Ratchet Rapunzel Animatic

It has been a life long dream to make comics, cartoons and animation. I remember times doodling flip books in the corners of my elementary school text books and then making my own flip books. Last year a close childhood friend sent me one he found in storage that I made when I was about 10. I was a cheesy Robotech Mecha fighting off Zentradi Battle pods. But I digress.

I was tasked with creating an story board and Animatic for my StoryBoarding and Animatics class at the Art Institute. The project started with us having to create our own fairy tale with as twist. I chose Rapunzel, not that I particularly liked the story but I thought it would be short and less complicated to tell. Boy was I wrong....

This "Ish" was hard as "uck"! I never made an animated sequence before. I watched enough cartoons and documentaries to understand the concept. And am a supporter of Don Bluth's Dragon's Lair movie so I got a lot of good perks that teach animation techniques. But as for using Adobe AfterEffects... the Art Institute said pretty much "Watch this 5 min You Tube tutorial made by some other student who really cant teach that well but has a good grasp on the concept" After watching said video about 10 times I was both frustrated and discouraged. But Darth Maffett does not quit! so I did what I do... put my nose to the grid stone, pour be a few shots of Whiskey and started at it.

Another challenge was after we got our final story boards approved, the final assignment in A rough Animatic was due 72 hours later. Luckily the instructor gave some extensions. But that really didn't benefit me since I have other classes and other deadlines. So I had to push this one out in 72 hours.

I did learn that I can make animatics but that it takes some time.

My plan is to make future mini issues and plot points in Soul of a Hero into animatic / motion comic format.

Shouts out to Jermica, JazMan and Jabbar for being my voice actors and Renee for the moral support!

here are the story board panels

SWAT! gone but not forgotten

This project was fun. It is the second rendition of my SWAT Team's mascot.
It was great drawing this

Initial pencils

Digital Inks

FinalColors

Its a Wrap!

Things are looking up as an artist for me!
I found out that my bus wrap design for The Art Institute of Atlanta was selected for production!
So now Yinz will see my art work driving around North Atlanta!

I chose to make the bus look like a video game with students of various disciplines and diversity running to get to school

-enjoy!

The Ratchet Rapunzel Script

Here is the script for Ratchet Rapunzel  ... storyboard soon to follow ... Characters here

BACKSTORY - Told by storyteller – this portion may be edited to in rolling “star wars” type script on screen)

Once upon a time there was a rumor that an ageless princess named Rapunzel, was held captive in a high tower guarded by a large red dragon. It was said many a brave man had tried to rescue her but was never seen or heard from after he tried. One day a very young naive knight who was ranging along wondered about the tower and the dragon and if it were myth. He asked the king about the tower but was told to forget it and focus on winning glory for the realm in the battles to come. Curiosity got the better of young knight and he, donned his armor, sharpened his sword, waxed his lance, polished his shield, and ride his horse and visited the tower.  This is his tale…

OPENING

At the drawbridge of the tower he was met by the fearsome dragon. The dragon warned the knight that if he try to pass he would be burned and eaten, and would be given only this warning. The young knight, now more determined to prove his courage, rose his lance and challenged the dragon. The dragon said that he is getting to old for this sort of thing and if they can come to an agreement. The knight would be allowed to proceed, only if agreed to give up his weapons and armor. The dragon also said there is one way up to the tower you must tell Rapunzel to let down her hair and climb. The knight thinking that this is his lucky day agreed. He proceeded skipping on to the tower.

The knight could see a woman’s figure in the high window of the tower. Excitedly he cried “Rapunzel ! Let down your hair, so that I may come up and visit you!” Rapunzel let down her hair and he excitedly climbed. It took him about an hour but he finally made it. Rapunzel was as beautiful as he fantasized.

CONFLICT

They talked, laughed and played for a bit but Rapunzel started to act strange. Rapunzel would be nice one minute and the next raging and furious. Rapunzel and the knight would argue and she would demand that he leave, and as the knight walked to window to figure out how he would leave she would beg him to stay. The knight noticed a bottle Zyprexa on the counter, He figured Rapunzel may need them and offered them to her. Rapunzel became more upset and threw the pills out of the window! What the knight thought would be few hours of fun, seemed to turn into years of misery! The knight tried to sooth her but she became upset again and start to fight and argue. The knight was confused and decided that he had enough, He demanded that Rapunzel let her hair down so he could climb down and leave. In a rage Rapunzel shaved her hair and threw it into the fire! She told him he could never leave and that he would have to stay forever. She then grabbed her scissors and tried to stab the knight chasing him around the room.

