Sequence 3: Hyperrealism

This is the final image created for the Hyperrealism sequence

This is the edited sequence, complete with camera movement and Sound effects.

https://freesound.org/people/LG/sounds/91287/ 

where I found the sound from.

Hyperrealism images

These are the images I took to create the Hyper realistic image.

I found this cityscape image off of the Internet.

Sequence 2: Mixed Media

this is my mixed media sequence. I don't think it turned out too bad, although I could have used more textures on the creature and around the room. I could also have created reflections in the kettle and mugs.


https://freesound.org/people/base_trix/sounds/50351/


Where I found the sound.

Mixed Media images

These are the images I took to create the background for the Mixed Media Sequence

This is the background for the Mixed Media

                                  

I also found this scaled texture from the Internet. I used it on aftereffects as an alternate skin for the character.

This is the original flash animation I did for the mixed media.

Sequence 1: Parralax

This is my full Parallax sequence. I personally think I could have done more with this, perhaps by changing the background a little in terms of lighting. I also could have edited the length you see the character for, as you only catch a glimpse of him.




https://freesound.org/people/ditroiamusic/sounds/180023/ 


Where I got the sound from.

Parralax images

These are the photos I took to create the Parralax effect.   

The picture on the left is the character. I painted over the photo on the right on Photoshop and removed the head.

 

This is the final background for the Parralax before being put into Aftereffects.

 

I also used this mist image I found on the Internet.  I used two of them and changed the opacity on PhotoShop so they would be easier to see through.

Nursery Rhyme: Storyboard part 1

This is the beginning of the storyboard. It chronicles the beginning of the fight between the Lion and the Unicorn characters. As this is only part of the storyboard I will of course need to continue the fight and make it more intense as it goes on, taking our two rivals to a city setting, where the eventual alien invasion that brings them together at the end happens; changes will likely need to be made to these sections anyway.   

These first six frames show the Unicorn in contemplation. He then hears the Lion flying down behind him, intent on asking him to join forces. I used close ups on the Unicorn because I wanted to show his expressions, particularly his disapproval at the Lion's presence.   

In the next frames, the Lion invites the Unicorn to join forces, but he refuses, believing him to be arrogant, and preferring to work alone. Enraged, the Lion begins charging and using his heat vision. It will help me to further look into the rivalry between England and Scotland in real life, because this story could potentially say something deep about uniting forces and working together. It also would help to ensure I'm not offending anyone with the direction I'm taking this narrative, at the moment.        

Here, the Lion's heat vision is unleashed, to which the Unicorn responds by throwing up a force field, which he struggles to hold against the red beam's fury, as shown in the close-up of his hoof sliding back on the ground. The Lion then prepares to fly up. I'm trying to be careful with camera angles here. I don't want to break the 180 degree rule, but at the same time the shots need to be dynamic to reflect the genre and style the narrative is heading. At the moment, I have only used mainly cuts between the two characters. 

The Lion flies up and attempts to charge the Unicorn from mid-air. He misses his punch however, and the audience witnesses one of his adversary's other powers; Super-speed, as shown by the blue lines. Now that the action has intensified a bit, I have kept the camera from cutting, instead, keeping a tracking shot on the Lion. When he turns his head to see the Unicorn however, a close up shot will occur, and the camera will cut to behind him. 

Continuing on, the Lion attempts to charge his opponent again. The Unicorn dodges his attack and blasts him with mystic energy. This only serves to anger the Lion though, and he retaliates by punching the Unicorn in the face. Once again the camera doesn't really cut here, except when the Lion tries out his first punch. I think this works though, because too many cuts would be distracting.  

So far, I don't think the storyboard has turned out too bad. The next step would be to continue the fight. The next stage I have in mind takes place in a city setting, where the Lion will nearly deliver a finishing blow before being attacked by aliens. The ending will work a bit better with the two teaming up I think, because it shows the two overcoming differences, to overcome a greater evil, something that could be reflected in real-life events today.   

