Character Design

Here are some characters i designed for a previous project. My final character will be designed in this simple style.


Flash file: http://bananaman.fileave.com/Character%20Ideas%201.swf


Flash file: http://bananaman.fileave.com/Character%20Ideas%202.swf

Soundtrack Test

Here i was testing out the ABC software to create a soundtrack. I tried to create a repetitive synth sound reminiscent to Gorgio Moroder referenced earlier in the blog. Unfortunately it was not possible to save the "synth effect" version i was hoping to use, so the music here is the "piano effect". However, i am happy with the piano version and may use this method in my final piece.




Quicktime file: http://bananaman.fileave.com/Items.mp3

Workflow

*Design a few layouts and pick the best one.
*Design a few characters and pick the best one.
*Design supporting characters?
*Design items which the character will collect along the way.
*Storyboard the characters journey through the game level.
*Begin animating the characters journey in Flash.
*Perfect the opening sequence and credits.
*Create a synth soundtrack using ABC.

Layout

Here i am looking at different layouts to give me ideas for my own. These layout are quite complicated whereas i was looking for something along the same lines done much simpler. I will need to create the entire layout before i begin any animating in Adobe Flash.

Opening Sequence

Because i liked the typing style previously posted i thought i would try it out to see how it would look in a straight forward manner instead of a typographic one. I created the sequence in Adobe Flash. I like the result and i think i will use this idea in my final piece.



Flash file: http://bananaman.fileave.com/Animation.swf

Text Animation

Typographic animation showing words being typed out. I like how this looks and may use it in my final piece.

Pokemon Character Jumping

Here i have tried to make it look as if the pokemon character is jumping over a gap. This was a little more complicated than making the character walk as i did not have a template to go by. This will help when making my own character move. I did this in Adobe Flash.



Flash file: http://bananaman.fileave.com/Pokemon%20character%20jumping.swf

Pokemon Character In Motion

I used this Pokemon character as a template to see how i could create a pixel character and have the character appear as if he's walking. I did this using Adobe Flash.



Flash file: http://bananaman.fileave.com/Pokemon%20character%20walking.swf

Pixel Mario

Pixel items/characters which will be helpful when i create my own items/characters.

Super Mario World

Image showing the different stages of character movement. This will be helpful when creating my animation.

Title Sequence

Here i have been working on how the title sequence will look. I have chosen to do it in an old style pixel look which is influenced by "The Raconteurs", posted previously. I created it in Adobe Illustrator using a black square to make up the letters.



Title sequence with black and white colour scheme. I think i like this one best.



Title sequence with a green and black colour scheme.

Pokemon Red

Pokemon Red has old black and white style graphics which i like. It also gives me an idea of how a pixel character should look and how the character moves etc. I also like the tense, dramatic music which fits the game well.

The Raconteurs

Screen capture from The Raconteurs website which is designed to resemble old style computer graphics. I like the green typeface against the black background and the old style font used. I also like the beep noises when navigating around the website.

Source: http://www.theraconteurs.com/

Pixel Pandemonium

Super Mario Bros. stop motion animation made using cardboard cutouts. I like this way of doing things as it gives a more realistic look rather than flat 2D.

eBoy

Pixel art by eBoy. I like the use of pixels to create a 3D image and the bright colours used. I also like the character designs especially the 2D pixel characters.

Street Art

Cool piece of street art which shows pixelated water coming out of a real pipe.

Pixel Designs

Interesting pixel designs created on the side of books.

m/m (paris)

I like how this character, by m/m (paris), is simple and childlike. I also like how the character is created using squares as well as the black and white colour scheme.

Source: http://www.mmparis.com/mm_posters.pdf

Super Mario Infinity II

I like how the game screen follows the character and how Mario has to get past obstacles in order to succeed.

Old Macintosh Games

I like how the Star Wars game is made up of a series of lines and dots. I also like the sound effects.

Super Mario Brothers

Super Mario Brothers game capture which has the old style game graphics which i hope to use. I also like the way the screen moves as the character moves. I may use this.

The IT Crowd

The opening sequence from The IT Crowd has an old computer graphics look which is the style i was hoping to go for. I like the fact that it was made in colour instead of black and white.

Donna Summer - I Feel Love

Again, Moroder uses synthesizers to create a hypnotic, immersive disco sound.

Giorgio Moroder - Chase

Giorgio Moroder uses synthesizers to create hypnotic, repetitive, electronic disco music which i think would work well against an old style game animation.

Surf - Shadows

Surf advertisement which uses live action as well as theatrical shadow puppetry. The ad depicts a women travelling into the shadows where she has an adventure. She then returns to the real world. I like the clever use of shadow puppets to create the action sequences which would have otherwise been more difficult to film.

Kseniya Simonova - Sand Animation

Kseniya Simonova creates an animation in time to the music using only her hands and sand. I think it's interesting that as the music changes she creates a new animation on top of the old one. I also like the live aspect of the animation leaving no room for error.