24 Nov 2010
Character Design - Vortaii
Character Design - Mordred Concept
Character Design - Garz concepts
Character Design - Mordred Research
Mordred is the villian, but he is the villian of an 80s cartoon. There were lots of great cartoons in the time period so researching a pantomime villian as opposed to a super serious one was relativily easy. My main sources of inspiration came from Skeletor from 'He-Man' and Cobra Commander from 'G.I. Joe'.
As you can see from these images, both villians were very pantomine in the way that there movments are very over the top. For a saturday cartoon, I thought it was important that the enemy was not a terrifing creation but has a comedy edge. The children have to laugh at them.
In terms of design, I have used armour to keep with my theme but have also taken some ideas from an unlikly source, 'Power Rangers', particually Lord Zed.
Lord Zeds is designed to be strong and scary for the children, but what I liked most was the showing of muscle and the mask. The muscles symbolise a strength that the character has, as the Power Rangers have no real muscles on show to match his physicality. Themask adds to the unknown in the way that you don't know who or what this man is and in doing so, he has no emotion.
As you can see from these images, both villians were very pantomine in the way that there movments are very over the top. For a saturday cartoon, I thought it was important that the enemy was not a terrifing creation but has a comedy edge. The children have to laugh at them.
In terms of design, I have used armour to keep with my theme but have also taken some ideas from an unlikly source, 'Power Rangers', particually Lord Zed.
Lord Zeds is designed to be strong and scary for the children, but what I liked most was the showing of muscle and the mask. The muscles symbolise a strength that the character has, as the Power Rangers have no real muscles on show to match his physicality. Themask adds to the unknown in the way that you don't know who or what this man is and in doing so, he has no emotion.
Character Design - Vortaii Character Research
Vortaii's design is mainly to appear comical so there are many characters that have this appeal but I focused on one type, or one person, very early on. I wanted a comical looking 'portly' man so one man that came to mind was Danny De'Vito.
The other characters that I tried to gleam personalities from are:
Shrek (predominatly from the first movie). A sort of reluctant hero that can't really be bothered except I'll tone down the heroism because he is the sidekick.
In terms of the look, I knew I wanted a Pixie as sort of guide in the vain of Navi for 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' so I looked at the clothing of a pixie or even a genie as it applies more to males.
The other characters that I tried to gleam personalities from are:
Shrek (predominatly from the first movie). A sort of reluctant hero that can't really be bothered except I'll tone down the heroism because he is the sidekick.
In terms of the look, I knew I wanted a Pixie as sort of guide in the vain of Navi for 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' so I looked at the clothing of a pixie or even a genie as it applies more to males.
Character Design - Character Bios
Garz - The Hero
Garz is a mystery to many people in Camalot. One dark night, Garz at the age of 10 wandering in to the city, beaten and with little memory of his past. Knight Commander Lancelot took him on as an apprentice, where he learnt that the boy had natural talent with a sword and showed potential for the use of magic. Now at the age of 18, and hoping to join the Draken, Garzs history begins to show itself. The people of Camelot are friendly with Garz but harbour a silent fear of his unknown past, and frown upon his rebellious behaviour.
Garz is in many ways the hero. He is brave and won't let anyone step all over the weak, but he carries a dark secret and because of it, won't let anyone get close to him, shielding himself from the world.
Vortaii - The Sidekick
Vortaii is a funny creature. Not just by his personality but by his very existence. Pixies are common place in the land of England, famed for there immaculate beauty and flowing golden hair, Pixies guide wanderers through there forest home to the safe haven of the City. Yet, here is a male pixie that has clearly let himself go and is down right sarcastic! The opposite of the fabled Pixies that reside in the forest. In truth, Vortaii was evicted from the Pixie Protection Agency for neglecting his duties and as such, shunned both the worlds of Human and Pixies. That is until, a young hero literally comes crashing through his ceiling.