Nursery Rhyme: Aliens

I spent a long time trying to decide how the story should end, but I didn't think that a victory for the Lion was interesting and triumphant an ending as it could be. So I decided that the Lion would beat the Unicorn to a near pulp, and just as the killing blow can be struck, aliens arrive and attack the Lion. Seeing his enemy overwhelmed, the Unicorn helps him, and they team up against these invaders. Given the fact that the main characters represent England and Scotland, and also considering recent events such as the Paris attacks in November 2015, I will need to take extreme care not make any allusions to terrorism, so as not to offend anyone. However, considering the rivalry between the two countries, the moral could also be that the world should overcome it's differences and stand together for the common good.        

This meant that I had to design a race of aliens, which meant a lot more freedom as there are millions of ways they could be depicted. I started by looking at existing aliens in fiction, such as Star Wars, Starcraft 2, and Destiny. 

  I wanted to make them seem more like an invading army than a mere swarm, so I experimented with different body types and costumes.

This second one shows more of a brutish design, which could match with the Lion's strength level, and the thinner character could be more of a leader. Note the insectoid features on him.  

 More of an insectoid design here. I had in mind an invading swarm that the leaders could send in to overwhelm the Lion. 

 

Nursery Rhyme: Fights.

If there's one thing to know about Superheroes, it's that their disputes tend be action-packed, dramatic, and usually choc-full of wanton property damage. That needs to be the case with my fight between the Lion and the Unicorn. 

To begin with, I had a look at a few comic-book brawls. These two spreads, illustrated fantastically by Ivan Reis, are from the recent Justice League comic event 'Forever Evil' written by Geoff Johns, in which evil versions of the Justice League arrive from their ruined world to take over ours. Here, Black Adam (ironically a villain himself) is attempting to confront the villainous Superman counterpart Ultraman. The moves and fight depicted here involves a lot of strangling, charging and punching (and ultimately ends with Adam's jaw being crushed).       

I also thought it best to mention the rivalry between DC Comic's powerhouse names, Superman and Batman. Both are extremely different in terms of character, powers, and personality. It only fits that the two would clash frequently throughout comic book history, and the constant rivalry erupts in Batman: Hush, written by Jeph Leob. During the story, Superman is controlled by the plant pheromones of Poison Ivy, who forces him to attack Batman. However the Dark Knight wins the day and frees the Man of Steel (in contrast to how the cover below by Jim Lee appears to portray it). The fight is one of several major standoffs between the two over the years.   

At this point, I envisioned the Lion winning the fight between the two, so I decided to use Jim Lee's Batman: Hush cover (above) as reference to illustrate an idea of how it could end. Of course I will not use the exact same pose as Lee's illustration in the final, but I only used it as reference to show an idea of how it could end.

Life Drawings: Owl

This time around, I drew an owl perched on a branch. I think I am starting to get better with proportions now, but I think work could be done on the details of it's feathers. I do like how the head turned out however. 

Life Drawing: Sparrowhawk

This week took a more avian turn, as I decided to draw the Sparrowhawk. Once again I chose to use pen for this drawing, but I took it one step further and colored it in as well. The pens I own are specialized ones that can be blended together to create darker and lighter tones. I must say they worked extremely well here, particularly on the bottom of the tree branch. I would however try and refine the lines on the birds breast next time, as they look a little too thick. The proportions on the bird are better here, and it shows I am getting a bit more confident drawing solely with pen. 

Nursery Rhyme: Character developments

These are the first real character designs I have done for both the Lion and the Unicorn. I ultimately decided to make the two characters superheroes, because if there's anything I enjoy and can make something really fun, really eye-popping, it's Superheroes.  

This is the Lion. As he represents England, I have given him a Union Jack themed costume (which I may have to alter due to it's resemblance to that of the Marvel character Union Jack, though the cape, boots, belt and gauntlets are not part of his). I have also made this character something of a Superman analogue, with the tight costume, flowing cape, and heat vision (which I just had to add) Next to him are some drawings of how the character moves and acts; he will be an angry being. 

Here, on the other hand, we have the Unicorn. I wanted to create as much contrast with the Lion as possible, so I did this in a few ways. For one thing the Unicorn's costume is a bit less conventional as superhero costumes go, he looks a little more like a wizard with his hooded cloak. As I stated earlier, I wanted to make him more unkempt, so he has wilder hair, facial markings etc. His colour scheme also represents Scotland, and I have added a kilt to him (although I may need to re-evaluate the kilt, as using the wrong markings may be considered an insult to some people). His powers are also a bit defensive in nature, mostly magical powers such as energy projection, force-fields and super speed.