Here are some of my favourite stories so far.
1. Flippin Dizzy has just climbed onto the back of the seat behind me and looked lovingly down on me and flippin sneezed on my head, so right now I hate cats.
2. As it's a shop, you could have fun exploring the cat's reaction or attitude to lots of different customers... Knocking someone's hat off? Stealing a feather in a lady's hat? Making faces at babies so they cry? Stealing things from people's shopping bags?
3. A lady and her children came to see a litter of kittens I had, and when I ushered them into the room I was horrified to see the kittens had gone through my handbag and were now running about playing with several Tampax 'mice'. And yes, the children did as mummy if they could get some toys like that for their cat...
4. I did have a Siamese who loved retrieving - you could spend hours with her throwing toys and she would bring them back time after time after time. She viewed any visitors as potential toy-chuckers, and of course they would oblige, but not for as long as she wanted. So she would simply drop her toy into their coffee when they weren't looking! I made her lots of different toys from fur fabric, assorted sizes. Once she pestered a visitor to play with a mouse-sized toy but he ignored her. So she left the room and came back with a bigger one... rat sized. Still no response. She fetched a slightly bigger fur toy - small rabbit size. Nothing. Finally, in utter frustration, she brought in the big guns - a HUGE toy the size of another cat, which I had made as a joke from the last piece of fur fabric.... dragging it in while growling. Now that got a reaction!
5. While watching QI, Alan Davis was once woken up by his pet Alsatian who led him downstairs to show him a frog that had jumped into his water bowl. If I swapped this to Remus and in the shop I think it will still be funny. Below is a video of the part of the episode where Alan explains what happened.
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Briefing/Scoping Document
Below is my Briefing/Scoping Document.
Project Summary
My project is basically an animated short, max of 2mins long or several animated shorts each about 30secs long. They are going to be about a cat called Remus who lives in a fish shop and is always upto mischief. The story is meant to make cat owners relate to the story and possibly input their stories into the story too.
Project Deliverables
* Study of cats, in books, on the internet, forums and observing in person
* Characters, sets, prop, designs.etc
* Concept Art
* Walk cycles and test animations
* Scripts
* Storyboards
* Animatics
* Animated short/s
* Posters
* Book of research
* Sketchbook (copies)
Possiblilities
* Website
* Teddies/t-shirts/stickers
* Life Size cut out
Project Resources and Timescale
* Cat Forum
* Animation Forum
Project Summary
My project is basically an animated short, max of 2mins long or several animated shorts each about 30secs long. They are going to be about a cat called Remus who lives in a fish shop and is always upto mischief. The story is meant to make cat owners relate to the story and possibly input their stories into the story too.
Project Deliverables
* Study of cats, in books, on the internet, forums and observing in person
* Characters, sets, prop, designs.etc
* Concept Art
* Walk cycles and test animations
* Scripts
* Storyboards
* Animatics
* Animated short/s
* Posters
* Book of research
* Sketchbook (copies)
Possiblilities
* Website
* Teddies/t-shirts/stickers
* Life Size cut out
Project Resources and Timescale
* Cat Forum
* Animation Forum
Idea for how to get unstuck with a story idea!
Just thought of a great way of getting ideas. I posted on a cat forum asking for any ideas for my story. This is a good idea as the idea of the story is for it to relate to cat owners and if the ideas come from them then its pretty likely it will :)
Below is the link to the forum post.
pet forums - cat chat - animated cat story help
Jay kindly looked at the stories on here and really helped seeing why my stories don't feel right. He reckons it just needs adapting so that the cat is the centre of attention and that my mum is atm with the fish tank being the main focus.
The cat is kinda a sidekick to it all.
Its true and that is probably whats wrong so I'm going to wait for more responses from my forum post and write some more but with the cat being the main focus this time. Thanks again Jay!
Below is the link to the forum post.
pet forums - cat chat - animated cat story help
Jay kindly looked at the stories on here and really helped seeing why my stories don't feel right. He reckons it just needs adapting so that the cat is the centre of attention and that my mum is atm with the fish tank being the main focus.
The cat is kinda a sidekick to it all.
Its true and that is probably whats wrong so I'm going to wait for more responses from my forum post and write some more but with the cat being the main focus this time. Thanks again Jay!
Disney observe animals & people before animating
Animators have studied, observed and animated animals for many years. Walt Disney actually thought observing people and animals was essential in making characters come to life.
Disney still does this today, most recently frogs were brought in for animators to sketch and observe for the frog characters in ‘The Princess and the Frog’.
“It’s really helpful for all the artists to study the real thing. That’s the basis of Walt Disney Animation, is you take the real thing and you caricature it and you observe it and you study it and then you reduce it down to its essence, and were really learning a lot, I think by looking at these creatures and these are really beautifully designed and so delicate.
We’ve got both the animators and clean up artists and storyboard artists and I think it’s helpful for all of them to really observe the real thing.
See how they move and see how their anatomy works.”
