Developing my character:
For this rotation we started by creating a character design concept and exploring variations of our character through different mediums and styles. Below shows my process and character building which I did digitally using the software Procreate. I also took the time to create multiple mushroom variations using the same base character for different species that I was particularly interested in.
Below is a collage variation I made of my mushroom character. While I enjoyed crafting this, I felt the initial concept of the mushroom was lost and I preferred the digital sketches I made.
Below is another collaged side character I made. I think the strips of newspaper that I crumpled and glued in different sections has an interesting effect (creates depth compared to my rough initial design).
If I had more time for this rotation I would have liked to experiment more with different mediums, perhaps ink, coloursoft pencils and collaging. I also would have liked to explore different stylisations as I think this would have been more challenging. It also would have allowed me to see if other styles were more fitting for my character concept.
Character Design Outcome & Context:
Here I attempted to do both a character turnaround and a character expression sheet. I found this challenging however enjoyed the process. One thing I would change if I were to redo this project, is making the character turn to their right while the viewer reads from left to right – I think this would have made my turnaround clearer when visualising how they look from different angles. I also would have liked to test my drawing ability further by drawing the expressions of my character from a variety of angles (rather than just from a front facing angle).
On the bottom left you can see how my character looks when they compress their body – I had the idea that my character squashes their limbs to become a smaller camouflaged mushroom entity. I also had the idea that the hair closes around their face to conceal them further.
Words to describe my character:
- Sociable (doesn’t communicate aloud but communicates with other plants/species silently through the idea of mycelium – (underground network that facilitates communication within plant communities) – my character can warn other species about pests /other dangers in the forest and provide cures.
- Caring (is thoughtful, wants to help other creatures and protect the woodland/forest, tends to trees/plants too in a physical way – removes dead leaves/clears fallen branches etc.)
- Guiding (is a council member/leader of the forest – she is one of many mushroom characters who collects with others to discuss the forest and how to maintain it.)
Other elements/personality traits of my character:
- Has stretchy/flexible limbs that seem boneless
- Has a semi squashy body
- Is a guardian of the forest (along with other mushroom species) and they gather to discuss problems in relation to the woods – the group can be seen having ‘meetings’ which appear as a fairy ring.
Motion References:
References to inspire my own character motion plan:
- Helen Parr (The Incredibles): I was drawn to the way her limbs have been animated to look flexible and extremely stretchy.
- Jumping toys: I particularly like how these squash and compress before they move.
- Abi toads (artist on Instagram): In one of their animations, I like how the toad’s character and features are exaggerated through the process of squash and stretch. .
- Barbapapa: In the animated series, I love how the characters can shapeshift (aided by squash and stretch) which draws on them having such malleable bodies. I imagine straight ahead animation was used for this as their movement tends to be quite organic and flowy.
- Pingu: I like the way the characters in this stop motion squash and stretch to show emotion and fun action sequences.
Motion Plan:
How my character could move :
One idea I had is that my character could compress their body down from their elongated standing form (to become their camouflaged smaller form). During this movement, their arms and legs shrink while their other features squash downwards together. It could also be interesting to animate my character’s involvement with the mycelium network (I could animate a root system spreading out underground from beneath their feet after they reach their camouflage form).
Ideas of how I could apply some of the 12 principles of animation:
- Squash & Stretch: I expect this principle of animation to be very relevant when I animate my character – I imagine the main chest body to undergo squash and stretch when my character changes to their camouflage form.
- Secondary action : In a woodland environment, it could be interesting if there is small movements in the background such as wind blowing tree leaves/ fallen leaves drifting. It could also compliment my character design if I tried to animate the drips of the Inky Cap body even if that isn’t the main movement of my animation.
- Easing: I expect to have a range of spacing for my movement. The spacing of my frames will be smaller at the beginning and end of my movement when motion is slow, however during the middle the motion will be faster, so I expect to have less close together frames.
- Follow through/overlapping action: The antenna and hair of my character may sill move even when my character has stopped moving.
- Straight ahead: I think straight ahead animation will be the most suitable way to animate my character as I plan to make their movement fluid (their limbs and stretchy and flexible and don’t necessarily follow arcs).
- Timing: this will depend on spacing of my frames and easing.
- Solid drawing: I hope to keep the volume/weight of my character constant when they move/compress while undergoing squash and stretch.
- Appeal: Initially I planned to colour my character, however after exploring this, I decided the black and white initial one looked more cohesive. I think this was mainly because the mushroom species I decided to base my character off was an Inky Cap (these typically are only black and white).