Nouveau Sketches

I label these Nouveau Sketches, because these designs were started with the idea of finalizing them in a style similar to the Art Nouveau posts by Alphonse Mucha. I did a test of that style for picture around the time I started these sketches (around Halloween I believe) and found it a fun, interesting style. So I decided to dedicate these designs to an exploration of that style.

My idea is that these could be used in an animation/game where the characters are rendered int that specific style, complete with the soft, interior colouring and thicker, defining outlines that would separate them from the more painterly backgrounds.

I have more to do up for these though, including of course some nice final renders, which I hope to get up soon. The two characters found here are named McBride and Roland.

All the characters from this particular series are based after animals, and have recently been based around some folk stories and fables as well. McBride is based around a mouse and Roland is based after a lion. This was originally random choice until I remembered the fable of the Lion and the Mouse, so in a way, they're tailored to fit similar roles to that story.

Sandman Sketches and Revisits

Hmm I seemed to have missed these! Above are two other sheets for the Sandman design I did for my friend, Matt. The first one was exploring some of the mannerisms and expressions of the design based off the Great Horned Owl and the second one is looking at some design ideas for the Rabbit design.

This third one however, was a recent revisit to the Great Horned Owl design. I did like the concept, but basically just played with the expressions again. A note on the doodle midway down, on the right: I was trying to do something with the big eyes of owls, but it just... haha, turned out a bit creepy.

Caged Rough Cut

Hey guys! Sorry for the lack of posts, but I'll be changing that very soon (just scanned in a bunch of new stuff). Anyway, before I got off for Winter Break, I was bustin' butt trying to finish all the roughs for my Senior Film. Well, I'm happy to announce that I did manage to pull it off, so all three minutes of that film is done in terms of rough animation. So... here that is!

Again, for more information on the film, as well as earlier pencil tests and rough cuts, please visit the production blog for Caged over at cagedfilm.tumblr.com

Hake WIP

WIP for the Hake animaton. Here's the first 20 seconds, though the last few are still in roughs. This is at least my goal point for my final, as I only needed 10 seconds I think.

Kaede and Hake Sketches

Here are some sketches I did when working on Kaede and Hake's designs. I actually started on these a little bit after my Tim Buron style exploration, which is the inspiration for the stick legs on Kaede. I liked the way I had drawn Veronica with the thin legs, so wanted to use it here.

I spent more time on Kaede's design, especially with her hair style. The idea of using a maple leaf came really late and her little hair antenna being the stem came super last minute when I was working on the character sheets from the other day. Hake didn't get as much time spent on him, because I had a very solid image of him already in my head.

The last picture has him with a sword, because these two actually have a much more elaborate story than shown in the animatic posted earlier.

In their story, Hake used to be a talented, aspiring painter, but a conflict called him away to war, where his mastery and grace with a brush transferred to his handling of a sword. In one village, that had been set ablaze, he found a younger Kaede. Her real mother had died in the attack and her real father had run off and was no where to be seen, so Hake ends up taking the young girl in.

However, because of both inhaling too much smoke, as well as the trauma of both her mother dying and her father's abandonment, Kaede is a mute. Hake learns to live around this and they settle down after the conflict ends, which is shortly after finding Kaede.

But after the war, Hake find he can no longer paint without being reminded of the things he saw while out to battle. So he retires his hand at the brush and devotes his time to raising Kaede. However, the young girl discovers his paint set one day and tries to paint herself. Hake discovers that through painting, Kaede can communicate rather well and despite his hesitation towards painting again, he slowly starts to resume his old trade, so he can better communicate with his daughter.

Of course, this happy little situation doesn't last long. Hake's abilities in the war marked him more or less as a "hero" and "legend" of sorts, which he doesn't like. He doesn't take pride in anything he did while away on the frontlines and finds these titles to be troublesome and annoying. This, along with things in the village that causes Hake mild PTSD spells, leads him to decide to relocate Kaede and himself.

The traveling from their old village to their new home is where most of the story (which I'm imagining as another comic) takes place.

But yeah : P Hahah, some doodles~

Alternate Colours?

The other day when I posted Syan's character sheet over on my DeviantArt, quite a few people mentioned how is colour scheme reminded them of Ganondorf from the Legend of Zelda. So I did up some alternate colour schemes up for him, so I might be changing it. Dunno. There were just some quick considerations.

Manya and Company Sketches

Some of the preliminary doodles I did up of Manya and Syan. The third sketch is also of Manya's younger brother, Muyo, and another unnamed member of the group. She's severely underweight and in their culture, this is seen as gravely unhealthy and unnatural and is viewed as a bad omen.