(John Musker and Ron Clements - Directors of ‘The Princess and the Frog’ – accessed on 3rd Dec 09 - http://media.digisynd.com/AQAAAGUwOk2VYybTmM5Ap0ACo64n1xNn______ew0d3GH4DxoRgO5gvLQUGFp1h1/play;frame=AQAAADkROLWvBZN5l0DfUP3YqYcn1xNn_____wZugl5h__r_tzC363swRO1bw7gP/)
Many animators start animation by animating humans so it can be hard for them to animate animals without their previous knowledge of animating humans having an effect. This is can be a reason why animation has a lot of anthropomorphism.
Disney still does this today, most recently frogs were brought in for animators to sketch and observe for the frog characters in ‘The Princess and the Frog’.
“It’s really helpful for all the artists to study the real thing. That’s the basis of Walt Disney Animation, is you take the real thing and you caricature it and you observe it and you study it and then you reduce it down to its essence, and were really learning a lot, I think by looking at these creatures and these are really beautifully designed and so delicate.We’ve got both the animators and clean up artists and storyboard artists and I think it’s helpful for all of them to really observe the real thing.
See how they move and see how their anatomy works.”
(John Musker and Ron Clements - Directors of ‘The Princess and the Frog’ – accessed on 3rd Dec 09 - http://media.digisynd.com/AQAAAGUwOk2VYybTmM5Ap0ACo64n1xNn______ew0d3GH4DxoRgO5gvLQUGFp1h1/play;frame=AQAAADkROLWvBZN5l0DfUP3YqYcn1xNn_____wZugl5h__r_tzC363swRO1bw7gP/)Many animators start animation by animating humans so it can be hard for them to animate animals without their previous knowledge of animating humans having an effect. This is can be a reason why animation has a lot of anthropomorphism.
My main question for dissertation
I spoke to Tracy and she agreed with the main question for my dissertation, Why is anthropomorphism so popular in animation and why is it used?
This week I've been really focusing on that question. I've started reading, 'Thinking with Animals: New Perspectives on Anthropomorphism by Lorraine Daston and Gregg Mitman' as it has a lot of information about anthropomorphism and why its used in other times and places, in evolutionary biology, in daily life and in film. So far it has been really helpful and I've made some notes from it, just have to get them into what I've done already. Its proving harder than I thought. I just can't seem to think right to do it.
This week I've been really focusing on that question. I've started reading, 'Thinking with Animals: New Perspectives on Anthropomorphism by Lorraine Daston and Gregg Mitman' as it has a lot of information about anthropomorphism and why its used in other times and places, in evolutionary biology, in daily life and in film. So far it has been really helpful and I've made some notes from it, just have to get them into what I've done already. Its proving harder than I thought. I just can't seem to think right to do it.
Friday, 15 January 2010
My Dissertation Abstract
I've just rewritten this. As far as I can tell an abstract is basically explaining what my dissertation is about in very few words. Basically sounds like a cut down version of my introduction but oh well.
Abstract
This dissertation will focus on the use of anthropomorphism and specifically its use in animated cats.
This is will be done by looking at how anthropomorphism can and has been used in the past and present in different cultures and styles of animation including any opposition to the use of anthropomorphism.
Anthropomorphised cats cannot just act well and like a human but also have to retain cat’s emotional and physical features so the study of acting, cat behavior and body language is a key area of research in this dissertation.
This study also looks at a book based on anthropomorphised animals and a film based on it, specifically, The Jungle Book. This is to look at how and why Disney changed the story and made the most of their characters using anthropomorphism.
Abstract
This dissertation will focus on the use of anthropomorphism and specifically its use in animated cats.
This is will be done by looking at how anthropomorphism can and has been used in the past and present in different cultures and styles of animation including any opposition to the use of anthropomorphism.
Anthropomorphised cats cannot just act well and like a human but also have to retain cat’s emotional and physical features so the study of acting, cat behavior and body language is a key area of research in this dissertation.
This study also looks at a book based on anthropomorphised animals and a film based on it, specifically, The Jungle Book. This is to look at how and why Disney changed the story and made the most of their characters using anthropomorphism.
My new dissertation Introduction
Below is my new introduction for my dissertation. I feel it's a lot more informative and clearly explains what is in my dissertation. It may need a bit of a less personal feel but I will work on that. I'm also starting to wonder is this is more of an abstract than an introduction so I will have to find that out.
Introduction
Anthropomorphism is when a non-human being, object, phenomena or element is given human characteristics and qualities. Anthropomorphic characters have nearly always been used in animation from Gertie the Dinosaur (1914) to The Aristocats (1970) and even in recent animated features such as Ratatouille (2007) and The Princess and the Frog (2010). The anthropomorphic characters that have always interested me are cats, from The Lion Kings, Simba to O’Malley from The Aristocats. That is why this dissertation is going to cover animation, anthropomorphism and cats. It is also so I can find out everything I should know before creating an animated short starring an anthropomorphised cat.
I am going to look at how anthropomorphism can and has been used throughout history and its uses in different styles of animation and the reasons for its use in animation. During this I will compare the advantages and disadvantages. I will also be looking at the oppositions to anthropomorphism try to relate it to animation.
Then I am going to look at how books have been changed when made into an animated film specifically looking at The Jungle Book. This is to see how and why Disney brought the characters to life with anthropomorphism and how they changed the story and why.
