Animated Narratives Week 9

This object is a short first draft of a treatment for the animation. Once I had worked with the mindmap further and reevaluated the existing storyboard I decided to make some changes to the story and also flesh it out further. It was particularly useful in deciding how I want the piece to end. Initially, she was on her own still, but the inclusion of others helps to make the resolution feel more complete.

ACT 1
Begins with an exterior shot of the sky, panning down a large and imposing sign. It is back lit so when you reach the bottom the small figure waiting outside is completely in its shadow. They are wearing bathers and a pointed witches hat. It is now possible to see that this is the sign for an aquatic centre. There is a shot of the witch's face showing that she is apprehensive, nonetheless she balls her fists and walks forward.

Once she is close to the pool she freezes and half the screen fades to a scene where the witch gets splashed then melts until nothing is left but her hat and bathers. This causes her to freeze, but she also spots a sun lounge in a dry area. This is lit to look like it is a magical/ holy object with sun rays. The witch's eyes light up and she starts to move forward. 

ACT 2
Initially she moves slowly, and the world lighting changes to reflect how long it is taking for her to move. Shadows lengthen to show this process is taking her hours. Every puddle is treated like a landmine and she is highly methodical about how she navigates the space. As she moves past the lifeguard water drops down from their chair and in a panic she moves out of the way and begins a series of quick, fluid movements. This resembles the movements used in ballet/ iceskating. She nearly bumps into a child, slips in a puddle, avoids two people splashing water at each other, woman with a tray of drinks, avoids an old man and more children before eventually finding herself before the chair. 

She breathes a sigh of relief, her shoulders relax, and is then knocked backwards towards the pool by a running child. As she’s falling the screen fades to black.

ACT 3
While the screen is still black the sounds of being underwater can be heard. The witch breaks the surface and gasps for air. Colour returns and we see the lifeguard has pulled her out of the water and the witch lays very still with her eyes clenched shut and her face scrunched up in fear. Eventually she opens them—one at a time—and her features relax. She sits up and realises that she survived the water and is safe. A smile spreads over her face.

This then cuts to a scene where the witch is sitting on the edge of the pool chatting to the lifeguard while others around them swim, play and have fun.