Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Ye Olde Stupid Animatic

While chatting with a close friend on the phone last night, we noticed how quickly the last few years have passed.  We both have been busy, she's started a new job a year and a half ago, is managing an etsy shop, and recently was married!   While discussing upcoming opportunities, and old forgotten projects, we realized my old pitch was now four years old.  I haven't worked on it for almost two years, there was some interest, but it just wasn't meant to be.  Honestly, I sort have forgotten about it.  

It's been long enough, that I just see it as an awkward cobbled exercise.  When this was made, I hadn't storyboarded in six years, since college. And during college, a teacher and a couple of classmates had made comments that I'd never be a board artist.  So I was dumb and believed them.

It wasn't until there was interest in this pitch, that I had to bite the bullet and try storyboarding again.  As bad as this is, it was probably one of the better hurdles I attempted, it gave me a little bit of confidence back, and new opportunities presented themselves.  Poor Harpy was left behind.

So below was the attempt at putting an original story together.




Harpy Gee

Synopsis:  Harpy, Opal, and Ash live and work at an Item Shop.  They're no longer children, not quite adults, and have moved to this town to begin finding their roles in the world.

Characters:

Harpy: An elf that cannot use magic, considered a grave handicap in her home country, she's been sheltered all her life.  She lives and works at the Item Shop, but also will take any odd job around town, regardless if it's teaching, ballet school, or scrubbing the castle floors.  Nothing is too mundane or adventurous.  She's doing her best to make up for lost time and stay optimistic.

Pumpkin:  Harpy's goblin cat.  He is indestructible, and will eat anything.  Luckily he is lazy and sleeps most of the time.  He's also her living suitcase, she keeps her important items, clothing and weapons in his inter-dimensional stomach.

Opal: A witch doctor from a large family of pig ranchers.  She doesn't like dirt, but since she has to dig up most of her potion ingredients, she wears gloves and a bandana.  She uses her shovel to fly, since she also needs it to dig.  She likes anything that's cute, and her helpful ingredient smelling pet pig, Truffle.

Ash:  A knight in training.  He thinks highly of himself, and regards the others as children.  He secretly collects playing cards of famous knights.  He tries his best to act like what he knows what he's doing, but half the time ends up embarrassed.

Humphrey:  The prince of the kingdom, he was sent to live at his uncle's castle in town.  He doesn't like being outside or sunlight, and would rather write sad poetry or read about battles that end in failure.  His uncle regularly sends him out to take Peepers, the royal dog out for walks.


There was a script I had to act out to a roomful of strangers, so there was some dialogue.  Good luck watching it without it!  It's really stupid!


Harpy animatic from 2008

17 comments:

C h e r r i ! Chelene said...

I love itttt!! It's so cute!!

Boogervampire said...

'Bout time you finally posted this!

tom said...

That was amazing! Was that a little chrono and a little link at the 2:40 ish mark?

Deleted said...

Ehehe! I'd totally watch this if it were a show. I love the cat of holding. <3

Salomon Fenix said...

I lately in my institute I worked with animatics, and if something looks complicated but is still fun.

paul said...

Aye Carumba, that animatic is totally awesome, albeit cute if put in a bunch of Japanese voice actors in it.

You know Miss Drouhard, there is going to be a future for you and your little project. As long as you believe in it, you'll be all right in my book, same goes for Harpy Gee.


P.S.
I shall get my sister, Angela to see it with me.

paul said...

Brianne, I'll have to admit that this is one of your better pictures.

Here is my suggestion, why don't you make it a bit more personal like Ralph Bakshi's X-rated flicks like Heavy Traffic (you know with the Jewish music in the background and Chuck Berry's Maybeline?)

I like your story. It feels more improvisational as it is personal in your eyes.

Thank you.

paul said...

Brianne, why don't you show it to Ralph Bakshi and see what he thinks.
You know he's got a feeling for Japanese animators

paul said...

Wow, Miss Drouhard. Your concept for a new show is cute yet funny at the same time. It's funny, especially for the ending.

PotatoFarmGirl said...

Tom- The young boys you saw are named "Hot Dog" and "Trigger", :)

Paul- Thanks! I have other projects I'd like to finish before even thinking about Harpy again, and I don't think an x-rated idea would work for Harpy at all. I'd like to work on cartoons that I can enjoy along with my friends.

All and all, It was still a good learning experience, and thanks for your interest.

Melody Jackson said...

I like it! :D You have a lot of talent! I wish I could come up with something like this! I like the part where Ash gets covered in flowers.

Evie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Evie said...

Brianne, I cannot tell you how much I love Harpy Gee. She is the perfect blend of fantasy, action hero, youthful enthusiasm and feminity all in one. May I please have your permission to draw fan art of her? I love how one minute she looks like she stepped into a Conan the Barbarian novel and the next she looks like she is on her way to visit Pixie Hallow. She is just wonderful.

PotatoFarmGirl said...

Evie- Yes! Of course! Please send me a link to your art once you've finished! That makes me really happy! Thank you!

Melody- Thanks! Each of the potions contains a different spell, not sure if it was obvious in the animatic, but those are Opal's potion bottles. :D

Evie said...

Okay, I finally finished drawing her! I had some little scenario that I imagined where a dragon had stolen a bit of Humphrey's royal treasury and he had asked Harpy Gee to help him get it back, so that's what's going on there. Then I have a character named Spark who is a superhero, but she's fascinated by people who fight with swords and daggers, so she wanted to meet Harpy. I hope it's okay that I drew them together. Thanks so much for letting me draw your wonderful characters and Merry Christmas!

http://eviesketchies.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/harpygee1.png

http://eviesketchies.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/harpygee2.png

http://eviesketchies.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/harpygeeandspark.png

PotatoFarmGirl said...

Thank you Evie! I love them! These are amazing! Do you have a post anywhere of them, can I share your art online? :). Merry Christmas to you also!

Evie said...

hi Brianne!

Sure! You can see them at my blog: https://eviesketchies.wordpress.com/

Feel free to share them!

I'm so glad you like them! I think Harpy Gee is really special and I'm so glad you haven't forgotten her even though your pitch was a while ago. <3

Take care!