RESOLUTION

Outside the window the knight saw the dragon watching. He begged the dragon to help. Laughing the dragon agreed and told him to jump out and onto his back. The knight leaped to the dragon. Rapunzel screamed and demanded that the dragon bring the knight back. The knight hugged the dragon and thanked it for rescuing him.  As they flew the dragon giggled and said to the knight “Sometimes, princesses are locked in towers to protect them from the world, and other times they are locked up so to protect the world from them....”

A story boarding we go!

I am taking TWO story boarding classes this semester. One online the other on campus. Prof Kim Male, is teaching the online version while Prof David Moyers (one of my mentors) is teaching the on campus version.  Both offer pretty time intensive and creative projects.

For this post I will focus on Prof Male's assignment. One of my assignments was to come up with a story, characters, storyboard and anamatics for a short story. The story was to be based off of a fairy tale with a twist.

I chose to use Rapunzel. Why? Because I used to tell both my kids fractured fairy tales and try to make them life lessons. Nearly 15 yrs later they will come up to me and say, "Oh now I get it..." The story of "Ratchet Rapunzel" is no different.

I will include the entire script in another post. (read it here)

But here are the character design, model sheets and development thus far

The Knight - I wanted to mix this story up a bit! So I chose to make the knight, a frat bruh who is just out to have a good time. His costume and armor will be symbolically whimsical  to some. Drawing from both African and Greek themes.

Rapunzel - Again going with the crazy culture mash up, which I so love. I chose to make Rapunzel from the Far East. As a kid I LOVED THE DRAGON LADY in the daffy duck cartoon! She was mad sexy, and had much attitude! I also enjoyed the way Chuck Jones designed her! So my Rapunzel is my homage to her!

Rapunzels Tower - I spent an entire afternoon designing and making this 3D model. There is a complete interior design too, but I'll save that for later. You may also see this as a environment in my ongoing web graphic novel The Soul of a Hero.

The Dragon - Basic, I got tired and lazy and just slapped him together.  Don't judge me! I did all this over a 24 hour period with little sleep!

there you have it folks. your hard earned tax money dollars (GI Bill), yet again, pay my way through art school! Enjoy!

Learning Conceptual Design - Kali

Harry Hausen's original Production Concept

This was a fun project. I have toyed with the idea of a multi armed character for a while. But never really had any use. So when we were challenged to remake characters Harry Hausen designs from "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" I chose Kali. I remember watching this movie a few times as a kid in elementary school. Kali always scared me because I thought, that if I had to fight her she had multiple arms and swords.

I started my research and saw that the goddess was normally drawn blue, I started with a blue concept but as I got to the final stages, a light grey skin tone seemed a better choice.

I wanted to have her costume look like it was painted, almost like a henna tattoo.

The largest challenge was the anatomy. I believed that her race would have for latissimus dorsi, pectoralis and scapula. But since this is the female version, though she had four pecs she only has two mammary glands /breasts. This keeps her having a familiar sexy female  aesthetic.

I liked the idea that she would have three fingers. I imagined her race living in a tropic area, like the amazon, with high mountains. They would need strong hands to climb, so the three digits would offer strength and stability to hold heave and climb. The same for the feet. They stand on three toes and this allows stability in trees. The tail to me was the most interesting. The tail originates in the C7/T1 area of the spine. I'm thinking that it will give some stability when climbing also, allowing the manipulation or helping moving limbs or coiling around objects to bring them near for inspection while giving a greater range of motion to the tail.

As for the art process. I learned to consider lighting more, also I am less afraid now to color and flat and add some tonal changes to my flats.

You may see her as a character in a future fantasy project. My idea is that these characters are the natural rival and enemies of Jazsman's Centaur and pursued relentlessly by Cody's Cyclops.

Darth Maffett speaks out on Misty Knight!

 

I gotta vent on this one. I am happy as the next brotha to see Luke Cage getting his own show. And in true Luke Cage fashion he is dating a white chick (spoiler… who he gets pregnant and has a daughter with in the comic). And like most Black comic fans I am STOKED to have the possibility of Misty Knight being a character. But what I do have a problem with is with the casting of black women in comic movies. They all pretty much are light skinned, skinny, with very european looking features. 

