The first week of preparing for a Final Major Project is an essential phase that lays the groundwork for the entire creative process. It involves conceptual planning, refining designs, and establishing a cohesive artistic direction. Here’s a detailed look into the workflow, key decisions, and insights from this foundational week.
Pre-Production Phase
1. Refining Character Designs
One of the primary tasks in the initial stage was enhancing the design of the key characters: Cupid and Yue Lao. The goal was to make their appearances not only more aligned with their mythological and cultural backgrounds but also to facilitate smoother animation production later.
- Key Updates:
- Costume Redesign: Cupid and Yue Lao’s outfits were revamped to better suit their mythological roots—Cupid from Western lore and Yue Lao from Eastern traditions.
- Functionality for Animation: The new designs focused on enabling a broader range of expressive movements during animation, considering factors like binding and pose variety.
By upgrading these designs, the project ensures that both characters look authentic and remain flexible for the dynamic requirements of animation.
2. Storyboard Adjustments
Building on a dynamic storyboard developed during the previous semester, some camera angles and sequences were revised. These changes aim to enhance storytelling clarity and engagement in the final animation. Adjusting the storyboard at this stage helps maintain alignment between the visual narrative and the overarching creative vision.
Defining the Artistic Style
A crucial challenge was blending the distinct aesthetic elements of Cupid and Yue Lao into a cohesive art style. Representing characters from different cultural and mythological backgrounds necessitated a unified approach to design and presentation.
- Research and Inspiration:
- The project incorporated visual references from diverse sources to capture the unique attributes of Western and Eastern cultures.
- Distinctive regional details were embedded into costumes, props, and environments to underscore each character’s origin.
- Final Decision: To harmonize the contrasting styles, a flat, hand-drawn art style was chosen. This approach allows the two cultural aesthetics to blend seamlessly, creating a visually pleasing and unified animation. The style balances the ornate, traditional elements of Yue Lao with the romanticized charm of Cupid.