Finally, I will look at real cat behaviour, breeds, and body language and compare it to human qualities and acting to see how to give a cat, human qualities but still show cat characteristics, as this is the type of anthropomorphism I am after. I believe there are four kinds of anthropomorphism so I will also be covering what I they are and give examples. A lot of this will involve studying acting and the owner/pet relationship to bring my character to life and make them believable.
Introduction
Anthropomorphism is when a non-human being, object, phenomena or element is given human characteristics and qualities. Anthropomorphic characters have nearly always been used in animation from Gertie the Dinosaur (1914) to The Aristocats (1970) and even in recent animated features such as Ratatouille (2007) and The Princess and the Frog (2010). The anthropomorphic characters that have always interested me are cats, from The Lion Kings, Simba to O’Malley from The Aristocats. That is why this dissertation is going to cover animation, anthropomorphism and cats. It is also so I can find out everything I should know before creating an animated short starring an anthropomorphised cat.
I am going to look at how anthropomorphism can and has been used throughout history and its uses in different styles of animation and the reasons for its use in animation. During this I will compare the advantages and disadvantages. I will also be looking at the oppositions to anthropomorphism try to relate it to animation.
Then I am going to look at how books have been changed when made into an animated film specifically looking at The Jungle Book. This is to see how and why Disney brought the characters to life with anthropomorphism and how they changed the story and why.
Finally, I will look at real cat behaviour, breeds, and body language and compare it to human qualities and acting to see how to give a cat, human qualities but still show cat characteristics, as this is the type of anthropomorphism I am after. I believe there are four kinds of anthropomorphism so I will also be covering what I they are and give examples. A lot of this will involve studying acting and the owner/pet relationship to bring my character to life and make them believable.
Quotes for Dissertation
Sorry that its been a while since posting but been working on my dissertation and character designs. Will post some more sketches soon. Any way, below are some quotes I have found recently that I think would be good in my dissertation. Just not found where to put them yet.
******************************
"They carry the physiognomies of humans, and at the same time, keep their own lovable and honest animal faces."
(Balaz, B, 1952. Theory of the Film. Translated from the Hungarian by Bone, E. London:Dobson LTD)
"One of the most remarkable features of our domesticated races is that we see in them adaptation, not indeed to the animal's or plant's own good, but to man's use or fancy."
(Charles Darwin, The Origin Of Species)
"Something we’ve never seen, an entirely new category of computer-enhanced acting. With not a word of dialogue, he brings to life a close cousin to man with whom we can empathize, yet is never too human-like"
(Covert, C. 2005. What the Critics are saying about Andy Serkis as "Kong" [online]. Available at: http://www.serkis.com/kingkong/reviews.htm [accessed 10 January 2010)
"Humans use animals to transcend the confines of self and species; they also enlist them to symbolize, dramatize, and illuminate aspects of humans’ experience and fantasy. Humans merge with animals in stories, films, philosophical speculations, and scientific treatises. In their performance on many stages and in different ways, animals move us to think"
(Daston, D and Mitman, G. 2005. The How and Why of Thinking with Animals In: Daston, D and Mitman, G, Thinking With Animals. USA: Columbia University Press, 1-14.)
"To imagine that animals think like humans... is a form of self-centered narcissism, one looks outward to the world and sees only one’s own reflection mirrored therein."
(Daston, L. 2005. Intelligences: Angelic, Animal, Human In: Daston, D and Mitman, G, Thinking with Animals. USA: Columbia University Press, 37- 58.)
"Anthropomorphism with Anthropocentrism, that is, when humans project their own thoughts and feelings onto other animal species because they egotistically believe themselves to be the center of the universe."
(Daston and Mitman 2005)
"When we consider a new project, we really study it... not just the surface idea, but everything about it"
(Thomas, F and Johnston, O, 1981: The Illusion of Life. Italy: Walt Disney Productions)
"Disney animators knew well that the large eyes of Bambi would elicit an emotional response from audiences more akin to the affection displayed toward a human child than if they had drawn the deer’s eyes to scale"
(Gould 1979 cited Daston and Mitman 2005)
"The thrust of the limbs starts from the vertebral column and consequently moves to the pelvis, shoulders and legs. The spine reacts to every foot-fall."
(Pisk, L. 1975. The Actor and his Body. London: George G. Harrap & Co.)
"The walking of men is always after the universal walking of animals with four legs"
(Pisk, L. 1975. The Actor and his Body. London: George G. Harrap & Co.)
(Pisk is known for observing the walk of four-legged animals particularly cats)
"Study the creatures involved, film and analyse their movement, examine the texture of fur and muscle, even investigate the skeleton, But sometimes they are inspired by the personality of an actor who is performing the character’s voice"
(Platt, E. 2000. How Disney Makes Magic. The Sunday Times Supplement. Date not printed. Volume 1. 7.)
"Without personality, the character may do funny or interesting things, but unless people are able to identify with the character, its actions will seem unreal. And without personality a story cannot ring true to the audience."
(Platt, E. 2000. How Disney Makes Magic. The Sunday Times Supplement. Date not printed. Volume 1. 7.)
"The magic of Disney is based on anthropomorphism"
(Platt, E. 2000. How Disney Makes Magic. The Sunday Times Supplement. Date not printed. Volume 1. 7.)
