I think the game show idea is really cute and could work very well indeed - it's a sort of Gladiators meets The Crystal Maze meets The Hunger Games meets Wipe-Out. I also think that maybe you could fold-in a Quiz master round, where the contenders are asked quick-fire questions which relate to the 'science' - so you could get some more info into the concept in a way that still fits nicely. I like the approach to your character designs here - simple shapes, flat textures and perhaps 2D animated expressions. I just want to share this with you from one of our current year 3 projects - notice how the character is very simple, but notice too the great use of squash and stretch - so putting the emphasis not on complexity of model, but performance via principles of animation:
I don't quite understand the 'corrupt cell' design - I think it's better just to think of the other participants as 'unhealthy' and therefore unable to complete the obstacle course. 'Corrupt' introduces a different message into your game-show idea - i.e. the cheater - you could, of course, play with this idea too - but you don't have much time and it may be simpler to keep it to a fit/unfit binary, as opposed to bringing in a sense of deviousness etc.
One of the big weaknesses of your FSTS project was your failure to adopt the language of the film you were making - i.e. thriller/horror - for this project, the 'grammar' of the gameshow is essential to the success of what you're doing here, and to how you're going to execute the information on screen. You need to look at the gameshows you're emulating and ensure you understand their visual language - everything from set design, editing, use of typeface, music, sound effects, voice-over - the lot:
There's something about your subdued colour palette that doesn't shout 'Game Show!' to me, so again, you need to look much more closely at the genre of television you're seeking to pastiche for your animation - it's a great idea, but it needs to look, feel and smell like a Game Show for it to land its punch.
Thank you for the idea of the Quiz Master round! I could use this for the stage when the cell has to copy itself, before it splits - perhaps each of the cells have to get a certain number of questions right to be able to do so?
With the design of the "Corrupt" cell, I was initially thinking this be something that is seen for a very, very brief moment, say, if the camera passes by the area where the cells who didn't quite make the cut have to go, along with other cells that looked like the 2 variants of the healthy cells.
I can see what you mean and agree with you on my colour palette being subdued, I shall go back and revisit the characters, and make them look a bit more vibrant and lively. I also need to consider whether I'm showing the entirety of the game show, or if I'm going to be showing the final round, with a "recap" of the previous rounds at the beginning to bring people up to speed. I feel that deciding on this will help aid me in the design of the set and environments, as well as specifically what colours to use for each section.
Thank you for the feedback, I shall be sure to put it all into practice!
OGR 16/03/17
ReplyDeleteHey Joe,
I think the game show idea is really cute and could work very well indeed - it's a sort of Gladiators meets The Crystal Maze meets The Hunger Games meets Wipe-Out. I also think that maybe you could fold-in a Quiz master round, where the contenders are asked quick-fire questions which relate to the 'science' - so you could get some more info into the concept in a way that still fits nicely. I like the approach to your character designs here - simple shapes, flat textures and perhaps 2D animated expressions. I just want to share this with you from one of our current year 3 projects - notice how the character is very simple, but notice too the great use of squash and stretch - so putting the emphasis not on complexity of model, but performance via principles of animation:
http://tsyganproduction.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/robots-turn-around-animation-tests.html
I don't quite understand the 'corrupt cell' design - I think it's better just to think of the other participants as 'unhealthy' and therefore unable to complete the obstacle course. 'Corrupt' introduces a different message into your game-show idea - i.e. the cheater - you could, of course, play with this idea too - but you don't have much time and it may be simpler to keep it to a fit/unfit binary, as opposed to bringing in a sense of deviousness etc.
One of the big weaknesses of your FSTS project was your failure to adopt the language of the film you were making - i.e. thriller/horror - for this project, the 'grammar' of the gameshow is essential to the success of what you're doing here, and to how you're going to execute the information on screen. You need to look at the gameshows you're emulating and ensure you understand their visual language - everything from set design, editing, use of typeface, music, sound effects, voice-over - the lot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObAEeAGsqjQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqqkIPjai9Y
There's something about your subdued colour palette that doesn't shout 'Game Show!' to me, so again, you need to look much more closely at the genre of television you're seeking to pastiche for your animation - it's a great idea, but it needs to look, feel and smell like a Game Show for it to land its punch.
Hi Phil,
DeleteThank you for the idea of the Quiz Master round! I could use this for the stage when the cell has to copy itself, before it splits - perhaps each of the cells have to get a certain number of questions right to be able to do so?
With the design of the "Corrupt" cell, I was initially thinking this be something that is seen for a very, very brief moment, say, if the camera passes by the area where the cells who didn't quite make the cut have to go, along with other cells that looked like the 2 variants of the healthy cells.
I can see what you mean and agree with you on my colour palette being subdued, I shall go back and revisit the characters, and make them look a bit more vibrant and lively. I also need to consider whether I'm showing the entirety of the game show, or if I'm going to be showing the final round, with a "recap" of the previous rounds at the beginning to bring people up to speed. I feel that deciding on this will help aid me in the design of the set and environments, as well as specifically what colours to use for each section.
Thank you for the feedback, I shall be sure to put it all into practice!