Animated Narratives- Week4

This work examines plot and narrative ideas. This week we learnt to deepen and shape the plots of the story. There are many components in the machine, just as the plot makes up the story. In class, I saw many iconic examples of narratives, which provide me a clearer version of designing plots.

I am using the precise of “A tree blooms when seeing someone it likes” and develop it into a story.The story is about a tree has a crush on a girl who passes by. Every time this tree’s favorite person walks by, the tree feels butterflies in his stomach, which got him itchy. Once he scratches, his flower fell on the shoulder of the passerby, and the butterfly flew out from the chest of the tree. There is no dialogue between the tree and the girl, but through the movement of the tree you can see how he feels about the girl, and from the scene where the girl looks at the flower on her shoulder, you can also tell that she feels this obscure feeling too.

I thought it would be a good idea to develop this story in VR360 animation since the focus of the story is on romance. By creating appealing art, it is easy for people to engage in aesthetic imagery  which provides immersion experience of romance. Imagine you are walking by the tree surrounded by falling flowers and butterflies.

This work is related to the Week4 watching material " Chuck Jones - The Evolution of an Artist ". All the Chuck Jones’s characters have very clearly defined wants. Take Daffy Duck for example, we know the Daffy Duck always picks for a fight because it’s part of his desire for glory. The protagonist of my story also has a very specific goal which is giving his best wishes to the girl and showing his unhidden love despite the fact she may not notice it. This motivation runs through the story and is at the heart of all plots and shots.

By examining " Chuck Jones - The Evolution of an Artist ", I reflected the consistency of the character’s desire in my thumbnails. The viewers can always assume how the character will move to pursue their goals. The assumption includes the personality of the character. However, there are still much more to do to develop the plots, especially details to polish the work. I am looking forward adding more humor elements in my future work, and let the characters ”play the scene” instead of playing in the scene.

Bullet Points:

• A beautiful sunny day, there is a tree stretching in the cozy wind.

• A girl is going through the path leading to the tree

• The tree becomes shy and full of love, and he begins to blossom.

• Butterflies in his stomach are making him itchy.

• He scratches it. But in the eyes of girls, he is just an ordinary tree.

• As the girl passes by, the blossoms fall on her shoulder, and butterflies are flying out of the tree.

• The girl notices the flower on her shoulder.

• She's gone, it's going to be a good day for her, which is what the tree wants.