"The mapping of human motion to a character with nonhuman proportions doesn’t work, because the most important things you get out of motion capture are the weight shifts and the subtleties and that balancing act of the human body"
(Richard Chuang (vice president of PDI)
"Anthropomorphism rules because, for most people, any other interpretation of the animal’s behavior- any suggestion that it might be motivated by other than human feelings and desires- would instantly devalue these (human and pet) relationships and place them on a more superficial and less rewarding footing."
(Serpell, J. A, 2005. People In Disguise: Anthropomorphism and the Human- Pet Relationship In: Daston, D and Mitman, G, Thinking with Animals. USA: Columbia University Press, 121-136.)
******************************
"They carry the physiognomies of humans, and at the same time, keep their own lovable and honest animal faces."
(Balaz, B, 1952. Theory of the Film. Translated from the Hungarian by Bone, E. London:Dobson LTD)
"One of the most remarkable features of our domesticated races is that we see in them adaptation, not indeed to the animal's or plant's own good, but to man's use or fancy."
(Charles Darwin, The Origin Of Species)
"Something we’ve never seen, an entirely new category of computer-enhanced acting. With not a word of dialogue, he brings to life a close cousin to man with whom we can empathize, yet is never too human-like"
(Covert, C. 2005. What the Critics are saying about Andy Serkis as "Kong" [online]. Available at: http://www.serkis.com/kingkong/reviews.htm [accessed 10 January 2010)
"Humans use animals to transcend the confines of self and species; they also enlist them to symbolize, dramatize, and illuminate aspects of humans’ experience and fantasy. Humans merge with animals in stories, films, philosophical speculations, and scientific treatises. In their performance on many stages and in different ways, animals move us to think"
(Daston, D and Mitman, G. 2005. The How and Why of Thinking with Animals In: Daston, D and Mitman, G, Thinking With Animals. USA: Columbia University Press, 1-14.)
"To imagine that animals think like humans... is a form of self-centered narcissism, one looks outward to the world and sees only one’s own reflection mirrored therein."
(Daston, L. 2005. Intelligences: Angelic, Animal, Human In: Daston, D and Mitman, G, Thinking with Animals. USA: Columbia University Press, 37- 58.)
"Anthropomorphism with Anthropocentrism, that is, when humans project their own thoughts and feelings onto other animal species because they egotistically believe themselves to be the center of the universe."
(Daston and Mitman 2005)
"When we consider a new project, we really study it... not just the surface idea, but everything about it"
(Thomas, F and Johnston, O, 1981: The Illusion of Life. Italy: Walt Disney Productions)
"Disney animators knew well that the large eyes of Bambi would elicit an emotional response from audiences more akin to the affection displayed toward a human child than if they had drawn the deer’s eyes to scale"
(Gould 1979 cited Daston and Mitman 2005)
"The thrust of the limbs starts from the vertebral column and consequently moves to the pelvis, shoulders and legs. The spine reacts to every foot-fall."
(Pisk, L. 1975. The Actor and his Body. London: George G. Harrap & Co.)
"The walking of men is always after the universal walking of animals with four legs"
(Pisk, L. 1975. The Actor and his Body. London: George G. Harrap & Co.)
(Pisk is known for observing the walk of four-legged animals particularly cats)
"Study the creatures involved, film and analyse their movement, examine the texture of fur and muscle, even investigate the skeleton, But sometimes they are inspired by the personality of an actor who is performing the character’s voice"
(Platt, E. 2000. How Disney Makes Magic. The Sunday Times Supplement. Date not printed. Volume 1. 7.)
"Without personality, the character may do funny or interesting things, but unless people are able to identify with the character, its actions will seem unreal. And without personality a story cannot ring true to the audience."
(Platt, E. 2000. How Disney Makes Magic. The Sunday Times Supplement. Date not printed. Volume 1. 7.)
"The magic of Disney is based on anthropomorphism"
(Platt, E. 2000. How Disney Makes Magic. The Sunday Times Supplement. Date not printed. Volume 1. 7.)
"The mapping of human motion to a character with nonhuman proportions doesn’t work, because the most important things you get out of motion capture are the weight shifts and the subtleties and that balancing act of the human body"
(Richard Chuang (vice president of PDI)
"Anthropomorphism rules because, for most people, any other interpretation of the animal’s behavior- any suggestion that it might be motivated by other than human feelings and desires- would instantly devalue these (human and pet) relationships and place them on a more superficial and less rewarding footing."
(Serpell, J. A, 2005. People In Disguise: Anthropomorphism and the Human- Pet Relationship In: Daston, D and Mitman, G, Thinking with Animals. USA: Columbia University Press, 121-136.)
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Fish Shop Story Idea - A Fishy Accident
Below is a true story that my mum sent me about an incident with her Silver Bengal, Nemo. She thought it could be a good short for one of my animations as its funny and includes a cat and fish. Below is the story.
It was a nice sunny morning and mum was going to feed the fish. She took the lid off the fish tank and opened the jar of the fish food. As she was in a hurry she sprinkled them straight from the tub. As she started to sprinkle the fish food in the tank, Nemo decided he wanted to have some for his meal too. He knocked the tub that was in her hand and the lid fell off while sprinkling so most of the food fell in the tank. The fish tank looked like a snow scene. So tried to hoover it with a fish tank hoover, that was unsuccessful. we thought everything was ok because it settled like a snow drift at the bottom. When we came back Nemo was watching the fish as they were dying.