Vortaii is the comic relief in a dark tale. A fat, small creature not afraid to confront a villain... if he can bothered that is. Living at home watching the plants grow over the past 10 years has made one lazy Pixie.
Mordred - The Villain
Mordred is evil incarnate, simple as that. Sitting astride his mighty throne, he oversees everything in the England. He has complete rule and utter dominance, except for one haven that lies outside his reach. The haven is the city of Camelot. This infuriates Mordred to no end, the knowledge that there lies a city where children can grow and people can enjoy restless nights. A place that he cannot claim as his own. Mordred hatches a plan to steal the Maiden Dylana away, hoping to break the seal that protects the city and the surrounding forest. But he never expected for hero to follow. No, not Lancelot, but Garz, a man that Mordred knows from his past.
Mordred is the ultimate evil in a dark, barren wasteland full of bandits and monsters. Forever scheming ways to break Camelots protection, which he believes is connected to the Maiden Dylana. But for all his evil he still tries to live up to his family name, for you see, Mordred's father was feared until his disappearance. Mordred idolized his father and is forever looking for ways to make him proud.
Garz is a mystery to many people in Camalot. One dark night, Garz at the age of 10 wandering in to the city, beaten and with little memory of his past. Knight Commander Lancelot took him on as an apprentice, where he learnt that the boy had natural talent with a sword and showed potential for the use of magic. Now at the age of 18, and hoping to join the Draken, Garzs history begins to show itself. The people of Camelot are friendly with Garz but harbour a silent fear of his unknown past, and frown upon his rebellious behaviour.
Garz is in many ways the hero. He is brave and won't let anyone step all over the weak, but he carries a dark secret and because of it, won't let anyone get close to him, shielding himself from the world.
Vortaii - The Sidekick
Vortaii is a funny creature. Not just by his personality but by his very existence. Pixies are common place in the land of England, famed for there immaculate beauty and flowing golden hair, Pixies guide wanderers through there forest home to the safe haven of the City. Yet, here is a male pixie that has clearly let himself go and is down right sarcastic! The opposite of the fabled Pixies that reside in the forest. In truth, Vortaii was evicted from the Pixie Protection Agency for neglecting his duties and as such, shunned both the worlds of Human and Pixies. That is until, a young hero literally comes crashing through his ceiling.
Vortaii is the comic relief in a dark tale. A fat, small creature not afraid to confront a villain... if he can bothered that is. Living at home watching the plants grow over the past 10 years has made one lazy Pixie.
Mordred - The Villain
Mordred is evil incarnate, simple as that. Sitting astride his mighty throne, he oversees everything in the England. He has complete rule and utter dominance, except for one haven that lies outside his reach. The haven is the city of Camelot. This infuriates Mordred to no end, the knowledge that there lies a city where children can grow and people can enjoy restless nights. A place that he cannot claim as his own. Mordred hatches a plan to steal the Maiden Dylana away, hoping to break the seal that protects the city and the surrounding forest. But he never expected for hero to follow. No, not Lancelot, but Garz, a man that Mordred knows from his past.
Mordred is the ultimate evil in a dark, barren wasteland full of bandits and monsters. Forever scheming ways to break Camelots protection, which he believes is connected to the Maiden Dylana. But for all his evil he still tries to live up to his family name, for you see, Mordred's father was feared until his disappearance. Mordred idolized his father and is forever looking for ways to make him proud.
Character Design - Garz Research and initial concepts
When creating Garz, I wanted to design a character where you can't see what his past was like. A man that you can't quite read when you look at him. Media is full of tragic heroes so research wasn't hard to Garz. Here are the key influences that I looked at when designing Garz:
Ezio Auditore de Firenze:
I was instantly drawn to and thought of Ezio's design when given my themes. Ezio is an assassin during the renaissence era of Italy. This is evidant in his design, so not exactly linked to my themes but the ideas behind the design was what I liked.
