Animation Equipment

Over the summer my fiance, Mark, and I worked on building me a mini-animation studio in the spare bedroom.  I can now do basically everything I would need to do in the comforts of my own home.  Everything turned out great.

My animation desk and work area, already with old Passage of Shadow character sheets

Animation table with the light on.

My new downshooter, capable of sliding the camera up and down, left and right, as well as shooting with underlighting.

Updates

Here are my updated character designs and character sheets for Izumar and Korra.  I am much happier with the proportions and overall look of these designs.  I've completed another version of the animatic which is linked below.  I have also finished the script.  Now I am getting the backgrounds sketched and finalized.  I'm looking forward to beginning animation in a few weeks. 

Production Schedule

The Passage of Shadow

Production Schedule

Date	Things to Accomplish
9.13-9.19 (Week 2)	o   Finalize Animatic and Create final shot list o   Polish dialogue and get to near final state o   Refine and finalize character designs
9.20-9.26 (Week 3)	o   Get animatic green-lit by instructors & complete any needed changes o   Complete background & character layouts for Scenes 1 & 2 o   Complete Artist Statement  & Bio (Due 9.22)
9.27-10.3 (Week 4)	o   Continue/ Complete background & character layouts for Scenes 2,3 & 4 o   Double check all layouts and prep for animation o   Finalize script and prepare for final audio recording o   Update blog and prep for web 1:1 Check-Up
10.4-10.10 (Week 5)	o   Record final audio o   Shoot final video reference for fight scene (or download from Youtube) o   Begin Key outs for Scene 2: 001-008
10.11-10.17 (Week 6)	o   Key outs for Scene 2: 009-16 o   Finish Resume and Cover Letter (due 10.13)
10.18-10.24 MIDTERMS (Week 7)	o   Key outs for Scene 3: Beginning to Start of Fight Sequence o   Phase 3 Presentation/Critique (10.20): - Final draft of script, - Concept art - Storyboards/Shot List - Work Reel - Production Book/Blog
10.25-10.31 (Week 8)	o   Key outs for Scene 3: Fight Sequence
11.1-11.7 (Week 9)	o   Key outs for Scene 3: Fight Sequence o   Revise Demo Reel with Passage of Shadow shots
11.8-11.14 (Week 10)	o   Key outs for Scene 3: Fight Sequence, Healing Sequence o   Work on Demo reel and update blog/website for 1:1 Check-Up
11.15-11.21 (Week 11)	o   Key outs for Scene 3: Castle entry and Scene 4:001-015
11.22-11.28 (Week 12)	o   Key outs for Scene 4: 016-028 o   Finish Demo reel rough cut for critique (11.24)
11.29-12.5 (Week 13)	o   Key outs for Scene 1: 001-014 o   Improve Demo reel and update blog/website for 1:1 Check-Up (12.1)
12.6-12.12 (Week 14)	o   In-between Scene 3: 001-Fight Sequence
12.13-12.19 (Week 15)	o   In-between Scene 3: Fight Sequence o   Phase 4a Presentation/Critique (12.15) - Work reel w/ Scratch Track - Production Book/Blog
12.20-12.26 (Winter Break)	o   In-between Scene 3: Fight Sequence
12.27-1.2 (Winter Break)	o   In-between Scene 3: Fight Sequence, Healing Sequence
1.3-1.9 (Winter Break)	o   In-between Scene 3: Castle entry and Scene 4: 001-015
1.10-1.16 (Week 1)	o   In-between Scene 4: 016-028
1.17-1.23 (Week 2)	o   In-between Scene 2: 001-14
1.24-1.30 (Week 3)	o   In-between Scene 2: 15-16, Scene 1: 001-014
1.31-2.6 (Week 4)	o   Cushion time for any remaining in-betweens o   Clean-Up Scene 1 & 2
2.7-2.13 (Week 5)	o   Clean-Up Scene 3 & 4
2.14-2.20 (Week 6)	o   First Look at the Press Kit/Electronic Press Kit & Demo Reel o   Clean-Up Scene 3
2.21-2.27 MIDTERMS (Week 7)	o   Clean-Up Scene 3 o   Phase 4b Presentations/Critiques - Work reel w/ final sound edit - Production Book/Blog - Updated Production Schedule, Demo Reel & Web Presence - Press Kit/ Electronic Press Kit (in progress)
2.28-3.6 (Week 8)	o   Final Line: Scene 1 & 2 o   Updated Resume & Cover Letter Due
3.7-3.13 Spring Break	o   Final Line: Scene 3 & 4
3.14-3.20 (Week 9)	o   Final Line Wrap Up o   Begin color
3.21-3.27 (Week 10)	o   Color Scene 1,2 & 4 o   Demo Reel & Trailer Check-Up
3.28-4.3 (Week 11)	o   Color Scene 3 o   Begin compositing
4.4-4.10 (Week 12)	o   Wrap up Color o   Continue compositing o   Demo Reel & Trailer Rough Cuts Critique
4.11-4.17 (Week 13)	o    Editing/Compositing o   Website, Demo Reel, & Trailer Check-Up
4.18-4.24 (Week 14)	o   Finish Compositing o   Finish Editing o   Finish Demo Reel o   Finish Press Kits o   Finish Production Book
4.25-4.5.1 FINALS (Week 15)	o    Finish anything that needs to be finished!!!!! o   Phase 4c Presentation/Critique - Present work to class - Production Book/Blog - Data disk containing thesis project (hi-res, full version) - Playable disc for presentation - Pres Kit/Electronic Press Kit - Web Presence - Demo Reel & Written Components
5.2 REVIEWS	o   Review Week!!!