It is a good story and I could have my cat moaning for food before and make it seem he thinks the fish food is his or that he should be fed first. I could also make the fish get fatter and fatter and suddenly cough and die. Remus could even pull out some sort of betting book and bet which fish will die first. He could even run and get Misty and Nemo so they could put bets down too.
The hoovering bit could be made funny too. Instead of a tank one, I could panic and find a mini handheld hoover that could choke and die. Making me panic and hide it. Then hid the food tub too and walkaway whistling. Matt could then be the one that finds the fish dead. This idea may include too many characters though.
It was a nice sunny morning and mum was going to feed the fish. She took the lid off the fish tank and opened the jar of the fish food. As she was in a hurry she sprinkled them straight from the tub. As she started to sprinkle the fish food in the tank, Nemo decided he wanted to have some for his meal too. He knocked the tub that was in her hand and the lid fell off while sprinkling so most of the food fell in the tank. The fish tank looked like a snow scene. So tried to hoover it with a fish tank hoover, that was unsuccessful. we thought everything was ok because it settled like a snow drift at the bottom. When we came back Nemo was watching the fish as they were dying.
It is a good story and I could have my cat moaning for food before and make it seem he thinks the fish food is his or that he should be fed first. I could also make the fish get fatter and fatter and suddenly cough and die. Remus could even pull out some sort of betting book and bet which fish will die first. He could even run and get Misty and Nemo so they could put bets down too.
The hoovering bit could be made funny too. Instead of a tank one, I could panic and find a mini handheld hoover that could choke and die. Making me panic and hide it. Then hid the food tub too and walkaway whistling. Matt could then be the one that finds the fish dead. This idea may include too many characters though.
Monday, 21 December 2009
New Simon's Cat Film!
Simon's Cat has a new film out! Intersting how I found out about it the day after Remus first experienced snow. He acted a lot like Simon's Cat, attacking the snow and his reaction to being hit with a snow ball I mean :p
Here are some photos of Remus in the snow. If your wondering, he is wearing a harness and is on his lead.
Here are some photos of Remus in the snow. If your wondering, he is wearing a harness and is on his lead.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Plan of the Week
Seen as my dissertation has been handed in and I won't get it back this week I will focus on my project. I have decided that I will go with my Fish Shop idea but with a flat above as a possible advancement depends on what stories I come up with and if any would suit a home instead. Any way, below is my plan.
Wednesday
* Christmas Party in the Studio
* Do more designs for my cat character
Thursday
* Take photos of pet shops and make a collage/display of them.
* Do some designs for my fish shop
* Uni - Karen Dissertation Lecture
* Do some concept art
Friday
* Do more concept art
* Do model sheets for cat
* Look at human character (people have said to have me as the main person in the shorts but have Matt as another member of staff)
* HUMCC Christmas Party
Saturday
(Will probably be dead today)
* Do some self portrait caricatures
Sunday
* Do some caricatures of Matt
* Design my people characters
Wednesday
* Christmas Party in the Studio
* Do more designs for my cat character
Thursday
* Take photos of pet shops and make a collage/display of them.
* Do some designs for my fish shop
* Uni - Karen Dissertation Lecture
* Do some concept art
Friday
* Do more concept art
* Do model sheets for cat
* Look at human character (people have said to have me as the main person in the shorts but have Matt as another member of staff)
* HUMCC Christmas Party
Saturday
(Will probably be dead today)
* Do some self portrait caricatures
Sunday
* Do some caricatures of Matt
* Design my people characters
Monday, 14 December 2009
Some books I want
I have been looking online at some books that have been recommended and look helpful with giving me ideas for my project and how to make my designs better. Could also have some good quote for my dissertation. Below is the list.
* Walt Disney Animation Studios the Archive Series: Animation
* The Art of Bolt by Mark Cotta Vaz
* Art of the Princess and the Frog by Jeff Kurtti and John Lasseter (my idol!)
* The Art of Up (Pixar Animation) by Tim Hauser
* Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: The Walt Stanchfield Lectures: 1 by Walt Stanchfield and Don Hahn
* Drawn to Life: 10 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: The Walt Stanchfield Lectures: 2 by Walt Stanchfield and Don Hahn
* Walt Disney Animation Studios the Archive Series: Animation
* The Art of Bolt by Mark Cotta Vaz
* Art of the Princess and the Frog by Jeff Kurtti and John Lasseter (my idol!)
* The Art of Up (Pixar Animation) by Tim Hauser
* Drawn to Life: 20 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: The Walt Stanchfield Lectures: 1 by Walt Stanchfield and Don Hahn
* Drawn to Life: 10 Golden Years of Disney Master Classes: The Walt Stanchfield Lectures: 2 by Walt Stanchfield and Don Hahn
Imaginary Friends and Tristan.