Despite being the protagonist of the series, Ezio is shrouded in robes, making it hard to see who he is and what he may be hiding. His face is covered by a hood, yet he is still very much the 'good guy'. Another part of the design that I thought was very strong was the half-cloak on his shoulder. I feel this adds a layer of duality to his personality as well as giving him another Hero aspect to play on the fact that he is covered.
Cloud Strife:
Cloud is similar to Ezio in the fact that he is the Hero, yet has design characteristics of a villian, giving him a darker edge. Once again, there is duality to his design with a naked arm on one side and a covered arm on the other. This symbolises letting people close but not too close.
Ezio Auditore de Firenze:
I was instantly drawn to and thought of Ezio's design when given my themes. Ezio is an assassin during the renaissence era of Italy. This is evidant in his design, so not exactly linked to my themes but the ideas behind the design was what I liked.
Despite being the protagonist of the series, Ezio is shrouded in robes, making it hard to see who he is and what he may be hiding. His face is covered by a hood, yet he is still very much the 'good guy'. Another part of the design that I thought was very strong was the half-cloak on his shoulder. I feel this adds a layer of duality to his personality as well as giving him another Hero aspect to play on the fact that he is covered.
Cloud Strife:
Cloud is similar to Ezio in the fact that he is the Hero, yet has design characteristics of a villian, giving him a darker edge. Once again, there is duality to his design with a naked arm on one side and a covered arm on the other. This symbolises letting people close but not too close.
22 Nov 2010
Postmodernism Essay Topic
The topic I'm going to cover in the upcoming Po-Mo essay is one that relates to games, as there close to my heart so I put some real gusto into it. The topic in question is:
'The way Postmodernism has effected the gaming landscape: Self-referencing in Games'
People aren't idiots. They know there playing a game so how do people feel when a game breaks that fourth wall placed you and it, and says something in the real world then in game like 'Switch the controller to the other port!'
The main offender that put this in my mind was 'Metal Gear Solid', where the quote came from. For a game praised for its immersive storyline and realistic characters, how does the player feel when they are literally reminded 'Oh hey, We are playing this on the PS3!'.
How would you like it if during 'The Elephant Man' if he turns to the screen halfway through and says 'The next bit is the best bit' then carries on as usual.
So, I will be exploring the art of Self-referencing in gaming.
'The way Postmodernism has effected the gaming landscape: Self-referencing in Games'
People aren't idiots. They know there playing a game so how do people feel when a game breaks that fourth wall placed you and it, and says something in the real world then in game like 'Switch the controller to the other port!'
The main offender that put this in my mind was 'Metal Gear Solid', where the quote came from. For a game praised for its immersive storyline and realistic characters, how does the player feel when they are literally reminded 'Oh hey, We are playing this on the PS3!'.
How would you like it if during 'The Elephant Man' if he turns to the screen halfway through and says 'The next bit is the best bit' then carries on as usual.
So, I will be exploring the art of Self-referencing in gaming.
This boss reads the contents of your Memory Card... for no reason.
17 Oct 2010
Character Design - Shape Outlines and Basic Details
I've been working on the shapes for the characters and then adding some basic detail to get the feel for there clothes and some basic character.
Hero Shape:
Hero Detail:
The Hero is a sort of traveler, as he searches England for the Kidnapped Maiden. Due to this I have tried to create a look that is heroic as well as worn. This is shown in the shoulder cape, the gauntlets and armour flaps around the waist. I have also tried to keep in the theme of Arthurian and Fantasy. As he is a young man, I did not want the 'super' squareness of the some typical heroes, so instead I based it around squares but curved them off to give him a younger, more friendlier feel.
Sidekick Shape:
Sidekick Detail:
My Sidekick Character is an out of work male Pixie. As the more comical part of the show, I created him as a 'portly' character made of circles. He appeals to the audience as the 'down on his luck' loser. He also has sharp wit, hence the pose. The clothes of the sidekick is based upon that of a genie, but are very tight fitting, as he has put on weight since leaving the rank of a Pixie. When I think of this character, I picture Danny DeVito.
