for our project. As always, I have some ideas that I would like to use, but these ideas are sort of just vague themes-composite of images and quotes that sprung up in my mind. Certainly I do have an aesthetic style that I would like to pursue; a minimalistic surreal world with cool pastel palette of yellow, blue and grey and definitely with many creatures. The atmosphere will be subdued, giving out a nostalgic and melancholic vibe. This style is very much inspired by the work of Eastern European animator such as the work of Jiri Trnka or this work by Piotr Kamler. 

Piotr Kamler - Une Mission Ephemere 1993 from Paracelso Zeppelin on Vimeo.

A more recent influences are the works of Allison Schulnik and Jessica Ashman. Even though both of them have a clean visual, they have a very different "feel" to their film. I like Schulnik's work for her haunting images and character design but at the same time I would like to create a lively environment with peculiar objects like Ashman. 

The story I have in mind focuses on two characters-one frantic and insecure and another calm and strong. Their relationship is a one way support with one character always having to comfort the other. As they travel through their strange world and encounter various odd creatures, trying to find "The Thing", we see how their relationship evolve. Somehow I will try to incorporate the notion of communication, human emotions (fear, insecurity, hope and hopelessness), and death, all in a heart-warming and humorous way. The best way to achieve this is probably through character design. 

Here are some of the visuals and quotes.

"Should we seized our existence here?"

"Oh...I would like to be in these glass boxes too."

Giant fish blob: "You will never find "The Thing"...and sugar daffodils are melting"