I've been writing about Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends in my dissertation and I was thinking of the character designs and how they look like their personalities and skills. This got me thinking about my youngest brother, Tristan who had an imaginary friend called ‘Halfie’ (pronounced hal-fee) when he was younger, (I always imagined that he got the name from Halfords where I worked at the time). Tristan told me that she was a great mechanic who helped him fix stuff. He also described her as very pretty, blonde and nice like me. With how he described her I imagine that if she was one the friends on the show that she would be tall like a model, curvy, a warm sun yellow for the kindness and hair. She could also have tools for fingers such as a hammer, screwdriver, wrench. Etc. for the mechanical skills Tristan gave her. Of course Tristan outgrew Halfie and she was forgotten just like most of the friends on the show.
Oh and its funny how Mac looks so much like Tristan! Look below!
Oh and its funny how Mac looks so much like Tristan! Look below!
Interview with Craig McCracken
Below is a link to a site where I found an interview with Craig on the Powerpuff Girls 10th Anniversary.
http://coldhardflash.com/2009/01/powerpuff-girls-10th-anniversary-interview-with-creator-craig-mccracken.html
Below is another interview I found with him.
http://www.tibbysbowl.com/bowl/2009/01/28/craig-mccracken-interview/
http://coldhardflash.com/2009/01/powerpuff-girls-10th-anniversary-interview-with-creator-craig-mccracken.html
Below is another interview I found with him.
http://www.tibbysbowl.com/bowl/2009/01/28/craig-mccracken-interview/
Craig McCracken (Foster's Home)
Ok, seen as Simon Tofield is too busy at the moment to reply I have been thinking who else I could ask questions and recieve advice from. My first thought was Craig McCracken who created Powerpuff Girls and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Just need to find some contact details for him now! In the meantime below are some quotes he has said.
• Anything you see on the screen was at one point approved by me.
• Basicly I'm in charge of all creative aspects of the show.
• Basicly what I had to do was do a 7 minute board and pitch it to a room of big wigs from the network and based on that they determined if I would get a short or not.
• But to me what seems to be missing in a lot of portfolios is Cartooning.
• First, there was 2 Stupid Dogs. Then, Dexter's Laboratory. And now, Powerpuff Girls. There were a lot of little things in between, but those were the main ones.
• For a long time I wanted to be a comic strip artist but when I started doing them in my teens they were getting really elaborate with tons of poses and a lot of information.
• I started working at Hanna-Barbera in '92 on 2 Stupid Dogs.
• I'm a geeky toy collector, and to have toys of your own characters is unbelievably cool.
• I'm always thinking about what I might want to do next, but there's still things I want to do with Powerpuff - so I can keep going with this one for awhile.
• I'm hoping that word-of-mouth on the film - people seeing it and liking it - that that will drive more people to the theaters, because I haven't seen the billboards or the posters or anything.
• I've been drawing since I was about 3 and I come from a family of artists.
• It really just gives you a sense of when you need to have dialogue and when you don't, and if your pictures are telling the story, you don't need to have all this talking.
• One of the main things I do is focus on ideas and what stories we decide to tell, but probably the biggest part of my job I'd say is working on the storyboards.
• So what I do is supervise the boarding process trying to get the shows the way I'd like them to be. And in some cases I've completely redone a board myself even though I'm not credited for it.
• The reason they look the way they do is that the first drawing I did of them was really small so I didn't draw fingers, nose, ears, etc and this drawing had a certain appeal that I really liked.
• The shows are either 11 or 22 minutes and they move pretty quickly, and that's part of the charm of them - so it was just trying to keep that in mind and keep the energy of the story moving, even though we were dealing with a longer format.
• The storyboard artists job is to plan out shot for shot the whole show, write all the dialog, and decide the mood, action, jokes, pacing, etc of every scene.
• There's a lot you can do without words.
• We chose the actors thru a series of auditions when we started the show.
• Well, for one thing, the executives in charge at Cartoon Network are cartoon fans. I mean, these are people who grew up loving animation and loving cartoons, and the only difference between them and me is they don't know how to draw.
• Yes, it's a prequel. It tells the story about how the girls were born with superpowers, but they weren't necessarily heroes at the beginning of this movie, so the movie is about the events that happen in their life to make them decide to be heroes.
(http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/craig_mccracken.html - accessed on 14th Dec)
• Anything you see on the screen was at one point approved by me. • Basicly I'm in charge of all creative aspects of the show.
• Basicly what I had to do was do a 7 minute board and pitch it to a room of big wigs from the network and based on that they determined if I would get a short or not.
• But to me what seems to be missing in a lot of portfolios is Cartooning.
• First, there was 2 Stupid Dogs. Then, Dexter's Laboratory. And now, Powerpuff Girls. There were a lot of little things in between, but those were the main ones.
• For a long time I wanted to be a comic strip artist but when I started doing them in my teens they were getting really elaborate with tons of poses and a lot of information.
• I started working at Hanna-Barbera in '92 on 2 Stupid Dogs.
• I'm a geeky toy collector, and to have toys of your own characters is unbelievably cool.
• I'm always thinking about what I might want to do next, but there's still things I want to do with Powerpuff - so I can keep going with this one for awhile.
• I'm hoping that word-of-mouth on the film - people seeing it and liking it - that that will drive more people to the theaters, because I haven't seen the billboards or the posters or anything.
• I've been drawing since I was about 3 and I come from a family of artists.
• It really just gives you a sense of when you need to have dialogue and when you don't, and if your pictures are telling the story, you don't need to have all this talking.