Villain Shape:
Villain Detail:
For the villain of the show, I have tried to channel the likes of 'Skelator' from He-Man and 'Cobra Commander' from G.I Joe. By this I mean a more maniacal villain as opposed the dark, evil villain of a more grown up shown, hence the evil laughter pose. I have also given him armour for an imposing look and made it more pointy and triangular. This especially comes across in the hands. It is in contrast with the hero who has circular hands and gloves, while the villain has pointed gauntlets. I have also used a helmet to mask his true face, again in the vain of 'Cobra Commander'. All you can see is red eyes and the rest is black. It creates a mystery as to what exactly the man underneath looks like. I also used a long, flowing cape as opposed the the shoulder cape for the hero to create more contrast.
Hero Shape:
Hero Detail:
Sidekick Shape:
Sidekick Detail:
Villain Shape:
Villain Detail:
For the villain of the show, I have tried to channel the likes of 'Skelator' from He-Man and 'Cobra Commander' from G.I Joe. By this I mean a more maniacal villain as opposed the dark, evil villain of a more grown up shown, hence the evil laughter pose. I have also given him armour for an imposing look and made it more pointy and triangular. This especially comes across in the hands. It is in contrast with the hero who has circular hands and gloves, while the villain has pointed gauntlets. I have also used a helmet to mask his true face, again in the vain of 'Cobra Commander'. All you can see is red eyes and the rest is black. It creates a mystery as to what exactly the man underneath looks like. I also used a long, flowing cape as opposed the the shoulder cape for the hero to create more contrast.
10 Oct 2010
Character Design - Plot Synopsis
I have redone the plot synopsis because I forgot one key component... the fact that its 80s cartoon. I was so busy thinking of some realistic take on Arthurian and Fantasy archetypes that I overshadowed the most important part.
80s Cartoon Plot:
The Kingdom of Camelot lives in peace, surrounding itself with the Forest of Serenity for protection. England beyond this border, is a cold dark place which the evil Dark Lord Mordred rules. Inside the city walls, lives a young man named Garz that aspires to join the Knights of Camelot under the guidance of the great Sir Lancelot. But on the eve of her wedding, castle maiden Dylena is kidnapped by the evil Mordred that claims her love for himself. Astride his mighty dragon, Lancelot ventures into the Barren England in look of the damsel. Seeking to prove himself to his mentor, Garz starts his own quest to find the maiden, leading him into the Forest of Serenity and beyond...
Join Garz, a young man seeking to save the maiden, and his friend, Vortaii, a Pixie that has lost his way after leaving the Pixie Protection Guild, as they journey throughout there great mystical land for a lost Hero and a lost Maiden. Along the way they will meet new friends, such as dragons and imps, and visit magical places. But they will also face the ultimate evil... Dark Lord Mordred!
Follow there adventures every Saturday!
(1980)
Character Bios to follow...
80s Cartoon Plot:
The Kingdom of Camelot lives in peace, surrounding itself with the Forest of Serenity for protection. England beyond this border, is a cold dark place which the evil Dark Lord Mordred rules. Inside the city walls, lives a young man named Garz that aspires to join the Knights of Camelot under the guidance of the great Sir Lancelot. But on the eve of her wedding, castle maiden Dylena is kidnapped by the evil Mordred that claims her love for himself. Astride his mighty dragon, Lancelot ventures into the Barren England in look of the damsel. Seeking to prove himself to his mentor, Garz starts his own quest to find the maiden, leading him into the Forest of Serenity and beyond...
Join Garz, a young man seeking to save the maiden, and his friend, Vortaii, a Pixie that has lost his way after leaving the Pixie Protection Guild, as they journey throughout there great mystical land for a lost Hero and a lost Maiden. Along the way they will meet new friends, such as dragons and imps, and visit magical places. But they will also face the ultimate evil... Dark Lord Mordred!
Follow there adventures every Saturday!
(1980)
Character Bios to follow...
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