The Passage of Shadow Treatment

The Passage of Shadow

Story by Shelbi Allen

9/8/10

CONCEPT

The Passage of Shadow is a traditionally animated short film.  The film will be colored using Photoshop and edited and composited in After Effects.  This fantasy adventure tells the story of Izumar Blacksoul and his quest to save his home city from the evil plot of his father, the reigning King of Stonehaven.  Izumar must find a way to overcome his fear of the uncertainty of his future and gain the courage and confidence to do what must be done.

THEME

The theme of the film is that you can accomplish anything as long as you have confidence in yourself and aren’t afraid to take a chance.

CHARACTERS

Izumar Blacksoul – Izumar is 22-year-old a half human, half Draekan male.  Izumar is the reluctant prince of Stonehaven.  He hates his father, the king, who killed his mother died shortly after Izumar was born.  Izumar is of average human height and has an athletic build.  He has dark blue yes, black medium length hair, a short, neatly kept goatee, and very handsome features.  As Izumar got older he became aware of how evil his father really was and he left the castle to join the mage guild.  Izumar also has strong feelings for Korra, who he befriended shortly after she arrived in Stonehaven. 

Korra Shadowblade – Korra is a 20-year-old Draekan female.  She is slender and has an athletic build.  She has petit, attractive features, dark blue eyes, and medium length dark hair.  She is very agile, and deceptively strong for a woman of her size.  Korra was orphaned at the age of 10 and found refuge at Stonehaven at the Mage Guild.  Korra cares deeply for Izumar and has very strong feelings for him, but she is too shy to let those feelings be known to anyone.

SYNOPSIS

Izumar and Korra leave the city of Stonehaven early in the morning, just as the sun is rising.  Eventually they reach the entrance to an ancient tunnel.  Izumar and Korra make their way through the tunnel to a dark underground cavern where they decide to camp for the night.    

Later that night, Izumar is sitting alone by the fire, deep in thought.  Korra joins him at the fire and reassures him that they will destroy his father.  Izumar then shares his deeper concerns about possibly having to become the new king and the possibility of losing her because of it.  Korra again reassures him, saying that she will never leave his side.

The next morning, Izumar and Korra are perched on a cliff that overlooks a massive cavern that houses the ancient Draekan castle.  As they approach the castle, four ghosts of ancient Draekan warriors appear.  Izumar and Korra draw their weapons and prepare for battle.  A Draekan ghost delivers a brutal cut to Korra’s arm and she passes out from shock.  Izumar unleashes a magical attack upon the ghosts that he never knew that he was capable of.  Izumar rushes to see if Korra is all right.  She is badly wounded but Izumar heals it with a simple spell.  Izumar and Korra approach the entrance to the castle and Izumar reveals the hidden door with another spell.  Izumar and Korra enter the castle.    

Izumar and Korra make their way through the castle’s hallways searching for the archive room.  When they find it, it is filled with artifacts from centuries of Draekan history.  Izumar enters the room and makes his way to the pedestal that holds the crystal.  When Izumar picks up the crystal, it emits with a blinding light.  Korra rushes into the room and knocks the crystal from Izumar’s hand.  He collapses against the pedestal and Korra kneels down next to him.  Korra asks him what happened and he tells her that the crystal showed him his future and that he knows how to save Stonehaven.  The hugs her tightly, then says that it is time to return to Stonehaven to set everything right.