Character Design for Animation

Believable characters are designed that way because they have been thought about from an early stage. For character designs to reflect the personality that has been described in the script, the designer needs to know clearly the message that the writer wanted to send through the action and the dialogue.

Task 1: Re read your script and come up with three words that describe each character.

You should also have considered Propp's character functions when writing the script.

1. The villain — struggles against the hero.
2. The dispatcher — character who makes the problem known and sends the hero off.
3. The (magical) helper — helps the hero in their quest.
4. The princess or prize and her father — the hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her because of an unfair evil, usually because of the villain. The hero's journey is often ended when he marries the princess, thereby beating the villain.
5. The donor — prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.
6. The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.
7. The false hero — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.

There are ways to visualise characters once you know what their role is in the story.

Ask yourself if the character is dynamic, lazy, wicked, mean, nutty.....

If their actions require them to be heavy, small, strong...

Consider stereotypes of these descriptions.

Task 2: When you have described your characters with 3 words, rough out some shapes that will form the construction of the characters. The shapes need to work well with the words.

July 7th Your Work and Your Handwriting

Handwriting task

Your handwriting standard needs to be assessed before you enter the second year of your GCSE.

There written exam you will sit next year is marked with particular attention given to the following:

• legibility of text; accuracy of spelling, punctuation and grammar; clarity of meaning; 
• selection of a form and style of writing appropriate to purpose and to complexity of subject matter; 
• clear and coherent organisation of information; use of specialist language where appropriate. 

For the first 15 minutes of Monday's lesson you are to write out a summary of your project.
This is to include the following:

• What format you have chosen (animation, CD cover, graphic novel, comic, documentary) and why this is applicable to your target audience.
• Who the main characters are and how the audience will know the personalities. (Visual codes).
• What the message being sent by your piece of work.
• What happens in your production.

Approaching Production 2

Task 1: Presentation of work and Handwriting

As we move towards the second year of your GCSE you should have a substantial body of work in your folders. This needs to be properly organised with dividers.

There are three main sections:

• Textual Investigation 1 
• Coursework
• Production (and all the research and planning you have done).

I will go through your folders on a one to one basis today, the result of this discussion will inform your end of term reports.

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You will also be completing a handwriting task on Monday with Ms Trotter, the details of which are on the next post (July 7th).

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Task 2: Storyboarding and pre-production

If you have identified backgrounds for your production then you can begin to storyboard.
Use the blank panels provided.
If you are producing a CD Cover you should have identified at least four backgrounds from the same music genre. You should then plan your own CD cover backgrounds and have reasons for each element of miss en scene.
Graphic Novels; you need to rough out the locations and backgrounds where the narrative takes place.
Documentary; you need to design the location of your shoot and plan how you will build the set. Include materials, lighting, props and 'characters'.

Approaching Production 1

Animation groups: You need to research backgrounds. Create a Power Point each with screenshots (CMD + SHIFT + 4 on a Mac) of aniation backgrounds that youthink would fit with the style of your animation. THINK ABOUT YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE.

CD Productions: Research colour palettes of the genre you have chosen. Create a Power Point of relevant CD Covers. Look at the Stiff record label and its artists.

Comic Productions: Create a PowerPoint with three suitable comic artists' work, say why this is appropriate for your target audience.

Documentary Production: Continue to write the opening paragraph for your documentary. Consider the target audience and what you are trying to do. You also need to put together a schedule which indicates when you will get your 'characters' and when you will shoot the film.