• One of the main things I do is focus on ideas and what stories we decide to tell, but probably the biggest part of my job I'd say is working on the storyboards.
• So what I do is supervise the boarding process trying to get the shows the way I'd like them to be. And in some cases I've completely redone a board myself even though I'm not credited for it.
• The reason they look the way they do is that the first drawing I did of them was really small so I didn't draw fingers, nose, ears, etc and this drawing had a certain appeal that I really liked.
• The shows are either 11 or 22 minutes and they move pretty quickly, and that's part of the charm of them - so it was just trying to keep that in mind and keep the energy of the story moving, even though we were dealing with a longer format.
• The storyboard artists job is to plan out shot for shot the whole show, write all the dialog, and decide the mood, action, jokes, pacing, etc of every scene.
• There's a lot you can do without words.
• We chose the actors thru a series of auditions when we started the show.
• Well, for one thing, the executives in charge at Cartoon Network are cartoon fans. I mean, these are people who grew up loving animation and loving cartoons, and the only difference between them and me is they don't know how to draw.
• Yes, it's a prequel. It tells the story about how the girls were born with superpowers, but they weren't necessarily heroes at the beginning of this movie, so the movie is about the events that happen in their life to make them decide to be heroes.
(http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/craig_mccracken.html - accessed on 14th Dec)
Friday, 11 December 2009
I got a reply from Simon's Cat
Below is the reply I received when I asked Simon Tofield if I could ask him some questions about the processes, inspiration.etc. of Simon's Cat. Bit dissapointed that he is too busy but it's understandable. He did say that he is unable to help till things quieten down though so you never know, I might still get the help I really wanted :D Thank you Simon for getting back to me and I'm glad that you liked my blog.
*******************************************
Hi Emma,
I had a look at your blog. Very interesting! Thanks for finding Simon's Cat worth mentioning.
After seeing your hard work and dedication it's with regret that I have to say that Simon is unable to assist you at this time.
Ideally he would love to help everyone interested with animation and cats, but due to a large number of prior obligations he is currently engaged in, he is unable to help till things quieten down.
Good luck. I look forward to seeing where you take Remus.
Kind regards,
Simon's Cat
*******************************************
Hi Emma,
I had a look at your blog. Very interesting! Thanks for finding Simon's Cat worth mentioning.
After seeing your hard work and dedication it's with regret that I have to say that Simon is unable to assist you at this time.
Ideally he would love to help everyone interested with animation and cats, but due to a large number of prior obligations he is currently engaged in, he is unable to help till things quieten down.
Good luck. I look forward to seeing where you take Remus.
Kind regards,
Simon's Cat
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Ideas from questionnaire answers
The one that has really made me think and come up with a new idea is the one about the story ideas. I love both and so far the results show 50:50. This is why I have come up with a new idea. Mix the two! Who says that the fish shop owner can't live above the shop! Then episodes could have the cat in the shop or in the flat above. I really like this idea but when the flat is first introduced the cat will have to go up the stairs to show the audience it is still part of the shop and the cat hasn't just appeared in a home.
Interview with Hayao Miyazaki from Ghibli Studios
Below is a link to an interview with Hayao Miyazaki. It is a very interesting read.
http://www.angelfire.com/anime/NVOW/Interview1.html
http://www.angelfire.com/anime/NVOW/Interview1.html
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Cool new Go Cat Advert!
Go cat have a new advert out with well animated 3d cats. Below is the advert!!
Monday, 7 December 2009
Please click on the link to do my Questionnaire!
Please click on the link to do my questionnaire. I have created this Questionnaire to help me with my final year project and dissertation. Well explained answers will be greatly appreciated.
Click here to take my Online Questionnaire
Click here to take my Online Questionnaire
Thursday, 3 December 2009
My questionnaire to give people
Below is the questionnaire that I plan to ask people to fill out for my dissertation as primary research. I believe that what I have asked will give me helpful advice and quotes for my dissertation and project. If you wish to be helpful then please leave a comment on this post with your answers.
To view a larger version of the questionnaire you need to click on the image of the page you wish to view.
To view a larger version of the questionnaire you need to click on the image of the page you wish to view.
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Mini Episode Idea - Bed + Remus + Laptop = Disaster
Remus sneaks under the duvet. You see a little bump moving towards Bob who is in bed with his laptop on his legs. Swift eye movements show that Bob acknowledges that its Remus. The bump moves closer but stays still next to Bobs legs. Suddenly the bump flies forward going under the laptop and making it fly off the bed! Its on the floor with the screen now black and lying in a bad way. Bob looks horrified. Remus now has his head poking out looks at Bob with a big grin and rolls on his back still looking at Bob and rolls about. Bob rolls his eyes and 'Uhhhs'
I could make it more obvious that he wants his tummy rubbed by making Remus point at Bob and then scratch his tummy but this might make it look like he wants food not a tummy rub.
I could make it more obvious that he wants his tummy rubbed by making Remus point at Bob and then scratch his tummy but this might make it look like he wants food not a tummy rub.
Mini Episode Idea - Fetch
Another one :) Mainly because this just happened. Blood still leaking out of my finger and all!
