Animation Tests

Roughs are My Favorite

I'm happy to say that animation has officially begun!

So It Begins.

I have to fill up all these boxes with check marks in the next 3 1/2 months. Wish me luck.

iPhone, iPad Shortcut Icon

If anyone is interested, you can now create a shortcut app on your iPhone or iPad directly to this blog. When you're on the main blog page, just hit "Add to Home Screen" and enter "Crystalline" for the title, and you'll have a super nifty icon right on your homepage.

*EDIT* Apparently I don't know what I'm doing haha... give it a little bit and I'll figure out why it's not working.

*EDIT 2* Okay, it should work now. I had to disable the mobile version of the blog, which I didn't really like anyway. So, if anyone is inclined, add Crystalline to your homepage on your iPhone or iPad! 

Proof of Concept

This shot was created basically to get a feel for animating the characters, as well as figure out how my post production process will work with scanning, coloring, and compositing each shot. So, this shot won't be in the film, but this is more or less what the final film will look like. Click here to view a mobile-friendly version.

Storyboard - Animatic

Here is the more complete storyboard for the film, along with the final storyboard animatic before animation begins, with the timing and basic key poses worked out. I've also included my initial thumbnails that were done at the very beginning of development. Click here to view a mobile friendly version of the video.

Color Script - Animatic

Here is the color script for the film, as well as the first animatic made using that color script, to give a basic idea of the timing for the film. Click here to view a mobile-friendly version of the video.

Geneva

Stag

Bull

Visual Development - Part 2 - Stag

Visual Development - Part 1 - Geneva

Shot Breakdown

After plenty of revising, here is my final shot breakdown. The idea of "forest guardian" became more and more important throughout development, and so I wanted to have the idea that the whole thing is cyclical, as so many things are in life. When the Stag has done his part to protect Geneva, the little girl, he dissolves to make way for the new forest guardian, the Bull. So, the Bull transforms into a Crystal Bull at the end, the way that the Stag began the story as a Crystal Stag. I also liked the fact that this meant the Bull was not necessarily a "bad guy," but that the was instead just playing his part in something bigger.

Click the image to view the full shot breakdown.

The Story

"For as long as Geneva can remember, her older brother had told her stories about the mysterious guardians that watch over the forests near her home in Rome. Stories of spirits, strange creatures, and magic.

Before her brother passed away, he left Geneva a small crystal necklace shaped like a beautiful stag, telling her to always remember him by it, and to always remember the stories.

When Geneva finds herself in trouble, the crystal stag may be her key to seeing those stories become a reality."

________________________________________

The story of Crystalline is very loosely based on an ancient Roman fairy tale called The Golden Stag. In the original story, a young brother and sister are lost in the forest, and the brother is turned into a Golden Stag when he drinks water from a Stag's tracks. The brother becomes the girl's guardian and raises her in the woods until they are found by a prince, who takes the girl as his wife. 

I really liked the guardian idea between brother and sister, and so I basically took that idea, along with a few other ideas from other fairy tales, such as The Glass Coffin, and eventually landed with my story for Crystalline. 

Teaser

"Stories have long been told of the guardians that watch over the forests of Rome. Stories of spirits, strange creatures, and magic. For one young girl, those stories are about to become a reality."

Hello!

I'll be using this blog to keep track of my progress on my junior film, Crystalline. I was not good at updating it during pre-production last semester, so in the next day or two I'll be updating all kinds of visual development, character designs, story work, etc...

Thanks for checking it out and I can't wait to be able to show you all my finished film in May!