ѕσмα // CHARACTER

Tentative Name: MADA
From Arabic to mean the utmost degree / end of the line

Some of the highlights of extremely early character concepts for the protagonist Mada. I need to put some time into clothing + push painting style further. She should be around 14 years old. In film, her process of becoming a beetle will be considerably sped up in comparison to the fabricated story if it were not compressed. Thus I will need to design both normal and the maximum extent of the transformation.

My inspiration for character design is pulling from much of what I surround myself in however I think this is also limiting me by having too many roads to go down. Though somehow, I imagine her a more idiosyncratic version (and dramatic) Anne Francis when she starred in Forbidden Planet. She is supposed to have a pet who is a cat that acts as a conscience, (and plot device) with the catch being that it does not in fact have a mouth. - But this character could be swapped out with an actual person.

ѕσмα // Project Proposal

ѕσмα

Note: Everything is tentative / subject to change.

Basic Premise:

A girl wakes up with no recollection of her memory.  So forth, a curse laid on her by a mysterious entity begins to slowly transform her into a beetle. 

Context ref:

The world is inhabited by giant beetles that are believed to be insentient. Flat land (set akin to Old Kingdom Egypt) can be seen past the horizon and small tight-nit towns are sprawled across the plains. Culturally, grains and bread are idolised by all and farmers are plenty. Eating bread with each meal is considered a sacred tradition and holds a different meaning for each person & family in the world. Fashion is light but jewellery is a key part to any outfit; alike the aforementioned. To suit their needs, beetle-poachers hunt for beetles to use their horns for jewellery and attempt to breed these giant insects. At the same time as human-kind exploits them, a slow-acting plague sweeps the world as people start to become more insect-like - farmers and those who work in fields being affected more prominently. However; it is widely ignored.

Our main character learns that unlike stories of people turning into other animals; in reality the human skeleton and that of a beetle’s is far too different. Past a certain breaking point, it would be impossible to turn any further into a beetle; and her body would simply break - leaving her dead.

• Create an intense 3-4 minute teaser that encapsulates the main themes of the story strongly.

GOALS: 

• Imply a grandiose world through choice planning.
• Form visuals in accordance to & alongside music.
• Stylistic animation akin to visuals.
• High emotional response !

OUTCOMES:

• Highly zany character design with a focus on small details and perfectionist 3D Modelling.
• Surreal environmental design with a focus on being economic and being able to cut corners without it effecting the final result.
• Large range of programs (Over 50% being learnt over the course of this project) 
• Art book displaying confident world building 
• Short and snappy videos showcasing techniques or sped up processes.

INSPIRATION RANGE

(Across film, 2D Animation and Music)

MUSIC:

LES BAXTER (Album spef: Space Escapades + Possession) 

MAD MAX OST

EVANGELION OST

TREE OF PALME BGM

KINGDOM HEARTS OST (This one's a given)

VIS:

MAD MAX

ALIEN 9

EVANGELION

CINEMATOGRAPHY OF STANLEY KUBRICK

MATTE PAINTINGS OF SCI-FI FILMS (I.E FORBIDDEN PLANET)

FINALLY:

"WHITE-HEAT" PAINTING STYLE

(elaboration soon)

BB

On the 28th this month it was Brigitte Bardot's birthday. I wrote her a letter and sent a print of this painting as a little thank you gift. Today I received a reply from her and so I thought it'd be nice now to upload what I painted !