A Brief Look back over Storytelling

This has been an Odyssey.

When I started this I was still reeling from the disaster that was the Field Module. My desire to create was low and I was out of shape artistically. I knew this was going to be a big brief and I had to plan ahead. When the character design bit started I was angry about how what was presented as a mere thought experiment would actually dictate the rest of the project. I had to scrap on of my characters and start again to make one worth animating. But Years of coursework has taught me it’s best to plan ahead. And also to do what you love, even if it’s not a good idea. So I came as little shock to me I ended up creating a Fox-human mage thing and an Amazon warrior. Creatures straight out the Fantasy fiction I devoured as a teen. Classy? No? Something that would hold my interest? Yes.

On that same not I decided to do what I loved in animation. Full hand-drawn animation like they used to do at Disney or The Illuminated Film Company. Stupid. But something I could care about enough to gives it my all for. But I’d do it all in Black and White to save time (and homage the silent films I loved as a teen. Murnau’s Sunrise inpaticual).

In typical me fashion I Followed the design brief too the letter. Trying to make the most visually distinct and expressive characters I could, which lead to them being horribly over-designed. I tried and tried to make them simpler. But I could only do so much. As for keeping their look consistent? I have never been good at that. Even making a character sheet for Ezekiel the Fox (which I didn’t finish) didn’t help at all. My fear of drawing people with real faces and consistent appearance was crushing me. I would come in and do no work sometimes.

Then when the animation started things started falling back into place. I wasn’t back to where I was last winter in terms of output (And never did get there). But I started to find myself. I realized I had to TURN. OFF. THE COMPUTER if I was to get anything done. I kept it off at work and when at home I avoided social media so It wouldn’t drag me down emotionally (Or tempt me to turn the work computer back on. I also started to sleep reasonably (Or try to) and my output erupted! I was still struggling with faces and expressions. Sometimes I only got two drawings done a day. But the quality of my work shot up. I actually made drawings I’m not ashamed of. And they became part of animations that look like animation! I feel like I am actually an animator now rather than a failed art student just BSing through the course. Towards the end I even started enjoying it just a little bit. When I realized I could make something better it was like a switch went off in my head. And while I still fear drawing expressions. I notice More and more my drawings show the exact expression I want them to show. And I’m drawing them quicker too.

At some point in this module, I started to see a real future for myself as a true animator.