I’ll give you storm.. (cause HALLEY BERRY IS NOT STORM… and yeah Alexandria Shipp looked better but meh….) BUT MISTY!? Come on! Misty is a hard boilded NYC cop who got her arm chopped off! I don’t think she should look like a damn Victoria secrets model. She should look like she could take and give a punch! Remember this is the chick that roomed in college with Jean Grey. And if as sista has to to deal with mental telepath nut case like her then she should be more sturdy. Comics like Hollywood constantly down play the true beauty of the races! Not everyone has to look like he or she stepped of of the Highlands of Scotland for goodness sake!

My choice… Adrienne “Black Cindy!”Moore. Don’t hate or judge because all yinz know her character rocks the cell blocks at Litchfield Penitentiary! Moore has proved her chops as an actress! Before anyone goes on with she needs to be in character and show more range argument… Let me remind you that SAM JACKSON is in a ton of movies and pretty much is the same character (save a few movies…). I enjoy me some Sammy J but sometimes his character range is limited. Back to Moore… Even if she had the same vibe and attitude as Black Cindy… I think it would work as Misty and make the character more believable. As for Simone Missick, I think she would make a hella Storm! 

Oh and the art work above is from a character study for my Marvel Submission that will feature MY VERSION of Misty Knight! She is gonna be Plus Sized Ass Kickin' Crime Fighting Machine!

RANT OVER!

ILD230 Project #3 - S.H.I.E.L.D. Repulsor pistol

For this project I had to create a set of instructions on how to operate a simple item. I though since I am going the S.H.I.E.L.D. genre … create a Stark A.R.C. Technology based weapon. Ok, We all know Stark Technology is not real and it’s just a NERF gun. BUT! In my mind I AM A SHIELD special agent and this is one of the weapons at my disposal to fight, terrorist mutants, bad guy super humans, and people who piss me off in general!

I created a 3d  model of the gun and then rotated it in various directions to get the correct feel of a instructional manual. (it kinda has a throw back to my digital illustrationfinal where I drew a Stormtrooper blaster)

Reference photo for the 3D model

3D WIP

ILD 230 Project #2 - Stark Hand A.R.C. Repulsor

The next technical drawing project was to come up with a functioning item. Of course I wanted to do Captain America’s shield but it was too basic of an item. So I chose to make an IronMan Stark Repulsor. I bought one of these a few years ago (and the IronMan Mask… and the WarMachine Mask … and the Iron Patriot Mask…Don’t judge me… ).

Jedi Master Moyers said that he wanted us to make various “skins” for the item that we drew. So I created a War Machine version, a Model 42 version, and a Camo version… as well as the traditional Mark IV version.

This project made it into the school display box so I am stoked!

Note Cody Wilbourn was the hand model for this project

ILD 230 Project #1 - Just another screwdriver

This project was for technical illustration. Finally something I can draw without getting frustrated. I have spent many late nights, early mornings and times in between trying to come up with technical drawings for various client projects. So when Jedi Master Moyers assigned the padawans of Ai Atlanta in technical drawing class to make a technical drawing of an ordinary item I was like “score!”

I pick the Black and Decker electric screw driver. I am intimately familiar with this item because it’s the “go to” tool in my tool box. I’ve owned a lot of them. (they tend to get broken so I have to buy another about every other year).

The most challenging part was the front adjustment grommet. I think I got it though.

Final Vector Technical Drawing

Reference Image

D.L. can I have a piece of gum?

Today's color study is of my art buddy Noelle. She is a up an once fashion major turned up and coming fine artist.

This particular piece is accurately titled "D.L.? Can I have a piece of gum?"-Noelle in repose. Simply because Noelle has asked me for gum for the past 2 semesters while we slaved away under the tutelage of Prof. Moyers.

Noelle is a talented painter! I mean home girl can stroke! Check out her blog Artistrfun.wordpress.com to see her stuff. I like the reference photo because it truly captured her personality.

This particular piece was illustrated digitally using sketchbook pro using my Samsung Tablet.  I started out with the observing her base photo taken by Kalonji Almond.

I then did a quick pencil study to get the feel and flow of the pose

I next did a more detailed pencil study using a digital light box technique