Sitting wiggling a straw. Remus comes running and tries to attack the straw. Claw catches hand. Bob shakes hand and sucks the cut. He then wiggles the straw and throws it shouting fetch. Remus runs after it and picks it up. Bob is patting his legs saying come back. Remus looks at the camera, points a backturned thumb at Bob and gives a look as if to say 'yeah right, why would i give you the straw back'and attacks it away from Bob so he can't get it back.
POSSIBLE BEGINNING
Remus walking by trees. Sees a man playing Fetch with his dog. Looks confused, shakes his head and carries on.
Sitting wiggling a straw. Remus comes running and tries to attack the straw. Claw catches hand. Bob shakes hand and sucks the cut. He then wiggles the straw and throws it shouting fetch. Remus runs after it and picks it up. Bob is patting his legs saying come back. Remus looks at the camera, points a backturned thumb at Bob and gives a look as if to say 'yeah right, why would i give you the straw back'and attacks it away from Bob so he can't get it back.
POSSIBLE BEGINNING
Remus walking by trees. Sees a man playing Fetch with his dog. Looks confused, shakes his head and carries on.
Mini Episode Idea - Stairs & Bathroom Door
Below is an idea for a mini episode. It happened this morning well not exactly... I've obviously exagerated in places to make it funnier.
Bob walks up the stairs. Suddenly a paw appears over the edge and then a head with ears back. Remus suddenly attacks his head and shoots back hidden. Bob looks shocked and looks around. Slowy carries on. It suddenly happens again but Bob sees and Remus shoots back but Bob goes to grab him. Remujavascript:void(0)s turns on his back and bites and scratches his hand. he pulls back and tells him off.
Bob carries on into the bathroom. Having to pick Remus up to put him out.
(Various ideas of how it could continue are below)
IDEA 1
Remus cries and attacks the door, climbs the frame, jabbing paws under. Once door opens he looks in and then walks off.
IDEA 2
Bob has to fight Remus over closing the door as he either puts his paw or tail in the way making bob have to push him out with his foot or Remus pushing the door or attacking Bobs hand.
IDEA 3
Remus keeps sneaking back in in various ways. Runs in when turn to go back in. Jumps on Bobs back.
Bob walks up the stairs. Suddenly a paw appears over the edge and then a head with ears back. Remus suddenly attacks his head and shoots back hidden. Bob looks shocked and looks around. Slowy carries on. It suddenly happens again but Bob sees and Remus shoots back but Bob goes to grab him. Remujavascript:void(0)s turns on his back and bites and scratches his hand. he pulls back and tells him off.
Bob carries on into the bathroom. Having to pick Remus up to put him out.
(Various ideas of how it could continue are below)
IDEA 1
Remus cries and attacks the door, climbs the frame, jabbing paws under. Once door opens he looks in and then walks off.
IDEA 2
Bob has to fight Remus over closing the door as he either puts his paw or tail in the way making bob have to push him out with his foot or Remus pushing the door or attacking Bobs hand.
IDEA 3
Remus keeps sneaking back in in various ways. Runs in when turn to go back in. Jumps on Bobs back.
Remus the Cat as mini episodes
On Monday one of my lecturers, John Kelly suggested that I do lots of short animations like little episodes. I imagined this similar to the short happenings in the Simon's Cat Book and each being set in a different place. ie. Lounge, Kitchen, Bathroom, Garden.
I like this idea and might actually go along with it. Seen as Remus does something that is funny or could be made funny everyday! It also means I can carry on making as many animations about him as I want and make it like a mini series.
I like this idea and might actually go along with it. Seen as Remus does something that is funny or could be made funny everyday! It also means I can carry on making as many animations about him as I want and make it like a mini series.
Just bought Simon's Cat The Book!
I was just in Sainsburys and saw it so had to buy it! About time really. It is brilliant its like short comic book strips but not. You have to see it to get what I mean but what it says on it. 'Everyone has a cat like Simon's Cat' is true and that is what has made it such a success. My aim is to stick to this idea, that my cat will be like every other cat with their quirky ways and funny actions.
I am also considering writing to Simon Toefield to let him know what I am doing and asking for any advice.
I am also considering writing to Simon Toefield to let him know what I am doing and asking for any advice.
Monday, 23 November 2009
Cat movement images
I found this image that show frame by frame images of a cat walking and then jumping. Im sure it will come in handy.
CAT RULES........ Rules for Cats to Live By...
This is a page as a joke towards cats. Basically it is a bunch of rules based on things cats do. Such as doors aren't allowed to be closed and must accompany people to the bathroom.
Its great as it is true and I have had cats all my live and they have done all that's in the list.
http://www.frostymoon.co.uk/15.html
Its great as it is true and I have had cats all my live and they have done all that's in the list.
http://www.frostymoon.co.uk/15.html
Plan for the week
1. Have a final character design for Remus finished by Thursday.
2. Do a short hand-drawn animation test of Remus.
3. Get other peoples stories of funny things their cat/s have done and post them onto my blog.
2. Do a short hand-drawn animation test of Remus.
3. Get other peoples stories of funny things their cat/s have done and post them onto my blog.
Feliway Advert
John Kelly told me about this advert. Think it shows that I've been researching cats too much with the fact that I knew what he meant when he said it was a plug in thing for cats.
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